Dom,
As promised, attached are 3 photos of your bike in Japan.
While I have yet to give it a final paint job, all my test riding is out of the way, and am beginning to feel very comfortable with this contraption. So much so that my last 2 rides took me 101.47 k's/63 m and 113.52 k's/70 m. I was happily amazed at how good I felt when I returned home. Not near the fatigue that I'm accustomed to with the wedgy.
Regarding the upper and lower skateboard wheels for the chain guide, I have found that they are not redundant. It may be because my crankset is off of my mtb. This is because I live in such hilly country where one cannot go anyhwere without having to climb anywhere from a 10% to 15% grade.
Instead of the plastic tubing for the chain that came with the bike, I'm using a stiffer tubing normally used over here for home plumbing. It seems to hold up much better because of it's stiffness.
There is a weak spot that may need attention. The mesh seat seems to be beginning to tear around the eyelets. Also, I've had the hardest time trying to keep the mesh from creeping up the tubes, leaving the mesh in direct contact with the end of the tubes on the seat frame. Along this line, I was wondering if an extra mesh could be ordered. If so, how much?
Let me say finally, that I'm VERY happy with this bike, and am glad I took the plunge. Thank you.
Tim & Machiko Huggins
Grace Bible Chapel
463-1 Tonego
Kinkai, Japan 851-3103
Tel/Faq: 011-81-95-884-1452
huggins@syd.odn.ne.jp
Dear Dom,
I finished the Long Easy last summer, and got it painted it just
before I left for Florida. I used sray cans on it and did a credible
job. On the first ride only the idler and the back break fell
off. but they are fixed now.
I too, modified the plans a bit. The chain rubbed the bottom of
the seat and the tubing that you suggested made too much noise
for me. So I raised the seat about an inch and put the brackets
straight up instead of angled as per the plans. That put the seat
back some and I had to shorten the frame about 2 inches.
I also installed V brakes on the bike. I used 3/4 by 1/4 flat
steel to hold the V brake pivot braze ons. They were 91/2 inches
from the center of the wheel and the centers of the braze ons
were 80MM or 3 1/8 inches apart. I silver soldered them on.
Also I made it an overhand steering, using 1 1/8 aluminum tubing.
I made the upper section 22 inches long and the bottom 10 1/2
inches long and cut them on a 45 degree angle and had the welded.
I used 7/8 alum tubing, 18 inches long for the handle which all
the brake levers and shifters fit on. And it workes nicely.
I used good bearings and good wheels on it, and I and happy with
the preformance. It is a good 2 MPH faster than the Rans Tailwind
that I own. I averaged 18.4 Mph on a 20 run in the wind last week.On
hill I go up, tops of 11 MPH on the Rans. On the Bentech I go
14 or 15 MPH up the hill. I think that the Bentech is close to
the Giant Carbon fiber racing bike that I ride in duathlons. My
goal is to ride the Bentech in one of these races. I think my
next project is the short-wheel base bike. Attached are some pics
of the project.
Dennis L Knapp
Dade City Fl. 33525
dlknapp598@cs.com
