A quick bit of recumbent advice



B

Ben

Guest
Hi,

I've been thinking of trying to build myself a recumbent from the
"bentech" plans - the building part sounds good fun, as does the
outcome (although my access to workjshops att the mo is limited, so I
may cheat and get some of the welding done for me :)). However, I
have had very limited experience of riding 'bents. I'd feel guilty
trying them out at a LBS, as even if I was converted I wouldn't be
buying from there. Does anyone know of somewhere in central london
where could hire on for a day or so to get a feel?

Cheers,

Ben
 
On Oct 14, 7:15 pm, Ben <[email protected]> wrote:
> Does anyone know of somewhere in central london
> where could hire on for a day or so to get a feel?
>

Ask London Recumbents in Dulwich Park (not 'central', but still
London?)
 
On 14 Oct, 22:41, squeaker <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Oct 14, 7:15 pm, Ben <[email protected]> wrote:> Does anyone know of somewhere in central london
> > where could hire on for a day or so to get a feel?

>
> Ask London Recumbents in Dulwich Park (not 'central', but still
> London?)


Worth a shot_ - I just looked them up. I work near there anyway :)
 
Building a recumbent without work shop facilities is going to take you a
long long time.
I built my fully suspended folding recumbent trike 10 years ago using a kit
supplied by the great trike designer Nick Andrews.
I had to make the fibreglass main components myself------as nobody would
make them for me.
It took me 5 months to build.
It has done 15000 -25000 miles in several European countries where it is
usually my sole means of transport.
Just back from 3 weeks triking in Berlin.
Living with my recumbent-------.
It weighs 20 kilo s and is awkward to move when you stop cycling.I lock mine
with 2 locks under a **** polythene cover.
Disadvantages
Needs a lot of storage space.
Its very expensive to build/buy--you are talking £100 less tyre for a D-I-Y
front wheel £150 for a Sachs 7x3 rear-£200 for a Nexus 8.
Advantages
I have no balance so its a trike or overwight short life-I have neuron
disease.
Its totally reliable-no mechanical breakdowns-2 punctures.
Its very robust-hit by a bus in Berlin-driver turned left without looking-I
would have been killed on an upright rather than my offside hub being
shattered.
Its extremely comfortable thanks to its fabric seat.
Tam