Hi Dom,
Here is a picture of my Bentech, I built it in 1999 using one
of your main tube kits. As you can see I made several modifications;
using a rear triangle, changing the USS and increasing the height
of the seat back.
After four season of riding I couldn't be happier, this bike is
very easy and comfortable to ride. It handles well and is not
the least bit twitchy.
Most of my rides are in the 15-20 mile distance but I have taken
it on GOBA riding 50 miles/day with an 85 mile day! I would recommend
this project to anyone interested in owning something special
- no one else will have one EXACTLY the same. Please add my pics
to your builder's album.
Is there ever a Bentech get together? Some place where us builders
can meet, swap tales and show off our handiwork?
Dan Weitzel
Hello, Dom:
Here's a photo of the Long EZ that I build last summer. It took
me three months and I spent about $400, which included a couple
of $25 yard sale bikes that I cannibalized for components. I now
wish I had better components but such things are easy to upgrade,
which is what I'm sure I'll do. With the jig finished, the plans
and hole saws already purchased, and a leftover front fork I could
probably build a second one for $300.
A few pieces of advice for other builders....
Painting is pretty easy with spray cans but beware - the finish
is not very durable. Even with three or four color coats and a
couple of clear coats it scratches easily. If I do build a second
one I'll look into powder coating.
I couldn't locate the Viper-Tex seat material recommended by the
plans (didn't try hard enough probably), so I bought canvas at
the local fabric shop and had a shoe cobbler sew the polypropelene
strap. It worked pretty well but since there is no springiness
in the canvas the laces must be retightened once in a while to
pull out the sag.
Welding was pretty easy with a benchtop MIG unit, although the
experts say MIG is not the preferred method for thin-walled tubing.
My welds are serviceable and most of them are fairly good looking.
Somehow I got the bottom bracket attached backwards (the left
hand threads are supposed to be on the right side of the bike)
but it hasn't made a difference.
One small problem I did have was that the chain rubbed the bottom
of the seat at first. To solve that I raised the seat higher than
the plans call for, but then I couldn't reach the handle bars
when they were mounted below the main tube, so I relocated them
to the top side of the tube. Space is tight under the seat (the
reason for keeping the sag out is so my butt doesn't rub the handlebar
bolt!) but it all worked out.
My two main suppliers were Power On Cycling and the Dillsburg
Aeroplane Works, both excellent.
I get plenty of attention riding my green recumbent. Everybody
waves and lots of people are impressed when I tell them I built
it myself. Thanks for a great bike design.
Regards,
Ed Schrom
3/9/03
Hi Dom !
Finally after near to 3 years I sent this photos (no very good)
about this wonderful bike !!
When I bought your plans, I get 8 month to learn and find all
materials , some size of tubes its not possible to find here in
Chile. Anyway, after 8 months my bike was running over Santiago
Streets (Capital Of Chile). in the same year my father ( the most
enthusiastic of my Crazy idea) died .
And I can discover, that ride in this bike is a very good therapy,
always Im smiling and the people give congratulations for the
invent.
Is amazing to start something and finish well. Thank you very
much.
Matthias Pinto
PS. Now Im working in make better something like tha rear tubes
that fix the seat and Im design a other sistem for fix the seat
to the principal tube.
Dear Dom,
Well, its been about 14 months since I received my blue prints
in the mail. After a little blood, a lotta sweat and some tears,
the bike is finally done. I owe a special thanks to some of my
co-workers for allowing me access to their machine tools; Mike
D, John H. and Bob T. Also, thanks to Steve Garro from Coconino
Cycles for the great job of brazing he did on the frame. Without
them, it would not have been possible.
Overall, the bike was pretty easy; the biggest obstacle was the
seat. I was unable to find any one in my town who could do the
bends, and when I tried it (with a pipe bender) I managed to make
some expensive scrap. I wound up buying a somewhat prefab seat
from a company in the Netherlands. It's laminated beech and required
some cutting, as well as a pad, but I'm pretty satisfied with
it (and the price was right). I also deviated from your design
by putting cantilevers on the chain stays (I live in a hilly environment
and like the extra stopping power).
Very satisfied with the bike, and have been attracting plenty
of attention since I've starting rolling on the roads.
Thanks again, Mark Bremer
Flagstaff, AZ
