Interesting Approach - Full Body Cycling

Full Body Cycle Experience

A group of Mechanical Engineer students from Stanford University were put to task and given a project to design and build a full body bicycle. They were told to take a normal bicycle and only make changes from the handlebar neck forward. They were given a $1500 budget and only ten weeks to build a fully functioning bicycle.

The first couple of attempts were trial and error but soon they got the hang of it and began to fine tune their attempts.

The students ended up with a pretty decent and functional road bike that would give a full body workout, could be steered while pedaling and had the bonus of both front and rear wheel drive.

Overall I really like this design and may incorporate into a recumbent I want to build if I can conceive how to unbulk the looks of the front end a bit.
As you can see from the picture below by staying with the normal build of the original bike frame there are many advantages. Remember to think outside the box!

Different Styles of Recumbent

Recumbents and bicycles in general are simply transportation. Lately they have been deemed ‘alternative transportation’ because our cultures have become so focused around the internal combustion engine.

Transportation takes many forms based on our environment and needs. Land, air and water need to be traversed. For this we have cars, trucks, buses, trains, planes and boats. Most of which are propelled by some sort of fuel with the exceptions of some types of boats and ships.

Let’s take a look at how human powered vehicles have risen to the occasion:

Land travel obviously has many bicycle and recumbent styles. The recumbent seems to have been more innovative in design in the field of transportation while the bicycle design has stayed close to the same design with improvements in efficiency.
Here are some of the more interesting recumbent designs in transportation:

LAND

This trike uses a ‘Joy Stick’ instead of handlebars. I owned one for several years and loved it! http://americruiser.com/

This looks like a relaxing way for a tandem crew to ride. Take a good look at those seats! For more styles such as cargo bikes and Pedi cabs visit http://www.organicengines.com/

I rode this builders model several years ago. Because of the hand and foot pedals you get a great upper and lower body work out!

Check this video link for several different recumbent styles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yRURbnJ7mM&feature=related

AIR

This is a video link for a human powered sky plane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l131fSveof8

WATER

Here are three links to water powered vehicles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiTjyj9NO5I&feature=related Amphibious Cycle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkKd2vScd4M&feature=related Human Power Boat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83c_gKTGY4&feature=related Pedaled Kayak

This is a picture of a human powered submarine:

There are even all-terrain vehicles
http://www.ihpva.org/allterrain.htm

For more information on Recumbents and human powered vehicles be sure and visit the International Human Powered Vehicle Association http://www.ihpva.org/
Another great source is http://www.atomiczombie.com/

Have fun and ride!

The What and Why of a Recumbent

If you are not familiar with a recumbent you may be asking yourself, “What in the world is it?” A recumbent in the simplest terms is a cycle configured for ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker or in this case the rider. (Source: Wikapedia)

Recumbents tend to place you in a more upright slightly laid back position. Some of the advantages of riding a recumbent (or as recumbent riders refer to them ‘bents’) are:
1) The rider’s weight is distributed over a much larger area of the back and rump. Traditional uprights normally have that same weight distributed over just a few square inches or so.
2) Less likely to have numb buns, hands and sore neck.
3) You won’t go over the handle bars.
4) Your position offers less wind resistance.

Interesting facts about bents:

The current world bike speed record is held by a recumbent at 80.5 MPH.
Recumbents were not allowed to compete in bicycle races after breaking world speed records. It appears the powers in charge at the time couldn’t take the defeat. This was in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. For more information on this subject visit http://www.hpv.on.ca/recumb.htm

There are two wheel recumbent bicycles, tandems, three wheel trikes and four wheel quads plus all manner of design in-between. One of my favorite designs is the quadra-ped or a hand and foot cranked model. It is great upper and lower body exercise!

Bents may not be for everyone, but they are certainly worth checking out!