Project Catsarse II
Discussion
So the "if you build that I'll eat a cats arse" bike worked and the Lent Recumbent worked even better (sold for a tidy proffit as well I might add) I've decided to have another go at a front wheel drive recumbent. This time however I am not having suspension as it adds weight and am not going to be sitting on top of a "Y" frame mountain bike. Once again inspired by my mate Chris...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptYWHhfZCSY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisLuxembourg
I'm having a go at something original a pivoting Lowracer.
Something like this...
...I have a simplified prototype design that I'll not post yet in case the end product comes out completely different.
So today I took a grinder frame that someone had kindly dumped in my garden...
...and using MMA due to the thickness of the box section (I'll do some cosmetic M.I.G or T.I.G welds over the top when I get time) the pivot is complete.
The plan is to retain the donor bikes gears so there will be no need for Chris's patented giant crankset. I'm looking for a Steel framed bike to use and haven't decided to go for 26 Inch or 700c yet. 26 atb parts would be easier to use on the road without suspension due to the tyre profile but 700c would be faster. Decisions eh?
I'll update this when I can as I work six days out of nine and have a few projects on the go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptYWHhfZCSY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisLuxembourg
I'm having a go at something original a pivoting Lowracer.
Something like this...
...I have a simplified prototype design that I'll not post yet in case the end product comes out completely different.
So today I took a grinder frame that someone had kindly dumped in my garden...
...and using MMA due to the thickness of the box section (I'll do some cosmetic M.I.G or T.I.G welds over the top when I get time) the pivot is complete.
The plan is to retain the donor bikes gears so there will be no need for Chris's patented giant crankset. I'm looking for a Steel framed bike to use and haven't decided to go for 26 Inch or 700c yet. 26 atb parts would be easier to use on the road without suspension due to the tyre profile but 700c would be faster. Decisions eh?
I'll update this when I can as I work six days out of nine and have a few projects on the go.
In case you're new to the forum and don't know about the first two bikes...
http://youtu.be/LD3YilSABOo
http://youtu.be/IaCqiPAX0kE
...enjoy.
http://youtu.be/LD3YilSABOo
http://youtu.be/IaCqiPAX0kE
...enjoy.
I having seat ideas again. Rather than spens silly money on a proper recumbent seat I was thinking of getting hold of an old exercise bike from eBay and using the seat from that. Something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/recumbent-exercise-bike-...
...should be better than an old office chair this time.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/recumbent-exercise-bike-...
...should be better than an old office chair this time.
Gizmo! said:
Looks good. I've always wanted a go in a proper recumbent, although the last time I saw one I overtook him on the flat...
Spookilly my old one has turned up on eBay again.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M5-Speedliner-Street-Leg...
I bought it second hand for £400 and sold it to a chap in Wales after my commute went from twenty six miles a day to a hundred and ten. While I wasn't using the bike as much I was looking at ways I could "improve" it and sold it before I got my grinder out.
mybrainhurts said:
Won't you have traction problems with front wheel drive and no weight over the front wheels...?
Lots of FWD recumbents out there, tractions rarely an issue as weight distribution is often 50:50 or front biased on them- more common for RWD recumbents to have traction issues on bikes where weight is too far forwards!Interesting Steel front with Aluminium rear to keep the weight over the driven wheel...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDpol06U2K0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDpol06U2K0
So this recumbent exercise bike...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halley-Recumbant-Bike-Co...
...has an adjustable seat by moving along what would be the centre spine of my bike.
One of the problems with the lent recumbent was the lack of adjustment. Having a telescopic boom would mean a lot more fabrication and you'd need a chain splitter and spare links in your pocket to go from my six foot two to accomadate a taller or shorter rider. However with the seat free to move up and down the centre spine of the bike it could be a lot better.
What do you guys think?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halley-Recumbant-Bike-Co...
...has an adjustable seat by moving along what would be the centre spine of my bike.
One of the problems with the lent recumbent was the lack of adjustment. Having a telescopic boom would mean a lot more fabrication and you'd need a chain splitter and spare links in your pocket to go from my six foot two to accomadate a taller or shorter rider. However with the seat free to move up and down the centre spine of the bike it could be a lot better.
What do you guys think?
Potential donor 1...
...Raleigh Pioneer 21spd.
Well it's purple. I rode it to the shop to make sure all the bits worked. Very simple gears, suprisingly quick but not fast enough to worry about getting a ticket. 700C x 38's so as well as the adventage of high gears I had a lot more pnumatic comfort than a road bike. Hellishly short cross bar meant I was hitting my elbows with my knees. Full lengh mud guards, steel frame and nearly new tyres. Brakes are typical for a bike of this period; next to useless but that's an easy fix. 700C means I have to add an Inch to the boom on my design so as far as fabrication goes it doesn't make a great deal of difference.
Woooo! Prety green mica dots over a purple/violet base. Almost a shame to take the ginder to it eh?
...Raleigh Pioneer 21spd.
Well it's purple. I rode it to the shop to make sure all the bits worked. Very simple gears, suprisingly quick but not fast enough to worry about getting a ticket. 700C x 38's so as well as the adventage of high gears I had a lot more pnumatic comfort than a road bike. Hellishly short cross bar meant I was hitting my elbows with my knees. Full lengh mud guards, steel frame and nearly new tyres. Brakes are typical for a bike of this period; next to useless but that's an easy fix. 700C means I have to add an Inch to the boom on my design so as far as fabrication goes it doesn't make a great deal of difference.
Woooo! Prety green mica dots over a purple/violet base. Almost a shame to take the ginder to it eh?
Potential donor 2...
21 Inch Crusader moutain bike. Advertised on eBay as having 21 Inch wheels, guess that's why I won it for £10.50
21spd Shimano SIS twenty six inch wheels and a nice chunky downtube. I wasn't planning to use the original frame to make up the recumbent spine but this would make it easier. Maybe as a plan b. Still for just over a tenner I have all the bits I need. I'll get a pair of Curio tyres to replace the old knobleys.
If I use the £10.50 bike the project should come in at under £100 total. If I use the expensive Raleigh (£46) the bike should come in at under £150 and be a fair bit quicker as well. Decisions....
21 Inch Crusader moutain bike. Advertised on eBay as having 21 Inch wheels, guess that's why I won it for £10.50
21spd Shimano SIS twenty six inch wheels and a nice chunky downtube. I wasn't planning to use the original frame to make up the recumbent spine but this would make it easier. Maybe as a plan b. Still for just over a tenner I have all the bits I need. I'll get a pair of Curio tyres to replace the old knobleys.
If I use the £10.50 bike the project should come in at under £100 total. If I use the expensive Raleigh (£46) the bike should come in at under £150 and be a fair bit quicker as well. Decisions....
Okay so it will be a garden built bike but I don't want to recycle (bodge) bits of old frame together to make it so I have ordered raw materials from these guys again...
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/10gbottles/?_trksid=p434...
...back to work tomorrow. Hopefully the box section I have ordered will arrive before my next day off so I can strip the donor bike down, make the spine and get it rolling at least by the end of my next time off.
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/10gbottles/?_trksid=p434...
...back to work tomorrow. Hopefully the box section I have ordered will arrive before my next day off so I can strip the donor bike down, make the spine and get it rolling at least by the end of my next time off.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Sunday 20th November 17:26
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