ReneKMueller.com: Fateba L1 Longrider *

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After years of complaining to have only one tire option (Schwalbe Kojak) for my 17" front wheel I finally found Tiberio Trevisan

, who was able to extend my fork and mount a 20" wheel with Schwalbe Marathon tire (20x1.5 / 40-406). This upgrade was done in September 2011.

2011/10/06 13:22

2011/10/06 12:35

2011/10/06 12:38

2011/10/06 12:40

2011/10/06 12:41

2011/10/06 12:43

The extension was done so the brakes could be reused, the fender had to mounted like on a MTB direct on the frame.

The first extension I made 4-5 years ago, but a couple of weeks ago (2008/08) I lost the tail fender extension, and so dirt and water dabbled on the luggage at the back. I found an exploded inner tube from a truck wheel on the side of a road, and thought to use it as flexible and soft fender extension - before I used a rather stiff plastic from a blue deskmatt I've bought.

Missing extension of the tail wheel fender,
2008/08/02 14:20

exploded part of an inner tube from a truckwheel
2008/08/16 17:21

without fender extension
2008/08/16 17:22

... cut in shape ...
2008/08/16 17:25

and screwed on ...
2008/08/17 10:26

and flexible extension added at the tail too.
2008/09/10 09:20

2008/09/10 09:20

The Fateba requires two chains combined, and a chain protection doesn't exist, so the chain is exposed to rain and dust fully. There is a shield to protect legs or pants from the chain, but it doesn't protect the chain itself.

Modern recumbents have small PVC tubes to guide the chain along the frame, and protect the chain thereby. Fateba in Winterthur (Switzerland) has experimented with this approach as well, here my attempt:

2008/08/02 08:05

2008/08/02 08:08

2008/08/02 08:30

2008/08/02 09:09

2008/08/02 10:38

2008/08/02 13:31

2008/08/02 14:20

Material:

2m clear PVC gardentube (soft) 12mm/2mm (€ 5)
3mm wire (with zinc)
div. cabelbinders/zippers

Note: I replaced 12mm with a 16mm tube later, as it was too tight with cablebinders

Pro:

chain protection against rain and dust/dirt
protecting frame (tail fork) from the chain
cheap solution

Contra:

additional friction
additional point of failure

According HPVelotechnik.com and their user-manual of the Speedmachine, the chain tube lasts about 3000-5000km; the endings should be deformed like a trumpet with a heat source (e.g. candle) and ball-like ending of a screw-driver, and then cooled off quickly with cold water.

Speedmachine User Manual 2008 (PDF, english), contains much information applicable for other recumbents

Solarpanel with 2x AA batteries

On travelings I take a small solar panel, Scotty Pro (Personal Solar Charger) (3V/0.55W) by SolarC

, and somehow fixate it on my luggage, but I was thinking of doing something more reliable and practible as well and still easy to take off and on.

Here my solution:

2008/09/15 07:07

2008/09/15 10:39

first version at the end, was shacky and too much movement
2008/09/15 10:42

handle removed
2008/09/15 13:41

second version in the center, much more stable
2008/09/15 13:46

2008/09/15 13:47

attached on the bicycle
2008/09/15 15:19

2008/09/16 09:46

The solution is intentionally made to withstand shakes and be flexible. I will later extend this solar panel setup to electrify the entire recumbent with 3V, e.g. LED based front-light and rear-light.

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Content:

Page 1: On The Road, My Review, Numbers, Brochure, History of Fateba, Maintenance
Page 2: Upgrades, 17" to 20" Frontwheel, Fender Extensions, Chain Protection, Solar Panel
Page 3: Maintenance Book, Conclusions

Fateba L1 Longrider

Upgrades

17" to 20" Frontwheel

Fender Extensions

Chain Protection

Solar Panel