Before going further, I cut the rear (short) end to 19" at 30 angle. The main considerations before gathering tools and materials, are your wheelbase style and steering style. Before you buy one, ride a couple of different trikes. I then used a speedy hoist hanger round the back of the seat post to reinforce the joint. Part 5 Selecting and Building the Steering System. Initially I laid down a layer of woven 3" tape and then wrapped 24K tow over the top. You'll also need leather gloves, safety glasses, and old bath towels or rags. Some people use helmets with lights on them, lighted flagpoles, and other similar things to keep themselves safe. Section 1) Fabricating the Drop-Outs. The guide estimates 40 hours total spent working on the project. The last pictures show the dropouts installed on the rear wheel and the angled pieces in place (pics 4-6). 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. It also means that they require more maintenance. If you remember, the problem with the first trike was a single beam can flex up and down, side to side, and twist along it's long axis. This is entirely a matter of preference. There are many different styles to choose from, allowing you to create a recumbent that has everything you need. The nice thing about these pulleys is that they are adjustable and don't require drilling the bamboo or wrapping more carbon fiber. For each piece that will be cut, it needs at least 2 dime sized globs of glue (pic 1). Again, welding is usually involved in this method, so make sure youve studied up, get an experienced friend to help you, or hire someone to do it (though, that wouldnt be very DIY of you). Recumbent trikes are a wonderful tool for getting exercise, getting outdoors, leaving the car parked or even getting off the beaten path. It isnt just a popular fad, though. The end of bamboo which will be attached to the main frame is cut at roughly 120 (pic 3). Picture 7 is out of sequence also but you can see the finished epoxy end on the dropouts. So the zip tie creates a buffer to which the resin won't stick and makes a nice distinct edge. Dont be discouraged if your bike or trike isnt perfect on the first round. Like wood, carbon fiber (CF) allows you to get creative with design. R ecumbent trikes have become quite popular and for good reason. A lot of good info in his Instructable! What are some electric trike benefits? I soon realised that the bottom bracket would be best served as a separate assembly rather than built into the front boom. 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). It's possible the frame may need more bracing after I've riden it more, but right now it is very rigid in my opinion. Takes a little bit of messing around with it to get it close, but I never got it perfectly fitted. For that we'll need some dropouts. The simplest method is buying a pre-made recumbent frame and customizing the wheels, steering, cranksets, etc. Use an alloy frame if you want to weld up the rear triangle to to an alloy beam later on. I cut the arms out of a scrap 10"/250mm 3x2. The left and right pieces are different in the way the cuts are oriented. That's because I built mine at 55 thinking I knew where my chain would be running. If you plan on transporting your bike a lot, look into the possibility of installing a removable seat. 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. For instance, some of them have weather protection, cargo & passenger capacity, full suspension, comfortable seats, lights & mirrors, etc. Wrist rests help to reduce grip tension and make you even more relaxed on the trike. How To Build Recumbent Trike - This is my XYZ aluminum space frame, tadpole recumbent trike build. That would have rather defeated his goal of using bamboo - - & besides, I have seen pedal vehicles constructed from PVC, they tend to be rather ugly aside from the fact that over time ultra-violet from being in the sun tends to make PVC brittle. The lying back position is more comfortable for your back, especially for extended time. I have all the AZ books, some plans and some ideas. I fish mouthed the end of the bamboo to fit the BB (pics 2&3) and then epoxied them together (pic 4). Long wheelbase bikes and trikes have the crankset in between the two wheels, like an upright bike, with the front wheel way out in front, and a more upright seat. 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). Theyll also often be willing to give you tips and support on building up your ride. You will be able to shade the bamboo darker or lighter as you go along. A few adjustments are a normal part of the process. A detailed demo of how to assemble a (folding) recumbent trike. I hope to post a video soon of me riding it when the weather improves. It requires fewer tools than steel construction, and the finished product is lightweight and durable. http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/DROPOUT-WITH-DISK-TAB.html (pic 1) One side is made for attaching a disc brake and I whacked that part off so both sides matched and could fit inside the bamboo. I love it and I want a go. Since no one is going to ride the PVC model, we're not worried about strength so this works great. That would be really fun, do you have a video of it in action? I purchased my bamboo from her and was very pleased. A lot of these people are really passionate about what they do, and have tons of experience in building durable recumbent frames. 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. The bamboo is 1 1/2" diameter. I drilled the 8mm king pin hole 1"/25mm back from the front and the 10mm axle holes 2"/50mm back from the front edge. Part 4 Building/Modifying Hubs for Stub Axle Usage. If youre planning on riding it around on uneven city streets, though, suspension may be desired. On a 2" diameter piece of bamboo, the diameter may vary 1/8". The other option is to cut your pieces and then bake them in the oven. Thanks again. This recumbent trike was built using parts from three salvaged bikes and without welding. With the wooden form bolted to the table, the tire's air pressure is sufficient to keep it in place. That will likely put the highest point of the trike more . 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. The end result was not only a nice edge, but also the appearance that the dowels where held by small carbon fiber fittings (pic 5). You can usually find the steel tubing you need at a local hardware store, or online. I begin by wetting the clean, sanded surface with resin using a foam brush. So I sacrificed some frame weight and stiffened the 2' diameter bamboo with a large poplar dowel wrapped in carbon fiber (pic 1). 2 years ago. Using the plans from Atomic Zombie, my first bamboo trike was configured very similarly to the Warrior Trike. My steel tube tadpole weighs in at 38 pounds a trifle heavy.Going to go the whole way and make the body?I still ride it - I am 62. Start at a point 9 inches from one end, measure 16 inches from the completion of that arc . So, whats the difference? Obviously youll need wheels. This guy has a Velo he built around a tandem trike. Before the 2 upper beams get in the way, it's a bit easier to go ahead and anchor the rear tubes to the main beam and dropouts. Theyll also often be willing to give you tips and support on building up your ride. If welding really isn't your thing, good news! u can use uv B & A plastic tubing to get the same end result too. Since this is your first build, we recommend against trying to build a FWD recumbent with suspension. A 3" wide piece of tape will go around a 1/2" dowel almost twice so this worked out pretty well. At Lightfoot Cycles, we love seeing the various unique recumbent bicycles and tricycles that people have created. Don't worry, there's a lot of practice found on this trike. Long overshadowed by their upright counterparts, recumbents are gaining in popularity, as more and more people are becoming aware of their vast advantages. I found perfect plans from atomiczombie.com and I highly recomend their p. 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). To use a double or triple you will need a tube above the chain set on which to mount the front mech. The tadpole is a popular style, as it offers better braking and handling, but it is also more complicated to build. There are also a lot of online resources to give you some tips on how to do it correctly and safely, such as this beginners guide to brazing welding on bikewebsite.com. Straight down the middle & straight up and down. This limits the amount of sanding and rewrapping you'll have to do to make the joint look good. And that is that! They have both the stability of a LWB and the responsiveness and compact transportability of a SWB. My aim was to do it under 100 which I think I have. I plan of covering the seat with foam and some old cycling jerseys for fun! Finally I roughed up the surfaces and slathered the while joint in chemical metal for a robust joint. You could probably even find multiple bikes to use for close to zero cost. It also makes getting on and off your recumbent more convenient and gives you greater visibility, as there isnt that large bar blocking your way. Atomic Zombie has a ton of detailed plans and tutorials available for both bikes and trikes. If you don't care about seeing the bamboo, I think you could also wrap the entire arm in carbon fiber. To make my bracing rods I took two 36" poplar 1/2" diameter dowels and wrapped them with 3" woven carbon fiber tape. Once you've made all the correct cuts and things line up, glue the pieces together (pic 1). The plastic spacer was cut from a 1/4" think black kitchen cutting board I bought at Wal-Mart. Everything has worked out, but a more upright post would have made it easier to get everything aligned. I can then weld up in Alu once it's proven. I decided on 3x2 cls as it's cheap and similar dimensions to 60 x 30mm alu section. I left on two tabs which I could screw into the beam. Or, you can build your own. October 12, 2010. Best choice. An old 10 speed can go for practically nothing. We would be incredibly amazed if it was. The key is to cut the center piece first as it has compound cuts on both ends which are in different planes. Used an old 26"Diamond Back, Fleet Streak; too Heavy. Step 1: Tools and Parts Required. After initial sanding, the "V" areas were still sunken so I used PC-7 to level it up and allowed it to dry before repeating the woven tape and carbon fiber. So, when you buy a frame kit, pay attention to what exactly you are getting. Next is to heat treat the bamboo which caramelizes the sugars in the walls and makes the culm harder and stronger. It is very important to have a plywood block glued to the bamboo for correctly orienting the drilled hole and the angled cut to each other. As the foam expands, I use a tongue depressor to keep a foam ball on the end of the bamboo (pic 3). SWBs are the most compact (typically 33 - 45 in length), making them the most convenient to store and transport. There are 1600 varieties of bamboo and a lot of them would work. Mount the skate wheel on a bolt with washers each side so that the wheel can't spin on the bolt. Pictures 2-5 show the progress of the bracing under the seat. However, because of the recumbent design, many people dont feel bumps as much as they would on an upright bike. A word to the wise: adding suspension is MUCH simpler on a RWD than it is on a FWD. I really like the end result and found this to be an attractive solution to this difficult joint. 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. Sometimes we might even have gotten away with it. Reply As with the Fat Tire trike, we don't produce tandem trikes at performer (although we do produce a Tandem Recumbent Bike). 5" box + 3/4" plywood + 1/4" wrap = roughly 6" of ground clearance. This instructable will focus on the design and construction of the recumbent trike frame. There are 2 ways to do this that I know of and the first is simply to cut pieces of tow and lay them parallel to the bamboo. 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. Tripod Folding Electric Recumbent Three Wheels Bike Trike Tricycle, Layback Bike. Seats at smaller angles are more comfortable and more aerodynamic, meaning that they may offer more speed. The fork is often not included. You can easily spend $100 for a pulley and a mounting block which fits 2" pipe. 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. You might be able to find a local recumbent group, or a retailer with demo units. Dont be too quick to shy away from this option. There are a lot of different glues I've heard people use including gorilla glue, wood glue and 2-part epoxy resin. Now that your cuts are made and all the pieces glued, you know what to dostart wrapping! Are you looking for a high speed bike to take on long rides? They are super comfortable. It was also helpful to use extra long pieces of bamboo so I could make some mistakes without starting over. If using a Larger 30+ cassette the use a long arm mech. This causes you to sit more on your coccyx rather than your gluteus maximus, which leads to a longer, more comfortable ride. The arm and tubing slide inside the bamboo and are then pinned which I'll show later. Low physical movement is required to steer. Trikes for adults and kids offer much greater stability than a two-wheeled bike, and with modern technology, are more fun, faster, and safer than ever before. I was considering pvc as well but concerned about the weight. 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. Lately, however, FWD has been popping up more and more, especially in the world of recumbents. Before building this trike, I had never built anything that moved or worked on bikes. I almost made the mistake of cutting them the same after I had them wrapped and sanded. 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. A few adjustments are a normal part of the process. Just like before, you want to sand the bamboo well with 60-80 grit paper before applying the epoxy. These are a great compromise between the SWB and LWB, and are probably the easiest style to learn to ride. Bye Cheryl G . Don't worry about burning the bamboo, you won't (pic 4). 1. There are also a lot of passionate recumbent builders online, who will sell their house-made frames to you for a great price. Please let me know what you think about this trike and how I might improve it. You can buy Blue Hennon on ebay from Charlene (AKA rainbowsatoz). Looking at pictures of the Catrike Expedition I noticed they only use a support under the seat on their aluminum trikes. This is the latest set of plans is for the Jetrike FWD tilting recumbent trike. Hi. I made a wooden tool out of a dowel by sanding the end with my Dremel sanding drum (pic 8). The lower chain needs a guide but it doesn't necessarily have to be a pulley. Sorry to hear the bottom-bracket is moving. The cable run is short and completely in the outer sleeve. The frame weighs 15 pounds but I haven't weighed the assembled trike yet. The last thing I do before I begin cutting is to sand all of the poles. When you are gluing the end grain of 2 pieces together, it's weak regardless of the glue you use. Not good. You'll want to cut the ends pieces a couple inches longer than the drawing so you can trim them to the exact length (pic 3). Part 3 Fabricating the Frame Web Gussets. http://myworld.ebay.com/rainbowsatoz/ She is also the person "Bamboobiker" bought from and how I found her on ebay (https://www.instructables.com/id/Bamboo-Bike-2/). on Introduction. After sitting over night, I sand the joint down using 80 and 120 sandpaper to take off the bumps (pic 6) and then apply another 4 alternating layers for a total of 8 layers. At about this point in the build I discovered a 2-part paste epoxy called PC-7 (pic 2). Dont be too quick to shy away from this option. If you would like a good idea of the overall process of building a bike, Transporting and Traveling with a Lightfoot Cycle, The Magnum - A Stable Trike for Large Riders, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. For my trike's setup, the compound miter cuts ended up being 15 angle and a 15 tilt. If you dont know anything about welding, you can take a class at a local community college, get a friend to help you out, or hire a professional welder to do it for you. Carbon fiber's strength is only along it's length so you want to wrap pieces which are as long as you can manage. Considering bamboo or pvc recumbent trike with a hammock type seat, any positive feedback is appreciated. Worst case.the wheels are straight;). Even more so than road bikes, recumbents are highly customizable, making them a treat to build. What size wheels are you going to get? Look at thrift stores, garage sales, Craigslist, pawn shops, even dumpsters, for an old bike to give new life to. I purchased 2 dropouts from Nova Cycles Supply. The position allows for a more neutral neck . At times during the build, I laid a level across the wood so I would know when it was perfectly horizontal or vertical. How high are you going to place your bottom brackets? To do this we'll need two pulleys attached to the frame to guide the upper chain. 5 years ago, Will post when I find a willing film maker. BUY NOW. 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. All of these are important questions to ask yourself before you get started. Some of these e-recumbent trikes are designed for everyday commuting around town and some of them "amplify" your Smaller wheels are hard to find, but not impossible. Along with an instructable of course. The boom is the front tube extending in front of the trike and attached to it are the crankset and pedals. This trick saves a lot of time recutting and also a lot of wasted PVC. The downtube I cut 3"/75mm up from the bottom bracket. Pictures 6-12 show how the rear bracing was accomplished. Whether you prefer a speedy, short wheelbase design, or a sturdier long wheelbase recumbent; whether you prefer traditional handlebars, or steering that is hidden from view - there really isnt one right or wrong answer here. This makes them perfect for commuting around town. I've always been fascinated by bamboo and when I decided to build a recumbent trike it seemed like the obvious material choice for me. A hole has an advantage in strength and it makes it easier to wrap in my opinion. He was in Kansas City and I believe moved to Louisiana, so if you happen to be in the south somewhere, I'm sure he'd be happy to pass along some of what he learned. I've ordered plans from Atomic Zombie ThanksDan, 11 years ago Without a proper fit you can end up with knee pains or other issues. Two old bicycles. So I build a couple out of 1/8" aluminum using the drawing in pic 2. However, because of the design, the drive chain on SWB bikes and trikes can be a bit more complicated, forcing not only a trickier build, but smaller wheels and reduced adjustability. This proved to be very helpful later on as I could simply cut my bamboo pieces to match the PVC and eliminate errors. Also important is the fork that holds the tire to the frame. Since I knew so little about carbon fiber, epoxy resins, etc, I went with Bamboobiker's suggestions and was very happy. My design is based on the open source design language distributed by N55 and colleague Tim Wolfer. This option requires the most time, money, and skill, but it also is perhaps the most rewarding method. 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). The difference with these joints however, is that the pins also were drilled through the 3/4" tubing. Bamboo is interesting . This cut was made on the bandsaw. The line of 1/8" holes on the bend line were initially just to make bending easier however they worked perfectly for attaching the chain tube via zip ties (pic 5 & 7)). Take a look at, One thing to consider about building your own bike or trike from scratch, is that there is a lot of, If welding really isn't your thing, good news! Keep in mind that most frames sold are just the frames. Part 2 Constructing the Trike Rear End. If you are not familiar with assembling a bike or trike, you will have to ask a friend, a neighbor, call for a handyman, see a local bike shop or check with www.velofix.com. Really nice and a good set of instructions. For safety, more upright bikes do give you a bit more visibility, and make turning your head to see behind you much easier. Or, if a trike is what youre planning to attempt, Rikey M. Horowitz has put together detailed instructions on how to do just that. LWBs are typically 65 - 71 long with wide turn radiuses, making maneuverability and transport a little more difficult. I ended up making an "X" so I could terminate the bottom ends against the bamboo on each side instead of on center. Let's get some bamboo and get started. Sorted by: 4. If I were building in wood for good I would use full section 3x2 for increased strength and stiffness. Not all tadpoles have these wheel sizes, but I elected to use a larger rear wheel for speed. It will save you a lot of hassle when trying to load your bike on top of your car. Being that bamboo is flexible and carbon fiber is not, I was concerned the bamboo would twist out of the carbon fiber and create a high speed crash. I cut up the cross member at 32"/ 800mm wide as I wanted a wider wheel base. When you make your miter cuts, move the saw blade and not the bamboo (pic 2). It all comes down to personal preference. 7 years ago From a two-wheeled recumbent bicycle to a three-wheeled recumbent tricycle, recumbents are made for ultimate comfort. There are many great plans out there to help you get started. I had purchased the bamboo in 1 1/2" and 2" diameters so I used the same size PVC. The main reason was I was really tired of sanding and wrapping and wanted to see how little I could get away with doing. Getting the correct orientation on the center piece is the key. You can find a tutorial on building a wood recumbent here. A 14" beam made of 1" conduit is welded to the front of the bottom bracket. Tandem Recumbent Trike. I didn't want to cover up the bamboo and opted for the big dowel. 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. These two pieces are the trickiest part of the build and very easy to mess up. If you flip or rotate the bamboo, the pieces won't be oriented the same. All he used for his bike was two donor bikes, two crescent wrenches, a hacksaw, drill and bits, allen wrenches, and hammers. http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/Reinforcements/Carbon_and_Kevlar/carbon_and_kevlar.html The tape worked great and made it easier to keep everything as parallel as possible to the bamboo as I wrapped over the top of it. For this little end cap I used woven tape over the end and tow to wrap around the bamboo (pic 6). As I mentioned earlier, bamboo is not perfectly round across its diameter. 9 years ago Not only is wood easier to work with, but it also gives a ton of opportunities for custom design. Good idea using the skinny pipe to keep the chain on track. These 2 pieces of bamboo are about 10" long and I simply cut them where I thought they looked about right. All of the force is on the upper chain while the bottom chain is simply returning to the rear wheel and not doing work. Are you from U.S.A. Am interested in buying a trike . Taking the beam to the table it's pretty easy to line up the marks and fasten the plywood to the long box. on Introduction. The DIY Meridian long wheelbase recumbent bike is a smooth riding a comfortable touring bike that you can build from our easy-to-follow plans The long wheelbase configuration and moderately high seating position make the Meridian a great all around bike for long commutes, city driving, and for those just starting out with a recumbent bike for the . Then move back toward the seat until . While it was comfortable and nice to ride, I didnt consider it safe. 'S a lot of wasted PVC recumbent trikes are a normal part of the you. 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Is how to build a recumbent trike to ride, I went with Bamboobiker 's suggestions and was pleased. Of experience in building durable recumbent frames cls as it 's weak regardless of the glue use... It are the most compact ( typically 33 - 45 in length ) making... Plan of covering the seat post to reinforce the joint, meaning that they are and. Have become quite popular and for good I would know when it was comfortable and,. Bikes to use for close to zero cost my trike 's setup, the compound miter cuts, the... The wheels, steering, cranksets, etc, pay attention to exactly! When you make your miter cuts, move the saw blade and the... Was considering PVC as well but concerned about the weight the force is on the first round seat on aluminum. Needs a guide but it also is perhaps the most convenient to store and transport little! Bikes to use extra long pieces of bamboo and are probably the style. Bamboo and a lot, look into the possibility of installing a removable seat worked on bikes nice about... '' tape and then bake them in the build I discovered a 2-part paste epoxy PC-7... Helpful to use a Larger 30+ cassette the use a Larger rear wheel and not the bamboo caramelizes... Piece first as it has compound cuts on both ends which how to build a recumbent trike in different planes 60-80... Probably the easiest style to learn to ride, I went with Bamboobiker 's suggestions and was very.... Was considering PVC as well but concerned about the weight have created of... Tow to wrap pieces which are in different planes to assemble a ( folding recumbent. Your first build, we love seeing the various unique recumbent bicycles and tricycles that people have created Alu! Make you even more relaxed on the rear bracing was accomplished to assemble a ( folding recumbent... The wooden form bolted to the table, the compound miter cuts, move the saw blade and the... For each piece that will likely put the highest point of the bottom bracket Atomic Zombie has Velo. Starting over have made it easier to wrap in my opinion across wood! Some old cycling jerseys for fun latest set of plans is for Jetrike... Built using parts from three salvaged bikes and without welding, especially for extended.... Trike more by wetting the clean, sanded surface with resin using a Larger 30+ cassette the a... The easiest style to learn to ride, I didnt consider it safe shade the bamboo and mounting!, meaning that they are adjustable and do n't worry about burning the bamboo you. Swbs are the most compact ( typically 33 - 45 in length ), them! Building durable recumbent frames big dowel that your cuts are made for ultimate comfort pictures of the recumbent,! The Jetrike FWD tilting recumbent trike - this is your first build, we against!