Replacing my car with a semi-recumbent bike
 

Ok so I've decided to do an experiment in the name of fitness. Replace my car (an 08 Suzuki Swift, 1.5 Auto) with a bicycle for as many trips as possible. If I commute on the bike and do small shopping loads on it on the way back from work (a supermarket is conveniently located on the flat road that goes between me and my workplace), I should be able to eliminate all but my across town trips, or foul weather.

So my car use will go down, the average trip length for it will rise considerably, and the cute hippy girls will sing my praises for losing weight, saving money, and killing less nature.

So in the interests of saving money, I spent 380nzd on a giant revive

http://blog.autospeed.com/static/ima...idingsmall.jpg

That's not me, that's my favourite editor, he got one long before I did. And has a turbocharged insight, turbo prius, various recumbent trikes, and no end of cool stuff on his website. Shameless free plug AutoSpeed - Technology, Efficiency, Performance

So now that I have the bike, I'm thinking about luggage options. The seat back precludes me from wearing a backpack, and a milk crate strapped to the back looks ugly, although technically perfect for my use.

I need a lightweight, lockable container for the back for wet weather gear, tools, etc.

Any ideas?

Very neat bike.

Most of my local transport is on a semi-recumbent too. Not as fancy though. Still riding this old, slightly-too-small-for-me CCM Evox

http://ecomodder.com/imgs/ccm-evox-120.jpg

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...t-ccm-121.html

I just put a rear rack on it this weekend.

Interesting bike. Doesn't look like a standard rack will fit it, either. Maybe you could modify a rear rack to fit where the stock one is in the picture. Maybe panniers back there. I'm not familiar with this semi-recumbent thing so I don't know what kind of attachment points there might be.

Don't discount trailers, either. You can pick up a kiddie trailer for the price of a nice dinner, and it will haul all the groceries you care to take home.

Was AutoSpeed the one that covered the lime green composite tadpole electric car?

Anyway, ride alert, ride safe and save some money!

Yes autospeed is the site.

Incidentally I attached an old plastic box to my bike for prototyping purposes. After a test ride yesterday it only needs 3 changes. A quick-release attachment point, better bracing where I cut the seat hole, and a modified stand thanks to the change in cog when loaded. And silver paint.

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/64...742/bhAy1S.jpg

Anyway now that you've seen the monstrosity it's time for me to ride it to work.

Catch you later.

Nice! Now I need one for my new rear rack. Enjoy your ride!

Very interesting...

(not gonna get much work done today...)

A large plastic tool box mounted vertically would be lockable and weather resistant. A curved front windscreen attached to the frame would help keep you dry.

Modified kickstand is a great idea. I've been battling the ole tipover myself for months. I've been contemplating one of these; if you feel like spending $30 it seems like a good deal. Civia makes solid stuff, and UC has great customer service. :thumbup:

Universal Cycles -- Civia Two Leg Kickstand w/Top Plate

Anyway good luck, and personally I wouldn't paint the box- it looks like a racing number. Get a teardrop helmet and rock it! :D

I'd go with more of a tote than a toolbox- bulky space is better for groceries and whatnot. Like a smaller one of these:

http://toolguyd.com/blog/wp-content/...torage-Box.jpg

Fat Charlie, there is no picture or link in your message. Ok so now there is, after I quote you and manually copy-paste the pic that was in bbcode...

I've seen that happen before. Got to love teh interwebs.

I had the same problem. Weird.

My boy scout troop had those exact totes! I'd say use a small box for normal daily stuff and get a modified kiddie trailer with totes like that for the grocery trips.

If you go with a tote, make a curved piece to round the front and make a cover too. See the threads in the Aerodynamics section on pickup truck beds.

No need for leading edge, the box is only slightly wider than my butt. A cover could be useful for other reasons though.

I think I'll worry about aerodynamics on my next frame... I'll see if I can incorporate aero fairings into a semi-recumbent seating position, almost weatherproof machine.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...r/P6290050.jpg

This worked well for me and you could adjust for the height of the handlebars above the head tube.

So did that help aero load or just stop the wind/noise?

This fairing is for protection and by itself does not improve speed in a coast down test. I have a hill at the end of my street that drops 30 ft. in 0.1 of a mile. I use a Sigma digital speedometer. Starting at 0 mph I get a top speed of 17 mph with my center bars and 16 mph with the front fairing alone. I am working on side panels and a tail box with the goal of a 25% reduction in drag.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...connor/103.jpg
This is a popular glider, 1-26 Schweizer

speed vs fairing
 

Grant, I looked up "motorcycle drag fairing" tonight and happened onto this thread by you a couple of years ago, where you mentioned a 40% increase in speed at a relatively low 10 to 14 mph. Have you changed your mind about the drag reduction from a fairing, or was that a different design?

It would have been a different fairing. I would have to try to determine which thread you are citing.
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...llsideview.jpg
I imagine this is the one.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...llsideview.jpg
Perhaps this is the one.

That's an odd design. I was expecting something like the vetter fairings to be honest... Although I could do one of those on my revive, I think I'll wait until I finish my assisted tadpole velo...

Incidentally, when it's not raining I use my revive for most things nearby. Huge (65%) reduction in fuel costs, 20% increase in fitness. 100% increase in enjoyment of surrounding scenery. Also, slow biking makes for a good partner entertaining activity.

Yes, this is an older experiment and I have been working mostly on an inexpensive system for mountain bikes. A motorcycle fairing is about 15% larger than one for a bike. The semi-recumbent is rare around here so I have not paid as much attention to it as other vehicles. I posted the scooter drawing as it seems similar to the semi-recumbent. A low nose and long tail are the common features of a good fairing.

Yeah, semi-recumbents are rare. There are a couple of good reasons too. Without strange steering geometry you are limited to a small front wheel. And if you want a normal wheelbase the rear wheel has to be smaller too, so the seat can be above it, which also limits your climbing angle (falls over backwards on extremely steep inclines) as the weight is rear biased. The small wheels create balance issues at low speed, and have a learning curve.

However the comfort is totally worth it, and with all that rear weight, I can stop *really* fast before going over the bars is a concern.

The closest bike I have ridden to the 'revive' is a Linear recumbent. It has a longer wheelbase and a 26" rear wheel. The seat height is higher than most recumbents. One advantage to the 'revive' is that you can build a full tail section and not have to struggle with getting a leg over the top bar. In the works is a mixte frame bike with a full tail. Remember that is it winter here. When I build a streamlined triathlon bike I can ride at 30 mph, I will install a seat belt.

The only things really stopping me from aero-ing the crap out of the revive are the gearing (no obvious way to mount a dérailleur on the front) and the fact that the frame is super-adjustable, and so about 5kg heavier than it needs to be (no seriously, it has an 18" long cast steel runner for the seat adjustment, TWO handlebar columns, one of which telescopes, and further sliding adjustments for the seat base and back).

So I'm waiting to build a velo now...

The fairing doesn't need to be super slick for commuting. The area from the upper calf to the shoulder is of primary concern. The front screen attaches to the head tube and extends upward parallel to the handle bars. The rear section rests on the rack. The front bulkhead matches the outline of the shoulders, hips, and thighs. The second bulkhead is a half meter further back and defines the taper which may end in a point about a meter from the seat.
For a good shape for the velomobile take a look at the plans for gliders. My favorite is the SZD-9 Bocian 1E at vintagesailplaner.com Sheet1.

Have you thought about going tubeless? You'd need to find rims with wide, flat bead shelves like this. Add rim strip and Slime, and go!

The home office of Stan's NoTubes is just up the road, so yes it is on my wish list for my aero bike.

Nice. I'm going through hell trying to get (commission) tubeless 24x80 rims for my new fatbike, so if you can find rims for sale you're halfway there. If you need any pointers, feel free to ask; my friend has done it many times and has the process down (with nothing but a rim strip/split tube and Slime).

Small update, got a flat the other day, and decided that while I had the rear tyre off, I should replace it with something better. So off came my good condition 20x1.75 road slick, to be replace by a 20x1.75 road slick. But this new one was rated to 65psi instead of 40. The decrease in rolling resistance was... dramatic... as was the decrease in squirm going around corners at high speed. Only cost me $10 too. And with the rear suspension design, there was no discernible difference in ride quality.

Next project I think I'll be doing a rear suspension recumbent trike. I chanced across some plans for a rim-braked bmx wheel trike. So after some minor changes to the plans to use the parts I have access to I'll build that. And enclose it, so that I can do a completely car-free lifestyle trial AND survive the ice water that passes for rain here.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/...r/SAM_0100.jpg
This shape is the best one I've found. It is similar to the Morelli/Aptera body. Plans for the sailplane are free online. The curves are all simple arcs rather than exponential curves.

Any update? How is the project coming along?

The previously mention ice water that passes as rain has dampened my spirits regarding building things. Also finances... But I've sold my spare car now so finance can look up. Maybe by the end of the year...

Wow. I did not realize that you were in Australia--or at least didn't fully appreciate it would mean WINTER IS NOW. Hang in there...

Actually I'm in New Zealand now (further south, it snowed on me last week). And have a company supplied vehicle. 2008 Daihatsu/Toyota Boon/Passo/Sirion in 1.0L manual trim. So the fuel I don't pay for goes really far anyway. Pity I'm limited in what mods I can do to it...