Machining the first part - Freehub adapter in mild steel

The first part to be machined will be a freehub adapter made from mild steel.  This freehub adapter is used to drive one of the two rear wheels and is attached to rear gear hub, which in turn in fixed to the axle.

I happen to have some 2.00 diameter steel rod about 4 feet long. It came with a  key-way machined down the length of the rod.  Since the plans call for 1.500 diameter, the key way will not be a issue. I plan to make about 6 free hubs to use for other rear wheel drive projects.

What recumbent bike will be my first build?

I ride my Surly Long Haul Trucker bike to work 20 miles each day. I also rode 1400 miles from Vancouver to San Francisco down the Pacific Coast Highway. So I know what it's like to be in the saddle for a long time.

I'm not sure what got me interested in recumbent bicycling.  Believe it or not, I have never even rode a recumbent bike in the past.  And now, here I am, building them.

All I know is when I see somebody else riding a recumbent bike, I wish I were riding one too.  I don't particularly like the bikes that have you practically lying flat on your back with your neck tilted up to see forward.  I like the look of the recumbent that has you slightly reclined in the seat. Also, I don't want to be 2 inches off the ground!  More like 18" off ground where cars can see you more clearly.


I discovered this great website called atomiczombie.com, where you can buy plans to build your own recumbent bikes.  The plans are easy to read and understand.  They say all you need is a few basic tools and a welder and you can build about 30 different types of recumbent bikes.

So the first bike I will build will be delta trike.  It will be similar to the Deltawolf Speed trike like shown below.  I say similar because I won't be following the Atomiczombie plan to the letter.  I want it to be unique and different. So it will be a cross between a Deltawolf and a Hase Kettwiessel Tour.

Think I am crazy!  Well, wait and see!

This is a site where I will document how I build custom recumbent bikes

In the coming months, I plan to build a few recumbent bikes.  I have a few different Bents ( recumbent ) that I  have in mind.  The Tadpole, ( 2 wheels in front, 1 in rear), Delta ( 1 wheel in front, 2 in the rear ), 2 wheeled Long wheel based and possibly a tandem trike.

This blog is really meant as a way that I can document the different ways I decide to build them and to share my ideas with other builders.  I plan to make some mistakes along the way, but this is what life is all about.  Live and learn.

Hopefully, when I ask for help, some kind and knowledgeable person will lend a helping hand with some instruction and advice.

I'm only a self taught home shop machinist with a garage full of great tools and machines that I either bought or made myself.

I'm fortune to have own a Bridgeport mill, 10" Southbend lathe, Self made cnc router, Delta Uni-saw, chop saw and wood planer, just to mention a few.  I mention these tools not to show off, but to give those people who read this blog a idea what I am capable to making on my own.

I should mention that I have never built a bicycle before.  A lot of what I do will be a first for me.

Wish me luck!