Jackalope in progress

May 11, 2026: Evolution of a Jackalogo

Jackalope facing Left

March 26, 2026: Photographed the Fold Rush elastomer and suspension system:

The elastomer has a big hole in it for the anchor pin to go through, while still allowing some travel

What the elastomer slides into when the bike is unfolded

The elastomer is attached to the rear triangle with a bolt

Elastomer and bolt removed from rear triangle

Elastomer snug in its happy place and secured with the pin on the unfolded bike, ready to ride

And for good measure, another photo of the Fold Rush’s bottom tube(s).

March 25, 2026: Took photos of the “elastomer” on the Teesdale frame, which the previous owner/designer told me was a standard plumbing part in the late 1990’s:

It’s heavy. Maybe we can find something lighter.

March 24, 2026: Took photos of the Stiletto’s highly engineered steering rod linkage:

There’s a what appears to be a rubber(?) “ball” in there that swivels around, with a nylon(?) sleeve inside the bolt goes into.

Fancy, custom stuff.

March 14, 2026: I detached the linked steering rod so I could rotate the front wheel 180° to measure rake/trail. Was not as onerous as I’d feared, and I think I re-attached it correctly. Measurements:

Front axle to bottom bracket center:

wheel forward: 17″

wheel reversed: 15.25″

Stiletto with front of steering rod detached and wheel rotated backwards 180°

Stiletto’s front wheel rotated 180°. It has so little rake you can barely tell, except the brake calipers are on the wrong side. The near-vertical rake is why the Stiletto handles so well, and is only possible due to its linked steering. It is unique among long wheelbase recumbents.

I also took some photos of my Fold Rush:

Snejana the Fold Rush folded. She’s currently wearing a wide tire; a narrower tire might fold further into the frame. Look at that mess of a chain! A jackshaft should improve that.

The Fold Rush’s seat brace allows small panniers to be clipped on it, which I used when I rode her to Indianapolis a couple years ago. I would like the option to clip similar panniers on the Jackalope.

Small pannier clipped to Fold Rush seat brace

March 13, 2026: photos of the Stiletto’s front fork. Due to the linked steering rod, the front wheel turns only about 45° each way. I can’t rotate it 180° to measure the way Davis Carver requested, so I instead put the bike on a freestanding floor rack, made the front wheel as straight as I could, and photographed from as direct a side view as I could manage.

As even a side view as I could manage with an iPhone

I also downloaded a trial of the Polycam LiDAR app, and did my best to 3-D scan the Stiletto:

Polycam capture of the Stiletto in my garage

Polycam capture of the Stiletto in my driveway

March 12, 2026: It was pointed out to me that the seat struts can’t be rooted to the rear dropouts due to suspension travel! I’d forgotten about that. The Teesdale frame is overbuilt with a double set of chain stays (one on the frame to which the seat struts attach, one on the folding triangle) but for that reason it only folds with tools, because the extra frame brace has to be removed. Also it’s heavier than it needs to be. Fortunately I have a Fold Rush here too, which connects the seat braces to the hinge. I just took some photos of it and will modify the design accordingly.

March 12, 2026: slightly improved sketches

First sketch, March 11 2026:

Measurements & refernce photos: