Picture 2 & 3 show how the pulleys were installed. If you remember, the problem with the first trike was a single beam can flex up and down, side to side, and twist along it's long axis. A carbon fiber outer wrap would obviously be lighter. I bought 3" wide 12K tape from Fiberglass Supply (pic 4). Front wheel drive (FWD) and Rear wheel drive (RWD) arent just terms for cars. So, make sure you use a flag on your trike to make yourself more visible on the road. You can easily spend $100 for a pulley and a mounting block which fits 2" pipe. Since no one is going to ride the PVC model, we're not worried about strength so this works great. The payoff is well worth it, though. It isnt just a popular fad, though. I used 6" /150mm 30 x 5mm plate x4 for the lugs as I could then weld to the Alu section in the future. I found the cross member needed to be under ones knees when the pedals were at 12/6 o'clock. An old 10 speed can go for practically nothing. So, whats the difference? One such enthusiast is A.D. Carson at, When it comes to recumbent design, there are a few different routes you can take, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it didnt work well as the main beam would twist and the rear wheel tip to the side a bit when turning hard in a corner. A higher BB will also cause your bike to go faster. What are some electric trike benefits? In this case, you're gluing 2 rings of end grain together so the strength of the joint is the carbon fiber & resin and not the glue. This cut was made on the bandsaw. Thanks! You can use the rear triangle brake to get you started. Keep the bottom bracket Chain set and front and rear mechs too along with shifters and brake levers. Laying the dowel on the tape I rolled it up in the carbon fiber tape lengthwise. I wonder if I could substitute PVC pipes for Bamboo canes. If welding is more than you are willing to take on right now, it is also possible to build a non-traditional recumbent bike without welding, as this guy did. Please let me know what you think about this trike and how I might improve it. Not allowed in typical cycling races because of their aerodynamic advantage, recumbents have been cast by the wayside. As I mentioned earlier, bamboo is not perfectly round across its diameter. Cutting up your rear triangle is daunting yet fulfilling espcually if like me it was a decent specialized frame. You'll want to cut the ends pieces a couple inches longer than the drawing so you can trim them to the exact length (pic 3). I hope to post a video soon of me riding it when the weather improves. Since this frame is 3 dimensional, I struggled to come up with a jig and just fit my pieces to the wheels as I put it together. Recumbent are heavier: 3-4kg more than a touring bike and have more road resistance (three wheels instead of two), so take more effort to get up hills. Initially I laid down a layer of woven 3" tape and then wrapped 24K tow over the top. Remember these 2 pieces are not the same -- there is a right piece and a left piece. Step 6: Mounting the Front Cross Member. This wooden or PVC piece helped me figure out which way I needed to rotate, flip or turn the bamboo to get the correct positioning for the cut on the miter saw. Deciding what style you will build, though, is vital to your entire construction process. Seeing that I had a sram gripshift spare, I used it linked up to a mid level rear mech. Low physical movement is required to steer. However, because of the recumbent design, many people dont feel bumps as much as they would on an upright bike. Please forgive my ignorance but wouldn't it be easier just to make the bike out of pvc reinforced with the carbon fiber? I then wrapped the tape and dowel with electrical tape with the sticky side out as before. With the plastic spacer in place behind the aluminum plate, these idlers are solid and I'm very happy with how smooth they are for under $25 a piece. 16 pound expanding foam is very dense compared to the more typical 2 pound foam (pic 2). To protect the bamboo I applied 3 coats of Spar varnish with 220 grid sanding in between coats. There are 1600 varieties of bamboo and a lot of them would work. Wrapping carbon fiber tow (tow=ribbon) is an acquired skill and it gets easier with practice. Lots of sculpting, sanding and wrapping. I purchased my BB from Nova Cycles Supply http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/73mm-LUGLESS-SUPER-LIGHT-BB.html I had a piece of bamboo which was very close to 1 1/8" so I decided to bond it to the BB for the derailleur. This video is a short wal. Typically this end of the arm would have a fish mouth cut and not a complete hole. This insures all the wax is removed and a good surface is present for bonding. It took a lot of patience but the end result was very strong and looks good as well. The downtube I cut 3"/75mm up from the bottom bracket. Try looking on Craigslist or at local bike shops. This guy has a Velo he built around a tandem trike. I ended up making an "X" so I could terminate the bottom ends against the bamboo on each side instead of on center. My steel tube tadpole weighs in at 38 pounds a trifle heavy.Going to go the whole way and make the body?I still ride it - I am 62. So while you're cutting a piece of PVC you miss cut one end the wrong way or it is a little short; instead of starting over here's a little trick. It also makes getting on and off your recumbent more convenient and gives you greater visibility, as there isnt that large bar blocking your way. I sanded the bamboo again to remove any epoxy and remove blemishes. long as u have the right tools. Suddenly the bamboo will switch to a brown color (pic 3) and you want to continue heating where the green and brown bamboo meet each other until the entire culm has been heat treated. On a 2" diameter piece of bamboo, the diameter may vary 1/8". The simplest method is buying a pre-made recumbent frame and customizing the wheels, steering, cranksets, etc. Or, if a trike is what youre planning to attempt, Rikey M. Horowitz has put together detailed instructions on how to do just that. The length of the arms and the angle of the center cuts will vary depending on the set up of your front axles. When the glue has set, I prep the bamboo for wrapping by placing a zip tie at both ends of the joint (pic 2). HERE is a website about construction of an electric motor powered pedal assist tadpole trike. I used 30mm alloy angle to joint but you could use a triangle of timber. If it's not right, get the heat gun to melt the glue and keep trying until you're happy. Are you looking for a high speed bike to take on long rides? aluminum tig an mig will work as well. The bamboo is 1 1/2" diameter. With high seats, they offer more visibility in traffic, as well as more opportunities for carrying groceries and other cargo. To use a double or triple you will need a tube above the chain set on which to mount the front mech. I'll weigh it and let you know. So I decided to begin by putting bracing under the seat bottom and just in front of the rear tire and see how rigid the frame became. Getting the correct orientation on the center piece is the key. Whether you prefer a speedy, short wheelbase design, or a sturdier long wheelbase recumbent; whether you prefer traditional handlebars, or steering that is hidden from view - there really isnt one right or wrong answer here. If you have been thinking about adding E-assist to your recumbent, the great news is most regular conversion kits will fit. The arms angle forward at about 65 from midline and up to the wheel at about 15. You can PC-7 any recess from the hole, do your final sanding and wrap the last layer over the top. Just cut off your mistake end square (pic 3) and get another little stubby piece and a scrap of plywood as a spacer. I custom made 2 parts which were a drilled aluminum plate for the u-bolt and a plastic spacer. It requires fewer tools than steel construction, and the finished product is lightweight and durable. Two pieces of tape the length of my joint covered it very well. The main considerations before gathering tools and materials, are your wheelbase style and steering style. So the zip tie creates a buffer to which the resin won't stick and makes a nice distinct edge. Because of the configuration, the bike has a tendency to lose traction going up hills, with the weight of the rider all resting on the back wheel. If you do choose a FWD recumbent, we recommend configuring it with a 60:40 weight distribution, with more weight in the front of the bike than in the back. Sorry to hear the bottom-bracket is moving. Measurements for the pieces are in picture 2. 1. Sorry I overlooked your question somehow but it's supported on the inside only. Bye Cheryl G . Tandem Recumbent Trike. and how much u are willing to spend. I cut it at the end of the top tube next to the seat post. Before going further, I cut the rear (short) end to 19" at 30 angle. JetStream. Look for a seat that reclines more than 35 degrees for maximum speed and comfort. Obviously youll need wheels. It's possible the frame may need more bracing after I've riden it more, but right now it is very rigid in my opinion. I finished the ends of the bamboo by rounding of the PC-7 beyond the culm end. The hole is centered on the bamboo 7/8" from the end. Before I applied any epoxy, I reassembled the axle, cups and bearings into the BB to prevent epoxy from getting in the threads. Question I begin by wetting the clean, sanded surface with resin using a foam brush. Once you get a basic build, take the bike out for a spin and see what needs tweaking. Since I'm 48 and have completed my long bone growth this isn't a problem;) Trike manufacturers solve this problem by using a telescoping front boom which I might try on my next build. Or, if you prefer to use tig welding (and happen to have access to a tig welder), this YouTube video is a good guide on how to set up your welder, and this YouTube video shows you how to use the welder. You need a regular propane torch to gradually heat the bamboo over a fairly large area. October 24, 2019, Transporter When it comes to recumbent design, there are a few different routes you can take, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Part 5 Selecting and Building the Steering System. If wax remains on the bamboo when you apply resin it will easily just pop off. My first thought was just to pile them all onto a roof rack. Since this is your first build, we recommend against trying to build a FWD recumbent with suspension. With my cuts marked on the bamboo, I then hot glue the bamboo to the plywood and press it against my miter saw fence until set. However, CycleSimplex offers a range of recumbent trike carriers that make transporting your trikes a breeze. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I never tried a recumbent but they look awesome. I made a wooden tool out of a dowel by sanding the end with my Dremel sanding drum (pic 8). If I have uneven spots (which I always do) I put short pieces of tow in them to level up the surface before the final layer. I drill 1/8" holes in the electrical tape before applying it so that excess resin can escape during compression (pic 5). Two old bicycles. I also pinned this joint to make sure the arms didn't slip since there is a lot of dead space between tubes. Adjustability is nice when you're figuring out where the pulleys need to go. Reply My choice was based on what others had used successfully for their bikes and conversations with bamboo nursery staff. If the other two methods seem like more time and skill than you have to put into your project, you could always buy a frame pre-made, and use that as your starting point. Both types of recumbent bikes are popping up in cities all over the world, leading to the question: How can I build my own recumbent bike?. Next is to heat treat the bamboo which caramelizes the sugars in the walls and makes the culm harder and stronger. One of the problems I noticed on my first trike was that the front boom flexed up and down as I pedaled. !Cheers James, How to Send Your Tinkercad Design to Fusion 360, ECLIPSE - the Ring Lamp With Progressive Lighting, IR Controlled, DIY Arduino Camera Robot (Motorized Pan Tilt Head). You can make this piece a bit longer depending on the size of your tire, but 19" left an 1" gap between the tire and the bamboo on my trike. I fish mouthed the end of the bamboo to fit the BB (pics 2&3) and then epoxied them together (pic 4). I found perfect plans from atomiczombie.com and I highly recomend their p. I found it really helpful to have a block cut at 70 and hot glued to the main boom (pic 6). Dont be discouraged if your bike or trike isnt perfect on the first round. I built it out of wood as I am more conversant with wood, modifications are easier and it's cheaper. R ecumbent trikes have become quite popular and for good reason. I think I probably overkilled this step but my concern was that the front wheels are only supported on one side of the wheel. As with the Fat Tire trike, we don't produce tandem trikes at performer (although we do produce a Tandem Recumbent Bike). When you make a cut be sure to mark a horizontal line across the end of the cut. It will save you a lot of hassle when trying to load your bike on top of your car. Or, you can build your own. Having received a few ex-hire KMX Recumbent Tricycles as a freebee, I set about converting one of them to full electric propulsion. One of the flaws of this design is that it's made for a single rider of a certain height as there is no adjustment for the seat. Any fb info is welcomed, Reply Starting at only $2,999.00. If you would like a good idea of the overall process of building a bike, this YouTube video is a good one to check out. The frame was very solid and didn't budge when I forced it laterally or bounced on it so I stopped there. If you make your miter cuts this way, you simply line up the plywood pieces to each other and the bamboo will matches perfectly (pic 3). The distance between the front tires is 30" on center and the distance between the front and rear tires is 48" from where they contact the ground. Bamboo is beautiful, light, stronger than mild steel and renewable. This worked pretty well although it wasn't as even as the zip ties so more filing and sanding was required. We highly recommend taking the time to learn the proper method - winging it leads to the hospital, not the bike trail. The tape is a real time saver as the resin is hard to get off of bamboo which has been dewaxed and sanded. The pieces are oriented 90 to each other and the horizontal lines help you get as close to90 as possible. Closely related to style and drive, there are several other design elements to think about. Recumbent building is more than just engineering -- its an artform. 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