Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Double Decker Trike - AtomicZombie builders gallery



This is our latest, Double Decker Trike showing blistering speed on a left turn. You need to peddle backwards to go forward and forward to brake. When jumped up on it the first time, I peddled forward and it stopped, but I didn't.  I'm getting better. 

God Bless, Pastor Kurt Beard
Journey for Life Ministry, Kansas




Pastor Kurt also built a pedicab this year (profiled in the August-September newsletter):  "That pretty little lady is my daughter "Madison".  She is riding in "Double Bubble" a pedicab that I built.  I'm the good looking guy doing the grunt labor.  We have been offering $10.00 bikes on Craigslist through my church "Journey for Life Ministry" and have been overwhelmed with people wanting to get back out on the road riding again.  We are rebuilding our web site journeyforlifeministry.org and are going to show pictures of all the people that have adopted our bikes and giving them a better home which also brings smiles to their faces.  I enjoy your newsletters and your books. I got both of the bike books and they sit in a prominent place next to the seat in the library, where I have plenty of time to view the pictures."

World Wide New Years Day Ride

AZ Krew Guru




BICYCLES! NOT MOTORCYCLES, MOPEDS OR SCOOTERS. ONLY BICYCLES!

Freakbike Nation memo ......
Last year KrusherZ and a few of his Florida Freaks decided to do a New Years day ride that was affectionately called the “Freakbike Militia Nation-wide AssPuckerRide“. It looked like a lot of fun and many of you seemed interested in doing something similar in your areas.

Well this year with Krusher’s approval, the FreakBike Nation would like to encourage anyone who might be interested to get out and ride on New Years Day!

This is open to anyone who has a bike, trike or unicycle! You can ride as a group or all by your lonesome, a few feet or a hundred miles, a minute after midnight on January 1st or a few minutes before January 2nd begins! The choice is yours, just get out and support KrusherZ’s Ass Pucker Ride!

This is NOT limited to just FreakBike members. We would love to have any and all other bicycle clubs join in on the fun! Cruisers, roadies, mountainbikers, etc. Help support Krusher’s need to pucker!

All styles of bicycles are welcome, but custom built bikes are what we do best! You got all winter to fix any damage the icy roads will do!

Everyone who decides to participate is responsible for their own safety and the actions that may occur while riding. KrusherZ, The FreakBike Nation, ”Chainsaw” Jim Johnson or any of the FreakBike Militias and their members will NOT be held responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur. Practice safe riding techniques and be aware of the conditions of your surroundings. Also be aware that many people may be returning home from a long night of partying. Remember that riding your bike drunk is the same as driving your car! You could get ticketed or worse!

For anyone who would like to post the times and meeting place for an KrusherZ’s AssPucker Ride 2011, you can either post it on the FreakBike Nation board (www.freakbikenation.com) in the section, “Where to get your ass puckered” or send me the info (chainsaw@freakbikenation.com) and I’ll get it posted for you. Please include your clubs name if you have any and try to give an idea of the length of the ride and anything else that may be of use to potential riders. You WILL have to be a member for you to post on the board.

On December 31st we’ll set up a section on www.freakbikenation.com to post your pics, tell your stories and join in on the fun of seeing how others enjoyed their Ass Pucker
Ride.

If you would like to check out KrusherZ’s Freakbike Militia Nation-wide "AssPucker"Ride from last year it can be found here ....
http://www.forum.freakbikenation.com...php?f=4&t=2553

At this point in time you will have to become a FreakBike Nation member to view the board. We hope to get the board straightened out so that anyone can view it. But if you want to post on the board, you’ll have to become a member no matter what.

If you have any questions you can send me an email at:
chainsaw@freakbikenation.com

Please consider joining us for one hell of a good time!
“Chainsaw” Jim Johnson

P.S. If any of you would rather start a section on A.Z. on any other board to post the stories and pics of your New years Day ride, could you please at least send me a link or links to such places.

Thanks
__________________
Chainsaw
Manufactured: January 1960
Rebuilt: March 2008

FreakBike Militia - Great Lakes
www.fbmgreatlakes.com

www.FreakBikeNation.com

Monday, November 29, 2010

Cool Kyoto style touring trike - AtomicZombie builders gallery





"I am sending 3 pictures, you may use which ever you think is best. Thanks to you guys for all you do.  ~ Coach"


Another great looking Kyoto Cruiser style trike. Nice work, Coach. The colors are great!



The Kyoto Cruiser Recumbent Trike is designed to be a real alternative to the automobile for many short trips, errands and leisure rides. The trike has a very sturdy frame and wheels, and since seats are placed side-by-side rather than inline, you can enjoy a sociable cycling experience with a partner. The Kyoto Cruiser is very comfortable thanks to its recumbent seat design, but it also has a seat height typical to many small cars to aid visibility and navigation in traffic.

The Kyoto Cruiser Recumbent Trike is loaded with unique features, including a full range of gears and 20 inch wheels for extreme hill climbing capabilities, and independent front and rear shifting systems so that each rider can pedal at his or her own pace and comfort level. Handling is very smooth with the ability to turn tight circles and stop efficiently using dual rear disc brakes. The unique sliding bottom bracket system can be easily adjusted to suit any rider size so that youngsters and adults alike can enjoy the experience. With gas prices shrinking our wallets and our hectic lives leaving us with limited time to reduce expanding waistlines, the Kyoto Cruiser may be the answer to many of our daily problems!

With a few days of hard work you will have a very sturdy and sporty looking trike that not only performs as good as it looks, but is a true joy to ride on short and long hauls. Most of the parts can be easily found at bicycle shops, thrift stores, hardware stores, or from scrap bicycle parts. Like all Atomic Zombie designs, we aim to keep things as simple and effective as possible, requiring only common parts and basic tools. Of course, there is always room for experimentation and alternative designs based on your own style or needs.

Take a look at our Builder's Gallery to see other KyotoCruiser Recumbent Trike examples, including many creative modifications to the plan. Our international builders community ranges from students to retired engineers, but they all have one thing in common - the desire to build their own stuff!

All of Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines plans are downloadable PDF format. Multiple discounts, free tutorials, videos, gallery, newsletters, blog and more:

Plans, tutorials, videos and
more Plans, tutorials, videos and
more Plans, tutorials, videos and
more

Thanksgiving special - 6 plans for $29.95 - Only 2 days left!

Greetings fellow bike hackers, builders and cyclists. We are excited about a new promotion this month. It's our way of saying thanks for helping to keep the Atomic Zombie spirit alive online and around the world. Cheers, friends.


Go to www.atomiczombie.com
Click on BIKE PLANS in the top menu bar.
Choose 6 bike plans (add each one to cart).
When you have 6 plans in your cart, the special appears:


Cost per item is $4.99

Your total is $29.94 USD

Checkout with PayPal or credit card.


All of our plans are delivered as PDF files containing high resolution images and diagrams for optimal viewing and printing.

Once you have checked out, an email will be sent to your email address connected to your PayPal account. This email will contain download links that will remain valid for up to seven days. Please click on the download link and immediately download the PDF to your computer hard drive.


Important: Ensure that your PayPal account has your current and valid email address, or you will not be able to receive the download links containing the plan(s) in a timely manner.


If you do not receive the email containing the download link(s) within 48 hours of your successful order, it is possible that your email provider's filters have incorrectly flagged the message. Please check your email blocked/spam folder before contacting our Customer Service department.


Some email service providers like Yahoo and Gmail have aggressive spam filters that inadvertently put legitimate messages in blocked/spam folders unless you customize the software's filtering options yourself. Please refer to your email service provider's Help/FAQs topics for instructions.


PDF files open in Adobe Acrobat Reader, a program this is most likely installed on your computer. Or, click
here to download the latest Acrobat Reader program. It's free.

Mexico Chopper Bike, Illinois Recumbent Bike - AtomicZombie Builders Gallery


HOLA, DESDE MEXICO ~ Victor Hugo Hernandez Garcia




"Hi! Just wanted to send you a pic of my first project, inspired by your site.  Attached is a picture of "The Lightning!"  I designed this bike, and it was built by myself and my best friend, Steve, as well as my son, Ray.  We are located in northern IL, in the USA.  Thanks! Rob"


Only two days left!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Possible to create an overdrive gear? - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

"I don't mean to brag or anything but I once hit 52mph on a mountain bike coasting down the french alps. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever done on a bike and I would never do it again. Just to tell you about the braking problems with this."

Read more and join the discussion: Possible to create an overdrive gear?



Warrior recumbent tadpole trike, upright trike - Atomic Zombie builders gallery




Two more additions to the Atomic Zombie family of handmade bikes. The first one is a Warrior tadpole trike, and the second is a great bike hack to turn a standard upright into a nice looking trike. Great job, builders! Keep those pictures coming.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Auto Darkening Helmet speed? - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

"What is the recommended response speed for an auto-darkening helmet to go from light to dark? I am researching various helmets to determine which would be the most cost effective, and I've noticed quite a range of response speeds. Your input and experience would be greatly appreciated. Jim"

Read more and join the discussion:  Auto Darkening Helmet speed?



Fully independent drive system - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

"I made a little graphical representation showing my 'common loop' independent setup that I have envisioned, next to the Viking semi-independent drivetrain and the DaVinci independent. I've highlighted a few things in color. Freewheels are in cyan/blue, fixed cogs are in purple, and 'weird' (left-hand) crank cogs are in red.

Kudos to Brad for designing the Viking drivetrain - After graphing it out, I realize it's quite tidy!"

Read more and join the discussion: Fully independent drive system



The Viking is a very unique tandem trike that includes an independent transmission system that allows one rider to stop pedaling without affecting the other. The Viking Tandem Trike uses commonly available 20mm disc brake hubs, so there are no hard-to-find or overly expensive components needed. The frame is completely made of square steel tubing, and everything else on the Viking Trike can be found at bicycle shops or hacked from scrap bicycles.


The building process is designed to allow anyone with a Do-It-Yourself desire to finish his or her own version of the Viking Trike without requiring previous bike building experience or specialized tools and skills. The plan is laid out in a format that makes customization or alternate parts usage a breeze, so you will certainly be able to include your own imagination in the process of building a recumbent trike.

If you have been eying up those expensive imported tandem trikes, but think $8,000 is a bit too steep of a price tag, then get out your tools and build it yourself! For thousands of dollars less than the price of a basic tadpole trike, you can create your very own tandem trike that will rival many of the factory built machines available.


Thanks from a new builder - Atomic Zombie builders forum

Re-Builder, AZ Krew Member

"Hey. Thanks for the kind words. The jigs are fairly simple and made with scraps lying around. It helps to have a few woodworking tools around. For the crank jig, a chunk of 2 x 6 cut at the angle specified in the plans (56 degrees?).



If you draw it 1st on paper/workbench then you can figure the angle on the chop saw. run the angled part down on a table saw with the blade set approx. 1/4 " high. set the fence to cut down the middle. as long as you are close is ok. Flip piece and run through again- now you have a cut in the center. lower blade to 1/8"- repeat both sides with the the fence moved away from blade approximately 1/8" (blade width). this allows a pipe to sit snugly in a jig."





"Greetings from cold Canada. Happy Thanksgiving to the south. Just saw the "jigs" thread and found it helpful. Made a couple of simple jigs to weld the tabs on the front wheel castors and then one for welding the front booms at 90 degrees to the same castors (pics for this one not downloaded yet). For the angle of the tabs I drew the wheel on my bench with the center of the hub extending out from the wheel. measure where the tab is on your wheel and draw this on the bench. From the looks of holding the castor on the wheel, the tab seemed to come about 1/2 way on the castor( fork stem).



Draw a line from the center of the tire drawing to the outside top of the tab and on. this is the center of your castor. measure the angle and cut a chunk of 2 x 4 to hold the tab and castor. To make the pipe fit the jig follow table saw instructions from last post.

Any other good ideas for a jig to hold the booms in alignment to the main frame?"


Read more and join the discussion:   http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=4786

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Electric Stilleto bike: Atomic Zombie builders gallery



"Hi. I like your site - it has given me much inspiration. Thanks, Salvo."

Recumbent lowracers from Hungary - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

Dear AtomicZombie!  I would love a couple of self-produced recumbents from Budapest, (Hungary)

Piko-Python lowracer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuQko5jIjN4

http://www.python-lowracer.de/index.html




Piko-Elephant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_nQIWB7VKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ed8t0Ynaps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqi_6Dbddgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6NGKVYkSS8






Piko-Chili midracer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WshTu1QRBAA




Piko-Tom2 lowracer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9b_YOg04NU



~  Lipták-Pikó László (Hungary - Budapest)

Great bikes,  Lipták-Pikó. Thank you for sharing your pictures and videos with us!


Monday, November 22, 2010

2-in-1 ET bike - Atomic Zombie builders gallery



"I built this bicycle for use in this year's Grand Illumination Parade in Norfolk Va. . The theme was  lights camera action so the one of the bikes was this 2 in one ET bike.  I am building 2 other bikes now and will send pictures when done. Thanks, Byron"

James' Warrior Tadpole Trike - Atomic Zombie builders gallery


 
"Enjoyed the color so much I copied it except for the yellow fade in the front.  Fantastic plans and I had a ball building it!  On to the next one!  Thanks so much."  ~  James Owens

A new Warrior tadpole trike hits the streets - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Greetings. I've been lurking for a while during my build but now I'm happy to announce another warrior has hit the streets. I finally finally finished painting my Warrior about a week ago, got it back together a couple of days ago. Color is basic red with black trip pieces, 18 speed, Shimano derailleurs, three wheel disk brakes (mechanical), and because of my lordosis and kyphosis I made the seat back and shoulder rests adjustable. All welding has been done with TIG.



Since I have a lathe and small mill in the shop accurate cuts and making round pieces were not an issue. All steering linkages and hardware is aircraft grade AN type fasteners and washers, round tubing is 4130, and rod ends are aircraft grade as well. I used 1/2" O.D. tube for the steering linkages with threaded inserts welded into the ends. Most of the bike components came from "junkers". The front wheels (20") are Terra-Trike units with the 20mm axle diameters. I made aluminum bushings to reduce to the 5/8" grade 8 axle bolts. The rear wheel is for a mountain bike, bought it and the disk brakes from Crosslake Sales out of Crosslake, MN. Seat foam came from the local foam store - black 1-1/2" thick closed cell.




The trike really hauls on the level and down hill, but as any recumbent it looses on the uphill climbs, no problem for me.

The trike really gets a lot of looks and several have asked where I "bought it". Just thought I'd let you all know another Warrior is out and about. Enjoy!"


~ Cloudchaser4, AZ Krew Member



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Building a trike has been a dream of mine since I was 15 years old. - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum



"I'm way past my prime now, and I'm just now returning to that long ago dream. It was back in 1970 (ish) when I first wanted to build a trike. Back then, the Delta Trike was on my mind. I don't know when the first Tadpole started to show up on the market, I only dreamed of a Delta. Years have passed, and now we have the Tadpole. It's way cooler. And the Warrior is a fantastic design."

Read more and join the discussion: Building a trike has been a dream of mine since I was 15 years old. - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Another Tradewinds recumbent tandem out of the blocks - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

"Hi Folks. Here's some progress shots of the Tradewinds tandem. I think I'll name it Hauhau, Maori for windy. It passed the first rolling test, stoker Bron's first ever recumbent ride! The ASS handlebars function OK, but don't do the bike any aesthetic favours. The steering looks a bit threatening for the pilot's gonads too. I'll probably try USS when I get enough bits & pieces.
I see this bike in a minty turquoise colour."

Read more and join the discussion: Another Tradewinds out of the blocks - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum



The Tradewinds Tandem combines a long wheelbase and short wheelbase recumbent together to form a speedy and comfortable vehicle for two. The Tradewinds Tandem frame is light and strong, and because the tandem is powered by two human engines, it offers many advantages over a single rider bicycle. Add to this the laid back aerodynamic seating position, and you have the formula for a very fast and efficient human powered vehicle.

The under seat steering is extremely comfortable as it places your hands in a naturally relaxed position, yet gives you confident control over the steering. The bottom brackets are placed lower than the seat, so you are pedaling in a relaxed position without having your feet obstruct the view. Because of the short wheelbase front configuration, the overall wheelbase of the tandem is quite short, allowing for easy maneuvering and responsive handling on urban streets. The Tradewinds is a bicycle for two, but it is completely rideable by only one, if for some reason the you have to fly solo. 



Because the Tradewinds uses commonly available bicycle parts and some steel tubing, it can be built in a few days using minimal tools. Even if this is your first attempt at creating a custom cycle, you will have no problem following along since the steps are detailed along the way with 120 pictures and illustrations. You can also change the design to suit you own needs. The simple frame geometry is easy to modify. The cost of the completed tandem is not much more than the cost of a department store bicycle, if you decide to purchase new parts to complete the project.

Viking tandem trike fully independent drive system - Atomic Zombie™ Extreme Machines Builder's Forum

"Is there an easier way to accomplish an independent drive? If not, I think this is not much more complicated than the StreetFigher rear end. "

Read more and join the discussion: Fully independent drive system



The Viking is a very unique tandem trike that includes an independent transmission system that allows one rider to stop pedaling without affecting the other. The Viking Tandem Trike uses commonly available 20mm disc brake hubs, so there are no hard-to-find or overly expensive components needed. The frame is completely made of square steel tubing, and everything else on the Viking Trike can be found at bicycle shops or hacked from scrap bicycles.



The building process is designed to allow anyone with a Do-It-Yourself desire to finish his or her own version of the Viking Trike without requiring previous bike building experience or specialized tools and skills. The plan is laid out in a format that makes customization or alternate parts usage a breeze, so you will certainly be able to include your own imagination in the process of building a recumbent trike.

If you have been eying up those expensive imported tandem trikes, but think $8,000 is a bit too steep of a price tag, then get out your tools and build it yourself! For thousands of dollars less than the price of a basic tadpole trike, you can create your very own tandem trike that will rival many of the factory built machines available.