Pashley PDQ3 - Fix or Ebay!?

[MattPaits]

Hi folks,

Brand new here, having just acquired a rather tired Pashley PDQ3 that needs some TLC3. I literally pulled it out of a skip at our local cycling centre, but now that I'm trying to find spares for it, I'm beginning to see why it was in there! The steering rods are bent out of shape, which means that if you turn the bars too far in any direction the wheel flips round to sit perpendicular to the bike and needs to be manually returned to straight. The idler has also just crumbled and needs to be replaced. I'd LOVE to return it to a rideable state as it is loads of fun to ride, but I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to sourcing spares... can't post pictures yet unfortunately. Thanks in advance! Matt

 

[FrankCrank]

Welcome aboard Matt.

I've built a couple of tadpole recumbents myself, so have some experience of this format. I'm pretty sure any bent steering rods can be persuaded back to where they belong, but it all comes down to your skill level really.
Post some pics when you can, and hopefully you'll get it back in running order

 

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You can make an idler out of rear mech jockey wheels and a hole saw (to cut disks to fit either side and stop the chain jumping off). At least I have! And steering rods? Hollow tubing and some track rod style bearings. Or you can spend lots of money and get shiny new kit from the likes of Icletta in Germany or some of the recumbent bike shops in the USA, but DIY is much more fun and more inventive.