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My First Recumbent: Lovin' It

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My First Recumbent: Lovin' It

Old 08-01-14, 11:07 PM
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My First Recumbent: Lovin' It

Hello All,

Almost done with my first recumbent build. I have still have to refine the seat design and material. The photo shows the temporary one. I also still have to get cable guides, pedals, upright seat and post for the occasional stoker, and do some detail painting. The McDonalds tires were temporary but they are starting to grow on me.

Took me about 20 minutes to learn to ride it during testing. Now that it's more complete, I'm starting to learn the little things like leaning out of a turn. Looking forward to being completely comfortable on it!

IMG_0578 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

IMG_0571 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Will be posting some in progress shots soon

I've learned a lot on this build and can't wait to get started on a SWB.
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Old 08-02-14, 02:32 AM
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Wild Lookin ....Have fun.
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Old 08-02-14, 08:32 AM
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"...occasional stoker." ??? Would the stoker be invisible or would you have a periscope to see over them? I'm a little concerned about the captain's view of the road if a stoker is aboard.
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Old 08-02-14, 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
"...occasional stoker." ??? Would the stoker be invisible or would you have a periscope to see over them? I'm a little concerned about the captain's view of the road if a stoker is aboard.
???

The captain is the one who steers. The stoker only pedals. Are you talking about the rear view? Shouldn't be a problem since they are at different levels.
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Old 08-02-14, 11:25 AM
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Before. Nishiki girls and guys bikes
Untitled-1 copy by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Cutting them apart
IMG_9151 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

BB holes filled and sanded
IMG_9411 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Last edited by DakotaInTheSky; 08-02-14 at 11:32 AM.
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Old 08-02-14, 11:27 AM
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Center booms added
IMG_9400 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Original steering was too low during testing so I had to raise it up
IMG_0237 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Not very streamlined, but works much better now
IMG_0520 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Last edited by DakotaInTheSky; 08-02-14 at 11:33 AM.
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Old 08-02-14, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by DakotaInTheSky
???

The captain is the one who steers. The stoker only pedals. Are you talking about the rear view? Shouldn't be a problem since they are at different levels.
The red bike, with the wooden temporary seat, is set up so that the captain is in the rear. If a stoker were sitting atop a seat on a seatpost in the front, then the captain would be looking at the back of the stoker, near as I can imagine.

Or, looking again at the images, will the stoker be behind the captain, in the conventional upright stoker position. Doesn't look as if there is enough room for their legs with the captain's seat in the way.

Either way, you have your work cut out for you, to make the occasional stoker thing work!
Turning an upright tandem into a recumbent tandem of some sort would be a challenge.
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Old 08-02-14, 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
The red bike, with the wooden temporary seat, is set up so that the captain is in the rear. If a stoker were sitting atop a seat on a seatpost in the front, then the captain would be looking at the back of the stoker, near as I can imagine.

Or, looking again at the images, will the stoker be behind the captain, in the conventional upright stoker position. Doesn't look as if there is enough room for their legs with the captain's seat in the way.

Either way, you have your work cut out for you, to make the occasional stoker thing work!
Turning an upright tandem into a recumbent tandem of some sort would be a challenge.
No. The seat post you see is not a seat post, but a headtube.

Captain is in the recumbent position on the temporary wooden seat. The stoker is in the back. If the stoker was in front, the captain wouldn't be able to reach the pedals and still be in the recumbent position.

The rear stoker would be in the upright position. I have to make a laid back seat post and handles on top of the captain's seat. The pedals clear the seat, but I have to raise the new seat for the stoker's feet to clear. I was thinking about making a spring box to raise that seat.

I suppose I could turn it into an upright tandem when ever I wanted since the front and back are stock. It would mean unbolting the steering head tube and putting a seat post in what used to be a fork tube.

Challenges are the reason to build something. I got the idea from a local non profit that gives tandem rides to blind people. I want to do something similar for autism and down syndrome and am using this as a test bed for lower priced recumbents.
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Old 08-02-14, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DakotaInTheSky
No. The seat post you see is not a seat post, but a headtube.

Captain is in the recumbent position on the temporary wooden seat. The stoker is in the back. If the stoker was in front, the captain wouldn't be able to reach the pedals and still be in the recumbent position.

The rear stoker would be in the upright position. I have to make a laid back seat post and handles on top of the captain's seat. The pedals clear the seat, but I have to raise the new seat for the stoker's feet to clear. I was thinking about making a spring box to raise that seat.

I suppose I could turn it into an upright tandem when ever I wanted since the front and back are stock. It would mean unbolting the steering head tube and putting a seat post in what used to be a fork tube.

Challenges are the reason to build something. I got the idea from a local non profit that gives tandem rides to blind people. I want to do something similar for autism and down syndrome and am using this as a test bed for lower priced recumbents.
I find riding bikes (and maintaining them) to be enough of a challenge. Good luck!
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Old 08-02-14, 08:11 PM
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I think that's an excellent, practical homebuilt. I like the fact that it takes full-sized wheels front and back. But forget trying to put a stoker on it!
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Old 08-03-14, 09:02 PM
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Wow! looks a lot like this from the 30's

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Old 08-03-14, 10:25 PM
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That is a very cool design. I can't wait to hear how it rides.
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Old 08-05-14, 12:06 AM
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Thank you for the replies.

Delcrossv: Great photo! I might try the vintage look

Feels really good so far. At first the steering was squirrely but that was due to my inexperience. It has seemed to mellow out a bit, but I will continue to ride in short fun sessions before commuting.

Funny how the hard MDF seat is not uncomfortable.
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