"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​