Who has built their own?

[Mauleskinner]

A lot of the folks here are building or have built their own trailers, just wondering who has built their own bicycle, why, and where did you get the plans?

I built my 2x4 lowracer because I couldn't get a comparable recumbent for anywhere near the kind of money I have into it. And I really wasn't 100% sure what I wanted, so this gives me the opportunity to make changes fairly inexpensively, too.

Plus, it's just wierd enough to be "me" (at least, that's what my nieces say... )

btw...if you look closely at the "racing stripe" on the wheel arm, and compare it to the trim stripe on the Staggerwing in my avatar...

David

[GPW]

Dave , we got our ideas from atomiczombie.com and parts from the trash piles ,attics , sheds..wherever... Fun stuff, somewhat unusual..

[Greg M]

Here's the short wheelbase recumbent I built a year and a half ago:

the build website is here

When I finish the trailer, I'm thinking about starting another.

-Greg

[quadrider]

I built a four wheeled sociable afew years ago
it has independant suspension and gearing, disc brakes. The frame is made of plywood covered in west systems epoxie. There is some more pictures in my album.

Stevehttp://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=39153

[quadrider]

I have built several recumbents 2, 3 and 4 wheels, they are a blast to ride and very comfortable, as far as climbing hills goes on my trikes you can go as slow as you want. Here is a link to some build pictures of the trikes.
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/quadrider1/SB%20TRIKE/
I think I fixed the link.
Steve

[toypusher]

Steve, you PhotoBucket link is incomplete!

[cuyeda]

I thought it was interesting to see this on Costco.com

[Mauleskinner]

Those are some cool vehicles, Steve (I guess technically they're not "bikes" )...wish I had your metal working talent. Unfortunately, I think I'm the only one in my family who can't weld. I like your mahogany/plywood stuff, though...might steal a little bit of those concepts when I get time.

David

[quadrider]

David,
My brother does all my welding for me, my dad ran his own welding business for years but I could never get the hang of it, I think it is more of an art.

Steve

[TPMcGinty]

I have built several recumbents 2, 3 and 4 wheels, they are a blast to ride and very comfortable, as far as climbing hills goes on my trikes you can go as slow as you want. Here is a link to some build pictures of the trikes.
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/quadrider1/SB%20TRIKE/
I think I fixed the link.
Steve

Steve,

I'd love to build a recumbent trike. Any suggestions for some good Web Sites, Forums, and Plans?

[Greg M]

Hey Tim,

Take a look at http://www.ihpva.org/com/PracticalInnov ... index.html
for a well laid out set of plans.

-Greg

[TPMcGinty]

Hey Tim,

Take a look at http://www.ihpva.org/com/PracticalInnov ... index.html
for a well laid out set of plans.

-Greg

Thanks Greg! Now I have something to read while I'm camping this weekend!

[Mauleskinner]

Hey Tim,

Take a look at http://www.ihpva.org/com/PracticalInnov ... index.html
for a well laid out set of plans.

-Greg

Oh, now that's just CRUEL!!! I've got too many projects already!

[bobhenry]

Pictures are long gone in a house fire but at about 13 I decided I wanted an upside down bicycle.

You take a standard 26" midweight bicycle and remove rear tire and pedal crank and reinstall backwards so when you flip the bike upside down it will pedal correctly. Remove the front fork and reinstall it upside down. You will need to weld in a handlebar extention and a long seat post. I struggled with this part of the project until our neighbor Mr. Hudson heard about my delima. He owned a machine shop and he loaded me and the bike up and in 20 minutes I had the extensions installed and was good to go. I road my upsie down bike thouands of miles in the next couple of years. Mr Hudson is no longer with us but I would still like to thank him for reaching down and helping the "neighbor kid"

[MrBuzz]

I have posted this before...but I got interested in building recumbents about 10 years ago.
This is the first recumbent I made. Turned out really nice...I still ride it...very easy on the neck and wrists.
The plans came from http://www.bentechbikes.com/. I modified the original plans to use a standard bike rear wheel stays (triangle).



I made another one for my daughter and then this long wheelbase model.