This appears to be the precursor to so many fast recumbents, like the P-38. This was a 1949 U.S. patent to an inventor named Fries.

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This appears to be the precursor to so many fast recumbents, like the P-38. This was a 1949 U.S. patent to an inventor named Fries.
What is the big deal about front wheel drive recumbents? Here is one that is really cool, from 1950. It has an internally geared hub, and a very stylish body. This would be a cool bike! Thomas Traylor’s 1982 design patent for a front wheel drive two wheeled recumbent, very similar in design to a Cruzbike Silvio. Considering Maria Parker’s new 12 hour record, set on a Cruzbike, maybe Traylor was ahead of his time! Maria Parker, mother of 2, recently set a new record for miles traveled in 12 hours. She stopped before the 12 hours were up, and covered 241.01 miles. As noted on the Cruzbike site, “She not only set the recumbent 12-hour course record for women, but she went farther than any previous female road biker had ever done in this race. She also went farther than any woman on any recumbent bike at any UMCA non-drafting 12-hour event. At Bike Sebring in Florida, which appears to be the place where 12-hour records are set for recumbent male riders, the 12-hour record for a recumbent woman is 137 miles.”
The men’s record is 241.5 miles in 12 hours. Catrike Maintenance and Repair topics are listed below. If I have a blog post on one of these topics, this contents list will serve as a link to each topic. These posts are authored by participants in the Catrike Message Board. Submissions of posts by any Catrike rider for inclusion here are welcomed. FYI, Catrikes are recumbent tricycles, with more information available at the Catrike Performance Trikes site.
Basic Setup and Maintenance” Catrike Performance Trike Official 2004 Manual Catrike Performance Trike Official 2006 Manual Catrike Performance Trike Official 2007 Manual Troubleshooting section: rear wheel squeek: lube rubber weather seal Upgrades: Facing the bottom bracket edges Discussion of After market items and FAQs: Jerry’s flags Bruce went crazy with his drill press, and removed, if I read his notes correctly, about 13.7 pounds from the normally 30 pound Catrike Speed! This is Catrike #CS754, named Holey Spokes.
Now we need to see that thing assembled, a final weigh in, and a test ride to see if it whistles. Its just remotely possible that Bruce has too much time on his hands. One last picture:
This figure from a U.S. patent from 1869 shows a tadpole recumbent trike. It is powered by the user’s hands and feet. The feet work a treadle, and the hands work the rods. Rod and lever propulsion was common in those days, because reliable chains had not been developed yet, and the crank and chain was not proven as the best way to transfer power. This wheel and frame configuration is about 140 years ahead of ahead of the Catrike and other trikes, which have similar frame and wheel configuration. This was not the first recumbent bike, but it is certainly an early one. I have no information that this was ever built, but it sure was ahead of its time. It is very similar to long wheel base recumbents on the road today.
Here is an early (1949) recumbent bike which is similar to many recumbents seen on the road today. An even earlier recumbent was by Jarvis, and the recumbent that set world speed records was by Charles Mochet.
The first tricycle that I have found with the two wheels in front and the larger wheel in back (the tadpole configuration) was patented in England before 1876, and sold as by the Rudge company. The seat was like a carriage seat, with coil springs to absorb shocks. The large rear wheel was the drive wheel, and the front wheels were for steering. This model is propelled by levers and cranks, but this mode was later replaced by the chain and crank. Between 1880 and 1890, this form of bike was one of the most popular cycles in England, being even more popular than two wheelers. |
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