Steve's Recumbent Archives

Henry Holmstrand's Homebuilt 'Easy Racer'-type Recumbent - 12/2005

Henry has just finished his 'Tour-Easy' type recumbent; one of the few in Sweden.

Check out the link in the lower part of his note for an interesting recumbent building workshop!

Henry wrote...

"I have just finished a Tour Easy clone, my first acquaintance with recumbents what so ever. It was a logical progression from the upright bike, which tend to cause ache in wrists and - while in aero position - neck. Of course, the ignition to this came as I stumbled across the Easy Racers plans. I did not know how to braze, but who cares? I learned as the building project went along, using an oxy-acetylene torch + silver and brass. I still remember the enormous relief of sawing the main bicycle frame apart. May strike you as odd, but those minutes were probably the finest, together with painting the frame. Here is the result, holding up even for rough riding, and very nice and comfortable during the commute through central Stockholm. I would love to have it posted on your site, if you see it fit. Maybe that can do something for the very non-existing recumbent-building surge of Sweden...

"Hopefully I will have reached my normal average speed by summer, when the recumbent-specific muscles are up to pace. However, as seen from the clipped-in picture, I feel that the frontal area is on the high side. Also, this is heavy stuff (40 lbs including ridiculous flag, excluding bomb proof lock). As with cars, there is a coefficient of wind resistance, and I think this position is far better in that respect when compared to an upright position. It is noticeable in cold weather, since the body takes less impact from wind chill.

"Next project, with a bearing on your wooden bikes, will be a - gasp - wooden Bacchetta type SWB, 28" rear and 26" front. Still on the drawing board. It will be light and aerodynamic, without suspension - a racer. At this point, I have come to the conclusion that a hollow plywood beam can be reinforced internally with carbon fiber rowing. The lamination procedure can be very simple, and some wood might prevent the type of cataclysmic rupture that can occur when using carbon only. It will be cheap, with a minimum of metal work (dropouts and steering only), and with a nice wooden finish.

"While at it, the seat could possibly be integrated with the main beam by means of a tailcone. In that case, all components will contribute to the overall strength, thus making the bike lighter. I am not entirely sure about the tailcone though, since it will make the construction more complicated. Why not have a look at http://www.blids.nl/gallery/PlywoodRecumbentBuildingworkshop2003 for nice sandwiched plywood recumbents? Ugly but light weight, 14.8 kg final according to the author of that page."


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