Monroe Bicycle Show and Swap meet – May 5, 2024

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MICHIGAN HPV RALLY AND ONLINE REGISTRATION IS BELOW, DATED FEB. 10, 2024

By Mike Eliasohn (text and photos, unless noted)

I like to say there are cycle enthusiasts and cycling enthusiasts, though some are both.

To some cycling enthusiasts, it's not a good Saturday unless they pedaled at least 50 miles. 

But to cycle enthusiasts, the bike is the thing – it's historic, or reminds them of their first bike they owned as a kid, or is just interesting. To them, a perfect Saturday is spent in their garage or basement, working on their bikes (or one of them).

It's for the latter that the Monroe Bicycle Show and Swap (the official name) exists. The 43rd annual took place Sunday, May 5, at the Monroe County fairgrounds.  (For the unknowing, that's in the southeast corner of Michigan.)

One of the older bikes at the show, a 1911 Racycle track racing bike with 60 tooth chainring and wood rims. Not quite ready yet for sale, said Edwin Moses of Ed's Vintage and Classic Bikes in Philadelphia.

This 1902 Columbia Model 81 shaft drive was for sale by Moses (at left), for $1,600. Wheel rims are wood. He also had another shaft drive for sale.

It was the Ann Arbor-Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet, held at the Washtenaw County fairgrounds, through 2019. There was no show in 2020 and 2021, then under new promoters, it moved to the Monroe County fairgrounds in 2022.

The latter is a big improvement over the former location. Unlike Washtenaw, all the roads are paved (great for test rides) and the main Expo Building and two smaller exhibition buildings are only used for that purpose during the Monroe County Fair. Some of the exhibit buildings at the Washtenaw grounds housed livestock during the Washtenaw County Fair, had dirt floors, and many months later, retained the odor, when bikes were on display.

The renamed 44th annual Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction will be April 27, 2025, at the Monroe County fairgrounds.

Recumbents for sale were few, but there was this Infinity, made by Ace Tool & Engineering in Mooresville, Ind. This was the original version, with rear stays made from sections of straight square tubing.  Production started in 1981. The second version, with rear stays made of bent round tubing, started in 1987. At right is a Bickerton Portable folding bike, manufactured in the United Kingdom, then in Australia, then back in the U.K., from 1972-89. Asking price for the Infinity was $1,250 and if unsold, the would-be seller said he would content to take it home to Wisconsin, which he ended up doing.  The Bickerton was priced at $85. I (Mike E.) don't know if it sold. Frames of the Infinity and Bickerton are aluminum.

Had there been a prize for "biggest chainring," this GreenSpeed Aero would have won. Intended for racing, the rider is very low to the ground.  I don't know the price, or if it sold. (Photo was taken in the Expo Building the day before the show, when I was helping a vendor set up.)

Close to the Aero, and presumably the same seller, was this low racer without a name. I (Mike E.) emailed the photo to Mike Mowett, since he races one, to ask if he knew the make. Here's his reply: John Morciglio confirms that’s his very first M1 lowracer, built in about 2008. This was after Chris Evans on his Velokraft NoCom infamously passed John at a local Michigan park. John got up to him in the parking lot of the park, talked to him and studied the NoCom and said “I can build something like that”. What we see in that photo is the result!  It was done without molds, just carbon over foam construction. I have those same gunfighter handlebars on my M1 built by him (with male and female molds) within a year. Actually before this carbon one,  John did build a wooden M1 that was rideable and painted red. It was primarily to get a feel for legs, pedals, hand reach etc. Updates: When built, John lived in Waterford. He now lives in Florida. For more, go to John's Facebook page, Fast Bikes Loud Guitars.

Update: Since the Monroe show, the owner, in Ann Arbor, sold the bike to recumbent builder and racer Rob Lloyd of nearby Whitmore Lake, who already has started modifications.

The deal of the day, at least to recumbent or semi-recumbent enthusiasts. I photographed this CCM (Canadian brand) Evo earlier in the day. As 3 p.m. closing time was approaching and people were leaving, the buyer of the CCM wheeled it past me. He told me it was priced at $75, but bought it for $40. It did need some repair. The Evo has a "restraint" to keep the rider from sliding off the back of the seat, but lacks a backrest.

ReBike, introduced in the1990s, was an effort to produce an entry level low-cost recumbent, compared to what else was on the market at the time.  But it was heavy. An undated price sheet I have from a dealer listed it at $390 + $35 shipping. This one was priced at $100.

Schwinn Stringrays, which date back to the late 1960S, are very popular. Not only suitable for kids, they also can be ridden – and are – by short adults, who want to look cool. If you want to buy a vintage one in good condition, expect to pay several hundred dollars for a 1-speed, and lots more for a 5-speed. Schwinn still makes a similar Stringray, but it's the model with a 20-inch back wheel and 16-inch front, with springer fork. These two Stingrays were entered in the judging; they were not for sale. (Photo from monroebikeshow.com Facebook page.)

Schwinn MiniTwinns, dating to the late 1960s, are popular among at least some collectors.

I saw another one at the show priced at $1,200 and one listed on eBay at $2,000.

Brian Pikielek (right), owner of BikeTech bicycle shop in Detroit, with the buyer of a 1960s Schwinn Town & Country triple Brian was selling. Brian let me (Mike E.) use some of the outdoor vendor space he paid for to set up a table in my futile effort to sell some cycling books and other items. But I was able to give away some files containing brochures, articles, etc., about various bicycle topics.

If you need some bicycle parts, common or rare, Brian probably has it in stock – as well as new and used bicycles. He also does repairs. BikeTech is at 18401 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; phone number 313-884-2453.

I didn't have time to find the person who knew something about this interesting creation, which appeared to be a custom built. Obviously intended for off-road use, but not on narrow trails.

Need a part or parts, be it wheels or anything else for a bicycle. Chances are it could be found  at the Monroe show.

The following photos, taken inside the Expo Building, are from the monroebikeshow.com Facebook page.

These bikes were entered in the judging in various categories; they were not for sale. Photos of the winners in nine categories can be seen on the website (under "photos").

.

 

Charles Brown: Thoughts on recumbent bicycle design

By Charles Brown, Southfield, Mich. 

      I started building recumbent bicycles in the early 1980s.  Back then, everyone was building long-wheelbase recumbents, and I became enamored of the design. 

      I think most unsuspended short wheelbase recumbents have too rough a ride.  I built three SWBs with front suspension; all climbed hills slower than unsuspended bikes. 

     The pedaling motion seems to activate the suspension, so not all power goes to the back wheel.  Some people claim to have overcome this, but don’t seem to have measured it. 

     It seems to me a front wheel that moves straight back when you hit a bump might work. That is, it would take longer for the bike to rise up over the bump, smoothing the ride without a real suspension. It would give a smoother ride by acting like a bigger wheel, yet not be affected by pedaling forces. But I haven’t tried it yet. 

     Tom Traylor’s moving bottom bracket designs also give a good ride with short wheelbase.

     Having pretty much given up on suspension, I worked on modifying the usual long wheelbase bike.  I raised the bottom bracket to get the rider in a more aerodynamic position.  This also gave some room under the cranks to push the front wheel back, shortening the bike and getting some much-needed weight on the front wheel.  The resulting bike isn’t too much longer than a short wheelbase.

       This drawing shows what it would be if I did it over again.  (As a serial HPV builder, I can tell you the next one is always going to be perfect!)  (Editor's note: This drawing does not depict the bike under construction, shown in the final photo.The drawing shows what will be the bike after that, which will incorporate additional changes and a different front wheel.) 

       I’ve built many generations of this design.  Earlier ones used the front fork from a 27-inch wheel road bike, and I always wondered why the steering was never quite right.  It turns out that even though there’s less weight on the front wheel, the shallow steering angle puts more stress on the front fork, causing it to flex.  

      This was cured by using a shorter, stiffer fork.  I give mine more rake by sawing notches on the top, bending them, and welding them back together. 

Charles Brown at the 2022 Michigan HPV Rally. Look close at the front fork and you can see where he modified it by cutting and bending to give it more rake.

       The drawing shows how I’ve been making all my steel frames lately.  A main tube, only about 1-1/2 inches diameter, handles all the torsional and lateral loads.  Some very light truss work underneath adds strength in the vertical direction.  If you put the tube that goes from the head tube to the bottom bracket at just the right angle, the tube bends neither up nor down under pedaling forces.  More information on this and related topics in my articles posted Dec. 3, 2015, on www.recumbents.com.

Here's Charles' latest, under construction, which will use components off his 2022 bike, but is 3 pounds lighter than that bike.  He plans to race it at this year's Michigan HPV Rally.

       I believe a narrow, high pressure front tire improves the steering on a long wheelbase recumbent.

       I’ve built over 50 different recumbents, and like to delude myself into thinking I’ve learned something over the years.  This isn’t a bad design.

Bicycles at Autorama in the Motor City

 The 71st annual Autorama in downtown Detroit took place March 1-3 with 800 or so hot rods, customs, race cars and street machines on display at Huntington Place, formerly Cobo Center.

But for many years now, bicycles also have been part of the show.

The big display is in the basement, organized by Ronnie Whitt of Scrap Yard Productions in Fowlerville. Entries are judged, in the categories of customs, restored and original, and low riders.

Here’s Mike Mowett’s photos and account of the bicycle displays:

An interesting day….

Bikes, Bikes and Cars - there was the usual big display of bikes underneath the escalator in basement lower level area. Each year I’ve seen them there. They are a mix of custom builds like you might see at a Detroit Slow Roll, a freakbikers meet up and a mix of old vintage bikes from like the 1960s, 70s, 80s. They had signs on them indicating their owners (though few if any were actually present to talk to). 

There were maybe four from Lake Orion if I recall. One was an old bike, but the sign said it’s current owner was only 10 years old. 

One bike I liked had the same Detroit News canvas saddle bag for holding newspapers that I used for 3 years as a paperboy

Some other photos: 

In the world of freak bikes, this is what is known as a burrito bike (very low riding position) and a heel scraper (pedals very close to the ground). Notice the steering set-up. (Scrap Yard Productions photo)

There was another area for bikes on the main floor of the show. I’d label it as “show bikes” maybe intended to give entertainment to some like-minded kids. A set of creepy dolls kinda added to this effect.

Anyways we didn’t spend much time at this location as crowds, especially on Saturday always feel like they are moving or pushing you along. I checked the number of visitors for last year's Autorama in Detroit. It was over 140,000 visitors for the three-day weekend. Other shows on the custom car calendar circuit in places as far away as California and the East Coast don’t get close to that number.. Guess we still are “the Motor City”.

 Thirdly, there were some bikes on roof racks atop cars or vans at the show. 

For more photos and videos of the Autorama bike show and some bike builds, go to the Scrap Yard Productions Facebook page.

Update: Vintage homebuilt trike need(ed) new owner

Editor: Mark's tricycle now has a new owner, so no longer is available, but it's still interesting to see his creation from 40+ years ago.inta

Mark Bannan of Saginaw built this recumbent tricycle in 1983 and with construction of a new trike underway, would like to give the old one away.  Ideally, he would like to see it go to a young racer just starting (or to his or her parents?).
If interested, contact Mark at markbannan.mbe@gmail.com
Since the photo was taken, the deraileur gearing has been replaced with a NuVinci N360 continuously variable internal gear hub and new tires installed (20 inch front, 700c rear).
The frame is aluminum, with the main tube 2-inch diameter 1/8th inch wall 6061 aluminum.  Mark guesses the trike weighs about 37 pounds.
The seat can slide back and forth about 4 inches. The trike only has the single rear brake.
It was raced by friend Dave Wilson at the International Human Powered Speed Championships in Indianapolis in 1983 and at the Hull (Ontario) Cycling Festival in 1984.
Mark has ridden his creation on the streets of Saginaw, so it is also suitable for recreational riding. 

39th annual Michigan HPV Rally - June 15-16, 2024

The start of the first one-hour time trial at the 2023 Michigan HPV Rally.

The 39th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, 2024, at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston in southeastern Michigan, the location since 1986.The track is on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club, 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston.

TO REGISTER ONLINE, CLICK HERE:  Pre-registration for the 39th annual Michigan HPV Rally June 15-16th, 2024

NOTE TO EARLY ARRIVALS ON FRIDAY planning to camp overnight: A Porsche group has use of the track until 5 p.m., then will need time to depart, so it's probably best to arrive after 6.

The oldest such event in North America is open to riders of all human powered vehicles – recumbents, streamliners, regular bicycles, tandems  and handcycles. There are classes for streamlined, unstreamlined cycles, tandems, women, youth and tricycles. 

The rally is conducted using Human Powered Race America rules (go to www.recumbents.com, then under “recumbent racing,” click on “Human Powered Race America,” then on “racing rules.” Note:  HPRA rules require all vehicles to have a mirroror or mirrors enabling rear  vision to both sides. 

The track, on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club, is  1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill. Sunday races use a shorter  course without the hill.

Entry fees: $30 for one day, $45 for two days. College and high school teams, $40 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional vehicle or rider. (Entry fees same as in 2023.) (Payment is made at the rally, but registering in advance online – above –means time saved when you arrive.)

Following is a description of events, taken from last year, so tentative for this year:

Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration starts at 8.

ONE-HOUR TIME TRIALS: ride as many laps of the main 1.4 mile loop including one small hill, as you can in one hour, no drafting.  Usually two races for faster and slower vehicles, and for folks who race two classes of bikes.

HILL CLIMB / COAST-DOWN; riders start at bottom of hill and race up it one at a time.  Hill height is about 28 feet and max 4% grade.  Once at top, riders start coasting until they stop and mark off their final position on the track.  

KILOMETER: Racers start one at a time from a standing start and go 0.62 miles around course.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION CONTEST: Results based on hill climb / coast down score, obstacle course time and such features as lights, cargo carrying capacity, rearview mirrors, security against theft, weather protection in addition to fenders, bell, carrying tools.

The trackside concession stand will be open for lunch from 11:30-1. With reduced rally attendance turnout in recent years, Oakland County Sportsmen's Club management has been reluctant to keep the stand open, so PLEASE plan on buying lunch there, rather than bringing your own or going to a restaurant.

Whether we have dinner available at the track is yet to be determined.

Sunday, 8 a.m.-noon approximately.

SPRINT EVENT:  Racers start at top of hill, pedal down it one at time for an acceleration boost, then are timed over a 200-foot stretch.

ROAD RACES: Racers use part of main track (not including hill) and do 20 or 25 short laps (about 12.5 miles or 20 km).

Question, comments or suggestions, contact co-organizers Mike Eliasohn (mikethebike2325@comcast.net, 810-990-8919) or Mike Mowett (mowett@aol.com, 586- 863-3902). 

Concession stand will be closed, however, Oakland County Sportsmen's Club clubhouse opens for lunch at 11. .

TO GET TO THE RALLY:  From I-75, get off at exit 91. Take M-15 south to Dixie Hwy. (US-24). Turn left, continuing south about 1 mile and turn left onto Waterford Road, then proceed to track. If coming from the west, take U.S. 23 north (or south) to M-59 (Highland Road). Go east on M-59 to Airport Road, then left (north) to US-24. Turn left, then immediately right onto Waterford Road. Go about a half-mile to track.

CAMPING

Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday in the infield of the Waterford Hills track, starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers available and possibly electrical hookups.

STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigan.gov/dnr, then click on "make a reservation.

Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland.

Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grange Road, Holly, 2486348811. Five miles east of Holly.

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, Waterford, 248-44471020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.

Website for each recreation area has list of campgrounds and phone numbers.

OAKLAND COUNTY:  Groveland Oaks County Park, 14555 Dixie Hwy., Holly, northeast of Holly, 248-634-9811.

HOTELS / MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford Hills track)

Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn North, 6853 Dixie Hwy. (US-10), 248-625-1522, 12 rooms, 2 miles northeast.

Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn of Clarkston, 5835 Dixie Hwy., 248-623-0300. Across Dixie Highway from Waterford Road leading to track. This is the closest motel to the track.

Hartland - Best Western of Hartland, 10087 Highland Road (M-59) at US-23, 810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west.

Waterford – American Inn and Suites, 7076 Highland Road (M-59), 248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest.

Waterford – Holiday Inn Express, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road, 248-674-3434 / 866-430-6157, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest.

Whitmore Lake - Days Inn, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-550-0105, 61 rooms. About 33 miles southwest.

HPV articles, brochures, etc. (on paper) I want to give away

At age 79, I’m in the “I can’t take it with me” stage of my life, so it’s time to get rid of files I have on various human power topics, that is articles, brochures, etc., on paper. Most predate the internet era and I was never hesitant to write to a manufacturer or innovator to ask for more information.

I’ll do more digging through my file cabinets, but here’s the files I currently want to find new homes for, I’m willing to give them away for free, but would like to be reimbursed for postage. I live in Michigan, but can mail them from Canada, to save on postage.

Mike Eliasohn, mikethebike2325@comcast.net, 810-990-8919

Aerodynamics - mostly add-on fairings, wheel discs, etc.

Antiques, special interest, freak bikes, plastic frame bikes, etc.

Arm and leg power, rear wheel steering, prone position (all in one file).

Bicycle motors – obviously not human power, mostly gasoline, not electric, dating to the 1970s. Cantilever hubs, that is, hubs supported on one side only.

Boats, that is pedal-powered, propeller driven. Included are the December 1986 Scientific America cover story, "Human-powered Watercraft," at least 8 brochures for manufactured pedal-powered boats and a 1952 how-to-build article from the book, "The Boy Mechanic," for a pedal-powered dual-hull boat that uses an upright bicycle frame.

Folding bicycles – a very fat file, information dating to 1970s.

Front wheel drive – dating to 1990s. 

Off road bikes, cruisers,  suspension, BMX, etc. – upright bikes, but still interesting, info dating to 1980s.

Pedal cars / velomobiles– dating to 1970s.

Transmission – two files, one devoted to hub gears and hybrid systems and the other devoted to other (mostly) non-derailleur systems, dating to 1970s.

Upright tricycles - mostly British (derailleur gears, two wheels in rear)

Suspension – including early mountain bikes, dating to 1970s.

Yankee Bicycle / Nordic Track – an upright bike with unique transmission and braking system, sold in 1990s. 

I also have the following recumbent construction plans (on paper) that I want to get rid of, also free, but would like to be reimbursed for postage.

- Alternative Bikestyles: Construction of a Recumbent Bicycle (1985) – Similar to an Easy Racer Tour Easy long wheelbase, Ed Roeters describes his design as "simple, practical and rugged as possible." 

- Tom Traylor front wheel drive moving bottom bracket two-wheeler, 1982. (One of the early MBB designs.)

- LaBent by Ladue two-wheels-in-rear tricycle. 

- LaBent by Ladue long-wheelbase two wheeler.

- Robert Q. Riley Ground Hugger long wheelbase low racer with remote steering. (The original plans and instructions appeared in Popular Mechanics in 1969.)

 - PVC Projects (1993) - 20 projects made from PVC pipe, normally used for plumbing. Some have wheels, but none are pedal-powered.But even if not using PVC for an HPV, it conceivably could be used for a cycle-towed trailer, a cycle repair stand or ?

Building a recumbent cycle from plans

The TomaHawk, one of many recumbent designs for which plans are available from AtomicZombie

By Mike Eliasohn

There are various reasons to build your own recumbent cycle. Presumably one reason is because you like to "make stuff." Another is: why pedal something that looks like what other people ride, be it a recumbent or upright bike, when you can ride something unusual and attract attention?

Although most designs shown or discussed in this article are made of metal tubing welded together, if you don’t know how to weld (or have no place to weld), or don’t have a shop where you can do cutting and drilling, there are alternatives. Find a friendly (presumably small) welding and machine shop (or one of each) who can do that work for you, hopefully at a reasonable price. (Suggestion: If you're not in a rush to get something done, so can wait until the shop doesn't have much else to do, you might get a better price.) 

Or if you have work space, but don't know how to weld, there are designs out there made from wood, aluminum,carbon fiber, or even cut-up conventional bicycles, with the pieces bolted together (though some small pieces may need welding). 

I do have a special motive for writing this. As HPV old-timers like me know, there aren't as many builders out there as there used to be. Not only is attendance at HPV racing events declining, more of those who do participate bought what they ride. Building, riding and racing recumbent cycles would seem idea for high school students studying welding, machining and other trades. So if anyone reading this knows any such students, you might suggest, "Have you ever thought of building ..?" and use this article as a starting point.

Lastly, this article won't cover all the options for plans and designs that are out there. Do an online search of "how to build recumbent bicycles," "recumbent bicycle (or tricycle) plans," etc. and you will find more. 

Another source is texasrecumbents.wordpress.com, which is divided into numerous topics, including bamboo recumbents, no-weld recumbent trikes and bikes, front-wheel-drive moving bottom bracket recumbents, seats and Coroplast construction. Some items below also are on the texas recumbents site.

Also look on YouTube. If you know something I missed that's worth including, please email me at mikethebike2325@comcast.net

Atomic Zombie

If you're looking for ideas, a good place to start is atomiczombie.com. Brad Graham and Kathy McGowan offer 36 plans, for low racers, high racers, long wheelbase, short wheelbase, two-wheels-in-the-rear and two-wheels-in-front tricycles and a quad. There are also plans or tutorials for choppers, tall bikes and an upright two-wheels-in-front tricycle.

Atomic Zombie Warrior

Atomic Zombie charges for its plans, currently $16.95 for one set, four for $19 or six for $36.  The plans, actually step-by-step instructions, 60-220 pages with lots of photos, come as PDF downloads.

In 2004, Graham and McGowan published Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza (388 pages), with chapters on how to build various designs and general information about tools, welding, design, sources of materials, etc. Interesting reading, even if you don't build an AZ design. Copies, new or used, can be obtained from Amazon, alibris.com and likely other sellers.

Recycled Recumbents

A Recycled Recumbent Mach 2

If you like a traditional long wheelbase design, A.D. Carson (recycledrecumbent.com) has three plans available online for free. And if you like his designs, but don't want to build one, he builds and sells complete bikes (but not during the winter months.

Much of the steel tubing for his designs come from cut-up diamond frames. The Mach 1 (EZ Clone) and Mach 2 designs are similar – 26 inch rear wheel and 20-inch front, though the Mach 1 also can use a 16-inch. The Mach 3 uses 26-inch wheels at both ends. (700c wheels might fit in place of 26 inch.)

Wood 

In 1997-98, Steve Schmeck, who lives in/near Cooks in the Upper Peninsula, built two (mostly) wood frame recumbents, Woody (shown here) and then Treebike.

For construction details, go to www.manytracks.com, then click on "homestead," "recumbents," and then in the top of the text, "Woody and Treebike." (or click here)

In addition to information about Steve's two designs, you will see photos and information about various other homebuilt recumbents sent in by Many Tracks readers. Some of the designs are wood.

And if you think a website that also has information about chickens and other homesteading topics seems unusual as a recumbent bike building source, try www.littleloveliesbyallison.com. In addition to such topics as home decorating ideas and home improvement projects, scroll down (toward the bottom) to "DIY vehicle projects" then "bicycle projects" and finally "15 DIY recumbent bike projects you can build easily" (or click here). Included are two (mostly) wood frame recumbents and  one two-wheels-in-front tricycle, plus some other interesting designs (some from Atomic Zombie).

 An easy build

Keith Moss from Florida came up with this simple design for a long-wheelbase, made from cut-up steel bicycle frames, except possibly for the bottom tube.

For more information and photos, type "Keith Moss quick cheap easy LWB" in your search engine, and you should be able to find it.

F'lowroller

When I first saw images of Robert Horn's F'lowroller about 20 years ago, my reaction was "Wow!" It was truly a unique design.

In an article in online BikeRodnKustom, he described it as a cruiser / recumbent / lowrider and mentioned he quickly put 300 miles on it. It used a 3-speed coaster brake hub.

Bob later designed a second version, shown above, and then created "The F'lowroller Cookbook" (copyright 2005), with building instructions and photos.

He sent a pdf to anyone interested in building one.

I (Mike E.) have the "Cookbook" pdf, and with Bob's permission, can email it to anyone who asks. A printout can be made from the pdf.

Steve Robson's recumbent construction guide

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Steve Robson was very active in HPV building and the Michigan HPV Association, including a stint as vice president, even though he lived in Glencoe, Ontario, Canada.

He also wrote and published two books about HPVs, including making all the drawings.

Steve went on to other interests, but occasionally would still get inquiries from people who wanted to build a recumbent. He would send them the text and some drawings. 

To make it easier for anyone to access his "The Home Builders Guide to Constructing a Recumbent Bicycle," he sent me (Mike Eliasohn) the text and some illustrations. I did some editing and added some photos, then Paul Bruneau did further editing and posted the link.

Remember, this book dates to 1998 / 2001, so some sources and references may be out of date, out of business or no longer available.  And one big change in bicycle technology since then is now common use of disk brakes on manufactured bikes, which could be a factor in selecting bikes to cut up to rebuild into a recumbent.

Click here to read Steve's book.

Front-wheel-drive

In addition to the F'lowroller, here are some other front-wheel-drive designs:

Python is a European low racer design, with front wheel drive and center-pivot steering, that is, the head tube is right behind the front wheel. "Standard" is two 26 inch wheels, but there are variations with smaller wheels and tricycles with two wheels in the rear.
Photo is from the website, www.python-lowracer.de, where there is lots of information for would-be builders.
If you’re familiar with the Cruzbike, but don't want to spend $2,650 (and that's for the cheapest model), or want to make sure you can ride a moving bottom bracket FWD before spending lots of money, go to www.instructables.com, then type in "recumbent bicycles." You will see several DIY recumbent designs (none sophisticated), so you may something else of interest. But here's what we are talking about:

The MBB bike shown on instructables.com is rather crude, so here's a more sophisticated, but still simple version. (I don't remember the source.)

Other stuff

Here's an interesting design from the Netherlands, with how-to-build instructions:

https://www.wind-water.nl/contents/images/recumb/rec_build_booklet.pdf

This is from the website, wind-water.nl, and the link is presented here with permission from Hanno Smits, the designer and webmaster. Also, go to the website, click on "Bicycles, bicycles" and you will see other interesting recumbents and ideas.

I (Mike E.) have an idea how to build a no-weld or minimal-weld recumbent from aluminum tubing and bars, but could not find any such design on the internet, other than this 2001 photo from Many Tracks, builder Bill Meacham.

If anyone knows of any such designs, preferably with some instructions, let me know.

Paul Elkins' website (elkinsdiy.com) has lots of interesting projects, including this simple recumbent made from one cut-up 20-inch wheel frame, plus additional tubing.  Go to "projects," then "transportation," "human powered" and then "DIY recumbent bicycle."

There's also a video: On Youtube, type in "diy recumbent bicycle" and you will find it.

This is obviously a stretch cruiser, made from two frames, not a recumbent, but it's interesting because it's entirely bolted together, no welding, As I recall, the rear triangle came from a mixte (step-through upright bike) frame. The bike was built by the operator of a website that I think is now defunct, which was mostly devoted to fixing/repairing bikes. Unfortunately, I don't have the website address in writing, so can't give proper credit.

Some information in this article comes from an article in the Autumn 2020 issue of Laidback Cyclist, the magazine of the British Human Power Club.