My Home Built

Recumbent Tandem

"Silk Road"

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Stats: (modified 7/23/03)

• Wheelbase - 93 inches; total length = 116 inches
• Weight - 59 pounds, ready to roll! Cost = $20/lb (includes $6/lb for updates in fork, handlebar & brakes - changes are listed below in Italics)
• Front end - Recycled BMX, EASY RACER fork & handlebar; head tube angle = 69 degrees
• Fork Alignment - Rake = 1 1/2"; Trail = 3 1/2"
• Wheels - Front = 20 inches (406 mm); Rear = 26 inches
• Rear triangle - Recycled mountain bike
• Frame tubing - 4130 chromoly (top tube, 1-1/2X.035; bottom, 1-3/4X.049)
• Finish - Sandblasted then powder coated, metallic blue
• Components - Mostly recycled retro ('70's Shimano, non-synch)
• Gearing - 42 speed (3x7x2) with a 14.8 to 117 inch wheel range
• Brakes - Front & rear MAGURA hs-33 hydraulic rim brakes plus ARAYA rear drum
• Captain controls - Brakes (front & rear "Maggies"), shifting (front & rear derailleurs)
• Stoker controls - Drum brake, mid-range derailleur and Stereo!
• Seat - height = 24 inches (Captain), 23 inches (Stoker); cloth & bungee cord cover
• Manufacturer - Home built (5 months and a lot of help from my friends)
• Mileage - 16,087; May 15, '98 thru July 23, '03 (mostly commute)

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Read the story about Building Silk Road (large file, in Adobe PDF format)

Visit Our Child Care Center Tender Learning Care

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More Pictures

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Seat frames, half-inch electrical conduit - - Gearing, low/high Range Transfer

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Mom's 80 and loves to ride the tandem! - - It fits a standard Yakima Tandem rack

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View looking at the front of the bike - - View from the rear

Side View