Fabrication of Recumbent Tricycle

Human power vehicle

1
 A Project report

On

FABRICATION OF RECUMBENT TRICYCLE

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the degree of

Bachelor of Engineering

By

Gabriel B. D’souza

Sameer S. Parab

Pramod D. Mengal

Prathamesh G. Panindre

Name of Guide : Dhiraj Singh

Mechanical Department

SES’S GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DIKSAL

(Academic Year 2014-2015)

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 SARASWATI EDUCATION SOCIETY’S

GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DIKSAL

KARJAT -410201

Department of Mechanical Engineering

2014-2015

CERTIFICATE

This is certify that the project titled

Fabrication of Recumbent tricycle

Has been completed successfully and satisfactory and

Submitted by

Gabriel D’souza

Sameer Parab

Pramod Mengal

Prathamesh Panindre

Student of Mechanical Engineering as prescribed by the University of Mumbai in partial fulfillment of

requirement For the Degree in bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) During the academic year 2014-2015

Internal Guide External Guide

HOD
Principle

3
 APPROVAL SHEET

The project report entitled “ Fabrication of Recumbent Tricycle” by Gabriel D’souza, Sameer
Parab, Pramod Mengal, Prathamesh Panindre is approved for partial fulfillment of award of the
degree of Bachelor in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)

Internal Examiner External Examiner

HOD Principle

4
 INDEX

SR.NO TOPICS PAGE NO.

1 ABSTRACT

2 INTRODUCTION
 History
 Need of project
3 DESIGN

4 MANUFACTURING

5 OBSERVATION

6 COST ESTMATION

6 ADVANTAGES

7 DISADVANTAGES

8 APPLICATION

9 BIBLIOGRAPHY

5
Abstract

Our project on Fabrication of Recumbent Tricycle is a unique vehicle design which

comprises of ergonomic and aerodynamic advantages. This design was introduced in 1934 but

since then it had many con because of which it failed to achieve public attention.

We built and assembled our project on a small scale in a local workshop. The workshop

consisted of machineries to perform all operations like welding, drilling, cutting, grinding and

lathe works.

In this project we were successful in optimizing the performance and design of the tri

cycle in following ways:

 By keeping the design simple in construction, the parts are mainly of same design

as that of traditional upright bicycle.

 By significantly reducing the weight of the tricycle.

 By keeping the cost of manufacturing very low.

We also designed the frame of Tricycle in various drafting software’s like Auto Cad,

CorelDRAW, Solid works and carried stress analysis of frame in Ansys.

This report presents everything about design and details of Recumbent Tricycle.

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INTRODUCTION

The tadpole trike is part of a much larger class of Human Powered Vehicles (HPV) called

recumbents. A tadpole trike is any three wheeled vehicle (trike) that has been laid out such that

two wheels lead followed by one wheel (tadpole). The tadpole trike is a great alternative to a

bicycle because it frees the user from needing to worry about balance while providing more

comfort. However, the trike has some inherent pitfalls which are addressed with the tadpole

configuration. Our team aims to provide one more step of assurance in this field of stability.

A trike of any configuration has the potential to lift its inside wheel in a demanding turn.

Push that turn too far and the trike will flip, or at least eject the occupant. A Human Powered

Tadpole Trike (HPTT) counters this slightly by moving the two adjacent wheels up front and

leaving the single wheel in the rear. This allows for better weight distribution upon two wheels

reducing the likelihood of tipping the trike far more than that which is thought of as the standard

trike. However, this alone will not save the occupant.

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History
 The banning of recumbents from bicycle racing in 1934 had the effect of putting the

recumbent bicycle design in the closet for fifty years, until it was re-discovered there

primarily by MIT professor David Gordon Wilson and his student.

 But let's go back to slightly before that unfortunate day in 1934 and look at three

recumbent pioneers: Charles Mochet, his son George Mochet and cyclist Francis Faure.

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Why would anyone want to ride a recumbent Trike?
1. They’re easy to ride.

2. They’re really better than normal up right bike.

3. They’re aerodynamic compared to uprights or diamond frames, (that’s how recumbent riders

refer to the bikes that the rest of the world rides).

4. They’re totally made for touring; super comfortable; better view—no need to bend your neck

at harsh 45-60 angles; and super easy to haul your gear.

5. There’s NO PAIN, anywhere-no saddle sores, no carpal tunnel, no numb fingers, no numb

genitals, no sore lower back, no shoulder spasms, no neck pain, and certainly no Shermer’s neck.

There’s no pain anywhere, even after riding a 200, 300, 400, 600, or 1,200K miles.

6. Recumbents make it possible to ride for as long as you have time. Racking up those kinds of

miles would be tough year after year on an upright given all the stress on various body parts.

7. Not everyone has a recumbent bike and many others have never seen a recumbent before, so

they’re great conversation starters (sort of like walking your dog in the city can be a great way to

meet people you don’t know). Once given the invitation to talk to a stranger, you have the

opportunity to encourage an un-biked person to try riding.

8. Finally, recumbents lend themselves nicely to those of you who have engineering genes and

who like to build things.

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BASIC DESIGN & DETAILS

Design on CorelDraw

Design on AutoCAD

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WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
The weight distribution is the ratio of the horizontal weight displaced between the forward and
after wheels. It dictates how a trike handles and how stable it will be. The more weight on the
forward wheels, the better the cornering and less over-steer. However, too much weight on the
front wheel causes the rear wheel to be too light. This can lead to rear wheel wash-out during
hard cornering or cause the trike to end-over during braking. Too much weight on the rear of the

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trike causes it to capsize even during mild handling as the single wheel has the majority of
weight. A trike with 70/30-weight distribution is optimum.

CENTRE OF GRAVTY
If weight distribution is the ratio of horizontal weight, than Center of Gravity is the ratio of top
to bottom vertical weight. Center of gravity is as crucial as weight distribution for optimum trike
handling characteristics. However, unlike weight distribution, the center of gravity has no
handling or stability compromises when its ratio is lowered. If all the weight is placed well
below the axle, the trike is going to have excellent handling regardless of weight distribution.
Obviously, a low slung vehicle does have several disadvantages including visibility, safety,
comfort and practicality. For practical reasons most road worthy trikes will have most of the
weight above axles.

WHEELBASE
In regards to a recumbent trike, the length of wheelbase influences the steering, stability, weight
distribution and comfort.

STEERING GEOMETRY
4 bar steering mechanism. The intention of Ackermann geometry is to avoid the need for tyres to
slip sideways when following the path around a curve. The geometrical solution to this is for all
wheels to have their axles arranged as radii of a circle with a common centre point. As the rear
wheels are fixed, this centre point must be on a line extended from the rear axle. Intersecting the
axes of the front wheels on this line as well requires that the inside front wheel is turned, when
steering, through a greater angle than the outside wheel.

FRAME DESIGN
The last element in basic trike technology is the frame design. There are several
issues here that affect efficiency and handling. The Frame is made of Galvanized iron
square tube of 1 inch.

WHEEL SIZE

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The chief advantage of a small wheel is that it offers better reliability and lighter
weight than large wheel. The chief advantage of larger wheels is that they
provide better Roll-over resistance and offer a stable, more comfortable ride.

SEATING
A trike seat is unique in that it must provide lateral support for the rider. In these
design, the under seat steering ’U’ bar provides the lateral support for the rider.
In other cases lateral support is build into the seat.

Operations
Welding: Arc welding operations is used for following reasons:
Low cost, Simplicity in operations, easy to use.

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 Butt welding is a welding technique used to connect parts which are nearly parallel and don't
overlap. It can be used to run a processing machine continuously, as opposed to having to restart
such machine with a new supply of metals. Butt-welding is an economical and reliable way of
joining without using additional components.

Fig. Butt weld

Grinding: Surface grinding operations is used. Surface grinding uses a rotating abrasive wheel
to remove material, creating a flat surface. The tolerances that are normally achieved with
grinding are ± 2 × 10−4inches for grinding a flat material, and ± 3 × 10 −4 inches for a parallel
surface.

Drilling: Spot drilling operations is used. The purpose of spot drilling is to drill a hole that will
act as a guide for drilling the final hole. The hole is only drilled part way into the work piece
because it is only used to guide the beginning of the next drilling process.

Lathe Operations: Lathe works are used in fabrication of T joints which are used in steering
mechanism of the tricycle.

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Parts
1) Donor frame: (20 inches) rear wheel donor frame. A rear wheel frame of a bicycle is
used in order to keep the design simple in construction. Frame material is cast iron.

2) Wheels: 20 inches wheel diameter is used in order to accommodate in the donor frame.
Three wheels are used, two in front for steering and one in rear.

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3) Gears: Derailleur type gears are used. These are standard gear system consisting of 5 gears
in driven sprocket. This type of gear system is most efficient when the chain is aligned with
the sprocket plane, especially by avoiding biggest drive sprocket with biggest driven
sprocket.

4) Brake: Rim brakes of caliper type are used on all wheels. A Caliper brake is a self-
contained mechanism, attached to the bicycle's frame by a single bolt above the tire. The arms
reach downward, and need to be long enough to get around the tire.

5) Seat: Springer bicycle seats are used for better comfort and stress free ride. These seats
consist of springs which provide suspension to the rider.

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6) Pedals: Simple platform bicycle pedals are used to ensure good grip on pedals.

7) Chain Sprockets: Standard sprockets.

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Fabrications
1) Frame

The fabrication process was down in several steps to ensure that the epoxy has ample time
to cure to its final state. At first a rectangular frame of square tube (20 feet) is made,
material used is galvanized iron. Galvanized steel is basically a steel substrate that is
coated with zinc. Since Zinc has anodic properties against iron, this type of coating
prevents the corrosion in the substrate. Galvanization is a primitive chemical process that
has been practiced for hundreds of years. Steel is immersed in a molten zinc to produce a
coating of zinc-iron alloy. This zinc-iron alloy forms a barrier between the steel and the
environment. Zinc is a highly reactive metal in an electrochemical process, and therefore
it is easily oxidized to form a coating which protects the steel. Moreover, in galvanized
steel, zinc being an active metal, spontaneously reacts with atmospheric oxygen and
carbon dioxide to create zinc carbonate which also resists rust formation.

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2) C joint

Cast iron has good compressive strength but relatively poor tensile strength. Because of the
impurities in cast iron and its crystalline structure, although it is a strong material
in compression, it is weak in tension and is very brittle.

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Advantages

 Safety. Particularly with the lower designs, the recumbent bicycle's low center of mass

and short distance from the ground significantly reduce the consequences of a fall for the
rider. In particular, the recumbent cyclist's head is roughly half a meter (and in some cases, as
much as 1 meter) lower than that of a conventional cyclist. The worries of head injuries
(including both standard compression-type concussions and axial-rotational-type brain
damage) are therefore reduced. A direction-of-travel fall from a recumbent will be less
harmful than from an upright bike due to the feet-first orientation, which ensures that the rider
cannot be pitched headfirst over the handlebars.

 Additionally, the low center of mass greatly increases braking and stopping
capabilities, since the recumbent design avoids the concern of vigorous front-wheel braking
resulting in the rider flying over the handlebars. This may, however, increase the risk of a
front wheel skid. Likewise, losing a front wheel or fracturing a front fork will also be far less
injurious than in a conventional bike. Furthermore, the recumbent design makes it possible to
cycle very close to the curb without risking a pedal-curb collision.
 Comfort. The recumbent riding position reduces strain on the body, making it
particularly suitable for long rides and touring. Depending on the angle of the seat, it can be
very easy on the neck wrists, hands arms, shoulders, lower back, and ischial tuberosities ("sit
bones"). Riders who suffer back pain or genito-urinary trouble often find that recumbents
allow them to make significant rides without pain. Uro genital trouble is less because the
pedals are not under the seat, thus the seat can be larger so weight can be distributed to a
larger area and to the seat back. Shorts made for recumbent riders do not have padding or any
need for it.
 Obese comfort. An obese person on an upright bike must lean forward, allowing his
stomach to fall forward and be compressed with each leg-lift. The recumbent riding position
will allow excess body mass to be spread across allowing the rider to exercise comfortably.
 View angle. The recumbent riding position, if not too aggressively reclined, can enable
the rider to face straight ahead comfortably and view the passing scenery. Many upright
bikes, particularly those used in competition, on the other hand, have a riding position in
which the natural position is to face more downwards towards the pavement; in order to face
straight ahead, the neck must be craned upward.
 Health. Many riders switch to recumbents to alleviate the chronic back or neck pain from
riding upright bikes. On tricycles, the inherent stability of three wheels allows very low
gearing to be used, so hills can be climbed without strain on joints. Also, on some
recumbents, the rider's legs are nearly at the same height as the heart. This reduces the rider's
hydrostatic pressure, thus allowing venous blood to more easily return to the heart. This
physiological effect of improved circulation suggests an increase in rider endurance and/or
increased power output on long rides. Recumbent riders are not bent over as are conventional
bike riders, and this makes breathing easier. Additionally, studies indicate that upright bicycle
riding may be a cause of male impotence due to pressure placed on the perineal nerve by the
seat; recumbent seats do not present the same issue.
 Speed. On declines, on the flat, or on shallow inclines, the more horizontal recumbent
bicycle designs are generally faster than upright bicycles for the same level of effort because
the aerodynamic profile of the rider reduces wind resistance. It is this feature which led to the
Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI) banning them in the 1930s The world speed record for
human-powered vehicles was set when Dutch cyclist Sebastian Bowier pedaled a streamliner
(a fully faired recumbent) for 200 m (660 ft) at 133.78 km/h (83.13 mph) in the Velox3 at
Battle Mountain, Nevada.
 Turns. Rider can continue pedaling even during tight turns without the pedals striking the

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 ground although recumbents have larger turning circles than most conventional bicycles.
 Stopping. With many recumbent seats quite low it is often easier to get a foot down onto
the ground on stopping than is the case from a conventional bike with the saddle set high for
optimum pedaling.

Disadvantages

 Starting. The disadvantages in balance and maneuverability make starting more difficult
on recumbent bicycles. Recumbent tricycles do not require balancing and hence do not
require any special skill in this regard.
 Maneuverability. Most recumbent have a larger turning radius and combined with the
greater difficulties of balance, tight and low-speed maneuvers can be difficult. It is also very
hard to jerk the front wheel onto curbs. Since the front wheel is often small, driving up un
lowered curbs is very risky even with suspension.
 Up hills. A much debated disadvantage of the recumbent position is the effort required to
ride up hills. This is most noticeable during the initial period of riding a recumbent when the
legs are not yet trained for the different muscle requirements. On a traditional bicycle, the
rider can stand on the pedals and pull against the handlebars, although on a recumbent the
rider can push against the seat. On either style, higher cadence reduces leg strain and fatigue
when climbing. Recumbent tricycles are a special case, as riders can climb almost any
gradient of hill (subject to tire traction) with appropriate gearing since balance (and hence
speed) is not a consideration. A few designers have attempted to build bikes which convert
from recumbent to upright for climbs. In practice, the biggest difference is probably the
additional weight of the recumbent layout combined with the difficulty of balancing a bike
with a low center of mass at speeds below about 5 mph (8 km/h).
 Length of the frame. Some recumbent bicycle designs use longer frames than
conventional bicycles. This generally results in a weight penalty and in more flexing of the
frame that causes a loss of power .The chain (on rear wheel drive models) is two to three
times as long as an upright and usually requires one or more idler pulleys. There is a small
amount of friction in such pulleys which also reduces power slightly. Longer frame designs
are more difficult to transport if the bikes are shipped, or put on racks on automobiles. Some
manufacturers offer folding or break-apart designs, but these tend to be expensive. The longer
distance from the handlebars to the wheels can be problematic for speedometers and cyclo
computers, including both wireless and hard-wired models. The distance from the handlebars
to the crank set is likewise longer than a conventional bike and can give problems for cadence
sensors.
 Constant position. While the riding position is comfortable and removes stress from the
arms, it cannot easily be varied during a ride (as upright riders might stand for a hill), and
some find that bottom brackets at or near hip level produces problems with cold or numb feet.
Some riders suffer "recumbent butt," a pain in the gluteus muscles caused by their increased
effort while being compressed. This can usually be addressed by adjusting the seat angle and
pedal position. In a more reclined position, the weight is spread evenly between the back and
buttocks. The rider of a conventional bike can stand up on the pedals to allow his legs to take
up the shock of a severe bump in the road. The recumbent rider cannot (although many
designs include suspension to alleviate this).
 Visibility of the road. The distance from the eyes to the front end is somewhat larger
than an upright, and also the rider cannot lean forward. This leads to a bad insight angle at
sharp corners. (Car drivers have the same problem, though less acute, since they are closer to
the middle of the street.) In some designs - notably low-racers - the rider is also significantly
lower than on a conventional bicycle and so visibility can often be obscured by fences, parked
cars, etc. It is also a bit more difficult to glance back, which can be addressed by adding
helmet or handlebar mirrors.

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 Price. Recumbent are generally 50 - 100% more expensive than upright bikes of
equivalent quality. Virtually all are hand-built in relatively small runs by independent
manufacturers, require at least a few specialized parts, and sell in far fewer numbers as
compared to regular bicycles. At the low end, the vast majority of upright bikes retail for less
than the cost of the cheapest new recumbent.
 Nonstandard design. Recumbent often have radically different shapes from diamond-
frame bikes, so conventional bike racks, automobile carriers, accessories, and locks do not fit
in the usual ways. Additionally, the designs are difficult to mount in traditional bicycle work
stands and often require a second person during derailleur adjustments to spin cranks that are
too far from the shift controls and derailleur locations. Some bicycle mechanics may be
reluctant to work on "nonstandard" bicycle designs.
 Safety. Although recumbent bicycles are generally considered safer than upright bicycles
they do have some specific safety issues. A type of injury characteristic of recumbent called
"leg suck" occurs when a foot touches the ground and the bike runs forward over the contact
point, causing ligament damage and, in some cases, ankle fractures. [ The use of clip less
pedals reduces this possibility by preventing the foot from slipping off the pedal. But with
clip less pedals, remaining clipped in during a front tire or wheel failure at high speeds can
result in the recumbent rolling over the rider and taking a clipped in leg or legs with it This
scenario, although very rare, can create severe spiral fractures of the femur rarely seen with
upright bicycles

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Application:

1. For daily commute purpose

2. For long ride

3. For daily exercise

4. Can be rented for touring in tourist places

5. Can be used as transport vehicle by vegetable vendors.

Aesthetic considerations
To improve physical looks of the project following considerations are implemented:

 Paint job- To apply paint on entire frame making it more attractive in appearance
 Battery operated lights- A set of lights installed in front and rear to improve safety and
Appearance.

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 COST ESTIMATION

Sr.no Contents Quantit Cost

. y

1 Scrap chasses 1 1000

2 Aluminum alloy tubes 4 ft 1500

3 Wheels 3 sets 2500

4 Chain socket kit 1 set 2000

5 Controlling & break assembly 1 set 1150

5 Bearings & nuts ,bolts - 1000

6 Fabrication - 3000

7 Other required stuffs - 2000

Total 14150

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Observation
Category Upright
Frame Technology  Aluminum most common
frame material, and both are
available in the same price
range.
Price Range Rs.3000-5000+  Rs.12000-20000+
Weight A good road bike may range
from 10 to 15 kg. Even with
optional aero bars, an upright
will weigh less than a
recumbent.
Comfort Rider is advised to change
positions often to avoid sore
spots. Rider will usually wear
padded gloves and shorts.
Typical complaints i.e. bruised
perch bone area, carpal tunnel
problems i.e. sore palms and
numb fingers, also sore wrists,
elbows, shoulders, and neck,
tender knees.
Speed Average speed of upright
bicycle is 15.5 km/h
Frame Sizing Basically one frame style can
be sized for anyone from
children to very tall adults.
Transport   Ranges from easy to moderate.
Non-traditional frames cause
the most problems, but can be
carried via fork-mount
carriers. Relatively easy to
hand-carry
Maneuverability (Low Relatively easy to balance at
Speed)  speeds below 2 mph. Some
  models allow toe to strike
front wheel. Easier to 'thread'
in tight spaces.
Recumbent
Aluminum most common
frame material, with a
premium usually placed upon
aluminum. Galvanized Iron
used in frame material.
A good recumbent will weigh
between 20 and 30 kg. (Extra
chain length, more elaborate
seat, no butted tubing.) 
Rated by owners as "superior."
Complaints of discomfort of
any sort are the exception, not
the rule.  Padded clothing is
unnecessary. Typical
complaints numb toes, hot
feet, i.e. sore gluteus
muscles, tender knees. Extra
note: carrying items in rear
jersey pockets can be
uncomfortable, as rider must
sit against them.
Top speed of recumbent
tricycle was up to 30 km/h
Not all styles are suitable for
all heights.
Ranges from easy to difficult,
depending on model. Some
models can be hung on two-
arm carriers, some require fork
mounts. Car topping on
freeways may require removal
of seat. If you use a tray-type
carrier, long wheelbase bikes
require tandem carrying trays.
Most are longer than an
upright bicycle. Harder to
hand-carry.
Balance becomes difficult at
speeds below about 3 mph.
Some short wheelbase models
allow heel to strike front
wheel.
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Maneuverability (High Has a light feel. Rider is
Speed)   disconnected from bike, can
throw bike under his/her
weight. Weight distribution is
variable with body position. In
a turn, the outside (low) pedal
represents a low pivot point
for side to side weight shifts,
resulting in faster initiation of
small course changes. Cannot
pedal in hard cornering.
Rider is one with the bike.
Center of gravity is low for
good cornering, but cannot be
easily modified front/back
while riding. For side to side
weight shifts, the seat
represents a higher pivot point
than an upright's pedals; so
small course changes are
slower to initiate. Can pedal in
hard cornering, especially high
crank models.

Technical riding/stunts  Capable of various stunts such
  
Performance - Uphill Speed
(same as sprint
acceleration)   main reasons. As mentioned to
Performance -Downhill
Speed
Performance - Flats Speed   With the rider on the hoods or
Safety- Falls to the side
Safety - Frontal crashes  Rider hits head/hands first.
as bunny hopping, jumping up
curbs, wheelies, and track
stands. Can be ridden no-
hands, although geometry may
sometimes make this tricky.
Very good. Light weight and
ability to stand are considered
the right, uprights lose speed
more quickly at the bottom of
a hill, but their higher final
climbing speed usually still
gives them the edge.  have lower low gears due to
Average to very good. Can
obtain aero profile on drops or
by using aero bars.  to power down hills to take
top of the handlebar,
performance is compromised
in favor of comfort. Using
drops or aero bars and paying
attention to body position will
result in much better speeds,
but may require extensive
training to achieve and
maintain.
Rider's center of gravity is
typically 36" to 42". This may
be high enough to cause
broken bones if the rider lands
wrong.
Broken collarbones are a
relatively common result.
For the most part, stunts are
not possible, or when possible
are extremely limited. Often
use wider tires due to inability
to hop over unavoidable
obstacles. Regardless of
suspension, 'getting air' is not
recommended due to the
possibility of spinal
compression injuries.
Slightly too significantly
slower, depending on the hill
in question and, of course, the
motor. Recumbent typically
lose speed less quickly on an
uphill, so very short climbs
may actually be faster. Most
inability of the rider to stand
while pedaling, as well as to
accommodate slower final
climbing speeds.
Average to excellent.
Performance riders are advised
advantage of higher terminal
velocities, especially when
another climb is imminent.
Some recumbent with very
upright seat backs may not
have any performance
advantage. Most sport-
oriented recumbent have speed
capabilities similar to riding an
upright on the drops, while
low racers and high racers
allow dramatically higher
speeds.
Rider's center of gravity is 14"
to nearly 30". Even at the high
end of the range, falls tend to
cause road rash, not broken
bones.
Rider hits feet first.

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Safety - Miscellaneous   Ability to use body English
aids in negotiating
slippery/snowy conditions  ground and be 'sucked' behind
Top bar and stem injuries
possible.
 
Visibility (by vehicles)   Height can be seen over car
hoods, even over some roofs;
but silhouette frequently
overlooked by drivers.
Vision (by rider)   Rider must lift head to see
forward horizon. Depending
on position, this can be a
minor issue or a large one.
Relatively easy to look to the
rear. Rider enters intersections
head-first, which is good for
checking cross traffic.
Parts (availability)  Upright bikes define the parts
available. The only
manufacturer-specific part is
usually the frame. Tires
available at any bike store, but
emergency replacements for
700C size may not be
available in department
stores.   very limited compared to
Leg suck if a foot comes out
of the pedal; it may contact
the rider, resulting in soft
tissue injuries. 
Broken chain or crank will
not cause top bar or stem
injury.
Lower height puts rider's head
at eye level with most car
drivers, but below many
SUVs. Low racers put the
rider below the beltline of
many vehicles, making them
risky to ride in heavy traffic.
Silhouette is more noticeable
to drivers.
Riders head is naturally
upright for good forward
vision. More reclined positions
make it nearly impossible to
see rearward without a mirror.
Short wheelbase
configurations prevent rider
from seeing front wheel. Rider
enters intersections feet first,
bad for checking cross traffic.
Manufacturer-specific parts: 
frame, stem/handlebars, seat,
brackets and chain idlers (all
part of a frame kit.)  Idlers
typically use standard bearing
sets. Selection of performance
tires in even the most common
sizes (ISO 559 and 406) is
700C. Owner must often stock
spares, since local shops may
not carry suitable
replacements. Low
performance emergency
alternatives, however, are
plentiful.
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Bill of material
Sr.no Description Quantity Material
1 Donor frame 01 CI
2 Wheels 03 STD
3 Derailleur gears 01 STD
4 Gear shifters 01 STD
5 Brake levers 03 STD
6 Horse shoe brakes 03 STD
7 Seat 01 STD
8 Pedal 02 STD
9 Chain sprockets 01 CI
10 Steering 01 CI
11 Tie rod 01 CI

30
Conclusion

 One of the most common reasons for using a recumbent bike is comfort. Not only do they

have a large seat, but the bikes also offer complete back support. This ergonomic

advantage is especially important for people with back or neck problems. Because of their

low centre of gravity, recumbent bikes are also more aerodynamic and can pick up speed

more easily.

Future Modification
The design of Recumbent Tricycle is made as to make upgradation in future like:

 A hook can be installed in the rear end, which can be used for pulling a trolley.
 The trike can be made a two-seater, so it may accommodate two riders at a same time.
 A dynamo and other gadgets can be used to increase the safety and improve aesthetic
appeal of trike.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Following were the references and guidelines taken to prepare this project report.

1] Wikipedia
2] YouTube
3] www.hellbentcycles.com
4] Design Data Book by PSG
5] www.recumbents.com
6] Theory of machines- R.S.Khurmi
7] Automobile Engineering by Kripal Singh

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