Recumbent Bicycles

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So for a while my wife and I have wanted to get back into bicycling as neither of us really have since childhood, but at 260 lbs I did not want to sit on one of those tiny seats. I did some looking around and found www.recycledrecumbent.com which shows in a very detailed manner how to take some donor classic bicycles and some electrical conduit and make a recumbent bike. I got my seat frame bent up out of 1/2" and 3/4" conduit tonight, and should get it welded together and covered tomorrow. I will post pics tomorrow and as I go along after that.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Cool project... just keep the weight down.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Some years back I made a set of monkey bars to augment our playset. Our son requested metal rungs and as an experiment I tried conduit. It worked just fine, altho the span is only about 12"- it supported my weight with no sagging or other problems. I hit it with spray galv and it's still in service today. I'm interested to see your pics, and how long your spans are. Good luck with the project- cycling is a great low impact way to lose the pounds!
Reply:That looks like a great bike project.  If you are interested in another site, with a number of interesting designs, check out www.atomiczombie.com.  They have some great designs, and their plans are incredibly detailed, with step-by-step build instructions and color photos.  I got some plans in May, but have not had time to build yet.  Hopefully this winter....  Good luck with your project.
Reply:If I weren't so lazy, I'd build one of the Atomic Zombie spin cycles.  It looks like so much fun!Last edited by Oldendum; 09-13-2012 at 01:40 PM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I'm totally building one of those!
Reply:so I got the seat tubes bent, and notched. I should get it welded up tonightDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Good for you for getting going on building a bent.I actually went and test drove a tadpole trike this weekend (the tadpole design has the 2 wheels in the front.) since I haven't gotten started building one.The laid back seat was really comfortable even with my broken back.Please keep posting pictures of your build.  I'm still at the dreaming stage even though I finally have a TIG welder, an old sailboat full for doner cycles and 6 or 7 plans from Brad at atomiczombie.com.  Perhaps I can build vicariously though your pictures Miller Syncrowave 180SDLincoln WeldPak 100 with gasHandheld Milwaukee BandsawO/A Cutting Torch
Reply:the guy with the website that I referenced in the first post sells used bikes, and is willing to custom make them for very reasonable prices, I think that his starting price is 450 or so. If someone offered that price around here I would be buying not building.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:So I got the seat welded up. I should be able to cover it tomorrow. These are the donor bikes. A USA made Huffy, and a Japan made Panasonic. I will use the huffy handle bars,  crank, fork, neck, wheels and derailers with the panasonic rear frame section, and fork tubeDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Hey turk,That looks like it is going to be a nice seat.  When I took that test drive on a bent (just because I really wanted to ride it - couldn't buy it) I noticed how nice it was to have a head rest. I finally clicked the link you provided to see that you are build a long wheel base over seat steering (LWB OSS) bent.  Looks like a nice cruiser. Bye Bye donor cycles - see you in the next life after "some" alterations.Miller Syncrowave 180SDLincoln WeldPak 100 with gasHandheld Milwaukee BandsawO/A Cutting Torch
Reply:For purposes of welding... what metal is conduit made of? I'm wondering if different manufacturers have different component metals, or if this is regulated or controlled in some way.Last edited by asdf; 09-17-2012 at 10:44 AM.
Reply:Bhere, I am planning on modifying the the design of the seat heavily in future bikes, but wanted to make my first per the instructions.asdf, all the conduit i have is steelDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:I have two friends that want to buy some now, so I will be making at least 4, this might turn into an evening moneymaker.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:I guess you guys know what you're doing, but I find it hard to believe that electrical conduit is strong enough for a bicycle frame.  In my experience it bends if you look at it hard.Tim
Reply:I used to make space frame go carts out of 1 inch conduit. its plenty strong if your design is right. a lot of triangles and compression sections and heavier stuff where you need it.   Most steel supply houses sell steel tubing that measures the same as conduit but has no galvy on it. Much easier to weld.  Mac
Reply:They are fun to ride, I didn't want to sit on a small seat as well, so I built this one.
Reply:[QUOTE=chopped58;1592531]They are fun to ride, I didn't want to sit on a small seat as well, so I built this one.Very nice... simple and clean.I think it is time to interject that the long wheel based bikes tend to be a bit light on the front end, due to the rider siting close to the rear wheel.  This weight distribution tends to cause the front wheel to slide out when riding on loose gravel.  I discovered this tendency the hard way.Last edited by Weldordie; 09-18-2012 at 08:15 PM.