So here "she" is with the completed seat support, rack and panniers:
This photo was taken in front of our library, which means I peddled almost a mile to get there! It was great: very comfortable and shifting was smooth (I finally got the skipping problem solved: a friend diagnosed it as worn rear cogs and an old chain; he was right--I switched the rear wheel with the one from Abby's bike just to test and, voila: No more skipping!) I'm still learning to adjust to the pace of going up hill (recumbents handle very differently when climbing) and I'm planning to weld the bearing cups on the fork to the head tube (they came from a different frame so when you use the front brake or steer there's a disconcerting wiggle in the steering column).
Here are some close ups:
View of the rack with panniers: Close-up of seat support/rack mount: Front view:
Wow, nice work. Is everything within comfortable reach? Like the pedals and handle-bars? From the pics it looks like a stretch to the pedals.
Posted by: Rusty at May 29, 2006 11:53 AMI don't know, currie - looked kinda wierd.
I read your 'bent and twisted obsession' and then clicked your blog, and the first picture i saw was: you and Abbie. Hmm.
so, what's it like to be in a place where the people you meet have only ever known you as married person? Makes you feel old!
Posted by: mkChristiansen at May 29, 2006 11:54 AMRusty, everything is within comfortable reach--in fact, if the crank was any closer it'd be uncomfortable because I'd almost be kneeing myself in the chest. The handle-bars were at an acceptable height but, with the long stem I thought it would be more comfortable to have them down at a more natural angle, and it turned out that a set of handle-bars from an old internal-hub 3-speed cruiser were perfect for repositioning the hand position!
Mary Katherine, oops, sorry--I was making a play on words with the abbreviation for "recumbent bike" - " 'bent." While Abby agrees with you about the looks, it's very comfortable and very fast!
Posted by: Currie at May 29, 2006 05:44 PM