The Bolt

My Addiction

One Saturday morning this last July (2001) I stepped outside to retrieve the paper.  What a mistake.  It was 102 degrees and it was only 7:30.  By the time I got back in the house (It's 15 yards to our driveway) I was covered in sweat and near comatose.

But that wasn't the mistake.  The mistake was actually sitting down to read the paper.  With my butt just inches from my favorite recliner and no intentions of moving thereafter, my wife intercepted my decent with a curt remark regarding chores, children and my aroma.  It was two hours before my decent could resume.

But sitting down to read the paper wasn't really the mistake either.  The real mistake was actually reading the paper.  Or should I say, reading a part of the paper.  For you see, within that paper, very deep within that paper, in the last section of that paper... was an article.

The article was simple enough.  Three columns, about 2 1/2 inches each, and a picture of a bicycle.  A funny looking bicycle called a bent.  If my wife would have known what was to come, she would have burned the paper before my eyes with her eyes.  See, she has this look that can...ummm, that's another story.

Anyway, I read the article about a bicycle that is comfortable.  I laughed.  Bicycles have never been comfortable.  Part of the joy of riding bikes was the knowledge that I would be paying my dues in pain for days for having so much fun. 

The article also mentioned that you can buy them for around $600 or more or you can build them.  Build them?  That got the rusty cogs moving in the old brain.  Build them???  Now that would be cool.  I could actually use the garage full of tools that I haven't touched in a year.

So my addiction began.  I had never actually been addicted to anything before, except maybe Chocolate... and Mexican Food... and Girls of course... and Chess many years ago when my brain actually functioned.  But that was it, I swear.

I decided to build a bent.  I don't weld, so I would have to pay someone to weld... but that's ok.  I could do the rest.  But first... Research!!!  On to the web I go.  Google search for recumbent bicycle plans.  All kinds of stuff comes up.  I can buy plans!!! Naw, that's no fun.  Got to fly by the seat of my pants.  But boy do I get some good leads. 

Then I find the site that truly sent me into the deep end.  Steve's Wooden Recumbent Bike Page  This guy built a bike out of two junk bicycles and a stick.  No welding!  Now that was cool.  I could do that.  I've built furniture!!!  My mind continues to turn (slowly). 

I sleep poorly and sift through the internet digging up more info.  I'm ready to go buy a stick when I strayed into the back yard on a whim.  I tend to avoid the back yard.  To many real chores seem to hang out there.  What I did find, however, was the leftovers from our Aluminum Fence Project.  A couple of 8 foot 2 1/2 inch square tubes and a bunch of one inch square tubes.  Hey, that might work.  I take one tube and set it against a log and jump on it about 10 times.  Tube holds.  I fall off.

I pick myself up with a smile.  That will work.  I haul the Aluminum to the garage while my family leafs through the yellow pages looking up psych ward.  They call, but the phone is busy and I'm given an extension.

Another week of cog turning and I think I have a plan.  It's the beginning of August, 112 degree days and humid.  Time to check out the yard sales.  I get up early and head out in my trusty truck.  Thank god for air conditioning.  Two hours later, I'm home with a junky old broken down ten speed and a functioning girls mountain bike.  My wife tries the psych ward again.  Still busy.  Must be something about the season.

For the next two weeks I pretty much disappear.  If not physically, then mentally.  You would think that I would lose weight from all the sweating I did, but I made up for it by eating an extra large helping of cereal before bed (Got to keep the strength up). 

Finally, after going through about 50 saber saw blades, a bag of bolts, nuts and washers and a few band aids, my Bolted LWB emerges.  Boy did it emerge.  It is 8 feet long and weighs 50 lbs.  But it carries me fine and I weigh 300.  It even got a smile from the wife and a "cooool" from the kids and neighbors, but they still think I'm nuts.

Did this end my addiction?  Naw, just got it started.  I have ridden my "Bolt" about 150 miles and continue to refine it.  I am also building a second bike that I call my "Hardly Davidson" that is based on the same design but is welded together.  And.. I bought a Tailwind for my Wife and Son to ride that I ride when they are not looking.

Did my projects come out perfect?  Nope.  The "Bolt" is actually pretty rough, but it works!!!  Are they finished?  Nope.  Still have things called fairings and tailboxes out there.  Will they ever be finished?  I hope not.  They are a hell of a lot of fun to mess with and even more fun to ride.  Am I still married?  Yep, and always will be.  She knows I'm a geek, but loves me just the same.

So... That's my story.  Or at least the beginning. 

Bill Meacham

A few people, to my amazement, have asked me how I bolted a bike together, so I came up with this site.  Have fun cruising the info and send me any links or suggestions you might have.  If you build your own, send me a picture and I will include it on the site.

Hardley Davidson