Green Before Being Green Was Cool

Some people went green before today's green movement. In 1974, I thought transportation had become a chore and expensive — not exactly fun as I was hypnotized to believe with kid scooters, pedal cars, go karts, or other 1950-1960 wheeled illusions. My frustration with long gas lines were only a hint of my future. In 1976, I bought an adult tricycle. I  have a balance problem and it took until 1978 and several falls for me to realize that trike was too tall. I decided to build a low trike.

My first creation began in 1978 using Goodwill or second-hand parts. I purchased a used and stripped Gitane Continental frame. I cut the original seat post about 10" and cut two sections of the forward section of the frame about 11" each. Having dug up a rear axle from an adult trike at a yard sale, I tack welded that frame together extending the rear axle at least 2'.  I obtained three matching 24" wheels for that project, and also an old plastic "scoop" dining room chair which I bolted on. When operable (plain old 10 speed gears and brakes, just mounted differently) I painted it gold (not exactly environmentally friendly!) It seemed to take forever, but in about two years the trike was ready to ride. Two local newspapers did articles about me, but I do not have many ideas, so my advice to other people would seem to be a hit and miss routine at best!

My largest challenge in the late 70s was that practically no one had the parts or information I needed. Computers were just beginning (yes, I admit I had a Commodore!). 1980 was a time of huge fluorescent lights and envelope houses to conserve energy, but not especially a time of reuse or recycle. Geodesic dome homes, Personal Rapid Transit and thoughts of air cars! I got so much pleasure of re-inventing and reusing old items that I built several more trikes as a hobby using old 10 speeds — throw away stuff.

These human power vehicles became known as recumbents. In 2001, my 1980 trike just wore out.  Recumbent trikes had become more available throughout the 90s, so I bought and experimented with several used trikes; becoming familiar with delta (two back wheels; one front), tadpole (two front wheels one back wheel); as well as upper/lower joystick/direct or indirect/cart/lean steering, varieties of brakes, suspensions, fairings, gearing, seats, and used materials. In the late 90s, I had become fascinated with velomobiles, basically enclosed trikes.

In 2003, a velomobile kit was planned in Freedom, California. In 2004 that idea was scrapped, so I got the parts and by 2005, I had an operable velomobile. In 2006 I bought a used VeloKit which is a fabric tent which attaches to a recumbent trike. Similar to a velomobile shape, and of course, both of these vehicles are green in color!  That pretty much ended my building, but not tinkering. I purchased a home-built trike this year as something to experiment with. Unfortunately, that trike is red. There went my "green" streak! In these days of sky-high gas prices, 1974 was kind of a preparation year for me for all the years since that time!

Chris Jordan can be found reading Tonic News and whizing through Santa Cruz, California, on one of his very green trikes.