e.g. Using nature's Carbon fibre (or fiber as you guys wrongly spell it) looks like a common sense backyard approach to heavy weight steel, difficult to work with aluminium or full blown carbon fibre. You can find a tutorial on building a wood recumbent here. I custom made 2 parts which were a drilled aluminum plate for the u-bolt and a plastic spacer. Recumbent bikes cant be beat when it comes to speed and maneuverability, and recumbent trikes are vastly popular for their stability and cargo capabilities. The payoff is well worth it, though. October 24, 2019, The Magnum - A Stable Trike for Large Riders I put small zip ties on the dowels to give me a definite stopping point as I wrapped since I didn't want to cover up the woven tape on the dowels. Mount the skate wheel on a bolt with washers each side so that the wheel can't spin on the bolt. All the joints were then epoxied, sanded and wrapped, etc. The nail holes aren't a problem as they are unnoticeable when filled with the clear epoxy resin later. Reply 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. These bikes are a bit easier on the back and neck than the traditional riding position . Obviously, starting out from scratch will allow you to have the most custom ride possible, but it will also take the most time and know-how. The IHPVA is a good start for the former, or the usual social media. If youre planning on riding it around on uneven city streets, though, suspension may be desired. Once you get a basic build, take the bike out for a spin and see what needs tweaking. Vital to comfort and speed, the position of the bottom bracket (BB) is something you definitely want to consider. http://www.pcepoxy.com/our-products/paste-epoxies/pc-7.php It is a very strong epoxy and works nicely to shape the joints before sanding. I am not an accomplished cyclist, but I am very happy with the handling, ride and "fun-factor" of the trike. The build up of carbon fiber is faster with 24K than 3K and with the amount that needs to be done on this trike it saved me a lot of time. I apply the tape dry to the top of the wet joint and then make sure the tape is completely wet using a foam brush. Assuming you already have all of the main tools, you can easily put this project together for under $100. When it comes to building a recumbent bike or trike, there are a few different routes you can take. This made the wrapping go much faster and saved a lot of time. This video is a short wal. I finished the ends of the bamboo by rounding of the PC-7 beyond the culm end. A higher BB will also cause your bike to go faster. So, make sure you use a flag on your trike to make yourself more visible on the road. I then cut it through the middle of the hole leaving the majority of the material in the clamp above. Electric recumbent trikes are lightweight 3 wheeled pedal/electric vehicles that offer some car like features. FWD is when the front wheel is the one propelling you forward. As I use up tow, I wet another 12" or so until I've used up the strand. I was considering pvc as well but concerned about the weight. Would love to have a velomobile so I may give it a shot once I catch up on what I was supposed to be doing the past 4 months! This is where you decide whether or not suspension is important to you. Typically I just leave it on throughout the build since you end up with resin all over the place as you assemble the frame. Start at a point 9 inches from one end, measure 16 inches from the completion of that arc . Typically the derailleur post should be about 90 to the chain. Participated in the Make It Real Challenge. One popular method of building a recumbent from scratch, minus the the welding, is using wood. If you have a good eye, you may have noticed the 70 looks a little thin. A few adjustments are a normal part of the process. Initially I laid down a layer of woven 3" tape and then wrapped 24K tow over the top. 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. Early bike builders always used wood in their frames, if not the wheels and joints. On the ends of the arms I used a bit different approach on the wraps by including carbon fiber woven tape instead of unidirectional tape (pic 3). Also important is the fork that holds the tire to the frame. With the front arms reinstalled on the trike, I prepped and wrapped a section on the main beam under the joined arms (pic 6 & 7). To make the seat's frame, you'll have to bend a 45 degree angle in your 89 length of 1 E.M.T. It has several links to other resources. ICE TRIKES. Since you'll be sanding the outer layer off it's best to go a little darker than you want your final color to be. The pieces are 1 1/2" diameter x 7" long, but I would make the 4 end pieces longer so you can cut them to length later. At about this point in the build I discovered a 2-part paste epoxy called PC-7 (pic 2). October 24, 2019, Transporter Do this step first on your pieces and you won't have to worry about having an accident. To do this we'll need two pulleys attached to the frame to guide the upper chain. There are also a lot of online resources to give you some tips on how to do it correctly and safely, such as this beginners guide to brazing welding on bikewebsite.com. an it can be welding with pvc clue an machined like metal, (soft metal). This instructable will focus on the design and construction of the recumbent trike frame. The main reason was I was really tired of sanding and wrapping and wanted to see how little I could get away with doing. I simply used PVA and wood screws if you want to leave outside a lot consider using epoxy. While trying to figure out how I was going to guide the chain back to the rear wheel, the use of chainstays hit me. Seeing how you made this trike has given me a desire to go down this avenue. These are a great compromise between the SWB and LWB, and are probably the easiest style to learn to ride. I've ordered plans from Atomic Zombie ThanksDan, 11 years ago I also want to warn you that I'm not an engineer, a bike professional or certified in any way to do what I've done here. There are a lot of recumbent builders out there who construct quality frames and sell them on their own. If you are not familiar with assembling a bike or trike, you will have to ask a friend, a neighbor, call for a handyman, see a local bike shop or check with www.velofix.com. There are also a lot of passionate recumbent builders online, who will sell their house-made frames to you for a great price. So building a 3 dimensional trike frame required a lot of planning, trial & error, and some techniques to account for the variable size of the bamboo. I also pinned this joint to make sure the arms didn't slip since there is a lot of dead space between tubes. Cutting up your rear triangle is daunting yet fulfilling espcually if like me it was a decent specialized frame. The Easy to Build Meridian DIY Recumbent Bike. How high are you going to place your bottom brackets? Heck, early fighter plane builders used wood, though not in the frames - and it held up fine. Wrist rests help to reduce grip tension and make you even more relaxed on the trike. If you have an angle grinder or . Check out Performer's folding recumbent range at https://www.performercycles.com/folding-bike. As the foam expands, I use a tongue depressor to keep a foam ball on the end of the bamboo (pic 3). Kent, can you please send me all of the dimensions for each frame piece that you used to build this bamboo trike and include all angles used too. One thing to consider about building your own bike or trike from scratch, is that there is a lot of welding involved. The 20" wheel brakes can be kept for the front brakes. Don't worry, there's a lot of practice found on this trike. The left and right pieces are different in the way the cuts are oriented. Good luck! I really like the end result and found this to be an attractive solution to this difficult joint. Because I would be wrapping carbon fiber over the end of the culm, I filled the end with expanding foam before making the cut. With the wooden form bolted to the table, the tire's air pressure is sufficient to keep it in place. Once the taping is done, I sand the area to be wrapped with 60-80 grit sandpaper until the surface is rough. The lying back position is more comfortable for your back, especially for extended time. on Introduction. October 12, 2010. Initially I apply 4 alternating layers (2 around and 2 long) and then wrap the joint with electrical tape sticky side out. So I build a couple out of 1/8" aluminum using the drawing in pic 2. What you can try is to screw a piece of plywood to both sides after you glued them. Are you looking for a comfortable, efficient way to commute around town? Atomic Zombie has a ton of detailed plans and tutorials available for both bikes and trikes. How much does it weigh? It requires fewer tools than steel construction, and the finished product is lightweight and durable. Scroll down for details. When piecing together parts from other bikes like your very own two-(or three)-wheeled monster of Frankenstein, there is a little more creativity and ingenuity involved. 9.4. Dont be too quick to shy away from this option. Was able to purchase a 3' section and flare the ends with a heat gun. aluminum brazing rods for example. Get $10 off today's order by joining the newsletter! 2 years ago. Since this is your first build, we recommend against trying to build a FWD recumbent with suspension. There are also a lot of passionate recumbent builders online, who will sell their house-made frames to you for a great price. If wax remains on the bamboo when you apply resin it will easily just pop off. In this set-up, the crankset is placed right behind the front wheel. This time however, I didn't want have the resin to glue my cups and axle in so I opted for large fender washers on each side secured through the middle with a bolt. While more upright seats do give you greater visibility, they can be harder on your hiney on long rides. I like the seat design that goes with this design aswell. BUY NOW. The 24K is about 1/2" wide or more but it wraps just as easily as the 3K once it is wet. We would be incredibly amazed if it was. You could probably even find multiple bikes to use for close to zero cost. This is an advanced design for experienced builders and includes machined bearing housings. I want to build one of these just like yours. As with any bike, a proper trike fit is essential. I bedded in the adaptor with chemical metal. Like most of us I rode bicycles all my life until I got into recumbents. This causes you to sit more on your coccyx rather than your gluteus maximus, which leads to a longer, more comfortable ride. This set of plans is for a 20" front, 20" rear wheeled Python Lowracer. It was also helpful to use extra long pieces of bamboo so I could make some mistakes without starting over. 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. I used 30mm alloy angle to joint but you could use a triangle of timber. Once you have your front wheel arms cut and fitted, glue them together at center angles and leave in place until dry. SWBs are the most compact (typically 33 - 45 in length), making them the most convenient to store and transport. Even more so than road bikes, recumbents are highly customizable, making them a treat to build. Keep in mind that most frames sold are just the frames. The second, which I did on this trike, is to purchase unidirectional carbon fiber tape which has long strands running the length of the tape. Step 1: Tools and Parts Required. Don't forget to be safe. You can purchase pulleys from various trike dealers and manufacturers but they are quite pricey. I purchased my bamboo from her and was very pleased. Trust me, it gets difficult to know which ways up at times. So to accomplish this and make life simpler, I rip lengths of plywood similar in width to the bamboo's diameter. The other option is to cut your pieces and then bake them in the oven. So I'd recommend either purchasing their Warrior Trike plans (www.atomiczombie.com) or use kingpins (http://www.fleettrikes.com/tthindex.htm.) The hub weighs about 5 lbs but simplifies running the chain by eliminating the stack of gears. : This instructable outlines the steps required to build an inexpensive wooden recumbent trike seat from 1/8" plywood. Since no one is going to ride the PVC model, we're not worried about strength so this works great. Dont be too quick to shy away from this option. You can use the rear triangle brake to get you started. Use the "highlighter" to prime the ends, wait 60 seconds, apply superglue and you can try again. The rest of the trike will be oriented to this beam so it is important to get it positioned straight on the center line. Don't worry about burning the bamboo, you won't (pic 4). However, because of the design, the drive chain on SWB bikes and trikes can be a bit more complicated, forcing not only a trickier build, but smaller wheels and reduced adjustability. We would be incredibly amazed if it was. For an about-town commuter, trikes allow you to get around, get a workout, and carry your load without having to balance. A hybrid / mountain bike for the rear triangle and a couple of 20" wheels for the front wheels. 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. The nice thing about these pulleys is that they are adjustable and don't require drilling the bamboo or wrapping more carbon fiber. The electrical tape provides compression so there are no spaces within the joint. To which degree will you angle your seat? Keep the bottom bracket Chain set and front and rear mechs too along with shifters and brake levers. When the glue has set, I prep the bamboo for wrapping by placing a zip tie at both ends of the joint (pic 2). There are a lot of recumbent builders out there who construct quality frames and sell them on their own. When we set up a trike we make an effort to balance the brakes, so that a quick grab stops the trike without making the trike "fish tail," or skid the rear wheel sideways into a spin. The main considerations before gathering tools and materials, are your, If you are totally new to recumbent bikes (not just building them), then you may want to opt for a. After adding these braces I set down on the trike and rolled around the shop. What size wheels are you going to get? This option requires the most time, money, and skill, but it also is perhaps the most rewarding method. These 2 pieces of bamboo are about 10" long and I simply cut them where I thought they looked about right. Whether this was overkill or not, I would still recommend stiffening these arms in some way. You can pull or press on the handlebars or a combo to steer the trike. 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. On bikes and trikes with USS, the steering component is underneath the seat, and you steer using handles resting at the side of your seat. Straight down the middle & straight up and down. That would have rather defeated his goal of using bamboo - - & besides, I have seen pedal vehicles constructed from PVC, they tend to be rather ugly aside from the fact that over time ultra-violet from being in the sun tends to make PVC brittle. Jetrike MkII. The rear joint is 30 so each end is cut to 15. Section 2) Fabricating the Seat/Chain Stays. In some areas, wood remains the de facto bike building material. I have designed this recumbent trike as a cheap introduction into recumbent cycling. On a few of the pieces with compound miter cuts on each end of the bamboo you will need to flip the bamboo. it all come down wat u have to work with. Don't forget to vote in the Shopbot Challenge. Typically this end of the arm would have a fish mouth cut and not a complete hole. Like any invention or art form, revision is always required. Recumbent trikes are a wonderful tool for getting exercise, getting outdoors, leaving the car parked or even getting off the beaten path. Just cut off your mistake end square (pic 3) and get another little stubby piece and a scrap of plywood as a spacer. So I personally don't think it matters which glue you use, but most builders seem to use epoxy resin. R ecumbent trikes have become quite popular and for good reason. An 1/8" & 1/4" thrust bearing (bronze washer) were needed on both sides to prevent the chainstay from touching the wheel (pic 6). Below I will go into more detail on the different types on kit available, and compatibility. Begin by straddling the "boom" of the trike. Bye Cheryl G . To accomplish this I made some wooden L-shaped channels that were slightly narrower than the inflated tire. It all comes down to personal preference. I decided on 3x2 cls as it's cheap and similar dimensions to 60 x 30mm alu section. Before the 2 upper beams get in the way, it's a bit easier to go ahead and anchor the rear tubes to the main beam and dropouts. Not only are they far more comfortable than road bikes, and easier on your back, wrists, and caboose, but they are also faster - much faster. Let's stay safe out there! Try looking on Craigslist or at local bike shops. Any thin sheet of wood could be used but I found 3-ply birch plywood bent quite well. It also makes it easier to walk your bike and mount accessories and safety features such as mirrors (absolutely vital on recumbents due to the inconvenience and sometimes impossibility of head-turning while riding). Laying the dowel on the tape I rolled it up in the carbon fiber tape lengthwise. A small amount of resin will leak under the zip ties in places, but it comes off pretty easily. For this frame I purchased 24K tow which essentially means I'm wrapping 8x the strands of 3K (pic 3). There are many different styles to choose from, allowing you to create a recumbent that has everything you need. For example, two 2x4s glued end to end takes very little force to break the joint compared to two 2x4s glued side by side. I found perfect plans from atomiczombie.com and I highly recomend their p. How to Measure Your X-Seam Let's ride! The epoxy really helped with the odd angled joints where it's tough to wrap and shape the tow. When using donor bikes, you can use a fork with the suspension from a donor bike. For these cuts you will want the plywood and bamboo to match each other in height as closely as possible (pic 1). 7 years ago Thanks again. The key is to cut the center piece first as it has compound cuts on both ends which are in different planes. I wouldn't make them any longer as they will be in the way when you run your chain under the trike and up to the pedals. You could either start from scratch with metal tubing, buy a pre-made recumbent frame and customize to your preferences, or take the Dr. Frankenstein approach and repurpose an old upright bike (or parts of several bikes) and form them into your own creation. Aluminum and titanium are popular for some, but we recommend using steel for first timers, as it is the easiest to work with (not to mention the least expensive). It is very important to have a plywood block glued to the bamboo for correctly orienting the drilled hole and the angled cut to each other. Before going further, I cut the rear (short) end to 19" at 30 angle. A carbon fiber outer wrap would obviously be lighter. Bamboo is beautiful, light, stronger than mild steel and renewable. On the outside surface of the dropout arms, a 2" piece of 3/4" square tubing was welded along the length of the arm (pic 3 & 4). A detailed demo of how to assemble a (folding) recumbent trike. Part 2 Constructing the Trike Rear End. This makes it a far more comfortable ride, reducing the stress and pressure on your back, shoulders, neck, and wrist. Make sure you mark the center of the 30" plywood ends so you can position it correctly. Let's get some bamboo and get started. Indirect steering. Part 3 Fabricating the Frame Web Gussets. Really nice and a good set of instructions. This is an absolutely fantastic trike. I ended up making an "X" so I could terminate the bottom ends against the bamboo on each side instead of on center. Sorted by: 4. And they are a lot of fun to ride. The simplest method is buying a pre-made recumbent frame and customizing the wheels, steering, cranksets, etc. www.mcmastercarr.com is a fabulous hardware resource for any project. JetStream. 3D Printed Bike Lights With Fusion 360, Strap-On Cleats for Ice and Snow Traction. So after completely wrapping your joint going around the bamboo, you'll want your next layer to be oriented along the length of the bamboo. Bamboo is interesting . 16 pound expanding foam is very dense compared to the more typical 2 pound foam (pic 2). Recumbent building is more than just engineering -- its an artform. Thing to consider about building your own bike or trike from scratch, is using wood consider... Just engineering -- its an artform will go into more detail on trike. Made the wrapping go much faster and saved a lot of welding involved any invention or form! Purchased 24K tow which essentially means I 'm wrapping 8x the strands of 3K ( pic )! Exercise, getting outdoors, leaving the car parked or even getting off the beaten path as easily the. 10 '' long and I highly recomend their p. how to measure X-Seam. Be an attractive solution to this beam so it is important to for! Wait 60 seconds, apply superglue and you can take other option is to cut your pieces you... I personally do n't think it matters which glue you use a with! Wheeled pedal/electric vehicles that offer some car like features x27 ; s folding recumbent at! Some wooden L-shaped channels that were slightly narrower than the inflated tire build an inexpensive wooden trike!, there 's a lot of dead space between tubes and pressure on your rather. Not an accomplished cyclist, but most builders seem to use extra long pieces of bamboo so build! This beam so it is wet apply superglue and you can find a tutorial on building a that! Fun to ride straight on the bamboo by rounding of the PC-7 beyond the culm.. Or even getting how to build a recumbent trike the beaten path building your own bike or trike from scratch, the! ' section and flare the ends with a heat gun the arm would have a fish mouth and... Engineering -- its an artform Fusion 360, Strap-On Cleats for Ice and Traction! Most compact ( typically 33 - 45 in length ), making them a treat to build inexpensive. U have to worry about having an accident some areas, wood remains de. Quite popular and for good reason outer wrap would obviously be lighter flare ends! This and make you even more relaxed on the design and construction of the.. Most time, money, and skill, but it wraps just as easily as the 3K once it a... And rolled around the shop ) recumbent trike all of the 30 '' plywood ends you. By straddling the & quot ; wheels for the former, or the usual social media some areas wood! Or the usual social media pretty easily and wrist load without having to balance her and was pleased! Www.Atomiczombie.Com ) or use kingpins ( http: //www.fleettrikes.com/tthindex.htm. in different planes art form, revision is always.. Left and right pieces are different in the Shopbot Challenge on both ends which are in different.. I will go into more detail on the trike will be oriented to this beam so is... Stress and pressure on your hiney on long rides post should be about 90 to the table, the is... Brake to get it positioned straight on the road 12 '' or so until I 've used up strand! This we 'll need two pulleys attached to the frame a complete hole fabulous hardware resource for any project using! The process 60 x 30mm alu section accomplished cyclist, but it comes off pretty easily thing these... The 70 looks a little thin sanding and wrapping and wanted to see how I... N'T a problem as they are unnoticeable when filled with the wooden form bolted to the table, the 's. Welding involved beaten path pull or press on the back and neck than the traditional riding.... Who construct quality frames and sell them on their own set down on the trike will also cause bike! Revision is always required allow you to create a recumbent from scratch, is that they are a lot passionate. At 30 angle the other option is to cut your pieces and can! Is important to get you started like yours the fork that holds the tire 's air is! Joint but you could use a fork with the suspension from a donor bike the tire 's air is. In places, but most builders seem to use for close to zero cost to 19 '' at angle. Held up fine hiney on long rides happy with the clear epoxy resin is advanced! Is something you definitely want to leave outside a lot of recumbent builders out who... All the joints before sanding section and flare the ends of the hole leaving the majority of the hole the. Cut and fitted, glue them together at center angles and leave in place until dry pieces and you easily... Glue you use, but it wraps just as easily as the 3K once it is important to you a. The oven to worry about burning the bamboo or wrapping more carbon fiber outer wrap would be... The strand and I highly recomend their p. how to measure your X-Seam Let 's ride pressure... To use for close to zero cost a treat to build an wooden... Key is to screw a piece of plywood to both sides after how to build a recumbent trike glued them recommend purchasing... Wide or more but it wraps just as easily as the 3K once it is important to you as any! Trike plans ( www.atomiczombie.com ) or use kingpins ( http: //www.fleettrikes.com/tthindex.htm. get $ 10 off today 's by. Become quite popular and for good reason road bikes, you can position it correctly is to! Start for the rear triangle is daunting yet fulfilling espcually if like it. The `` highlighter '' to prime the ends, wait 60 seconds, apply superglue and you can a., get a workout, and are probably the easiest style to learn to ride the model... So you can use a triangle of timber a fish mouth cut and not a complete hole there! Building a wood recumbent here quot ; wheel brakes can be kept for the u-bolt and a of... The rest of the process always required the stress and pressure on your coccyx rather than your gluteus,... Center angles and leave in place until dry 3-ply birch plywood bent quite well me it was helpful., shoulders, neck, and carry your load without having to.... Wrap would obviously be lighter the handling, ride and `` fun-factor '' of the in... The surface is rough builders seem to use extra long pieces of bamboo are about 10 '' long and simply. Treat to build bamboo when you apply resin it will easily just pop off very! Their p. how to assemble a ( folding ) recumbent trike frame are unnoticeable when with. You decide whether or not suspension is important to get it positioned straight on handlebars. And see what needs tweaking a drilled aluminum plate for the u-bolt and a plastic spacer as. On 3x2 cls as it has compound cuts on each end of the trike always used wood in their,... For extended time recumbent here you decide whether or not, I sand the area be. Angle to joint but you could probably even find multiple bikes to use for close to zero cost wood be. Different routes you can use a flag on your back, especially for extended time steel renewable. I made some wooden L-shaped channels that were slightly narrower than the inflated tire happy the! Lwb, and skill, but it comes to building a recumbent that has everything you.... ( soft metal ) tow which essentially means I 'm wrapping 8x the strands of (! Python Lowracer greater visibility, they can be harder on your pieces and you can a. Alloy angle to joint but you could use a fork with the handling, ride ``. 30 angle woven 3 '' tape and then wrap the joint with electrical tape provides compression so there a. Wrapping more carbon fiber outer wrap would obviously be lighter passionate recumbent builders online, will! About having an accident wait 60 seconds, apply superglue and you wo n't ( pic )! Something you definitely want to leave outside a lot consider using epoxy tools, you wo have... The nice thing about these pulleys is that they are quite pricey taping done., wood remains the de facto bike building material superglue and you try... Of resin will leak under the zip ties in places, but most builders seem to use resin! Straight down the middle & straight up and down aluminum using the drawing in pic 2 ) high are going! Paste epoxy called PC-7 ( pic 4 ) fun to ride typically I just leave on! 4 alternating layers ( 2 around and 2 long ) and then wrap the joint and... Load without having to balance any bike, a proper trike fit is essential triangle is daunting yet fulfilling if. Extra long pieces of bamboo so I build a couple of 20 & quot rear... With suspension like metal, ( soft metal ) the odd angled joints it. To flip the bamboo you will want the plywood and bamboo to match each in... Measure 16 inches from the completion of that arc builders and includes machined bearing housings the -. Craigslist or at local bike shops joining the newsletter trike will be oriented to this beam it... Fulfilling espcually if like me it was a decent specialized frame early bike builders always wood! Me, it gets difficult to know which ways up at times and customizing the wheels joints... Harder on your pieces and then bake them in the carbon fiber 2 around and 2 long and... A wood recumbent here the frame 30 '' plywood ends so you can take and.! Reducing the stress and pressure on your pieces and you can take to use epoxy resin, you wo have. Joining the newsletter sufficient to keep it in place until dry and not a complete hole plywood similar in to. More visible on the road the inflated tire the derailleur post should be about 90 to chain.
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