Jack Janes' Aluminum-Framed "Raleigh" Recumbent - 2/2007
Jack built this bike back in the winter of '04 from aircraft aluminum and the seat of aluminum mesh. He didn't say how much it weighs but with those kinds of materials it should be pretty light.
Jack wrote:
"I had a Raleigh 27 in. bike that I finally got the nerve to cut up so I guess you could say its a Raleigh recumbent. The bike rides an handles very good. I can ride hands off with a little speed; I don't recommend that to everyone ... I put a third ring on for a much lower gear for these Kentucky hills."
|
|
March 2007 - Jack
sent some detail photos and added this additional information about his
bike...
"A few more pic. an info. on the recumbent project. The main
beam is 2-1/2 in. by1-1/ 4 OD, 1/8 in. thick. This is stock material
wherever you can find places that sells it. The 1-1/4 in. is the most
important part to remember because that will allow the cut up front, and
back, of whichever bike you choose to use, to slide with a very
tight fit into the main beam. When you find the right angles it
can then be drilled and bolted, NO WELDING!
"Been riding it for couple years now, still tight where the frame mates
with the alum. Every once in a while I retighten the steering but that's
about all. Hope you can tell by the pic. how the frame sections go into
the main beam. Seat was made entirely from an old sat. dish; the kind
that had alum. braces, with mesh. Weighs very little; covered it with
closed cell foam, the kind they use in kayaks. Hope this gives you an
idea of how I went about building it with out all the hassles of
welding, jigs etc. Just a note to say the frame is very rigid an
stiff; just enough flex in rear fork to give good ride. It weighs 30
lbs. with the heavy front fork and wheel. I know of at least one guy
that's is building one after contacting me; said he would send me pic.
as soon as he has it done."
In the top-left photo below you can see how Jack slid the sacrificed bike's tubes right into the aluminum box tubing and bolted it there. Sure looks good!
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||