what's the hold up on the video?

[theTman]

the last time i heard about making a marauder video was mid july, and it was raining. has it been raining for 3/4 of a month?!?!?!? i want to see a video so i can see how the low clearance works out!

[TheKid]

Maybe Brad's injury has something to do with it.

[theTman]

oh! thats too bad. hope he makes a quick recovery. what happened to him? a crazy creation went bad? sorry for the impatience, i was just really excited to see the marauder in action. I don't read through all the forums so i never heard he was injured.

[TheKid]

You could find the info here:

http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=967

[theTman]

i just got done reading that before i read your latest post. Maybe he could do the camera work and have someone else ride it? he said he can walk. maybe his wife could ride it? before i buy the plans i want to see a video. i have alot of questions, and a video would answer them. I have a magna Excitor dual shock bike that i can steal the rear part from, but i will need a new drivetrain as the magna drivetrain is crappy no name brand stuff, and when i use the smallest freewheel cog the chain skips. so i have no top gear! my concerns about the marauder are about clearance, and the effect of a rear shock with such low clearence. also i was concerned about how difficult that pedaling angle could be. i never stand when pedaling my current 41lb bike, but it still looks a little akward. i think it may be a good idea to wear wrist guards like the ones for rollerblading. that way if you need to catch yourself you don't snap your wrist, or skin it up. i may have to after when i showed my dad the picture of the new marauder he said immediately "it's too low."

[dmaddalena]

TMan
I purchased the plans today, 115 pages with a ton of pics. Very detailed. Why don't you go ahead and get them, you could be studying them while waiting for the eye candy.
Dan

[theTman]

it's just the fact that i have no credit card as i am 17. my dad has to use his card and i pay him. a video would be helpful in getting him to do this, because he tends to be a pescimist and thinks i won't be able to do it, and that it will cost too much. he also thinks that i could get hurt riding so low to the ground so fast.

[trikeman]

You could also watch the video of the older model Marauder, which is about the same height. You might also tell you dad that the majority of the serious injuries in motorcycle and bicycle accidents occur when your head hits the ground from falling 5 or so feet to the ground. Unless you smack into something like a parked car, you usually skid along the road until you stop, but your poor head is gonna fall to the ground in most accidents.

Cars can't see you as well when you are low, but your brain casing is much safer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emh9R0zrJp0

[TheKid]

I thought you were building the Vigilante first.

[theTman]

i just downloaded the original marauder video from the video and files section of the atomiczombie site. looks safe to me. only 2 things make it less safe. lower to ground=less visability but you can fix that with a blaze orange flag. also, if your breaks go out you can't stop with your shoes. you can fix that with wristguards. they have a plastic armour that you could use as a brake on pavement, and your wrists won't break. more for emergency than frequent hand braking.

[theTman]

I thought you were building the Vigilante first.
i decided the marauder is more feasable. the vigilante would not be good for commuting and going longer distances. i may build a vigilante at a later point when i can be more loose with cash and can afford a fun casual bike. think of it like this: you need a car and are low on cash. do you get an economical car to save gas nd serve your needs, or do you blow all your money on a restored corvette stingray that you can't drive in the winter and will need a second car anyway. a marauder will serve my needs better.

[trikeman]

This whole braking issue is a red herring. There is no way I am gonna try to stop my wedgie road bike with my feet going above about 10 mph. In fact, I think I would be more successful at bracing my legs straight out in front and letting my heels stop me on the Marauder. Put two brakes on it, and keep them both adjusted and the odds are you won't lose all your braking.

As the father of 3 grown boys, I think the only real issue bothering your dad probably is whether you will be seen that low to the ground (flag or no flag), and whether you will not finish the bike and spend too much money trying. But hey, as long as its your money and you can somehow convince your dad you will ride safely and with the flag, he might go for it.

As far as going long distances or commuting, I don't think the Marauder is nearly as practical as the Meridian, although I admit its way cooler looking at your age.

By the way, I don't think that video is going to make your case stronger.

[theTman]

my dad has been hit by 2 cars on his road bike. 1 of which aimed for him on the shoulder because the guy didn't like the idea of bikes on that road. and it was a legal road to ride on. he may be worried that i will get hit. also he doesn't think i will be able to build it, and says buying a welder and angle grinder costs too much, when i can do all the welding in welding class, and put the rest together at home. and what would make a meridian better for commuting and long distance? the marauder has less drag=less energy wasted. i can handle the comfort issue, and being able to put a leg down. And i think i should point out that when i say commuting, it is different from most commutes. i live in the country, and my 10 mile ride to one of the larger nearby cities would be on county roads through rural areas, and little traffic. so manuverabililty and being eye level with drivers isn't much of an issue as it would be in the city with bumper to bumper traffic. and as for long distance, the farthest i would go one way would be about 15 miles one way, and then maybe a rest before going back. i'm not doing any huge rides anytime soon that is for sure. currently on my 41lb crap bike i can go 12 miles round trip nonstop before i wear out and need to have a break for a while. minnesota weather has been nasty lately with mid 80s to 90s, and 70 degree dewpoints. very uncomfortable.

[trikeman]

I think the Meridian is only safer because its higher and cars can see you better, and you can see better as well. People in cars just aren't used to looking down at the road level for bikes. Flags help, but not as much as being up at eye level with them.

Perhaps a compromise might help. I sort of like what I call the Marauder-Meridian which is a Meridian built a bit lower than the stock plans call for. I personally am a fan of straight chain lines (more efficient) and you can drop the Meridian down to just where the chain line is straight, but not touching the seat, like these two did.

http://www.atomiczombie.com/gallery/yehunda%20zimmerman/meridian.htm

http://www.atomiczombie.com/gallery/nicolehamilton/voyageur.htm

As far as the welder goes, why not build your first one at school to prove to your dad you will finish it.

[theTman]

so is the aerodynamics of the marauder over the meridian really a big difference? is the marauder harder to pedal in that position compared to the meridian. because if the marauder has a harder position to pedal in and is more areodynamic then things may balance out. higher speed is good, but it is only useful if i can maintain it. is a marauder easier to maintain a higher average speed on compared to a meridian? higher speed is ideal because i have friends 10 miles away and no car. the faster i go the quicker the trip. the quicker the trip the more time i have to hang out. the roads around here are fairly open and staight, and i should be easy to see. on my bike everyone moves a lane over for me. people out here are usually more attentive due to the threat of deer popping out at any time. 5 million people in minnesota, and a little over 1 million deer. i actually almost hit one on my bike one night. the roads i ride are fairly empty. on a 12 mile ride i might pass 5 cars.

[Sparky]

there might be a serious comfort level difference between the meridian and marauder.

to use your example- an economy car vs a stingray corvette. one is made for practical use, the other is made for distance and speed.

ive not ridden either, so i cant offer anything other than my thoughts. but there might be something in the fact that distance commuters ride something closer to the meridian, and only world record attempts ride something like the marauder.

theres also the thought of storage room. the meridian can carry racks and saddlebags, even tow a trailer. the marauder might have trouble with that.

oh- another thing i just thought of- my my mtn bike, i can hold 16- 17 mph. on my road bike, i can hold 18-19 mph. they all say on a nice recumbent, that number goes to about 21-23. what i mean to say is- both of em are gonna be faster than what you have. likely by a good bit. go for comfort and usefulness and safety.

not trying to tell ya what to do. just my thoughts, and i dont know anything :). i had the same debate in my mind- i love both the bikes. but i decided that if i build one, itll be the meridain.

[TheKid]

I can tell you first hand, the Meridian is a fast bike. If you want it more aerodynamic, add a fairing, make it lower in the rear as the other bikes shown, or both. It took a little while to get used to riding it, but it's got to be more comfortable than a low racer, which, from what I've heard, takes a lot more getting used to.

[theTman]

maybe a meridian may not be such a bad idea. i think i could find a way to make it look cooler. the regular one looks kind of plain. i bet i could add a few touches.
SPINNERS!!!!!!!!! lol. just kidding, i would never put spinners on anything. they are stupid. i once saw an 80's suburban rusted through in places with plastic spinning hubcaps on it. one week later it had only 1. that 1 stayed there for six months, maybe more as when i moved away it was still like that. Maybe a cool paint sceme, and a fairing if i can figure out how to make one.

[theTman]

i think i will build a meridian, but make the the main bar and lower bar of the rear piece level with each other instead of being angled, and use a pulley to keep the chain away from the seat. would this be structurally stable, or is it like it is to support your weight? i will still be in a decent position, and my butt will be level with my feet for more areodynamics. i can accomplish this by extending the main bar past the seat mount to adjust the angle of the rear piece. and i will only be sitting a few inches lower. its low like the marauder, but i sit more upright, and the main bar is relatively straight compared to the marauder. Maybe it's another maraudian? and of course it will get an awesome paint scheme. I'm thinking blue flame. My neighbor is an auto body worker that does painting, and he might be willing to teach me a few things and help me paint it. i think i will probably make a seat frame nd stretch mesh across it so my butt and back can breathe and cool off. a thick foam seat to me seems like it would get hot and damp. especially in humid minnesota because when it's humid you sweat and it doesn't evaporate well. now i just need to buy the plans and start getting things together.

[AtomicZombie]

Just got back from a week of camping/recovery. I have a ton of video editing to do, and will get to it soon.

Brad

[TheKid]

Welcome back. You were missed.

[theTman]

so you said you were going to get to the video 2 months ago! what happened? i think i am going to build a marauder after all. wow i keep flip flopping! when i finally start the build i will be 18 years old, and that will help deal with my dad. as for the seat position, it could be a neck killer, but a head rest could help. also i was thinking of using a mechanism i have seen in some lawn chairs and chairs without legs that rock on the floor. a racheting mechanism that is compact and allows the seat back angle to be altered. that way i could attach the seat portion to the frame, and the back could be free.

[savarin]

I have a neck rest on mine but to be truthful I don't like using it.
I find that balance problems pop up when your neck is resting on the rest.
It may just be me, ymmv.
A rest on the trike though is awesome.