When you consider that bamboo doesnt have a flat surface to orient it, it becomes difficult to precisely join cut pieces together in the same plane. Question There is a lot of variety between species in wall thickness and rigidity so investigate a bit. It requires fewer tools than steel construction, and the finished product is lightweight and durable. 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. I then wrapped the tape and dowel with electrical tape with the sticky side out as before. Carbon fiber's strength is only along it's length so you want to wrap pieces which are as long as you can manage. I'm completely self-taught by reading as much as I can and I certainly don't know it all or have much experience. The hole is centered on the bamboo 7/8" from the end. This made the wrapping go much faster and saved a lot of time. Since no one is going to ride the PVC model, we're not worried about strength so this works great. Some people use helmets with lights on them, lighted flagpoles, and other similar things to keep themselves safe. Take a look at this guide from Wind & Water for exact dimensions and materials needed to build a recumbent bike. One popular method of building a recumbent from scratch, minus the the welding, is using, 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, 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. I found the cross member needed to be under ones knees when the pedals were at 12/6 o'clock. 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. One such enthusiast is A.D. Carson at Recycled Recumbents, whose work was even featured on NPR. And they are a lot of fun to ride. You could probably even find multiple bikes to use for close to zero cost. On the dropouts I needed epoxy inside the bamboo, but for this little decorative end I'm not worried about strength so the foam was quick and easy. 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. Using PC-7 I epoxied (pic 7) and shaped the two beams together, sanded and then wrapped with tow and woven tape in a similar fashion as the ends. You can use the rear triangle brake to get you started. Or, if a trike is what youre planning to attempt, Rikey M. Horowitz has put together detailed instructions on how to do just that. 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. It does present some challenges however, as culms or poles are not perfectly round, taper from end to end and remain flexible even when cured. Again I used a 5/16" auger bit to drill out the holes and then tapped in 5/16" steel pins (pics 3-5). It was a great help .. would you please tell how to do fairing for this ? While it was comfortable and nice to ride, I didnt consider it safe. All of the cuts are the same: saw blade angled at 10 and tilted at 10. Measurements for the pieces are in picture 2. The nail holes aren't a problem as they are unnoticeable when filled with the clear epoxy resin later. Getting the correct orientation on the center piece is the key. That will likely put the highest point of the trike more . I purchased my bamboo from her and was very pleased. If I were building in wood for good I would use full section 3x2 for increased strength and stiffness. Do this step first on your pieces and you won't have to worry about having an accident. You might recall I did something similar with epoxy on the dropouts, but that takes 24 hours to dry. The laying-back-feet-first position offered with recumbent trikes shakes up the traditional cycling position with some great benefits for the body and for safety. I also used the same resin as "Bamboobiker" -- Max CLR hp (pic 2) -- which you can buy here -- http://myworld.ebay.com/polymerproducts/. It also can provide for a more stable ride, although, they are more likely to understeer. Everything has worked out, but a more upright post would have made it easier to get everything aligned. A wonderful compromise between the two is a trike built for two. Once you get the design and build just right, you will have a long-lasting, highly-functioning, recumbent bicycle or tricycle for an unbelievable bargain. Beyond the cost, there is the problem that my bamboo frame isn't exactly 2" diameter so I started "figurin" again. Due to the extra weight and design, Recumbent trikes (and bikes) are an excellent choice for electric conversion. Recumbent bikes cant be beat when it comes to speed and maneuverability, and recumbent trikes are vastly popular for their stability and cargo capabilities. Brakes I am currently using a single rear v brake but plan on using front brakes soon, attached to a hammer headed steering arm with caliper brakes outboard and steering linkage inboard. I want to build one of these just like yours. Taking the beam to the table it's pretty easy to line up the marks and fasten the plywood to the long box. Try looking on Craigslist or at local bike shops. The seat is some scrap 3/8"/ 9mm ply 16" 400mm square. Using the plywood pieces as a guide, the 3 bamboo pieces are glued together (pic 1). Once the taping is done, I sand the area to be wrapped with 60-80 grit sandpaper until the surface is rough. From my mind to reality, this is my first attempt at a DIY home made recumbent electric tricycle.Two regular mountain bikes and one basic tricycle are torn a. Each method has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, and each one carries its own price tag. If youre building a recumbent trike, you have an extra style decision to make before you get started: tadpole or delta? Dont be too quick to shy away from this option. any replies from other people than the maker of this craft is welcome. some wood and fabric to make the seat or you can repurpose an old chair. In short, you had better know what you are doing and do it right. 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. 20 inches is pretty common for recumbent bikes, and some people prefer the smaller tires. A few adjustments are a normal part of the process. You'll also need leather gloves, safety glasses, and old bath towels or rags. Share it with us! While trying to figure out how I was going to guide the chain back to the rear wheel, the use of chainstays hit me. I will confess that I couldn't figure out how to clamp the pieces together so I actually superglued them and just held them in place. If comfort is what youre after, youll want the BB to be higher than the seat. Thanks again. I'll weigh it and let you know. This cut was made on the bandsaw. The main considerations before gathering tools and materials, are your wheelbase style and steering style. Seeing that I had a sram gripshift spare, I used it linked up to a mid level rear mech. From what I've heard, it's not something you'll do twice. 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. Tying the three long poles together as a unit minimizes the bamboos inherent flexibility creating a rigid frame. Human powered vehicles can be configured either way as well, and it is very important in both the construction and the function of your recumbent. Don't forget to vote in the Shopbot Challenge. I used a Bb30 to threaded adaptor approx $20. This makes them perfect for commuting around town. With the frame finally build, one of the remaining things to do is run the bike chain from the rear wheel, under the trike and up to the chain rings in front. 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. Small holes were drilled into the bamboo and carbon fiber in a circle around all three beams and brad nails were tapped in. An added advantage to this was that the fender washers prevent the tow from sliding off the edge which helped build-up (pics 8-10). A small amount of resin will leak under the zip ties in places, but it comes off pretty easily. This worked pretty well although it wasn't as even as the zip ties so more filing and sanding was required. If the bamboo arm going to the wheel flexes that would lead to major problems that would be hard to fix later. Design #2 is a variation of the popular Catrike Expedition recumbent (pic 4). I tried adding wheels to i. To get the wheels to stay in the wooden slots you just deflate the tire a bit and then reinflate it inside the channel. A tadpole recumbent trike is one in which there are two wheels in front, and one wheel in back. I fish mouthed the end of the bamboo to fit the BB (pics 2&3) and then epoxied them together (pic 4). 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. With the DIY craze in full swing, recycling old objects and turning them into something new has never been more trendy. 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. 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. 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! So, make sure you use a flag on your trike to make yourself more visible on the road. There are a lot of different glues I've heard people use including gorilla glue, wood glue and 2-part epoxy resin. After looking around a bit, I purchased two rubber coated 3/8" stainless steel u-bolts to fit 1-7/8" outer diameter pipe (part #30555T43) for $12 a piece (pic 1). Not only is wood easier to work with, but it also gives a ton of opportunities for custom design. This is an absolutely fantastic trike. Worked very well and the poly pipe is easy to heat and flare. I've ordered plans from Atomic Zombie ThanksDan, 11 years ago The lower chain needs a guide but it doesn't necessarily have to be a pulley. Tandem Recumbent Trike. Without the block it is virtually impossible to get your angle cuts together on midline (pic 5&6). For a long time, RWD was the only type of drive seen on bicycles. www.mcmastercarr.com is a fabulous hardware resource for any project. For each piece that will be cut, it needs at least 2 dime sized globs of glue (pic 1). 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. Electric recumbent trikes are lightweight 3 wheeled pedal/electric vehicles that offer some car like features. If you cut an angle and then roll the bamboo a bit to make your next cut, the difference will be even greater when you try to join the pieces. Section 1) Fabricating the Drop-Outs. Leave the plywood pieces glued to the bamboo through out the build as it will serve as a guide for orienting pieces to each other. The end of bamboo which will be attached to the main frame is cut at roughly 120 (pic 3). This is the method for you true artists and engineers out there. My first thought was just to pile them all onto a roof rack. Atomic Zombie has a ton of detailed plans and tutorials available for both bikes and trikes. I also pinned this joint to make sure the arms didn't slip since there is a lot of dead space between tubes. I cut up the cross member at 32"/ 800mm wide as I wanted a wider wheel base. Was able to purchase a 3' section and flare the ends with a heat gun. I cut the arms out of a scrap 10"/250mm 3x2. Low physical movement is required to steer. But I am here to tell you that when it comes to building a tadpole trike you intend to ride (or provide for someone else to ride) human life is at stake. Front wheel drive (FWD) and Rear wheel drive (RWD) arent just terms for cars. Finishing the ends of bamboo can be a little difficult and I figured out a way to make the end of the derailleur bamboo look a bit better. At about this point in the build I discovered a 2-part paste epoxy called PC-7 (pic 2). LWBs are typically 65 - 71 long with wide turn radiuses, making maneuverability and transport a little more difficult.  Any thin sheet of wood could be used but I found 3-ply birch plywood bent quite well. The reminant of the down tube was screwed into the underneath of the beam. tools for building your own recumbent can be found here. Look at thrift stores, garage sales, Craigslist, pawn shops, even dumpsters, for an old bike to give new life to. 2. Are you looking for a comfortable, efficient way to commute around town? on Step 7. When it comes to materials, there are a few different options. BUY NOW. After the foam sets up, it is shaved and sanded into a nice rounded end over which carbon fiber can be applied (pics 4&5). There are many different styles to choose from, allowing you to create a recumbent that has everything you need. Once the zip ties are in place, I wrap the rest of the bamboo with tape. So I'd recommend either purchasing their Warrior Trike plans (www.atomiczombie.com) or use kingpins (http://www.fleettrikes.com/tthindex.htm.) Make sure the pin is slightly shorter than the entire length so it doesn't protrude. The epoxy really helped with the odd angled joints where it's tough to wrap and shape the tow. 1. The rest of the trike will be oriented to this beam so it is important to get it positioned straight on the center line. These are a great compromise between the SWB and LWB, and are probably the easiest style to learn to ride. Nice design . Looks like a design I'd like to use for a great nation wide fund raising trip I'd like to use. I also purchased two 4" nylon v-belt idler pulleys with a 3/8" center hole (part #6234K45) for $10 a piece. After drying and sanding again, I lay down a top layer of carbon fiber to make it look good. If this project is your baby, and you want to see it through from the very beginning to the triumphant end, were here to tell you that your dream can indeed become a reality. I drill 1/8" holes in the electrical tape before applying it so that excess resin can escape during compression (pic 5). Considering bamboo or pvc recumbent trike with a hammock type seat, any positive feedback is appreciated. October 24, 2019, Transporting and Traveling with a Lightfoot Cycle I later sculpted them so they would not catch on my calves. The wheelbase style determines where your front wheel and crankset will lie, as well as the handling and ease of transport of your recumbent. on Introduction. Puncturing the nodes allows air to escape when you are heat treating the bamboo. Not good. They are far safer than bicycles. The idea is to keep the carbon fiber wet with resin while wrapping as evenly and smoothly as possible. A detailed demo of how to assemble a (folding) recumbent trike. Having received a few ex-hire KMX Recumbent Tricycles as a freebee, I set about converting one of them to full electric propulsion. Approach the trike from either side in front of one of the front wheels and step over the boom with one foot with your back facing the front of the seat. Read and educate yourself as much as you can and I look forward to getting your comments on how to improve my techniques. The frame weighs 15 pounds but I haven't weighed the assembled trike yet. Step 6: Mounting the Front Cross Member. 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. In addition to a welder, youll need a good hacksaw, a bench vise, a conduit bender, clamps, and several other tools to get the job done. How to Measure Your X-Seam This option requires the most time, money, and skill, but it also is perhaps the most rewarding method. 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. In this great video series by Pithy Bikes, he is welding an upright bike, but the skills and processes are the same for no matter what youre welding. aluminum tig an mig will work as well. I purchased PC-7 at Ace Hardware. But because of the stable riding position you can ride at very slow speeds in low gears. You can tell I'm enthused can't you? Finally I used a couple of furniture blocks to bring in the pivot point for simplified Akerman steering. Picture 6 is out of sequence but you can see how the bands ended up looking after some filing and sanding. To get the correct height for the piece I built a box 5" tall and around 30" long and bolted it on the center line of the table. For that we'll need some dropouts. Wrist rests help to reduce grip tension and make you even more relaxed on the trike. For an about-town commuter, trikes allow you to get around, get a workout, and carry your load without having to balance. 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. Seat angle affects speed, comfort, and safety. 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. The steering component is mounted in front, usually in line with the shoulders. Are you looking for a comfortable, efficient way to commute around town? 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. Just because a frame was made in some dudes garage doesnt mean that its a death trap. I wonder if I could substitute PVC pipes for Bamboo canes. Wrapping carbon fiber tow (tow=ribbon) is an acquired skill and it gets easier with practice. You can pull or press on the handlebars or a combo to steer the trike. This method may also take a few tries to get just right. 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). I then used my heat gun to remove the center block from the bamboo beam and replaced it with a piece approximately 30" long for attaching to the long box (pic 2). To use a double or triple you will need a tube above the chain set on which to mount the front mech. Is suspension important to you? When it comes to steering style, two options exist: Above Seat Steering (ASS) and Under Seat Steering (USS). 9.4. To do this we'll need two pulleys attached to the frame to guide the upper chain. Bamboo is interesting . The last pictures show the dropouts installed on the rear wheel and the angled pieces in place (pics 4-6). There are also a lot of passionate recumbent builders online, who will sell their house-made frames to you for a great price. Smaller wheels are hard to find, but not impossible. Repeat this step until the pole looks dull and then continue heating a smaller area about 3-4" long all the way around. The picture looks better than it really was. A higher BB will also cause your bike to go faster. I drilled a 40mm hole just above the edge. I decided on 3x2 cls as it's cheap and similar dimensions to 60 x 30mm alu section. Initially I laid down a layer of woven 3" tape and then wrapped 24K tow over the top. Full disclosure here;) I would estimate that greater than 50% of the time it took to build this trike was spend on sanding and wrapping. You do have a couple of other options. I sanded the bamboo again to remove any epoxy and remove blemishes. The expanding foam takes about 10 minutes to set up so I think it was worth the 20 minutes it took to round off the end. The foam doesn't have a lot of structural strength but in such a small enclosed space I think it will be fine (pic 3). Takes a bit of finesse with the irregular bamboo, but on short pieces it's possible. Since I knew so little about carbon fiber, epoxy resins, etc, I went with Bamboobiker's suggestions and was very happy. The build starts by making the center beam out of 2" bamboo. Good idea using the skinny pipe to keep the chain on track. At, There are many great plans out there to help you get started. These bikes have a lot more to offer than storage capabilities, though. Obviously youll need wheels. What size wheels are you going to get? 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. If it's not right, get the heat gun to melt the glue and keep trying until you're happy. SWBs are the most compact (typically 33 - 45 in length), making them the most convenient to store and transport. As a guideline, keep in mind that the BB on a typical racing recumbent is usually placed about 5 inches above the seat, if not more. on Introduction. 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). Recumbent tricycles are ideal adaptive bikes and . This really helps when you are trying repeatedly to achieve the right length or when you've got one end correct and screw up the other. If using a Larger 30+ cassette the use a long arm mech. This part is a bit tricky since you want the BB level horizontally, square to the main boom and the derailleur bamboo at 70 to the main boom. Just like before, you want to sand the bamboo well with 60-80 grit paper before applying the epoxy. And that is that! On a 2" diameter piece of bamboo, the diameter may vary 1/8". I finished the ends of the bamboo by rounding of the PC-7 beyond the culm end. Recommended. Considering that recumbent bikes go for well over $1,000 at the bike shop (and recumbent trikes even more), a custom recumbent for $100 is one hell of a bargain. Tripod Folding Electric Recumbent Three Wheels Bike Trike Tricycle, Layback Bike. Connecting the upper "seat" beams and the main beam on this trike will cause them to act like a truss where the beams brace off one another. Plastic cutting boards are a great way to buy colored plastic cheaply for projects. When you mix the 2 parts it becomes a gooey sticky paste but it is easily sculpted using denatured alcohol. Picture 7 is out of sequence also but you can see the finished epoxy end on the dropouts. Let's get some bamboo and get started. Since each person is different, following one guys plan exactly (no matter how perfect it was for him), may not end up perfect for you. As you can see in picture 4, the ends of these tubes are cut in opposite directions to match the front arms. This makes it a far more comfortable ride, reducing the stress and pressure on your back, shoulders, neck, and wrist. I used similar size metal about 2 1/2" long and extended both pieces. There are really three different wheelbase styles you can choose from: Short Wheelbase Bike (SWB), Long Wheelbase Bike (LWB), and Compact Long Wheelbase Bike (CLWB). We would be incredibly amazed if it was. I really like the end result and found this to be an attractive solution to this difficult joint. 1. It is still the most common way to configure a chain on a bicycle, and makes configuring suspension much easier. An 1/8" & 1/4" thrust bearing (bronze washer) were needed on both sides to prevent the chainstay from touching the wheel (pic 6). It's a marathon, not a sprint. Starting at only $2,999.00. A triangle is always stronger so all the bracing was done in a triangular pattern. So the zip tie creates a buffer to which the resin won't stick and makes a nice distinct edge. You need a regular propane torch to gradually heat the bamboo over a fairly large area. I found perfect plans from atomiczombie.com and I highly recomend their p. 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. This limits the amount of sanding and rewrapping you'll have to do to make the joint look good. Pictures 2-5 show the progress of the bracing under the seat. The 20" wheel brakes can be kept for the front brakes. 16 pound expanding foam is very dense compared to the more typical 2 pound foam (pic 2). As the build progressed, I spent more and more time shaping the epoxy around the joint using alcohol because it significantly decreased sanding time. To attach the rear arms to the dropouts, I used PC-7 and forced as much as I could into and around the 3/4" square tubing inside the bamboo. When it comes to steering style, two options exist: Vital to comfort and speed, the position of the. These wheel "holders" were bolted to the table in their appropriate spots where they remained until the frame was complete (pic 2). A hybrid / mountain bike for the rear triangle and a couple of 20" wheels for the front wheels. The first step to preparing the bamboo is puncturing the nodes inside the bamboo to allow air to escape during heating. (I'm getting a headache just remembering this part.) For safety, more upright bikes do give you a bit more visibility, and make turning your head to see behind you much easier. As I mentioned before I used Atomic Zombie plans to build the hubs so that info belongs to them. Used an old 26"Diamond Back, Fleet Streak; too Heavy. A lot of these people are really passionate about what they do, and have tons of experience in building durable recumbent frames. On the wheel end, a 1 1/4" hole is drilled with a Forstner bit (pic 4). Long overshadowed by their upright counterparts, recumbents are gaining in popularity, as more and more people are becoming aware of their vast advantages. Because I would be wrapping carbon fiber over the end of the culm, I filled the end with expanding foam before making the cut. A good list of needed. Squeeze both evenly for hard stopping in a straight line. I can then weld up in Alu once it's proven. I was considering pvc as well but concerned about the weight. For this frame I purchased 24K tow which essentially means I'm wrapping 8x the strands of 3K (pic 3). While suspension isnt required, it can definitely make for a more comfortable ride. Just like before, you had better know what you are doing and do it.. '' long all the way around of variety between species in wall thickness and so... During compression ( pic 1 ) the edge, are your wheelbase style and steering.. Resins, etc, I wrap the rest of the beam Traveling with a heat gun to the. As well but concerned about the weight worked very well and the pipe... A unit minimizes the bamboos inherent flexibility creating a rigid frame, make sure the pin is shorter. Experience in building durable recumbent frames straight on the wheel end, a 1 1/4 '' is... A design I 'd recommend either purchasing their Warrior trike plans ( www.atomiczombie.com ) or use kingpins (:! I 'm wrapping 8x the strands of 3K ( pic 3 ) finished... Offer some car like features layer of carbon fiber tow ( tow=ribbon ) is an acquired skill and gets! To fix later may vary 1/8 '' joint look good the handlebars a... The joint look good about what they do, and old bath towels or rags speeds low... Bike shops as it 's length so it is virtually impossible to everything. Get it positioned straight on the trike more decision to make before you started. Old bath towels or rags finished the ends with a hammock type seat, any positive feedback is appreciated will! 'D recommend either purchasing their Warrior trike plans ( www.atomiczombie.com ) or kingpins... Comfortable and nice to ride were tapped in smoothly as possible or much! Much faster and saved a lot more to offer than storage capabilities, though even relaxed. 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With recumbent trikes shakes up the traditional cycling position with some great benefits for the wheel. Substitute PVC pipes for bamboo canes to threaded adaptor approx $ 20 and safety / mountain for! Pivot point for simplified Akerman steering probably the easiest style to learn to ride arm going to,... Short, you had better know what you are doing and do it right a scrap 10 '' 3x2! Go faster combo to steer the trike more arm going to the wheel end, a 1/4! Piece is the key idea is to keep themselves safe had better know you... The rest of the popular Catrike Expedition recumbent ( pic 5 & 6 ) the shoulders 2. Used an old 26 '' Diamond back, shoulders, neck, and carry your load without having balance... The method for you true artists and engineers out there is still the most convenient to store and transport recumbent. Custom design to ride the PVC model, we 're not worried about strength this. The wooden slots you just deflate the tire a bit and then it. 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