Recumbent Adventures

[Outback in Idaho]

  Friend and I went out on a portion of the Boise Greenbelt. Heard it is actually 26 miles long. Was a terrific sunny day to be out, and a lot of other people thought so as well.

  One of the areas in between condo villages Roger pulled over. Seen him dragging out his camera. And like a moose, I had to barrel on past him before stopping. GoPro 6 Black caught them. The deer crossed right in front of us, and they decided to leave deer pellets on the hillside while watching us. One went up on the bank to hide behind the trees as most the other riders went by us. Yeah, we sort of stopped right on the trail.
  As you can see most of the people didn't see the deer, or they are so used to it. Saw a couple of other recumbents ride by. Only other recumbent I saw was a two wheeled one with a 20 inch front and a 26 inch rear, and she looked very wobbly.

  Wanted to share today's earlier deer sighting. 

 

[SteveC]

Moved to the Breakroom to see if you get any more interest.   

[kwakster]

What brand is your recumbent bike, and are you happy with it ?
Several years ago i rode a few, a friend of mine used to be the owner of Challenge recumbent bikes here in the Netherlands.
He sold the company in 2012 though.

[Outback in Idaho]

What brand is your recumbent bike, and are you happy with it ?
Several years ago i rode a few, a friend of mine used to be the owner of Challenge recumbent bikes here in the Netherlands.
He sold the company in 2012 though.

  Went with a TerraTrike Rover, a 2016 model with an internally geared hub. Was not much options for weight capacity. Was pushing 385 minus any load/water. Rover holds 400# + 50# of cargo. Tandem Rover is 500# + 50# cargo. Square steel tubing for main boom. And recently upgraded to a NuVinci n380 hub. But did not get a lot of riding in before it got cold.

  The only other option, weight capacity, was a Greenspeed Magnum XL. But we're talking $5,000+ verses $1800 for the Rover.

  Now my buddy I ride with wants me to get a e-motor option. And there is a Canadian outfit called Grin Products that sells an All Axle Hub Motor that can attach to the right wheel of the Rover. But then it's more weight, cost, and the batteries also add weight. They are not cheap, but they can act as an e-motor when wanted, or turned off and used as a normal wheel. Clever!

[MadPlumbarian]

Nice, I built mine with scrap from old bikes and one recumbent which is the cheapest they make, it had a 20” front with reverse brake and two 16”, but I kinda switched things around and turned it into a two 16” front wheel, with a 26” rear wheel drive with rear brake, still not 100% done with it cause I want to put an emergency pull brake on it that will lock a wheel, if a hand like leave the handle further then 8in, cause normally when I have a seizure my hands clench in front of my chest, and the steering handles are way off to the side, so if I was ridding with the Mrs, and I have one my hands will pull toward my chest releasing a pin so a spring loaded brake would lock up, and I wouldn’t go ridding off into a car,
JR

[Grant Lamontagne]

I live in a city that has a lot of hills- in fact, the whole city is a hill, and a steep one at that.  The idea of an electric assist seems like a great idea.

It is also a fairly small city, very bike-able and the idea of a tadpole trike has appealed to me greatly for getting around it, but the hills and relatively poor acceleration of a trike has largely kept me from actually doing it, but the possibikity of electric assist really changes that.

Please keep us informed on how well that works out for you if you do it!

Def

[Barry Rowland]

Bump!  I've always wanted to try a recumbent bike!  We had a dealer here for decades but he just closed up for good a few months ago. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

That's too bad.  They aren't cheap, but I try to keep my eye out for a decent, affordable used one.  Seems that no one who has one is willing to part with them!

Def

[Barry Rowland]

Exactly 

[Outback in Idaho]

  So much time has passed and I have been posting more on Facebook as there is no issues with how many pictures or space being needed.

  Tater TOT Recumbent Rally 2024 Hoping to go again this year. Went last year. Never saw a moose, but did travel to an old town of Mullen. Nice mountainous ride. Been to the center of the universe, in Wallace. Interesting town... they even have a brothel museum.

  Recorded a couple of group rides.

  Trying to capture all of us in an accelerated drive-by. I ended the video a tad short catching up to the faster group.
 

  We were headed west towards Pinehurst and such, but we had to turn around just past Cataldo to change rooms at the hotel. Was having health issues (stasis venous ulcer on left ankle). So we got a ground floor room.   My friend Roger rides that orange HP Velotechnik ahead of me and he put an Ice Trike's quad kit on. He bounces a lot, the spoiled brat.
 

  Last bridge to Mullen, Idaho
  https://panoraven.com/en/slider/QscWFa75RR
 
  Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes is 73 awesome miles in length, and runs more lateral across the state of Idaho into Montana.

  Last year I seen places I never knew existed. Used the IQUI camera too. Got cool shots with my Insta360 X3 camera, and now have a longer (9 foot) selfie stick for better photo opportunities.
  Flik'r album of 21 photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/99100139@N06/albums/72177720309428122/


  So, my friend and I installed a TongSheng TSDZ2 motor on my trike. It lasted about 113 miles before it gave in. This was about a year ago. This was that motor's last sounds on my trike. -- Roger had it rebuilt and he rides it on an older Greenspeed recumbent trike
 

  A few months later Roger found references to a Bafang M625 that starts out slow like a normal trike, The standard Bafang motors leap out with force and many do not like it or having to hold their brakes starting off. Lots of hard core Bafang owners hate the Cargo Bike M625 motor, but for me and my payload it has been an outstanding motor. Have climbed hills without an issue, been on paved and unpaved roads. So far no issues past an occasional Anderson connector causing a fit. Gorilla tape fixes that. Am going to be switching over to XT90 connectors this year, or is the plan. And got another battery mount. Just need the time, good weather, and less mozzies.

  Me, in the above videos, has a Bafang M625 with a 1,000 watt motor, and a CANBUS system. Was gifted an additional battery last Christmas so I can ride 60 miles at current payload. Am still working on the weight but it is not wanting to go away.   We started installing in late October. Needed proprietary wiring harness extensions, and had to splice the CANBUS communications wire and extend that. There went the warranty, not that it mattered. Was riding in March of last year. Have several hundred miles on it, probably around 800+. Much happier now.

  Last year on the Tater Tot ride in Kellogg the tires really got wore out on one side on a ride. Decided to take it back to the motel, and was arranging to get some new tires. The toe out was severely out of whack and the local bike shop did not have anything to fit my trike. Then someone clued me into looking under the trike to check for cracks. Man, I did not know just how lucky I was as I could of had a wreck or worse...  crippled up until I ordered a newer outrigger version which got me back to riding again.

  The front wheels attach to the outrigger portion of the frame.
 


  Riding most everywhere I want to go now, even up the switchbacks. Roger's ride on the left, mine on the right. Upper Weiser River Trail near the Wye Campground.
 


  Hehe. First time on the switchbacks, going down!
 

  About 5 months ago we went back and rode up the switchback, 4% to 5.6% on upper end. Thankfully no one was coming down... 
 

  Second time going down the switchback was not as thrilling cause I knew what to expect, and got more practice on brake steering.
 

  I went out a couple of times so far this year, still cool. Last weekend Roger and I rode the Wilson Creek Pathway, thinking we could find Stoddard Pathway -- Roger was not keen on riding through the city. Still, we got 15 miles. Even when using e-assist you still have to pedal, and you will get a workout. Was sore for two days. 

[SteveC]

That looks like it's fun !   

[Barry Rowland]

   I hear they're so much more comfortable to ride.  I love the off road version!

[Grant Lamontagne]

  So much time has passed and I have been posting more on Facebook as there is no issues with how many pictures or space being needed.

Yeah well, if we had FB's budget we wouldn't do such a piss poor job of archiving.

Def

[Outback in Idaho]

Yeah well, if we had FB's budget we wouldn't do such a piss poor job of archiving.

Def

  If any of my topics, pics, whatever are needing trimmed, then go right on ahead. I will not fret over it. Wished I could make donations more often but $1200 a month in bills is killing me.

[Grant Lamontagne]

We don't trim, delete, wipe or remove anything here.

Def

[Outback in Idaho]

  Was out and about in Midvale, Idaho. Population 193. Not much to see. No rain for a change. Soakin' up the rays! Carried Garage #5 on me.

  M014 by Jackaroo Jim, on Flickr
 
  Jealous of his V flag formation!
  M008 by Jackaroo Jim, on Flickr

  And my first TimeLapse video. Look at the terrain and river, feels weird. Was a short test cause I had not idea what it did.
 

  Enjoy!

[Barry Rowland]

 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Took some photo with the Insta360 X3, and one area that is a Photo Opp for the Cambridge (Idaho) area is this one cut through a mountainous volcanic rock area. Up above it was cut for the new highway, yet this one had to been done earlier. When I got home I played with the viewer settings and made three interesting photos that had people wanting to know where this was. And my friend spilled the beans... 

  Lance shot. Selfie stick out in front while moving. Discovered the idea in Kellogg, Idaho last year on the TOT Recumbent Trike Rally
 

  I nicknamed the location, The Forge. Added it to Google Maps even.    Click the images to load the 360° content on Flik'r.

  forge for 1 + 1 by Jackaroo Jim, on Flickr

  Forge for 2 by Jackaroo Jim, on Flickr


  Then I edited a few still photos from one of those 360° pictures to make...

  The one that got all of the attention...
 

  Then I added these for fun.

  This one I made the walls look taller than they actually were. Found it by luck, tiny planet pulled down low, then cropped it.
 

  This one was a tiny planet thrown on its side. Again, by chance. Added it to my Facebook header.
 

  GoPro 6 Black video
 

  Enjoy!

[Outback in Idaho]

  Test non-360 Video seeing how Insta360's guages work. Actually am pleased. Problem is that 360° videos take up lots of space, and I have crappy internet here.
 
  May have to try ad film an entire section with the X3 once I find a suitable mount, mounting area, and a better stick. That unfortunately costs money and am in short supply of that. 
 
  GoPro's software never could get any of their gauges to work let alone be accurate.


 

[Barry Rowland]

Those are cool pics Outback!  That's some beautiful country where you live. 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Seems I have been lax in some of my adventures. Life changes really have been catching up with me. Luckily the venous ulcer is nearly healed after having this thing for nearly 2 years come this November. That did not stop me from riding over 200 miles on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes this year.

  Most of my photos are on Facebook, easier and cheaper to upload. A few are on YouTube too.


Insta360 X3:
  First Ride Over the Chatcolet Bridge, Lake Coeur d'Alene
 

  Chatcolet Bridge - 360 degree view (use mouse to change view)
 

  Trail to Pinehurt with Sidewinders (rear wheel steering)
 


  GoPro:
Plummer to Chatcolet Bridge - 1 of 3


Plummer to Chatcolet Bridge - 2 of 3


Plummer to Chatcolet Bridge - 3 of 3



  A few other videos on my channel there. Did not record as many videos this trip, mostly pictures. Did not realize I barely used the memory on the memory card... could of taken more. -> https://www.youtube.com/@JamesMiller_ShadowWalker

[Outback in Idaho]

  Got a surprise the Sunday before Christmas. An upgrade from a TerraTrike Rover (that I overly outfitted).

  Friend got a church fella, Dave, a Greenspeed Magnum XL for Christmas. I was so happy for Dave as he's been wanting a recumbent trike. He had gone down from 500# to 300# he says, and Dave also had knee surgery done. Dave went from no trike to a serious upgrade. He got a Blue one.

  Then Roger looks at me and said there was one for me too, and points. I was nearly speechless. There sat a black Greenspeed Magnum XL under wrapping paper.


  Today I spent some time taking off the Bafang M625 off the Rover, and was prepared to install it onto the Magnum. But... one BSA bearing nut just did not want to come off so we called it a night. Had cut quite a bunch of zip ties off, broke the awl on the Garage #5 popping a plastic bar end off, and relied on the Roxon Flex Companion's awl to get the rest of the zip ties off.

  The one I am working on is not picture worthy just yet. You'll have to use the URLs to have a look see. It is a serious upgrade for me. There is an IceTrike HD that recently came out, but it's ticket price is outrageous. Greenspeed were $3800 when the first came out, and now around $2500 on sale. Rover set me back $1600 base model back in 2016.

  Am stripping off what I can to use on the Magnum. Then will put the Efneo 3 Speed IGH front hub back on (if I can remember how), and probably leave the NuVinci n380 on the Rover for now. Costs quite a bit to have a wheel laced to a 20 inch rim, and the cassette on the Magnum is 9 speeds. Might get more gear range using the cassette, although it is much easier to shift with the n380 IGH.
  Friend ordered some accessory bars so I can mount mirrors, and such. Now if I could only get my butt thinner and my tummy less aero-bellyish I would be set. 


  Oh, these trikes can be folded up for easier transport. They are also made from aluminum, unlike the steel frame on the Rover, the Magnum is waaaaaaay lighter in weight.

[Barry Rowland]

I like that!   That's one sweet looking bike!

[Farmer X]

Hope you have a lot of great adventures on that new machine!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Every time this thread comes up I start drooling again and head off to FB Marketplace to try to find a reasonably priced trike.  So far no luck so I will have to keep living vicariously through your pics and mods!

Def

[MadPlumbarian]

Every time this thread comes up I start drooling again and head off to FB Marketplace to try to find a reasonably priced trike.  So far no luck so I will have to keep living vicariously through your pics and mods!

Def

Yeah right, sometimes a good price pops up so you click on it and it’s a part only for the trike in the pic, or, they throw an add on but it’s like over 500mi away,, for only a few bucks I picked up a few diff old bikes and someone gave me a kids recumbent which I just used to make my own, it works but I can’t do much since I can’t be by myself, here’s a pic just before I finished it.. unfortunately everything’s drilled and bolted because I couldn’t weld it because of flashing, that and because I don’t have a welder.. I so wish I could just take off, ride to the store, or anywhere I wish..
JR

[Barry Rowland]

Me too!

Every time this thread comes up I start drooling again and head off to FB Marketplace to try to find a reasonably priced trike.  So far no luck so I will have to keep living vicariously through your pics and mods!

Def

[andywork]

Congratulations on the new trike Outback in Idaho!

It sounds so cool.
And who doesn’t like a lighter trike.

Enjoy your new ride.

Every time this thread comes up I start drooling again and head off to FB Marketplace to try to find a reasonably priced trike.  So far no luck so I will have to keep living vicariously through your pics and mods!

Def

Hi Grant,

I blame all those trike collectors – snaffling up all the great recumbents for themselves.

 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Was working on the car most of the day. Then decided to see of TerraTrike's Versa Bars would work on the Greenspeed Magnum XL's Accessory Bars. While not a perfect fit, they still offer more mounting room for lights, cameras, mirrors, and more.


  Current view of the Magnum XL
 


  Cockpit View
 


  Front View
 

[Barry Rowland]

That's a classy looking bike!