1. My current recumbent bike

For the moment I have a low bike with with front wheel drive and steering. It is like a flevo bike and was finished the summer 1999, more precisely Mon 26 of july. It was three days before the Eco-Trip. I could not ride it at all in the beginning, but but after two days it went better and I could participate in Eco-Trip and run the bike about 200 km.

This bike is of course a prototype of itself. After some considerations and test running I have found out:

  • The biggest mistake was obviously to make the trail to long. I had some intuitive idea that a longer trail should stabilize the bike, but it does not.
  • I like low bikes but this one is probably too low. It has only 95 mm free space over ground. It can probably bee about 50 - 100 mm higher. This bike will be modified, so that the lowest point will be about 150 mm over ground.
  • The seat was made from birch veneer. It turned out to be surprisingly strong and light. I think I will use more wood in my next bike.
  • I have problems with the bands in the seat. They tend to stretch and become longer. I have to find a better material.
  • The front part is too heavy.
  • There are not enough gears, but that's a consequence of beeing a prototype. (low budget)
Here at the right are two pictures from Eco-Trip 1999
One good thing with the bike is that it can be taken in two pieces. This is mainly for transporting (railways), but is also useful for modifications of the bike. Taking the wheels of one can make the bike very compact.

Two pictures from the side, one inside and another otside my garden at home. (Click for enlarging).

Two pictures from the building process. (Click for enlarging).

Changes made after one year

The handlebar was replaced by a higher one. This is a little bit better but not yet perfect (Click for enlarging).

Reconstruction of the bike

As mentioned before the bike is too low. According to my experience after a longer test is that the Flevo-concept does not work if the bike is so low and has this geometry. I could run the bike but it never became comfortable. For really low two-wheelers: Choose another type!

The bike is now under construction according to this sketch.

I will return to the result after testing.