Explore the World on Two Wheels

A long-wheelbase recumbent bike. Ergonomic comfort for persons with back and neck pain, shoulder/arm/hand pain or weakness, or those unable to endure a standard bike seat. Car-height seating creates eyes-up view and constant situational awareness in traffic. Very competent on gravel and dirt. Not a cargo bike but fits a large pair of panniers and can carry typical touring gear or a couple bags of groceries. Complexity level is 'simple'. Chain-drive only. Can use salvaged/purchased or owner-built crankset and wheels. Accepts 26", 29" and 700c wheels, and 26" fat tires. 

Complexity: Simple. 

Tools needed: Wood-saw, hacksaw, hand-drill, drill bit for wood, drill bit for metal, spade bit or hole-saw, adjustable wrench, chain tool.

Purchased or salvaged components: Bottom-bracket tube, crankset/bearings, cranks/pedals, chain, tires/tubes or rubber tread, metal tube or bolt for pivot-pin, bike seat (or make), fasteners (bolts, screws or nails).

Materials: 2 sizes of dimension lumber (two-by-four and one-by-six)

For whom is the Afar designed? Designed for adults who commute daily to school or work, or those who frequently travel long distances. 

Who should not get the Afar? It would be difficult for a small person to carry this very long bike up a flight of stairs.

Whom does it fit? Seat and handlebar positions are highly adjustable; it best fits medium height and tall adults from 5’4” (160 cm) to 6’4” (195 cm). 

What is its cargo capacity? The Afar will carry two large 22” wide panniers alongside the rear rack. One or two small children or an infant seat can be carried on top of the rear rack, if provided with a cushion and stabilizer/handhold. Does not handle well with front racks.

What is its outstanding capability? The Afar is a good, sturdy every-day general-usage bike for those adults who require or prefer recumbent seating.  Very pleasant as a tourer; you will not find yourself with head down and eyes fixed on the front tire when you have low energy. Eyes-up view maintains critical situational awareness at all times on the road. The Afar will handle almost all road and trail conditions.

What options will the Afar accommodate? The cargo deck can accept almost any bolt-on fasteners or proprietary quick-release attachment rails for infant seats. Will accommodate almost any after-market electric assist kit – hub motor or mid-drive.

What are the Afar’s limitations? It will not fit a majority of car bike-racks.

What components will the Afar accept? 26” wheels with 2” to 3” tires, or 24” wheels with 4” tires. This bike can accept either wire-spoked wheels, wooden-spoked wheels or plank wheels. The wooden Simple wheel can have its rim built not to hold a pneumatic tire (if pneumatic tires are not available or affordable) but rather to be covered by recycled car or truck tire rubber; this is less-smooth-riding in rough conditions but is absolutely a flat-proof ‘tire’. You can outfit your Afar as a single-speed with coaster brake, as a fixed-gear, as a 1X multi-gear, or with a 3 x 8 (or 2 x 5, 2 x 6, 3 x 8, etc.) front-and-rear derailleur transmission. The Afar can accept an internal-gear rear hub on a wire-spoked wheel. Note: recumbent bikes do not allow the rider to stand up on the pedals, and for this reason a single-speed hub is less satisfying than it would be on an upright. 

How big is the Afar? Overall length 96” ( cm) with 26" wheels, and 100" ( cm) with 29" wheels or 26" fat tires. Weight varies a great deal with choice of wood species, wheelset type, and amount of cargo boxing; the Afar may weigh between 35 and 49 pounds (16 kg to 23 kg). It takes up little floor space (approximately 20” x 36”) when standing on its rear end.