Article on Richard's Recumbent in Adventure Sports Magazine

Article on Richard's old recumbent on Bentrider Online

Richard's 07 Short Wheelbase Omega

For images of Richard's recumbent pedal kayak, click here.





 

 

 


 

 

Richard's Recumbent - 2006 version

This is the 2009 version of my Offroad racing recumbent. So far I was on the podium in 8 of my first 10 adventure races with it, including overall wins at ESAR (twice), Beat Hunger and Storm the Trent. I also completed some pretty hairy races including the multi- day Eco  Endurance Aventure Raid International.

Recumbent 09

Since 2005 I have a new rear swing-arm and a new carbon seat/ rack combination.

Richard on 'bent

Near the finish of the 24hr Summer Solstice race

Bent 08

At the top of a steep climb during ESAR 08

'Bent through the mud
Through the muck at RockstAR (c/o Mike Vandenbosch)

'Bent 2006
This is the version with a rigid fork and Pantour suspension front hub. It's a little easer to maneuver, but the SID fork eats up logs and rocks better.

The bike was built mainly by Jim Best of Best Bike Works.
The seat is a new all-carbon one made by Thundervolt, with integrated carbon rack/mudguard.
Seat Height is 28", BB Height 23".
The frame is machined aluminum, and can fold at the front of the rear black section after the seat is popped off.
The stem is adjsutable and can fold the bars flat for transport.
Bike weight is 33lbs or 15kg.

I am currently using a RockShox SID SL fork. I also have a rigid front fork and a 26" wheel with Pantour 1" travel suspension hub, which I will use for less extreme riding. It has more rake and handles a bit better, but the SID is best for big hits over rocks and logs, and is probably more durable than the Pantour.

Shifters and derailleurs are Shimano XT and XTR
Bbrakes are Avid BB7 disc.
Hubs are Chris King
Cranks are Race Face Carbon
Pedals are Time ATAC carbon.

Here are some frame closeups during production at Jim Best's workshop:


Here's the frame on the workbench.  You can see the cad-cam box frame front half and the welded truss rear frame, along with the lockable rear air shock.

Recumbent frame front half

Here you can see the Race Face crank and the modified AMP F3 front shock, and you can see how the box frame was machined out.

Bent 2

Here is the 2005 version of the final bike. It is designed with a fairly upright seating positon for excellent climbing, and an open cockpit for easy dismounting and hopping on.

 

Bent 3

Rear aspect.  The little rack has been very handy.
Below are some images of a lighter and stronger version for 07.


Rack2

Rack 07


Oh-oh, frame failure after a couple of very rocky races.

Framebreak


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