Ready for a test ride

The recumbent project is ready for a test ride, as soon as I feel up to it. The cables have all been routed and adjusted and the tires have been aired up. I've spent plenty of time sitting in the saddle in the garage this past week, wishing I didn't feel so light headed and run down. Maybe by the end of this week...

Jack

Seat

The seat has been sewn and installed. It worked well, and the new material is much stronger than the original nylon. I had to cut slots in the part that wraps around the back to allow for the supports - somehow I messed up the location of my cutouts. I'm not too stressed over this as I'm going to build a whole new seat again when I tear it apart for paint anyway. I put the chain on, and installed some cables. Still lots to do, but it's beginning to look like a bike.

Jack

Seat Material

I have some seat material, that I believe is the same stuff the commercial builders use. I found it at Fabric Depot, under the name of Phifertex. It's vinyl coated polyester mesh, and from the little bit of pulling and tugging I've done, it's very durable and doesn't stretch. Plus it will breath like it isn't even there, which will be nice for summer rides.

On my way to go fabric shopping, I took the long way and went by Coventry Cycle Works. Wow, I felt like I'd been to church when I left there. I could actually hear angels singing when I looked at the trikes closeup. There are Catrikes, Terra Cycles, Burleys, and Bachettas that now have my tongue marks on them. They were working on a very rare (and very odd looking) British trike. I had to ask the mechanic how to steer it - it was that weird. Anyway, I'm glad I went there because I saw a lot of different ways to solve problems (like seat mounting, cable routing, steering for trikes, etc), and had a nice chat with the mechanic. He invited me to come back sometime and take a few test rides - I could ride anything on the floor. Talk about an inspiring day - all that on top of getting my hair cut.

Jack

Tearing Apart the Seat

Well, I had more mixed success with the seat for my recumbent. My sewing job turned out very nice (almost professional quality), but when I installed the bottom and tried it out - let's just say it was a little too stretchy. I found myself sitting on the top tube, wishing I weren't. I've also decided that the seat back MUST be raised about 10 degrees more. The seat bottom needs to be tilted back about 5 degrees more, and extended about 3 more inches.

So, tonight I began dismantling the seat, and looking at options. I think I'll reuse the seat back, but mount it to the bottom in a different place. I'll also reuse the bottom, except for the rear crosstube, which needs to be bowed, and dropped below the side tubes. The front cross tube needs a bushing between it and the frame to provide the correct tilt (thankfully I came across some 1/4" thick phenolic a few days ago and snatched it up just for occasions like this - free, too).

Jack