Why are there so many different styles?

[live-free]

I have just started investigating recumbents and it seems to me that
there are so many different styles or variations I can't even tell you
how many I have seen since I became intersted in recumbents! Okay well
here is my real question: What is the best style for a beginner
builder to try to put together in a home garage workshop? Also does
any one know of anyone that sells do it yourself "kits" I think I ran
into the benttech website the other day and they do kits but even they
seem pretty costly. I want to do a bent on a budget to get started.

Ken

 

[Ian Smith]

On 31 Oct 2004 07:23:34 -0800, live-free <[email protected]> wrote:

> any one know of anyone that sells do it yourself "kits" I think I ran
> into the benttech website the other day and they do kits but even they
> seem pretty costly. I want to do a bent on a budget to get started.

A google for 'dutch speed bike' may turn up just the thing you want -
kit of parts that, combined with a donor bike with functional
componentry, will give you a functional recumbent. They also publish
the drawings of teh bits, so you could in fact do it all yourself (I
know of one person that has).

Down side is that while I know a few people in the UK that have built
one from the kit, I'm not sure if tehy ship to teh US, which is
probably where you are given your time zone. Shipping probably also
makes it not such a cheap kit.

regards, Ian SMith
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[Jeff Wills]

[email protected] (live-free) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I have just started investigating recumbents and it seems to me that
> there are so many different styles or variations I can't even tell you
> how many I have seen since I became intersted in recumbents! Okay well
> here is my real question: What is the best style for a beginner
> builder to try to put together in a home garage workshop? Also does
> any one know of anyone that sells do it yourself "kits" I think I ran
> into the benttech website the other day and they do kits but even they
> seem pretty costly. I want to do a bent on a budget to get started.
>
> Ken

The Bicycle Builder's Bonanza book from Atomic Zombie has a variety of
projects, and explains what you'll need for a workshop, too.
http://www.atomiczombie.com/books.htm

Easy Racer-ish plans are available:
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/plans/plans1.htm
A friend of mine built one from a couple junk bikes and a lot of J-B
Weld. It broke recently, after 12 years of hard riding.

Here's a couple more places to look:
Bentrideronline hosts a homebuilders forum:
http://www.bentrideronline.com/
http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/forumdisplay.php?f=12

Recumbents.com has lots of resources, particularly within the WISIL
and MARS club pages:
http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp
http://www.recumbents.com/wisil.htm
http://www.recumbents.com/mars/

And the IHPVA has many random resources and hosts mailing lists:
http://www.ihpva.org/
some are here:
http://www.ihpva.org/Builders/

Jeff