Recumbent Bicycle Plans -- Here's What I Look For
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If you are searching around on the web to find recumbent bicycle plans, I want -- in this very brief article -- to give you a few tips on what to look for. There are no hard and fast rules here, just some overall recommendations based on my own personal experience in searching for the best recumbent bicycle plans that I could find --
Of course, any website offering recumbent-style bicycle plans should have photographs of the completed bicycle. For purposes of scale, it is helpful if those photographs show someone seated on the bike -- it's much easier to get an idea of the overall size with someone sitting on it.
But in addition to some general photographs, websites offering recumbent bicycle plans should also include a few detailed, close-up photographs as well. I like to see close-ups of the frame construction, the wheel assemblies, the seat area and handlebars, at a minimum.
In addition to photographs, I also like to see some general specifications as well -- and these specifications should be viewable without having to purchase the plans. For example, one of the things you will need to know is the carrying capacity. There is no sense in purchasing a set of recumbent bicycle plans, for example, only to find out that the model/type of bicycle you plan to build will not support the weight of the person who will be using it!
Also, if the recumbent bicycle plans are for a juvenile bike (for children), I want to know whether or not those plans allow for the installation of an adjustable seat. The reason this is important is that without an adjustable seat, your child will soon outgrow their recumbent bike -- then what will you do with it?
Another thing that I look for when I am shopping for recumbent bicycle plans is a complete materials list -- and I do mean COMPLETE. Every single part -- every single piece of equipment that you will need to purchase (or make) for your bicycle -- should be clearly specified as a part of those recumbent bicycle plans. Why do you need materials listed? Well, the obvious reason is -- without it you won't be able to construct your bicycle.
But the REAL reason for needing that materials list is so that you can estimate your total cost of construction. In fact, if you are at a website which lists the materials needed for constructing a bicycle according to certain recumbent bicycle plans, you can take that materials list right from the website, go to your parts supplier and get a quote on the total cost for all those materials.
This will help you to decide whether or not it will be financially feasible for you to construct that particular type of recumbent bicycle. If your parts/materials are going to run you too much money, you can look for recumbent bicycle plans that will allow you to build your bike for less money.
As for the plans themselves, I like to purchase a recumbent bicycle plans that I can simply download right off of the Internet. Some of these plans may be in a PDF-file format, other sites may offer them as a printed sheet, or perhaps in booklet form -- some websites will even a allow you to purchase your recumbent bicycle plans in a format which is understandable by CAD software for your computer. Be aware that the purchase price of your recumbent bicycle plans will depend -- at least partly -- on the format you want/need.
Finally, before you purchase your recumbent bicycle plans -- look for some sort of contact information. If you have any problems in constructing your recumbent bike, probably the only person you will be able to ask for help will be the people who have drawn up those plans and who are selling them. Copy down this contact information and put it in a safe place just in case you need to rely on it later on.
Here's to success in building your own recumbent bicycle!
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