| How I started building Bents While living in Southern California in 1984, I used to keep an old ten speed at my office and rode it home for lunch. While riding back to work one day, bucking the Santa Ana winds, I started thinking, "There must be an easier way". I began doing some research on recumbents. I didn't even know what they called at that time, but I had seen one in a movie called "Brainstorm". Christopher Walken rode it in the movie and I thought it looked pretty cool. Eventually, I design  ed and built a bent like the one in this photo. It had to be simple enough to make with the limited amount of tools and space I had at the time. I borrowed a welder and did the work on my driveway and in an 8x10" metal shed that I called a shop. It also had to be cheap. I don't think I invested more than $50, including the rental price of an angle grinder. I still ride the original, it's the blue one on the home page. Since then I have built several of them and started to think maybe some other people would like to build their own as well. So, I put some plans together and am offering them for sale. |
Hell's Angels Approval My first recumbent was born in 1984. I had been riding my shiny new LaBent for several weeks with no incidents, other than the admiring stares of on-lookers and passers-by. Then, while riding home for lunch one day, I heard the distinctive rumble of two Harley-Davidsons coming from behind me. A quick glance told me that the pilots of these two huge choppers were not just a couple of weekend adventure seekers, but some real hard core biker types. They thundered up and cruised along right beside me. I was afraid to look over at them, knowing I was surely going to die. Finally, I worked up the courage to glance over at them. They were both laughing and each gave me a big thumbs up. Then they roared off down that long, lonesome highway. So, you see, my LaBents do have the approval of the Hell's Angels. That is if they actually were Hell's Angels and if that actually means anything. |
LINKS TO OTHER RECUMBENT SITES Mark Mark Matarella's recumbent site Recumbent Cyclist News The best recumbent magazine in existence Bike-Tote Best bike rack I've seen County Cruisers Omaha Recumbent Club Power on Cycling Recumbent components & Accessories
contact me about any recumbent questions |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |