New Recumbent Business on the Horizon

Finally taking the plunge! Meeting with my welder tomorrow morning to discuss his needs to finish the three recumbent frames.

I had the steel delivered last week. We are building a 1) standard, very comfortable, 2-wheeled recumbent 2) a 2-wheeled low racer recumbent. This one is going "smoke" the road! and, 3) a really comfortable delta-trike recumbent.

I am going all out on these 3 recumbents:

• built to last like the old Schwinn's we grew up on
• disc brakes on all models
• plenty of gearing for easy pedaling and hill climbing
• affordable
  
• Made in America and Made to Last!

Stay tuned! Website to come!!

Eugene, Oregon A Bicycle City InMotion

I must apologize for not posting to Recumbent Cycling for the past 6 weeks. I had my left knee replaced and it took a real toll on me. My knee is improving as is my mental outlook. It is still snowy and cold in Ohio but I am ever optimistic and looking forward to spring and hitting the fantastic Ohio/Erie Tow Path again with my bike.

Eugene is truly a bike friendly city. In fact they are so bike friendly their local city government has staff they have dedicated solely to promoting cycling and walking.

They lobby the state and federal government for more cycling and walking trails and secure grants to improve their own trails. This is a city that has taken the lead and become the model for many cities across the nation.

I grew up in the Eugene area and have spent hundreds of wonderful hours cycling the miles and miles of fabulous trails. I must admit I moved away 20 plus years ago to be closer to my wife’s family. We both miss the area and intend on moving back in the next 5 years.

I plan on riding off into the sunset on Eugene’s many cycling trails.

Here is a recent newsletter insert from InMotion, Eugene’s bicycle and walking communication vehicle.

InMotion – Mid-January 2010

Don’t forget the Eugene Walking and Biking Summit this SATURDAY, January 23rd at Sheldon Community Center.

Come Celebrate walking and biking in Eugene with a fun-filled morning of speakers, activities, good food and fun. Off the Waffle’s Liege waffles will be served for breakfast with delicious Full City coffee. We will recap 2009 and look for ways to improve in the future. We will celebrate our new “Gold” status as a Bicycle Friendly City. There is a little something for everyone at this year’s Summit so come and enjoy!
For more information please see www.eugene-or.gov/walkbike or call Lindsay Selser at 541-682-5094.
Note: You can subscribe to InMotion newsletter by going to the above link. Enjoy!

Grandfather of Modern Recumbents

Many cycling enthusiasts regard Robert Q. Riley as the grandfather of the modern day recumbent cycle.

Robert Q. Riley came up with an amazing design called the Ground Hugger. The Ground Hugger had some unique features and designs incorporated into it that recumbent styles before it did not have.

Some of the features consisted:
* a unique sweeping frame design
* built much lower to the ground
* ergonomic seat design
* steering system allowing for greater rider comfort

Some opinions differ but it seems the Ground Hugger could have been an offshoot of the Pedi-Plane design conceived and built in the ‘30’s by E.B. Boynton.

The Ground Hugger was such a great design it has stood the test of time. There are even plans that have been put out so that folks can build their own composite version. It looks pretty nice. I have not built one myself nor do I endorse the plans or kit.

For more information on Robert Q. Riley visit http://bikerodnkustom2.homestead.com/robertQriley.html

For more information on E.B. Boynton and the Pedi-Plane visit http://bikerodnkustom.homestead.com/rileyped.html

For more information on plans or a kit for a Ground Hugger visit
http://www.rqriley.com/bike.html

What Makes a Great Recumbent?

What makes a great recumbent is somewhat of a loaded question, but can be answered.

You want to make sure basic frame is well built, and my opinion, built to last. We hear a lot about frame fatigue these days. Frame fatigue is normally going to happen around weld joints. After a lot of riding and/or shock to these weld joints they can weaken and become less stable.

If you think this is the case for your cycle you may want to have it checked out by a good mechanic. One way to lessen this problem is to make sure you purchase high quality frames and components (sprockets, brakes, rims, etc.). It seems, however, these days that you get what you pay for.

The days of the old Schwinn bicycle some of us grew up on that you could ride hard forever, leave outside in the elements and it would never breakdown are over, or are they? Do your research and you will be able to find a well built frame with solid well done welds and well made components for a reasonable price.

The other factor to look at is. In other words; what are your intentions for your cycle? Are you commuting short or long distances? Do you plan on riding daily or occasionally? Do you like to go at or a moderate pace or do you “have a need for speed”?

Do you like 2-wheels, 3-wheels or 4-wheels under you? Would you like underseat steering or a more conventional handlebar style steering?

For more information on these three builds check out http://www.atomiczombie.com/

What is your comfort level in riding?

It really comes down to:

* quality craftsmanship
* use you intend for your cycle
* style of cycle you like
* level of comfort you desire

For more information on frame welding visit http://www.bikeschool.com/

Look Ma No Hands!!

Recumbents have always been outside of the normal upright bicycle box.

We don’t always have to think conventional. As you can see from this build the standard handlebars have been replaced.


The question I have to ask is, “Why not?”

Solar Powered Trike - Off Grid!

This is a very cool build on a solar powered trike. I believe this could easily be adapted to many recumbent trike models.

Solar Powered Trike. Travel for free with the power of the sun!

How to build a Solar Powered Trike

The purpose of this project is to build a vehicle that:

* Provides free, 'green' transportation for short distances ( more than 10 miles)

* Charges while at work

* Is cheap, simple, and low maintenance.

* Draws attention to the practical application of green energies, and promotes Fossil Fuel alternatives.

* Reduces excess automobile wear and pollution from cold driving / short, in town trips.

* This was a project for Dr. Reza Toosi's 'Energy and the Environment, a global perspective' class at California State University, Long Beach. We look at the sources, technologies, and impacts of energy on our environment.Link to other class projects, some of Dr. Toosi's ENG-302i lectures, and other interesting videos.http://www.csulb.edu/~rtoossi/engr302i

Short video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIiJp4aKDHM

To view more information and the complete plans for the Solar Trike go to http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Powered-Trike/?utm_source=medrect&utm_medium=solartrike_medrect

Bicycle Brush with Death!

I wasn’t going to blog about this but decided since it is becoming more of an occurrence I really shouldn’t let it go.

I was out taking a short test ride on my son’s bike around the neighborhood before he moves with it to Chicago.

In Akron there is new program called SHARO, short for Share the Road. The city painted some nice bicycle emblems on two major feeder streets designed to raise the awareness of bicyclers out in car traffic.

After T-boning a semi-flatbed truck on a motorcycle when I was 20 years old I pretty much stay out of heavy traffic on my bicycle simply because cars weigh thousands of pounds and I don’t.

As this street feeds west from downtown it widens to accommodate a center turn lane designed for cars coming both directions to get out of the main traffic flow to ready for their turn.

In order to get back home I had to cross this busy street, not a big deal if you obey the traffic laws and watch yourself. I waited until all of the eastbound downtown traffic had cleared and crossed the two lanes of traffic into the wide center turn lane to maneuver my way to my next street.

I timed it so that by the time I would be even with my street the five cars approaching from downtown headed westbound would be past and nice big hole would open up for me to exit through.

I did a quick glance over my right shoulder to make sure no cars were coming up behind me turned back to front just as the large green four door whipped into the center turn lane to pass the cars in front of him. He was doing about 40 MPH and I figured I had about 2 seconds until the head on impact.

Luckily for me he just happened to spot me and yanked the wheel back into his lane of traffic nearly hitting me. It all happened so quickly it was almost a nonevent. But having survived a similar incident some 30 years ago I know I would have died or suffered life threatening injuries, again.

I noticed three things quickly: 1) I had put myself in that situation and was ultimately responsible for my own well being 2) THIS WAS A TURN ONLY LANE NOT A PASSING LANE 3) by the looks of the guy and his car I would have been a hit and run victim because I doubt he had insurance and would not have wanted to talk to the police.

Needless to say I have become even more cautious and less trusting of traffic to do the right thing. Especially with all the cell phone and texting distractions let alone the drinking and driving.

I normally stick to the trails and neighborhood streets. But reality rules and one must occasionally get out into traffic flow. Rule of thumb: we've got one flesh and bone body not encased in by thousands of pounds of steel and no seatbelt. Be careful because it’s usually the other guy that will nail you.