SWB0 Lazyboy

[Wildcat]

I'm going to use the recumbent frame I've had hanging in the shop for a long time. That's all I have for it right now.

I thought it was made for 27" wheels, being from the 80's, but the 27" wheel I tried is a hair too large.

I'll see how a 700 fits but maybe just go wiith a 26" since I have a tire that is 26 x 1.50 and smooth.The front wheel will most probably be a 20". I'm looking a lighter springer front end. I had a hard time riding this frame in it's previous form, the Bamboozle. I sat too low to see behind me and the steering angle was too much. The twin banana seats were ok, but now I'm looking for a better seat and back. This needs to be fast and comfortable. I hope to mount the seat over the rear wheel to get a better riding position. I might have to add a BB somewhere so my feet reach.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Pretty cool

Do you have access to that skinny of a 20”?

 

[Wildcat]

Pretty cool

Do you have access to that skinny of a 20”?

I have a skinny wheel and just ordered up a 20 x 1.35 tire I found on Shopee, the Asian version of Amazon. Otherwise I would go with a new 20 x 1 3/8ths wheel.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

I'm going to use the recumbent frame I've had hanging in the shop for a long time. That's all I have for it right now.
View attachment 255397

I thought it was made for 27" wheels, being from the 80's, but the 27" wheel I tried is a hair too large.
View attachment 255398
I'll see how a 700 fits but maybe just go wiith a 26" since I have a tire that is 26 x 1.50 and smooth.The front wheel will most probably be a 20". I'm looking a lighter springer front end. I had a hard time riding this frame in it's previous form, the Bamboozle. I sat too low to see behind me and the steering angle was too much. The twin banana seats were ok, but now I'm looking for a better seat and back. This needs to be fast and comfortable. I hope to mount the seat over the rear wheel to get a better riding position. I might have to add a BB somewhere so my feet reach.
View attachment 255399

Awesome start. I like those red rims on the 'bamboo look' frame!

 

[Wildcat]

That red color is actually copper paint, but has a red tint to it. I could paint the rims for this the same color. That's a long way off though, drivetrain and seat along with handlebars or steering are being planned first. That 27" wheel is from the 1901 Mixte:

 

[Wildcat]

I ordered a pair of sealed bearing hubs in gold, I still can't believe they are only 9 bucks a set.

I'll relace the 20" wheel, the spokes should work with the new hub. The rear needs spokes and a rim. I'll try to match the front rim.

I tried the springer but the frame's headtube is too long. I may just use a lightweight 27" fork if I can get one that will fit.

I snagged the handlebars off of Swingrat, and also the wheels for another bike, so it's just a frame hanging up now. Artwork of some kind.

Even with the high bars the seat over the rear wheel will require very long arms to reach. So I might use the original BB for cranks and have the seat ahead of the rear wheel, but mounted higher up so it will ride better.

I laid out the parts so far and added a centerstand that will get mounted in a different spot once I see where the weight sits.

 

[Wildcat]

I have to reorder the hubs, somehow my order was ignored. But the front tire arrived, skinny as advertised. Now I have two skinny smoothies.
Shimano cluster and new shifter also. I'm using a 1.75 tube and it seems to be ok.

So far, the weight is good, but the handlebars and stem add a lot, as will the unknown seat unless I can find some lightweight alternatives. One of those mesh recumbent seats with an alloy frame would be perfect but theres no way I can get one over here. Maybe I can get a custom set of aluminum bars made up by one of the many "craftsmen" over here in the Philippines.

 

[Wildcat]

I got a few things accomplished today.
First, I wanted to see about the long handlebars. I used a pair I had and plan to lengthen them, so I went to the scrap bin and got a bunch of leftovers. I have more to cut up if I need. The size of the fork parts I have are just the right size to sleeve the handlebar tubes. I can lay them out and have them ready to braze up at the shop. I'll wait to see what length and shape I need later when I mock up the whole thing.

Then I checked on the crankset and BB. An extra BB fit perfectly, 73mm I think. I bought it last year because it was cheap. The crankset works well also.

Then I wanted to see how it laid out. The wheelbase is 68" and length is 88". This is with a 27" fork estimated.

The biggest job coming up is wirebrushing the whole frame. Previously It just stayed brown and wouldn't get a metal silvery shine to it.

 

[Wildcat]

I'll need an 8 foot brake cable with those long handlbars and frame. I think a foot brake will be the answer. I ordered a 90mm band brake as The ones I use on Bulldog give very good braking. One is all I'll need on this build.

I plan to run a steel rod from the brake to a foot pedal up near the cranks. I still have some "engineering" to do on that.

 

[Wildcat]

I ordered a new rim for nothing. I found a good one while straightening up the shop. It's not a deep V rim which is just what I was looking for. I ordered a deep V because I couldn't find this kind. Sometimes the valave stem isn't long enough on a deep V rim. Now just the hubs and I can start lacing them up.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

One of those mesh recumbent seats with an alloy frame would be perfect but theres no way I can get one over here. Maybe I can get a custom set of aluminum bars made up by one of the many "craftsmen" over here in the Philippines.

Take a look at RecycledRecumbents seat build method. Conduit and mesh or canvas. (also all the other plans he has for free) Drawings also availble in the drop down menu. I’ve built 2 of the mesh seats, (plus bought a used ‘bent from him.) Good stuff and a good guy.

 

[Wildcat]

I'll check it out. I think with the seat higher to get a better ride, I may not need a seat back, just a big seat. I ordered one that's the size of an exercise bike seat.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

So far so good! It'll be nice to see that bamboo-zling frame turn into a bike once more!

 

[Wildcat]

I set it up to wire brush the whole thing this morning, but just the head tube alone took way too much time and effort. It has two coats of clear along with the paint. I checked to see if I could get it sandblasted, but that's one environmental thing they do here. You can burn trash and throw garbage along the road, but no sandblasting. Chemical paint removal can be done, but like welding here, they don't use any personal protection. This will be done manually.

I'll try to use a scraper first to take off most of the paint then wire brush whatevers left.

I did get some work done, scrubbed the whitewall and cleaned the sticker residue off the rims.

 

[Wildcat]

The new derailleur and big brake showed up today. I still can't see how they are selling an Altus derailleur for about 6 bucks. I checked it, it's the real deal, M370, goes for 3 times as much at least back in the states. Cluster and shifter ready also. I'll make the shifter on a short cable probably mounted under the seat. No cables on the handlebars or along the frame is what I'm trying to do.

 

[Wildcat]

The crankset has a slight warp from being used previously on a failed idea. So I ordered a new one and went big, 52 teeth. With the 7 speed cluster should give a high gear that will hit 25mph on the flat! With me pedaling to boot. I think I rode that high a gear way back when I was a teenager with no money, an unkown diamond frame with a SA 3 speed stuck in high gear, no cables except for one brake. I had put a 52 chain wheel on it. No handlegrips, bald tires and one pedal was just a spindle. But fast. I rode bikes back then until they were unrideable.

 

[Wildcat]

The only hubs I could find that were sealed were red so that's what's on order. But I wanted gold originally. The Frankenscoot is red, so I swiped the gold hubs and spokes and it will get the red hubs when they come in.

It has the same rims, only reversed, so I unlaced and laced this morning. They are ready for a trip to the bike shop for truing. I think I'll go with a gold and black paint scheme. I found a blackwall 1.50 but it's not a smooth tread but might work.

I worked on the seat mount also. Trying to keep it simple. I cut out the BB and part of the seat tube from scrap. I'm going to cut a section out of the bottom so it sits on the frame snugly then use a bracket to bolt it to the frame. It will use two holes on either side of the BB and be able to attach at different points along the frame for adjustment. The seat will bolt to a seatpost as normal and have some up and down adjustment in the short seat tube. It will need more support, so a square bracket like a rack will attach to the two seat springs and extend back to where the frame splits into two stays and attach there. It needs lateral support. Also able to move back or forth by adjsuting the bracket. This will get the seat about 6 inches or so above the frame. I'll be able to flatfoot it, but not be too low to the ground. It's hard to pedal with your feet straight out in front of you.

 

[Son of Kradus]

You never cease to amaze me wildcat! youve got an endless pit of idea's,
From what ive read today.....get some wood, pretend to burn trash and chuck the bamboozle frame on it, the wire brush will be like wiping mud off ya boot!

 

[Wildcat]

I have tons of time to sit in the shop and think up stuff. That's where most of my scrap pile came from.

No burning in my subdivision, but when everyone else outside has trash burning at 6am, it makes no difference. I could use a torch, but I just ordered a heavy steel wire brush for my hand grinder that should do the trick., even better than a scraper.

 

[Wildcat]

Rims getting trued at the shop.