| A dirt cheap Recumbent Bike! Am I crazy? Does that | | | | All that's really left is the galvanized conduit and the |
| sound crazy to you? Just because you've looked in | | | | seat. The whole 10' stick of conduit runs about $8. |
| some stores, and some online sites, do you think | | | | The seat, which is the heart of the recumbent, will |
| dirt-cheap is too cheap? How about impossible, is | | | | run around $140. Of course, you can always look for |
| there a vote for that? Sure! All you doubters stand | | | | used equipment or make your own if you're handy |
| and be counted. Let me tell you how you can have a | | | | with tools and save that money. |
| recumbent bike for $299...or less! | | | | The handlebar is another item of interest. You will |
| You saw them on sale for $1200, $1700, $2500 and | | | | need what's called a Quill to fit in the head tube. On |
| more. Where are they on sale for $299 or less? You | | | | to this "Quill," you will fit a curved tube, which will |
| can't find one on sale for that price...at least in one | | | | attach to your handlebars. You can buy a steerer |
| piece. Who is going to give away a recumbent | | | | tube for $60 made by Rans Recumbent, but you will |
| dirt-cheap? | | | | still need an extender to make it long enough for a |
| OK! OK! I know it sounds hard to believe, and for | | | | LWB. |
| some it will be hard to achieve. Here's the deal. As | | | | You can make your own by buying a piece of |
| soon as some of you read the next few lines you'll | | | | Cromalloy and bending it. You'll need to buy or |
| be gone. Why? Because you're going to have to | | | | borrow a tube bender to do that. I found a 7/8" |
| sweat and work for this. | | | | tube of Aluminum from Loews, that I was able to |
| Notice it does not say, "free" anywhere. Some will be | | | | bend for mine. Creativity and ingenuity are King when |
| more than up to the test, so for those ready for the | | | | building your own. |
| challenge of having one of these incredible machines | | | | You'll find that once the frame is together and you |
| for your own riding pleasure...read on. | | | | start adding the brake and gear cables, a good |
| Just for the asking! It sounds a little overconfident | | | | supply of plastic Zipties will be a huge help. As most |
| doesn't it? Well, I can tell you it worked for me so it | | | | plans do not include the "braze on" cable stops and |
| can work for just about anyone who's not afraid of | | | | cable guides, the Zipties will be necessary to hold |
| the "asking" part. Is someone going to give you a | | | | cables in place. |
| recumbent for $299 just by asking? Nope! So what's | | | | Now, once you have made you frame, if you can't |
| the catch? | | | | weld it, then get a professional to do it for you. Set |
| Would you believe you can make a recumbent bike | | | | the frame up on what's called a "jig." A "jig" is |
| from a Road Bike frame, and about the only things | | | | explained in the plans. That way the welder will know |
| you will need to buy are a front wheel, tire and tube, | | | | how it's supposed to look. |
| about 8' of galvanized electrical conduit, gear and | | | | Don't just take a bunch of tubes that need to be |
| brake cables for a tandem bike (available at almost | | | | welded together, and tell him to "go get it!" He won't |
| any LBS), and maybe a seat. | | | | get it, but you will! He might charge $60 or so. Be |
| Now assuming that you have some simple tools, like | | | | sure to ask first so there won't be any surprises. |
| a hacksaw, tape measure, files, and a way to sand | | | | Now, it's possible these components can be found |
| the frame and galvanized conduit, you're just about | | | | for less money. I tried mixing old chain from several |
| ready to go. The only thing missing so far is a Road | | | | different bikes and found that doesn't work to well. |
| Bike frame. | | | | Usually the components from the "donor" bike can be |
| Some plans call for two Road Bike frames. I have | | | | used in making the new one. I used all the |
| successfully made two homemade LWB recumbents | | | | components from my 5 month old, $425 Giant |
| using just one Road Bike frame each time. Check out | | | | Hybrid, 24-speed bike. |
| the latest USS Homebuilt Recumbent. | | | | Here's a list of what you might buy and the |
| About the only benefit of using two Road Bike | | | | approximate cost. |
| frames may be not having to splice in a piece of top | | | | Frame$25.00 |
| tube from another source. That was the only piece I | | | | Front Wheel$58.00 |
| used from a trash bike, just that piece of top tube | | | | Tandem Brake Cables $ 7.50 |
| and nothing else. There wasn't much else usable. A | | | | Grip Shift Gears$26.00 |
| plain old piece of any steel tube of the right size | | | | 3 chain sets$30.00 |
| would work just as well. | | | | 8' conduit$ 8.00 |
| As long as the frame has not been wrecked, one will | | | | Zipties$15.00 M |
| do. The key is finding a good frame with | | | | Tire$10.00 |
| components that are in reasonably good condition. So | | | | Tube$ 3.50 |
| where do you find this frame? | | | | Seat $140.00 (optional)Welding $ 60.00 |
| Well, here comes the asking part. | | | | Total $383.00 |
| I just happen to spot two old Raleigh Road frames | | | | Making your own seat keeps the price well under the |
| someone had put out for trash. When I asked the | | | | $299, even if you have someone weld the frame for |
| owners if I could have them, they said, "sure!" | | | | you. If you buy the seat but do your own welding, |
| Normally you wouldn't pay any attention to | | | | or find a friend like I did to do it for free, you're still |
| something like that. It's amazing how they suddenly | | | | under $299.00. You may find some of these other |
| "pop up" when you start looking. | | | | items for less. New prices were used to give you an |
| But let's say you can't find any like I did. Many bike | | | | idea of the actual cost. |
| shops will take old bikes on a trade for a new one. | | | | Finding your frame for free saves you money. Being |
| They don't give much of a discount, and they usually | | | | able to weld the frame will reduce the cost even |
| don't fix them up to resell. They wait for someone | | | | more. I'm glad I didn't try this on the first one. |
| like you who's looking for an old bike for parts. | | | | Watching the process taught me a great deal, and |
| Parts! Keyword there. If they think you want to | | | | after practicing on a second frame, I discovered how |
| repair it then they're much more interested in selling | | | | NOT to do it! |
| you something new. I picked up a perfectly good | | | | A very comfortable seat can be made from plywood |
| frame from a LBS for $25, and I was able to use | | | | and foam, or a used one may be for sale. One was |
| most of the major components to make a | | | | given to me that had basically been trashed as my |
| recumbent. | | | | riding buddy upgraded his homebuilt and had the |
| Garage sales are great for bargains. I had a neighbor | | | | extra seat. |
| who had this really nice, perfect condition girl's road | | | | The point is, whether all new components are |
| bike that I picked up for $10! The daughter had a car | | | | purchased or you put something together like many |
| now and the bike was just taking up space. That | | | | others using whatever is at hand, just build it! The |
| scenario gets repeated every weekend in someone's | | | | first try may be a tremendous success. After 13,000 |
| garage. | | | | miles I feel confident in saying mine is. |
| You have to know just a little bit about frames to | | | | If changes are needed (if you ask any bent rider |
| make sure you're getting a good one, and not just a | | | | changes are ALWAYS needed) to improve the ride, |
| cheap department store variety. The easiest way to | | | | no big deal. This is still a ride you put together, and it |
| know a good frame is to look at the cranks! Click | | | | didn't cost the "big bucks" of a new one, or even a |
| here to go to Nashbar.comto see a variety of cranks. | | | | used one. |
| Cranks are what the pedals are attached to. If you | | | | More important, you know how this thing is made, so |
| were going to buy them new, the Shimano Sora | | | | you'll also know the effect of any minor or major |
| Triple gives you a great range of gears. | | | | changes and the immediate result. You may also |
| If they are connected to the chain ring with bolts, it | | | | decide to buy a factory made bent in the future, and |
| generally indicates a frame with decent components. | | | | this is the huge advantage you have. Now you know |
| If the crank is one solid piece you don't want the | | | | what you want, and if it's worth the money. |
| frame, at any price. You also want a road bike | | | | I found the first frame I made completely to be |
| frame, and not a mountain bike frame. | | | | easy enough, that I was encouraged to make |
| A road bike frame will have a top tube that goes | | | | another of my own design. Not everyone is going to |
| straight back from the head tube to the seat tube | | | | do this. I still haven't finished my experimental frame, |
| (the Mountain Bike tube has more of a downward | | | | so it's difficult to tell how it will work out. |
| slant). It is the only tube that is horizontal with the | | | | To do this I had to invest $225 in a portable |
| ground, or the topside of a triangle. Just because the | | | | Oxy-Acetylene welding kit, because it was too much |
| bike may be in very good shape, doesn't mean you | | | | of a demand on my friend's time to ask him to do it. |
| can't get it for a steal! | | | | It also cost too much to use the little kits available at |
| People put these out when they are tired of looking | | | | Home Depot. |
| at them in their garage. They will all but give it away | | | | In welding my first frame, I discovered the little |
| just to get rid of it. Now and then you may find a | | | | Oxygen tanks only last about 8 minutes. That's not |
| real bike rider who knows the value of what they | | | | nearly long enough to do serious welding, and you |
| have, and you may as well just go on. As for the | | | | can't control the flame. Before I had finished, I used |
| others, when you convince them you don't need it | | | | 12 tanks at a cost of $8 each. It would have cost |
| for anything but parts and no one else is buying, you'll | | | | me less to take it to a welding shop...I think! |
| get the deal. | | | | The one point that shines through in building your |
| Road Bikes have a decreasing appeal. After riding one | | | | own recumbent is this. You did it! If you can get on it |
| for five miles or so, the seat starts to hurt real good. | | | | and enjoy a relaxing, comfortable ride, does anything |
| After that, every time the bike comes into view the | | | | else matter? It may not shine as much, the welds |
| memory of the pain comes flooding back. As a result, | | | | may not be as pretty, and it may not be as fancy as |
| in time the pain becomes greater than the value of | | | | those from the factory. But you can enjoy every |
| the bike, and then it's time for the bike to go. So you | | | | single mile, every hour on your bent knowing it was |
| can wheel and deal at the garage sales.< | | | | fashioned by your hands. |
| Now you have the bike frame with decent | | | | Accept with humble thanks when others are amazed |
| components. What next? Well, you probably want to | | | | that you made it! Let your chest swell with pride |
| ask for some plans on how to cut up the frame in | | | | when you hear the kids shout, "Cool bike!" Feel the |
| the right places. Are you wondering where to get | | | | rush of riding along with those "expensive factory |
| plans like that? Well, it just so happens you can get | | | | built bents" that don't go any faster than yours. Soak |
| them right off the Internet... ! Bookmark sections 1 | | | | in the admiration of fellow bent riders who had to |
| through 4. You can print them out later if you want. | | | | buy one because they can't turn a wrench. |
| All you need is Adobe Acrobat to download it, and | | | | Mention that you only have $299 invested in your |
| you can even get that free if you don't have it. Just | | | | bike, and watch the faces of those who paid six, |
| go to to download the free version. | | | | seven, and in some instances 10 times as much for |
| OK. I'm going to believe that you have the frame(or | | | | theirs. Are you starting to get the picture? |
| two frames if you go exactly by the plans) and the | | | | When you pay $2000 for a bent, you are reluctant |
| plans. You're going to need the galvanized electrical | | | | to do any customizing, especially if you aren't |
| conduit, or if you want to spend the extra money, | | | | mechanically inclined. When you made it to begin with, |
| you can buy Cromalloy tubing. You can get a 20" | | | | no such resistance exists, because you have the |
| wheel for around $58 new. Some have found used | | | | confidence of your building experience. |
| BMX wheels to save money. | | | | Making changes, finding a way to improve it, |
| Tire and tube will cost another $14. If you paid as | | | | modifying part of the design are almost guaranteed, |
| much as $25 for the frame you're at $97 so far. | | | | because you know you can. So it might be a good |
| Cables will cost no more than $7 for brakes and $26 | | | | question as to who gets more pleasure out of a |
| for grip shifters for the gears. Three lengths of chain | | | | bent. |
| will run around $30. | | | | |