RBScycle
Copyright © 2000. RBScycle.

                       


Document Index
Naming Of A Street
Saddle Adjustment
Gears Gears
To Climb, or Not To Climb
Six Speed...
What's The Fuss
Soft Seat, Hard Seat
Building a Contoured Hard Seat
Partial Windshield
Build A Recumbent (Material & Tools)
What's In A Bike!
Trikes, The Sports Car Of Recumbents
How Low Can You Go
To Assist or Not To Assist
What Happened
Recumbent Hill Climbing
Helmets & Who Should Wear Them
The Owning Of Trike1!
Pedal Arm Length
5-Speed Gearing
Internally Geared Systems
5-Speed IGH
Alternative Bike Bag
Water Bottle Bracket
Diamond Frames ... Are The Best!
Getting Around Town
RbsCycle - What Happened?

Naming Of A Street
Once Upon A Time...
There Lived a Farmer, who's name was Leonard. Leonard lived in the beautiful rolling hills of Cavan, Ontario Canada, that bordered two municipalities. The township of Millbrook and the township of Manvers. Cavan being the little town in Millbrook, and Bethany being the little town in Manvers.

Leonard became very well known to the people of both small towns. He was an honest, hard working Farmer who found time out of his busy schedule to help his family, friends, neighbors and the people of both Cavan and Bethany. He attended Sunday Mass regularly, and served on several committees and councils in both Cavan and Bethany and was very well liked by all.

Leonard lived a long and fruitful life. As time passed, and fate would have it, Leonard passed away. The people of both Bethany and Cavan missed Leonard dearly, and wanted to do something to honor Leonard's memory. Something that the people of both Bethany and Cavan could remember him by. They thought long and hard. What could they do jointly, that would pay honor to this great man. Finally it was decided. The road that Leonard lived on bordered both towns, Bethany and Cavan, and was the dividing line between the municipality of Millbrook and the municipality of Manvers. And so, the towns people of both Cavan and Bethany named the street Dranoel in Leonard's honor.

Why Dranoel you ask? You see, Leonard was Dislexic!

Source: Unknown
May 2000
Document Index

Adjusting Your Saddle Position
September 2000
Document Index

Gears!
It is very difficult to generalize about gears. There are so many different combinations. This having been said, I will attempt to shed some light on the already exhausted subject.

The more gears you have the better, right? Well maybe not. Like anything else, believe it or not, you can have too many gears. How does one know when one has too many gears? The deeper you look the more questions arise.

The SOLUTION! Eliminate the redundant AND impractical gears.

REDUNDANT
Redundant gears are those having the same value in a different location in the range of gears. To complicate things slightly, one can consider gears having a CLOSE value to another gear somewhere else in the range of gears, to be redundant. Typically, the next higher gear should have at least, a gain of four to 10 over the previous gear.

IMPRACTICAL
Gears are considered to be impractical if accessing the gear requires some acrobatics to accomplish the change. For example: If you have to shift the Rear Derailier down Five, the Mid-Range Derailier down two and the Chain-Wheel up one, in order to achieve the next HIGHER gear in the range of gears, then that gear can be considered impractical.

In order for gears to be practical, usable and not redundant, they must be easily changeable, must increase the forward travel by a value of four to ten. Once changed, one should not have to shift two or three more times to secure the required increment. In the real world, this is not practical of course, but desirable. So we attempt to come as-close-as possible to Desirable.

Great gears for the cyclist will likely fall in the range of LowGear=22 to HighGear=100 in increments of six. If this could be achieved, that would give one fourteen gears! Only Fourteen Gears!

In the following chart:
18 Speed Mountain Bike with 26" Wheels
Chain Rings: | 24 | 34 | 42|
| 1 | 28 || 22 | 31 | 39 |
| 2 | 24 || 26 | 36 | 45 |
| 3 | 21 || 29 | 42 | 52 |
| 4 | 18 || 34 | 49 | 60 |
| 5 | 16 || 39 | 55 | 68 |
| 6 | 14 || 44 | 63 | 78 |

Most cyclist will start-off by using first gear, then second and third.... all the way through to High. At that point, in order to propel forward faster one needs the next highest gear in the range (that is PRACTICAL)! This means shifting Chain Rings from 24T to 34T and DOWN SHIFTING the Rear Derailier to Fourth! That means that on the 34T Chain Ring, Gears One to Three are impractical/redundant. We find the same situation when shifting from the 34T Chain Ring to the 42T Chain Ring. Gears one through four are not normally used. That means that on this Eighteen Speed Mountain Bike we have Eleven (11) PRACTICAL usable Gears.

In the following chart:
Typical 12 speed Road Bike with 27" Wheels
Chain Rings: | 42 | 52 |
| 1 | 28 || 40 | 50 |
| 2 | 24 || 47 | 58 |
| 3 | 21 || 54 | 66 |
| 4 | 18 || 63 | 78 |
| 5 | 16 || 70 | 87 |
| 6 | 14 || 81 | 100 |

Similarly, on the Road Bike, we shift from one to six, then change Chain Rings, and shift down two. On this typical Road Bike we have Eight (8) PRACTICAL Usable Gears.

In the following chart:
36 Speed Bike
Chain Rings: | 28 | 38 | 48 |
| 1 | 26 || 23.31 | 31.50 | 31.64 | 42.75 | 39.96 | 54.00 |
| 2 | 23 || 26.35 | 35.61 | 35.76 | 48.33 | 45.17 | 61.04 |
| 3 | 20 || 30.30 | 40.95 | 41.13 | 55.58 | 51.95 | 70.20 |
| 4 | 17 || 35.65 | 48.18 | 48.38 | 65.38 | 61.12 | 82.59 |
| 5 | 15 || 40.40 | 54.60 | 54.83 | 74.10 | 69.26 | 93.60 |
| 6 | 13 || 46.62 | 63.00 | 63.27 | 85.50 | 79.92 |108.00 |

Similarly, in the above chart we have a 36 speed bike with Twelve (12) PRACTICAL Usable Gears.

Too much shifting puts undue stress on the chain and drive mechanism. It is far better to cut down on the number of gears, and consequently shifting, and maintain a more PRACTICAL Gear Range.

NOTE: The distance a bike moves forward in a crank revolution is called development and can be obtained from the gear inch value by multiplying by the value of pi (3.14159).

May 2001
Document Index

To Climb or not to climb!
This topic has been around for some time. That is; Does and UPRIGHT bike climb hills better than a RECUMBENT bike?

Most people will agree that the UPRIGHT bike will climb better than the RECUMBENT bike... But I'm not most people!

The maximum force you can exert on the pedals of the UPRIGHT bike is your own body weight. The maximum force you can exert on the RECUMBENT is in excess of three times your body weight!

It has been compared to moving a Piano out from a wall with your back against the wall, and using your leg muscles. This is a lot easier than trying to pull the Piano!

So, why then do most people agree that an UPRIGHT bike can climb better than a RECUMBENT? Well, the problem is in the seat! Most recumbents use sling-back seats, with a solid bottom or complete sling seats. No matter how much tension you place on the mesh, IT WILL GIVE when you apply your leg muscle pressure to it. That little give will drastically reduce the force applied to the pedals.

Other factors come into play as well. For example: The curve of the seat, the back-to-bottom angle of the seat, and of course the elevation of the legs relative to the bottom of the seat.

June 2001
Document Index

6-SPEED
Six-Speed, Seven-Speed, Eight-Speed, Nine!
Day-light come and me want go home....

Well, it's an old Calypso, and I won't go there, but trust me it has nothing to do with the TALIBAN.

What it has to do with, is the design of the age old Road bike Rear Sprocket set. This article and references made here, do NOT include the "Sclumph Drive" OR the "SAX 3x7" hub. It is strictly about the more common Rear Cassette Set of the older Road Bikes.

I don't go back further than the Five-Speed, an so I have no knowledge of Road bike gearing prior to that. The Five-Speed was a great design although lacking in some shifting arears and so the Six-Speed was born.

The Six-Speed is a great gearing system. Used with two Crank-Plates you get the OLD standard Twelve-Speed Road Bike. And with three Crank-Plates you get the older Eighteen-Speed Mountain bike gearing.

Then came the Seven-Cassette arrangement. This did very little in the way of performance advantage. It mearly added one more Cassette at the top end, allowing for a larger gearing. Go faster, but only down hill unless you were thunder thighs!

Then came the Eight-Cassette and the Nine-Cassette systems with much the same advantage. (Jolly Green Giant Legs!).

In fact the best addition to the OLD Six-Speed is the Mega-Range 34 tooth on the bottomn end providing much needed climbing ability.

The Moral of the story... If you are building your own Recumbent, and want to keep cost down. You can get some pretty cheap Six-Speed Cassettes and have a great Drive-Train. Try the Mid-Range gears with another Six-Speed...And Feel the Power...of climbing and Speed!

November 2001
Document Index

What's All The Fuss!
There has been numerous discussions on Upright versus Recumbent bicycles. Which is faster. Which can climb better.

I am no longer racing. So my concerns are now very different from what they used to be when I was racing.

I do need exercise and do enjoy riding a bike. But, I need confort now, and want to enjoy the scenery when I do go riding. I have concerns about back problems, Tunnel Carpol Syndrome, and Prostate Cancer. That is; I don't want my exercise to create additional problems. Especially when there is no need. These type of problems can quite easily be avoided!

If you have not tried a recumbent bicycle yet, please try one, and when you do, just for a moment, stop the comparison. Enjoy where you are and what you are doing. Sit back and relax. Take it all in.

Let the Recumbent experience begin!

July 2002
Document Index

Soft Seat, Hard Seat.
Seats are more a matter of choice and ease of construction for the home builder.

The most popular is the Mesh or Sling seat. Its relatively easy to construct, its comfortable, conforms to the body and is cool. That's cool as keeping me cool, as-well-as, COOL as in looking good!

Hard seats are much more difficult to construct, except for the flat bottom flat back type. Making a good looking confortable hard seat, is much more difficult and its hot, as in, I'm sweating!

Soft seats tend to be very wide, about 15" to 18" wide, which makes a two wheeler apear to be fat. Hard seats are a lot narrower, 8" to 10" is quite wide enough, and help with the asthetic apearance of a two wheeler. Hard seats are better for climbing hills, they don't give and therefore deliver more of your effort (power) to the pedals! You know you need all the help you can get climbing hills with your recumbent!

I like hard seats, I like hot, I live in a cold country, I hate Cold! And it AIN'T that difficult to build! One tends to think of a hard seat as a fibreglass shell, made from a mould which is hard to construct, time consuming, and expensive. We can make a hard seat...well not without a mould, but a very simple mould, made from three pieces of 10" wide, 3/4" thick scrap plywood. One piece for the bottom, one piece for the back, one piece for the head-rest. Nail the pieces at the correct angle, (comfortable), to some scrap timber and your mold is made.

The construction involves using 4 pieces, 10" wide, 1/8" Baltic Birch plywood, and gluing them together, one piece at a time until dried, in the mold, and clamping around the curves. Make the curves gentle. When finished, you will have a 1/2" thick, hard plywood seat that you could stain and varnish or pad and cover.

For more detailed construction, please contact RBSCycle:

May 2003
Document Index

Building A Contoured Hard Seat
Contoured Seat
This is a relatively easy to build, 1/2" thick, contoured Plywood seat. It is very sturdy and comfortable. The seat can be padded and covered, or stained and varnished. The material required is a 5' x 5', 1/8" Baltic Birch Plywood sheet, stripped into 10" strips. These strips are placed into a JIG and glued together to form the finished product. The figure 1, below shows the basic JIG.

The JIG

A couple pieces of 2" x 6" material, are cut and nailed into place to form the layout above. You need two (2) such frames. The joints are held together with scrap 1/4" plywood pieces. Three (3) pieces of 3/4" plywood:

Carpenters Glue OR White Glue may be used to glue the pieces of 1/8" Plywood together.

Once the rough-finished seat is removed, it is ready to be trimmed, sanded and finished. The sides of the seat can be plained with a wood-plain. The ends can be cut to length, corners rounded, sanded and finished.

Seat Attachment
The Seat Attachment is made from a piece of 1/2" round stock tubing, attached; welded, brazed, etc., perpendicular to a piece of 1 1/8" bicycle tubing, as shown in figure 2, below.


Two pieces of 1" angle Iron or Aluminium, are used to attach this bracket to the Seat. A second smaller piece of stock round tubing (not shown), is inserted into the 1/2" stock round tubing, that is slightly longer, to act as a sholder so that, when the long bolt passing through the angle Iron and these two tubes, is tightened to the angle Iron parts, the mechanism in between can still pivot freely. Confused yet? OK, OK!

The Angle Iron parts bolt to the seat. A long threaded rod or bolt, goes through the angle Iron, through the 1/2" round stock tubing, to hold everything together.

We still want the part in the middle to pivot so the seat back can change position. So a smaller tube that is slight longer, is used as a shoulder to tighten the threaded rod or bolt and the angle iron/aluminium parts together.

Once this has been completed, 1 1/8" screw-clamps, the type you would use on a garden hose, can be used to attach the seat to the bike. Assuming your bike is built with 1 1/8" tubing! If not...substitute you size of tubing in the above!

Good Luck! It's a great seat!

For further detailed information, please contact RBSCycle

December 2003
Document Index

Partial Windshield
WindShields are a great add-on to your bike.

Do you need one? Yes you do! Why? Because it will cut down on the road grit, bugs and the like from hitting your face! Even a Partial windshield will greatly reduce the grit from vehicular traffic, from hitting you in the face. Wear glasses like I do! Things hit and stick to your glasses. Water droplet falls from a bridge or underpass and hit exactly where you don't want it to! Not anymore!

Can you afford one? Well that's up to your pocket book. However, you can make one for under $20.00! And that's [ C A N A D I A N ]! AND...you don't need any special equipment! No special Ovens, no moulds, no Air Compressor, and no Jigs!

Not the "blown" windshield, but a Partial windshield. You get a piece of PlexiGlass/Perspex/Lexan/ you get the picture... Sized about 24" x 20" and a piece of wood about 8" x 24". You cut the wood to form a curve, and bend and screw the PlexiGlass to it. Mounting is made easy with TyWraps!

The one shown on the Blue SWB2, is made this way. The wood can be made quite nice by choosing quality wood, or staining. You get the feel of a luxary automobile with wood dash board!

For More Detailed Information, E-Mail RBSCycle!

See SWB2 on the Projects Page

July 2004
Document Index

Building a Recumbent (Material and Tools)
What do you Really Need!
This article will discuss the Home builder or hobbyist, and will be restricted to metal fabrication only. The bicycle manufacturer will likely take a completely different approach.

The tools for building a bike vary from just some hand tools to much more sophisticated equipment. Some of these have been mentioned before on this WebSite, but are repeated here for your convenience.

First and foremost, a Hacksaw with a 32T(ooth) blade. An 18T blade is acceptable. It will cut a little faster (sticks sometimes), but not as smooth as a 32T blade.

A good quality hand file, flat on one side, half round on the other side. About 10 to 12 inches long.

Welding/Brazing Equipment.
Do you already have the welding skills. Or are you in a learning curve?

If you are learning, you can save yourself some expense by buying cheaper or secondhand equipment. If you already have welding skills, you need to decide if you are going to build a few bicycles, or are you going to build several (more that 10).

An Electric Drill will do nicely. If space and money permits a small drill press would be nicer.

A pair of Pliers, Screwdriver(s), and a Bench Vice. Depending on money and space: A Vice Grips, BiMetal Hole Saw(s), Grinder.

Material
Certainly for some bikes you may need to purchase some new material (Tubing). However, in most cases you really don't! It really makes good sense to use old bicycles that have been discarded, or purchase them cheaply from yard sales. The tubing that you get from these bicycles, is already the right size and wall thickness, and brazes very easily. If you purchase tubing that is too thick, it will be difficult to braze, or the braze will not be strong enough unless you purchase heavy duty Welding equipment! Additionally, standard bicycle parts fit!

Keeping bicycles out of our landfill and dump sites, makes good environmental sense! It is up to us to practice what we preach! Don't leave it up to someone else to cleanup the mess! Every little bit helps! Do your part, use those old bicycles.

I Hope this will give you some idea of the Tools and Material required for you to begin that Recumbent Bicycle! Hope to see you on the road soon!

Fanuary 2005
Document Index

What's In A Bike!
Ah yes, the Summer is here again (in the cool North), and attention is back to the Bike. But that begs the question; What Bike are you riding? And how old are you? As of this writing, I am 58 Years old. Well there is a ton of medical facts out there that you can research at your leisure. However, I am speaking from personal experience. I rode (and raced) the conventional Diamond frame bike for years, when I was younger...

I Gave it up for many years, and then had to start exercising again and thought I would begin riding again. I bought the "Mountain Bike" and began to ride. I then experienced some of the problems that those "Medical Facts" speak of. The tingling fingers, the numb penis (when you stop for a “leak”). You women, don’t you go laughing. Your anatomy is also affected, although not is the very same way. Check with your doctor.

Afraid of damaging myself any further, and still needing the exercise, I switched to the recumbent bike out of need. Money of course was a factor, and so I built mine. My riding experiences have been good ones, so far. But, it was not the Medical facts that surprised me, although it did give me some comfort knowing that I would be healthier. When I got home from my first ride, my wife asked me … So, honey, how was it? My gut reaction! “Holy shit honey, you should see all the scenery I’ve been missing!”. At that instant, it was not the medical facts, it was not the healthier body. It was all that I had been missing riding along the same route that I had ridden so many times. It was a joy to ride again, not a boring exercise.

I was hooked on recumbents! I have been riding longer hours, with no lasting pain. In fact, the wife and I were going out to dinner one evening, and that afternoon I went for a 30k ride, came home had a shower, and took her to dinner. A feat I would not have been able to do after a ride on my conventional Diamond frame bike.

Do yourself a favor, TRY ONE!

July 2005
Document Index

Trikes!
Trikes are great Bikes, aren't they! Quite frankly, I wish I had one. Yes I know I build Recumbents, and I should build one. I like the Tadpole design. Those Camber and Castor things have me a little uneasy. I believe, I don't really know, that more specialized tools are required to build them than to build a two wheeler.

After all, the two wheeler just requires a hacksaw, drill, half-round metal file, and some brazing equipment. It doesn't have to be expensive. The little bottles of MAPP and OXYGEN will do just nicely, thank you.

Trikes do present some problems over the two wheeler, depending on where you live. Getting through doorways. How about elevators, if you live in an apartment. What about the Sliding door in the basement? And then there are those metal barriers at the bike paths. If you have to transport them, in most cases you need a trailer. Very few exceptions.

Still, there are attrictive! The Sports-Car of recumbents! Maybe one day I will build one ... with a little help on those King-Pins and what-nots!

Hmmm ... Any Help out there?

October 2005
Document Index

How Low Can You Go
The LowRacer Recumbent has always intrigued me, and I like small! So, the idea was born to build a small compact lowracer. However, I wear BiFocal Glasses (Specticles), and so can't have it too low because looking ahead in a really reclined position would mean looking through the lower or reading part of my spectacles!

To keep things small, I opted for a 20" rear wheel and a 16" front wheel, to keep the astethic apperance to my liking.

Having a small 20" rear wheel presents some problems. Lots of climbing ability on the hills, but no speed on the flat or down hills! Unless of cource you opt for a very large crank. To me, this takes away from the beauty of the bike. Also, I like to keep standard road/mountain bike parts as much as possible.

My soultion was to add a Mid-Ship Gearing. I used a standars 5-Speed cassette and dis-assembled it shifting some sprockets around, elaminating one and ended up with a three speed intermediate shifter.

For more Detailed Information, E-Mail: RBSCycle!

See SWB4 on the Projects Page

August 2007
Document Index

To Assist or Not To Assist
Well, electrically speaking, that is. I have been wondering about building an Electric Assist Bike. I live up on a hill, and I know what it's like to try to ride up hills, especially at the end of your run! Even trying to push the bike up hill, at the end of your day out, is an effort.

But, I ride for exercise! I am not young, and in a climate where it's cold for 9 months of the year, I don't get as much riding exercise in, as I should. Meaning, when I start back in the spring, it is harder than if I rode all year. So my question is, will I become too dependant on the Electric Assist and have even less exercise than I do now?

Yeah, that's a personal question! But, humans are prone to takeing the easy way out! So, some of you who have gone the Electric Assist way. How does it affect you? And...Are you becomming more dependent on the Motor! Ah, Humm, Emm, Well, To Assist or Not o Assist!

October 2008
Document Index

What Happened?
What Happened to the polite Canadian, Is the question of the day!

Canada and Canadians have been very well liked around the world. Canada has had the reputation for being the most accomodating and Canadians of being the most polite people.

So, it begs the question "What Happened"? Things certainly have changed. The Shine has been tarnished! No more are people speaking about Canadians in that light!

Oh yeah! Blame the young generation! Those illmanered, it's all about me, don't give a "*&^%$#@" about anyone or anything else, pants-on-the-ground, haven't figured out where the peak of the Cap goes, foul-mouthed, dresses too short, blowse open too much, cigarette smoking, drinking, drugs, rings, earings and studs in all parts of the body! Yeah, all parts! Dam the list is longer than I thought!

But, where did they get it from. When last has your neighbour said good morning or hello! When last has a "gentleman" given a seat to a "lady"? (I'm dating myself here). Let's get real close to home! When last have you men held the car door open for your wife? And wife, when last have you hugged and kissed your husband, or held hands with him? Do people still do that?

Yes, perhaps the younger generation are worse than we were. At lease that's the perception of us ... older folks.

We're too busy working. It takes two, these days, to keep a household running! Have you seen the price of houses! And the wife and I each need our own SUV or Van, and the price of those things. And, they don't last too long any more, what with the salt on the roads in Winter, and well, they don't make things like they used to!

Things are relative though. Our parents had their issues to deal with as well. Not exactly the same issues, but their issues just the same.

OK, HERE WE GO AGAIN! I can remember, waiting for the bus on the corner of Markham and Eglington. Looking at the appartments on the South West corner listed for about $18,000.00, and thinking ... who the hell is going to buy them! They may as well be a $1,000,000.00!

Those were real issues, at that time. I was making $1.25 per hour washing cars at a Dealership! Gas was a whopping $1.34 a gallon! And those bastards were thinking of raising the price!

Ok, so what I am really saying is our issues were real to us at that time. But we managed and managed to say Good morning Ethel! And, Marvin, how are the kids! Can I give you a hand with that Mrs. Wilson?

I mean, "what the Hell Happened"? You can't even disagree with the youths today or you might get shot! You don't like it, but you shutup and look the other way! What kind of world are we living in? I wouldn't live in the city now, if someone gave me a house there! I would sell it and move!

How do we fix what's broken? Do we all have too much? Yes, all of us, not just the kids! It seems the more we have, the more obstinate we become. The more self-centered, the less trust worthy! But how do we fix it.

There was an experiment done a long time ago. Rats were put in a cage and given a certain amount of food. The Rats had enough to eat and were getting fat. More and more Rats were added over time. Eventually, it became overcrowded, food was not enough, and anarchy and fighting ensued.

Is there a lesson here for Humans?

September 2010
Document Index

Recumbent Hill Climbing!
I wrote an Article on the topic of Recumbent hill climbing ability vs Upright bike, back in June 2001 entitled "To Climb or not to Climb!".

I read recently (May 2009), that a new study confirms my position in that Article I wrote, back in June 2001.

This new study, sites the differences in gearing and wheel size between the recumbent and upright bike, as the main difference in ability to hill climb, rather than bike design.

The article supported the fact that leg muscles, with the body's back against a firm backing (seat), can indeed exert much more force, than the body's weight, on bicycle pedals.

Well, "what-d'-you-know"! The evidence is out, so don't listen to those guys with their upright bikes! Just "grin-n'-nod"!

October 2011
Document Index

Helmets & Who should wear them
Only in Canada Eh!

Somewhat controvercial in Canada! The Law says, for youths only! Actually 18 Years and under. Well that's the same thing isn't it! In other words, they aren't too concerned if an adult falls or gets hit and splits his or her head open! Wow, some concern there Government!

So the adults, at least most in Canada say, well I'm over 18 and I know what I am doing so I don't have to weare those ugly things. It's a matter of personal choice, and I don't like them.

Let me point something out to those of you who are of that opinion. Its not that you don't go fast so when you fall you won't hurt yourself, It's how fast that vehicle that hits you is going!

I fail to see the Governments' logic, in making Motor Cyclist wear helmets, but not cyclist! Do Motor Cyclist and our youths have softer heads? Are people over 18 unimportant? Nevermind the Government! People! What are you thinking? Helmets are made to protect your head in the event of an unfortunate accident!

Thinking that you won't have an accident because you are a GREAT rider, is like saying I don't have to get car insurance becuase I'm a good driver and won't ever have an accident. What about when someone hits your parked car!

Well, people will be people, and some people drive without license and insurance. It's not right, but they still do it. And those of you that don't wear helmets, I hope you never have that accident! God bless you all.

November 2011
Document Index

The Owning Of Trike1!

Well, It took a long time coming, but when it got here...

Trike1 is Low, I like low. Trike1 is Fast, I like fast. Trike1 is very comfortable ... I Really Like Comfortable!

I've always been interested in Trikes, but the Camber & Caster on the front end kind-a scared me off. I got a good deal so I bought one and what a blast! Wow! Very comfortable. I actually like the Mesh seat. I still maintain that you can climb hills better with a hard-shell seat! However, I'm older and comfort has become more important to me now. For my first Trike I bought a TerraTrike Path! Bottom of their line and comes with a 3-Speed Internally Geared Hub.

Modifications
I upgraded the 3-Speed Rear to a 5-Speed Rear. Completely new wheel. I felt I needed a bit more top end as-well-as a bit more climbing ability. I did not go with an 8-Speed because reading the documentation it stated the Axle width as 175mm - 185mm on Locknut. I checked the Specs on the 3-Speed and it indicated 119mm - 130mm on Locknut. I did not want to "spring" the rear fork as sometimes they don't "spring" uniformly. This is my first encounter with Internally geared hubs! I subsiquently found out that the measurement of the rear Axle was incorrect and that it would take an 8-Speed! Great, the 5-Speed is already installed!

5-Speed Internally Geared Hub
The 5-Speed works great, and for my riding, it is more than adequate. I did have some initial problems adjusting it properly. Cable clamp slipped, gears won't change properly Yaddi, Yaddi! I now attribute all of that to (a) Cable stretching. (b) Internal Hub sitting too long on the shelf and the internal mechanism's grease was a bit stiff. The more I rode the better it got. On comparison (with the 8-Speed), I have a better climbing range but, not as high a range on the flast. However, I can't push what I have on the 5-Speed now, so no loss there!

Schlumpf High Speed Drive
The Schlumpg HSD was added in Spring 2013. It's a bit pricey but, great addition! Coupled with the 5-Speed Hub, it gives me 10 Speed with no overlapping gears. With a 20T sprocket on the 5-Speed Hub, it gives me; 17 - 107 Gear Inch! Ah, that baby is really cool!

Trike1

August 2012
Document Index

Pedal Arm Length - Food For Thought
This debate has been going on forever with no end in sight.

Short Pedal Arms: Wait a minuite! If we increase Cadence, the knees are moving around faster and therefore, in essence, are working harder! Make Sense!

Long Pedal Arms: Wait a minuite! If we increase leverage, the knees have to push harder! Do they? Fulcrum Effect! And, the knees move around slower. Less wear and tear on the knees!

... And so the Debate Continues!

March 2013
Document Index

5-Speed Gearing
What Is It About 5-Speed Gearing!

I wrote an Article a couple years ago about the merits of the "old" road bike 5-speed Cassette. I still believe that that was the best Cassette Assembly ever made and everything else is a variation on that 5-speed Cassette!

I have since had the pleasure of using the IGH (Internally Geared Hub)! What a blast! Yup, I am now a convert! I have used three of them. The old reliable 3-speed, the newer 5-speed and the newer 8-speed. It begs the queston; "what is it about 5-Speed Gearing?".

If you look at the chart(s) with all the gear-inch worked out, you will find that the 5-Speed IGH, has the best gear-inch ratio amoung the three!

No, I haven't used the Rolloff 14-Speed or the Alphine 11-Speed, or the NuVinci, nor have I worked out their respective gear-inch ratios.

I Love the fact that when I come to a stop, I can shift into my lowest gear while standing still! The lack of external parts is another plus for me. Living in Northern climate can play havoc on external parts. For the same reason, I love the Schlumpf HSD (High Speed Drive), the lack of cabeling, shifter and external parts. Although the Schlumpf HSD is fairly pricy at around $700,00 US, Plus import duty for us Northerners! Wow, that took a chunk out of my pocket book!

Internally Geared mechanisms seem to be less complicated and save on cabeling, shifters, external parts and routing of the cables and shifters. It's just a neater, cleaner package all around.

Some people claim; "but they are harder to adjust"! That maybe, but once they are adjusted ... they stay that way longer, even with Chain Stretch or Cable stretch. Either way, That's what the Bicycle Mechanics are for. Take it in and have it properly adjusted! That way, it's done right!

July 2013
Document Index

Internally Geared Systems
What Is It About Internally Geared Systems!

The Schlumpf Drive is another type of Internally Geared Drive Crank System for bicycles. They come in various configurations. The Mountan Drive is a 2.5 reduction drive. The Speed Drive is a 1.65 Increase drive system. The High Speed Drive is a 2.5 Increase Drive System.

There are other types of Internally Geared Crank Systems besides the Schlumpf Drive. Another popular one is the Metropolis Patterson Transmission Internal Geared Crankset. The Hammer Schmidt is yet another.

Like other Internally Geared Systems, they all share the commonality of internal gearing to change the gear ratio. They provide the addition of those Gear Changes without the need for external parts and, in most cases, with the elimination or reduction of cabling. The internal parts are protected from the external elements of, Mud, Ice, Snow, Road Salt and/etc. They require fewer adjustments due to cable stretch, because of the elimination of cabling; no cable, no cable stretch!

These systems work really well, when installed and adjusted properly! I have read many an Artice where the owner of one of these systems was complaining about how poorly it was working. I can't stress this enough! Take your system to an experienced Bicycle Mechanic and have it properly installed and adjusted!

I was raised on the older Derailer Systems (Rear Cassette and Front Crank)! They have served me well! I now live in a Northers Climate where Road Salt is used in Winter. The runoff water during the Spring creates havoc with Derailer Stsrems. One must constantly wash in fresh water and oil those systems! If you don't, they will rust and stick quickly!

When I bought my first Trike, it came with a Sturmey Archer Rear 3-Speed IGH (Internally Geared HuB). I very quickly saw the benefit of this system. I upgraded to the 5-speed and then added the Schlumpf HSD to the Front. I am now a convert to the Internally Geared Systems!

Don't get hung up on one brand. They are several brands out there to choose from. Sturmey Archer, Schimano, SRAM, Rohloff, NuVinci, Carbon Drive, and more.

June 2014
Document Index

5-Speed IGH
So, Why Did I Choose The 5-Speed IGH!

So, Why did I choose the 5-Speed IGH (Internally Geared Hub) over the 8-Speed IGH? The Gear Range! Yes, the 8-Speed has more gears and more gear changes, but are all those really required? I didn't think so. Standard Drive Sprokets are readilly available for Sturmey Archer IGH's. However, the 8-Speed IGH comes Standard with a 25T Drive Sprocket! It's their biggest! Yes, you can get after market sprockets that are larger, but for a 20" Wheel (My Trike), you would need a 34T Drive Sprocket. That's huge!

I use a Schlumpf HSD (High Speed Drive) in the front, but it really doesn't matter what you use up front, the principal is the same. The 5-Speed has a better range, is less complicated and requires less shifting.

Take a look at the charts below for the 3-Speed, 5-Speed (X-RF5 (W)) and 8-Speed:

Looking at Chart 1:

Using a 27T Chain Ring up front, The 5-Speed IGH has the best Starting/Climbing 1st Gear! Also, up to 5th Gear both are fairly close. The 8-Speed now has three (3) higher gears. Nice to have! Well, maybe.

Looking at Chart 2:

Using a 67T Chain Ring up front, the 5-Speed 2nd Gear is close enough to the 8-Speed 1st gear. The 5-Speed 3rd Gear is close enough to the 8-Speed 2nd Gear. Now the 5-Speed 4th Gear is right between the 8-Speed's 3rd and 4th Gear. So, do you really need both 3rd and 4th on the 8-Speed? The 5-Speed 5th Gear is again, right between the 8-Speed's 5th and 6th Gear! Do you really need both? The 8-Speed 7th Gear is 134GI(Gear Inch)! The 8-Speed 8th Gear is 174GI! One would have to be the Jolly Green Giant to push that! Even down hill with a tail breeze! I could not possible use those! No way, no how!

I'm a small-ish guy! 5'6", 138Lbs. My crusing Gear on the 5-Speed is 3rd and 4th Gear. Down hill with a tail breeze I get to try out the 5th Gear/67T Chain Ring. I can still go Up a sprocket (22) or down a sprocket (18T), If I need to, and still be using Standard Sprockets!

In my opinion, the 5-Speed IGH is a better buy all round and cheaper too!

September 2014
Document Index

Alternative Bike Bag!
Bike Bag
Tired of the old Bike Bag? Sagging to one side, drooping, Straps worn and/or broken. Too expensige to buy another? Doesn't really suite your needs! Well, there is another way! Make your own. Not a Bag, but a container. Water resistant. No more taking out everything and drying everything out before putting it all back into the BAG. All you need is a handfull of Screws and nuts and some old plastic containers.

Need moe storage? Add more containers. Need to carry longer Objects? After joining the lids together, cut a hole through the lids, so that longer objecth can pass through the lid into the next container!

Construction
Two Plastic Jars with lids and some screws!

March 2015
Document Index

Water Bottle Bracket
I came across a Water Bottle Bracket sold by a bicycle manufacturer. I liked the idea, but didn't particularly like the design. However, in an attempt to purchase the the bracket, I found that the shipping and handeling charges were more than the bracket. Disappointed, I turned to my Home Builder experience and designed my own. I find my design easier to build, requires less material and only requires some very basic tools. It's also better looking!

Optional Tools
- Tap & Die Bit (M5X08). If you have a Tap & Die bit, you can thread the holes that hold the Water Bottle Cage. If not, just use the Screws with a Nut behind!

Material This Bottle Holder Support can be made from 1/16" Flat Steel or Aluminium Plate. For Aluminium, a thicker piece or T6 is preferable. Your standard Hardware Store Aluminium is too soft and will bend easily.

Constructing Single Bottle Holder

- Paint and Install!

Water Bottle Holder

Dual Water Bottle Bracket
If there is sufficient space, construction of a Dual Water Bottle Bracket involves a longet piece of 1" x 1/16" flat metal plate, with additional holes for the second Water Bottle Holder!

September 2015
Document Index

Diamond Frames Bicycles Are The Best! Right!?

Well, Not Really!

Recumbent Trikes are the very best! Running in a close second place is the Recumbent Bicycle!

However, if you still have an affection for the Daimond Frame Bicycle, There's something else you should give a try.

The Semi-Recumbent Bicycle, like the Quetzal Evox, Giant Revive and others! It's more like a cross breed or cross over bicycle. It's like a stretched out Diamond Frame bicycle. It's lower, longer, it has a nice seat with a back rest, conventional handle bars, shifters and brake levers! Very comfortable to ride and it still has that Diamond Frame bicycle feel to it!

About
The Quetzal Evox is a Semi-Recumbent Bicycle, originally designed and made by Quatzel, in Quebec, Canada. Quetzal made different models of their Evox such as, the Quetzal Evox SE and the Quetzal Evox LE.

The Quetzal Evox SE version had better components and made from a better quality steel.

The Quetzal Evox LE version was their top-of-the-line Aluminium Frame with better quality wheels and components as-well-as an (8) eight-speed Cassette and 3-Cranks, giving it a 24-speed Gearing.

Other Manufacturers
The Evox was also built by several other Manufacturers under License from Quetzal. Some of those manufecturers include:

Quetzal Evox LE

Also following with their own versions of the Semi-Recumbent Bicycle were: Rans, Day 6, Belize Tr-Rider 24" and much more...

December 2019
Document Index

Geting Around Town

Recumbent Bicycles, are the very best! No question in my mind about this. Having owned and ridden both Diamond Frame and Recumbent Bicycles and Recumbent Tricycles, for many years. I take my hat off to Recumbent Bicycles!

However, getting around town, well, can be difficult on a recumbent bicycle! They tend to be longer, longer turning radius, even the short wheel base ones, aren't quite as short as a Diamond Frame.

They can be a bit tricky getting them into some bicycle racks. Even the 2-wheeled Diamond Frame bicycles of today can be tricky getting into a bicycle rack. The mountain bikes with 28" wheels, the BIG FAT bikes, and so on.

So, what is the answer. I recently picked up an Evo Vista Folding Bicycle on a whim, but I have to say, it's made my getting around town much easier.

It's probably the most unconfortable bicycle I've ever ridden! It's too short. I feel like the pedals are too for back below my seat, making it difficult to pedal. Probably from riding recumbents for so long. But they are nimble, easy to hookup to any bike rack and really easy to put into the back of my small car. You could take it anywhere you go and still have your bicycle to ride in the next town! A good bicycle rack with a Bag or Panier, for storage! Great for getting in and out of stores or just to go across the street to pick up something! Anything! What! It's a Bike! Ride it!

Description

Evo Vista

December 2019
Document Index

RbsCycle: What Happened?

I was recently asked by a friend (February 2020); Hey Ronnie, when are you going to build another one of your recumbent bicycles? We have looked forward to them over the years.

RbsCycle has retired. After designing and building eight (8) recumbent bicycles I have retired. I retired from my day job as a Technical Support Specialist for a very large School Board in Ontario, at the age of Sixty Five (65), on 31 December 2011. My wife and I sold our three plus acre property in the country and moved into a Condominium complex in Peterborough, Ontario.

In 2014, I designed and built SWB5, my last Short Wheel Base Recumbent, much to the annoyance of my neighbours. The noise from the hammering and grinding was just too much for this retirement community.

Instead of more designing and building, I now take casual rides on my recumbent Trike, relaxing and enjoying the ride, fresh air and scenery.

I don't want to be like the aging boxer that keeps coming back, just one more time and geeting beaten, but just one more. So, as nice as it has been; designing, building and riding, the time to quit has arrived. RbsCycle is Retired.

May 2020
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