Super EZ-to-build Full-faired HPV
Here’s a sketch of what I would think would be a very easy to build recumbent. I see the design as both a fun bike and one that can be fully-faired for warmth, dryness and high speed. While still being fun as heck to ride, of course!
Super EZ-to-Build Fast Light Full-Faired HPV!
From my lousy sketch, you can see that my design uses a single straight tube as a frame. 2 steel plates are bolted (then welded if you like) straight along the one end of the tube, then spread as rear dropouts. Then four simple holes are drilled and tubes welded into them as needed.
This design SEEMS to be the picture of simplicity, cheapness and ease.
SOME PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS BAD ABOUT IT!!!
There are NO idlers! The chain is short, bike is short! (20×20 wheels.) Easy to transport! Low sidewind effect! The seat is placed near the rear wheel for great handling and low height. The headtube is nearly vertical for heel clearance. Straight fork can be used. —It’s amazing how easy and normal it is to ride steep angle bikes with small wheels.
The holes—which are the design’s only features!—are as follows… A hole is drilled thru the tube for a seat mount, ala Visions. Next hole is drilled vertically thru tube to hold the headtube, which is inserted and welded in place. Next hole is drilled 90 degrees to the first and the bottom bracket shell is inserted and welded in place. Last hole is smallish and drilled vertically to hold a vertical strut support for the fairing.
Ask a machine/welding shop to drill the holes and then give them the extra tubes to weld in place. $50 max? You and your bikeshop buddies can clean and tap to finish up.
A rear rack bolts to dropout plate and seattubes (seat can be salvaged from any other benter’s spare parts!!) to create rear triangle and support for seat.
Fairing is coroplast and PTGE. Doors shut via velcro. Trunk space.
Total weight = 30 lbs.
By Jeff Potter—“Out Your Backdoor” (DIY-stuff) e-zine publisher: www.brainlink.com/~glp/oyb
