The Long Bike

Late in the summer of 2003 I built the scooter. Working again with metal was fun and got me itching for a new recumbent project. I sketched out some ideas for a new lowracer, then some low long wheel base concepts. Surveying the frames and parts the I had in the basement, I discovered that I had almost everything I needed to build a typical long design. Same one that Gardner Martin designed many years ago and set many records with. It's been copied 100's, maybe 1000's, of times, so it's as sound a design as there is. What the heck. After learning tons from my lowracer project, this was easy. The frame went  together extremely fast, in less than one week. I stole the seat and rear wheel from the other bike and was basically in the form below in two weeks. This was supposed to last me all winter! Total investment was under $25, until I broke the rear derailleur. Ride qualities are very refined, stable and comfortable. It's a little slower than the lowracer, it weighs about 40 lbs., but much more "user friendly". I think this will be my choice for long rides as the lowracer beats me up on the bumps.