"Ground Hugger" Recumbant DIY project from April 1969 Popular Mechanics Magazine

[jimbo53]

I remember reading the original article in 1969 as a junior in high school. Shop class was my favorite class and I dreamed about building this, but never did. Might want to revisit this in the near future...
I remember the steering knuckle was a universal socket adapter to get into tight places and they filled the main down tube with sand to prevent kinking and distorting while bending. Parts were well within the average home mechanics ability to source or make.
Did anyone on this web page actually build one of these? Pretty darned advanced and innovative for 46 years ago.
http://www.rqriley.com/bike.htm

Here's a refined version with multi speed mechanicals

 

[Fv2]

I haven't built it yet,but I did order the plans to build it.I've wanted a recumbent for years. It definitely has a cool look, I'm not sure about using a flex adapter as a u joint. Lovejoy makes small u joints that I think would work better.
The plans come with an instruction book and 4 blue print style drawings,so it should be easy to build just have to get off my hump and improve my skills.

Man,now I'm gonna have to dig these plans out of the box.

 

[deven_science]

I tried using a knuckle-socket adapter like that as a u-joint on a tall bike I built, and nearly killed myself. Too much play. Get a real u-joint of some kind.

 

[Greg M]

I'll second Devon on that. The few ground huggers built have been known for sloppy steering unless a proper u-joint is used.

 

[btl68]

I haven't built it yet,but I did order the plans to build it.I've wanted a recumbent for years. It definitely has a cool look, I'm not sure about using a flex adapter as a u joint. Lovejoy makes small u joints that I think would work better.
The plans come with an instruction book and 4 blue print style drawings,so it should be easy to build just have to get off my hump and improve my skills.

Man,now I'm gonna have to dig these plans out of the box.

Did you ever attempt a build?

 

[Fv2]

Did you ever attempt a build?

I built my version of it.

It got stolen, started another. Just haven't gotten around to finishing it yet.

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

takes some balls to steal a bike like that. It's not like you can disguise it.

 

[Grant]

Nice! I still think that the scariest recumbent is the Hypercycle.

 

[Fv2]

takes some balls to steal a bike like that. It's not like you can disguise it.

That's the odd part.
I reported it stolen, and my step son and granddaughter saw someone riding it about a year after the fact, but local police still can't find it.

 

[Grant]

I don't know why anyone would want to steal that

 

[Fv2]

I don't know why anyone would want to steal that

Me either.
I'm surprised it didn't fall apart as they took it out of my yard.

 

[Grant]

takes some balls to steal a bike like that. It's not like you can disguise it.

I have seen bikes like this that were stolen and spray painted over.

 

[Grant]

Some people have stolen bikes from this pile. When asked, all of these can be given to you for free.

 

[btl68]

I have seen bikes like this that were stolen and spray painted over.
View attachment 112235

I know a couple of people that had their motorcycles stolen, flat black spray bombed over the beautiful paint, then they were found within a mile of their house. I mean, WTH? Stupid crack smokers.

 

[Cmdr Ronald]

I remember reading the original article in 1969 as a junior in high school. Shop class was my favorite class and I dreamed about building this, but never did. Might want to revisit this in the near future...
I remember the steering knuckle was a universal socket adapter to get into tight places and they filled the main down tube with sand to prevent kinking and distorting while bending. Parts were well within the average home mechanics ability to source or make.
Did anyone on this web page actually build one of these? Pretty darned advanced and innovative for 46 years ago.
http://www.rqriley.com/bike.htm

Here's a refined version with multi speed mechanicals

By

We're nearly the same age, & I remember seeing the ads beginning about the same time. Sadly, plans for those marvelous machines never came into my possession. Mr. Riley suddenly left this world, & it seems none of the others continued that part of the business. Quite sad, really. Countless people were & still are inspired by merely enjoying the ads & photos. I would be ecstatic if opportunity to acquire plan sets for these bikes arose. If you or another user has sets of these plans, I would gladly buy them at a reasonable price.

By building a thing (ANY thing, really) from scratch, one fast approaches stealth mode on levels somewhat different from what is expected. Not the usual by my count.

That, sir, is one of the unspoken main attractions of this business of building bikes, in my estimation. Of course, these points align with & are massively "over shadowed" by the satisfaction of actually designing & building a conveyance upon which one rides.

B. Independent​

 

[Cmdr Ronald]

takes some balls to steal a bike like that. It's not like you can disguise it.

That isn't balls... Not even close.
That is low-life thievery, a severe lack of integrity & respect for fellow beings, which begins with lack of respect for self.

 

[Cmdr Ronald]

I haven't built it yet,but I did order the plans to build it.I've wanted a recumbent for years. It definitely has a cool look, I'm not sure about using a flex adapter as a u joint. Lovejoy makes small u joints that I think would work better.
The plans come with an instruction book and 4 blue print style drawings,so it should be easy to build just have to get off my hump and improve my skills.

Man,now I'm gonna have to dig these plans out of the box.

Man, did you ever find that Ground Hugger plan set? Not rushing you or anything, seeing as it has been only 8 1/2 years. I'd much like to have them within easy reach.
-*- The same goes for the 2nd generation of Mr. Riley's plans , o, & some of his other plans sets. Now that I can order plans & build, the families don't respond.
Tons of gratitude smeared on ya

 

[Fv2]

Man, did you ever find that Ground Hugger plan set? Not rushing you or anything, seeing as it has been only 8 1/2 years. I'd much like to have them within easy reach.
-*- The same goes for the 2nd generation of Mr. Riley's plans , o, & some of his other plans sets. Now that I can order plans & build, the families don't respond.
Tons of gratitude smeared on ya

I did. Also have the boonie bug plans. But neither are for sale.

 

[rickpaulos]

Nice! I still think that the scariest recumbent is the Hypercycle.
View attachment 112216

The Hypercycle sold as a kit. You were expected to loot your regular road bike for the parts to finish building it. The main problem was the center of gravity was too far forward. Drop the small front wheel in a pothole and over you went, usually landing on the chain ring. One biking buddy showed me the chain ring scars in his pelvis area. Double chain guards might help or act as knives to slice you open. I modified a few for customers by cutting the seat bracket off and rebrazing it farther back. There was plenty of room to do that. It made the bike much less likely to flip. The original design was to adjust the seat for proper leg reach to the pedals. Better to move the seat back, then shorten the beam and it's outriggers to fit a particular rider. These were advertised in some of the bike publications in the early 1970s. I recall the kit sold for about $85.

The seat was killer. A small child size fiberglass bucket. Quite sturdy. The top of the seat would dig in to your lowest rib. I still have a sore rib from 14 years ago when I tried racing a Hypercycle in an HPR event. I sold the bike right after that race and I don't miss it. The odd thing is I have since raced the same race on several different bent's and my 1 hour time trial distance is nearly always the same no matter how badly designed the bent was. Hyper Cycle, Linear, Sun Easy Racer, etc. I could do much better on my road bike.