Re-Cycle

[Pagan Wizard]

I just bought plans to build this cool looking bike.

http://symco.homestead.com/build.html

The plans can be had for $5.99 USD's at eBay with no shipping, the plans are actually e-mailed to you in PDF (Adobe) format.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Chopper-Style-Recumbent-Bike-Plans-Low-Buy-It-Now-Price_W0QQitemZ110231009035QQihZ001QQcategoryZ2904 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[AtomicZombie]

Almost like a Tour Easy. Looks like rear suspension could be easily adapted.

Brad

[Pagan Wizard]

It actually does look a bit like a Tour Easy now that you've mentioned it. But it will cost a lot less than a Tour Easy.

[Pagan Wizard]

A few points in the plans for this ride call for 1/2 inch EMT to be used to extend certain parts of the frame. I personally am not comfortable with doing that, especially with my weight. Anyone know what else I can use in place of the EMT??

[TheKid]

You could use rigid conduit in 1/2" or 3/4". It doesn't bend easily.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=73212-000001482-0543910000&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=73211-000001792-73211&lpage=none

[trikeman]

It actually does look a bit like a Tour Easy now that you've mentioned it. But it will cost a lot less than a Tour Easy.

There are several plans for Tour Easy clones available for free on the internet. None of them are as detailed as Brad's (and they don't help support the cost of maintaining this forum), but the price is very low.

[AtomicZombie]

What about going to square tube? It's easy to get, costs less than conduit now due to steel prices. It's also much easier to weld, and is stronger overall.

Brad

[n9viw]

Brad, how about the weight? It would seem to me that square tubing would be much heavier than round, size-for-size and thickness-for-thickness. If it's just a matter of ounces or even a pound or two, I wouldn't say it's an issue. If it's the matter of SEVERAL to many pounds difference, then it might be worth the fuss to figure out how to fishmouth round tubing, if one were concerned about static weight.

[trikeman]

In terms of weight vs rigidity etc consider

http://mnhpva.org/tech/frame_tubes.html

[Pagan Wizard]

I am not concerned with weight, I am only interested in finding the strongest substitute for the EMT. With my own personal weight, I will not be attempting an HPV speed record any time soon, so looks and strength are my only major concerns, and paint will take care of the looks aspect.

[Pagan Wizard]

What do you guys think about using cold rolled round bar stock (similar to the axle on a DW) as an insert to the pieces of frame that are to be extended?? I think that would be far much stronger than any tubes, and it would also add strength to the existing frame tubes.

[Richie Rich]

Hi, P-Dub...I'm no metallurgist, but I've spliced and extended frames using tubing with no problem. There's nothing stronger than a tube within a tube.

Check out my interchangeable front ends for the DeltaWolf. I use square tubing and it's been carrying my 250+ pounds for over a year without a break.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_JFw54lHgh5w/R6_Ix5-TmpI/AAAAAAAAAM4/rHqP1BOU-G8/s1600-h/DW+Mod+(1).jpg

I hope this helps.......

....Richie >>
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[Pagan Wizard]

What you did RR was insert square tubes into larger square tubes. The plans for this bike call for inserting chopped parts of the existing bike frame tubes into EMT so they can be extended. I don't think EMT can be safely used in this application, especially with someone in my weight class. I also think that the square tubes used in bikes like the DW are much stronger than EMT.

[Richie Rich]

Without having the plans before me, it's hard to see just what he's doing.
I was under the impression that tubing from donor bikes was being spliced together with short pieces of tubing inside.

But from what you've just written, it sounds as if he's adding EMT to lengthen the frame pieces. If that's so, then I agree with you that there may be strength issues for those of us with (ahem...) BIG BONES.... :rolleyes:

In fact, upon closer inspection of the rear 3/4 view photo, it appears that the piece of EMT which is connecting the bottom bracket to the rear frame is actually bent.

If I were doing this, I'd use donor frame parts and splice them and not rely on just EMT for the frame extensions. Another option is to use thick-walled ('Rigid') conduit instead of EMT which will give you lots of strength but also add some weight.

.......Richie >>

[robertwb70]

Have you guys seen this website- he sells plans and bikes but there's more than enough info on the site for people like us to build from for free, which he also encourages. Been thinking about building a couple of these myself mostly because it's the easiest bike to transition people into the world of recumbents on/ with.

He's also a regular at BROL as Adc1

http://www.recycledrecumbent.com/

[Pagan Wizard]

BROL = http://www.bentrideronline.com/ ???

[robertwb70]

Yeah, I tend to think everyone into recumbents knows BROL but obviously it's not true:)

they have a pretty good home builders forum there- I usually just go there to drool over the NoCom (no-compromise) lowracers but there are alot of things that one can learn there.