Meridian it is.

[Patrike]

For those that were following my theard 'TM vs Momridian" -- Well I dropped the hammer on the Meridian and ordered the plans. It was a huge back and forth battle in that big empty thing above my shoulders :jester: In the end the deciding factor was - man, I really like the way the Meridian looks. I know in the end that the TM would have been better suited for this commuter but man, I really like the way the Meridian looks -- did I mention how l like the ..... Also, I know the TM is a great commuter, but I kinda want to prove the Meridian can fill that roll as well -- I hope!

Thanks to those that have helped me to decide on which one -- GregLWB was a big factor -- though he commutes on the TM, he built the Momridian and that was a joy to see come to life and I will follow his lead with his TM build and do front suspension on this Meridian. Was thinking of doing rear as well but I want it on the road ASAP and I that will slow me down and I have other things to worry about with the power assist.

Over the next 1.5 weeks I will gather material and parts and should start in about 2 weeks or sooner pending on how my new deck I am building comes together. Still sorting out details on the power assist - leaning toward the electric but have not ruled out the GEBE-the plan is to be cummuting by mid to end July.

[GregLWB]

Cool, you will like the Meridian and I am interested to see how you work out front suspension with the 20" fork.:1eye:

Now, since you are so good with naming bikes (ie: Mom-Ridian) what is yours going to be named?:jester:

Greg

[Patrike]

Cool, you will like the Meridian and I am interested to see how you work out front suspension with the 20" fork.:1eye:

Now, since you are so good with naming bikes (ie: Mom-Ridian) what is yours going to be named?:jester:

Greg

Well I have a 20" fork with suspension -- just a matter of lining it up. How about "Myridian" short for My Meridian. I like "ComRidian" sounds Russian, short for Commuter MeRidian.

[GregLWB]

Well I have a 20" fork with suspension -- just a matter of lining it up. How about "Myridian" short for My Meridian. I like "ComRidian" sounds Russian, short for Commuter MeRidian.

ComRidian sounds better to me. Or if you do end up going with an electric motor how about VoltsRidian or ElectRidian?:jester:

Greg

[TheKid]

I had a 20" suspension fork on mine. I helped, but I had too much wheel flop because I couldn't get the correct amount of trail. It was one of my first welded builds, so I didn't know too much about that kind of stuff. All I had to do was weld new dropouts to the front of the fork, and change the head tube angle a little.

[Patrike]

ComRidian sounds better to me. Or if you do end up going with an electric motor how about VoltsRidian or ElectRidian?:jester:

Greg

I like "Electridian" it has been named -- if I go electric!

[mkane53]

You'll like the Meridian. They build fast (lightning fast if you're Greg) and ride like a dream. And, as you pointed out, look really nice ... which is in large part why that was MY first build as well.

Excellent choice. Can't wait to watch it come together.

[Patrike]

You'll like the Meridian. They build fast (lightning fast if you're Greg) and ride like a dream. And, as you pointed out, look really nice ... which is in large part why that was MY first build as well.

Excellent choice. Can't wait to watch it come together.

Yah -- Greg built fast -- did you see the labour force behind the build -- dad cleaning up the welds - mom cooking the meals, wife keeping the house clean!!! I'd give my left tes... for that arrangement.:jester:

[Patrike]

Yah -- Greg built fast -- did you see the labour force behind the build -- dad cleaning up the welds - mom cooking the meals, wife keeping the house clean!!! I'd give my left tes... for that arrangement.:jester:

Jokes assid -- Greg's got a nack for this building thing -- should go together ok for me -- I am going to put one of my "recycled recumbent" seats on there that I built for the my Kyoto build's, maybe streach it a bit to accomadate motor and batteries behind the seat, still thinking of using 1x3 16wall.

I am reading up now on a guy who put a scott motor on a mountain bike.
http://www.electricycle.com/index.html

I have not heard back yet from GEBE yet about adapting the electric to thier ring drive thing, still early.

[GregLWB]

Yah -- Greg built fast -- did you see the labour force behind the build -- dad cleaning up the welds - mom cooking the meals, wife keeping the house clean!!! I'd give my left tes... for that arrangement.:jester:

Actually Mom was cooking, cleaning and keeping kids occupied. SWMBO is a school teacher and was trying to finish the last two weeks with kids and get her classroom closed up for the summer.

And yes the build was fast but for six days I didn't do anything else! I didn't even get a chance to ride a bike for the first four days!

If you look at how we did the adjustment spacing for her seat back it may give you some ideas on how you could mount/hide your battery packs. You could build a cage in front of the vertical support that would hold the batteries and give an attachment point for the seat back.

Oh, and the GEBE thing - call their toll free number. They are really nice folks and are pretty knowedgable.

Greg

[TheKid]

I was still in halfway decent shape when I built mine. It only took 3 days, and I was mad at myself for not being able to build it faster. A day to build the frame, add the boat seat, and build the BB. The second day I added the steering, and brakes, test rode, reduced the wheel flop, test rode again and figured I had to deal with the wheel flop because I couldn't make the head tube any steeper. I took it apart and primed, when the primer dried I sprayed it with blue/purple Mirage from Dupli-color, which didn't look so hot. The third day I reassembled and added the shifters, which adjusted easily. A month later I fell off it and broke my leg. I swore off two wheelers after that. On the plus side, the BB is now on the tadpole, the boom was cut up used for part of the rear of the DR, and the pilot steering post is on the DR

[Patrike]

A month later I fell off it and broke my leg. I swore off two wheelers after that.

Why did U crash -- crzy driving -- front wheel slip out on a sharp corner -- just want to know to see if I can avoid

[GregLWB]

I was still in halfway decent shape when I built mine. It only took 3 days, and I was mad at myself for not being able to build it faster.

So Kid - You're saying that I could have built it faster by myself than by committee? Dang it, I knew they were slowing me down! HeeHee!:jester:

Greg

[mkane53]

Possibly, but I understand that 3-day builds cause leg fractures. You'll be glad you took a week.:)

So Kid - You're saying that I could have built it faster by myself than by committee? Dang it, I knew they were slowing me down! HeeHee!:jester:

Greg

[TheKid]

It was the wheel flop and the seat being too wide. I was just about stopped, and about to turn into a parking lot. The entry into the lot was designed like a driveway bib, and the curb was above the road by about a half inch. I couldn't turn straight in, and was about to get off the bike to walk it in, due to the lip of the curb. The last thing I wanted to do was brush the side of the front tire against the lip, but I did. the bike started going over, so I put my left leg down. But because the seat was so wide, my leg was at a bad angle. Balancing a LWB with wheel flop isn't the easiest thing to do, That's why many riders say they had to get used to riding a LWB bike. Anyway, when the wheel hit the lip, it flopped, and the bike took the easiest path. Sideways, and down. There was too much resistance to turn the wheel back, and it slowly went over, with my left leg in no position to push the other way.

[Patrike]

Well - have been off all week working on my big deck!!! Way behind on that build as well. It took 2 days for the holes, one for the concrete, lost one to weather, started framing yesterday. This means I am behind schedule on the predicted finished time for the Meridian. I may get a reprieve - as I am going to visit mommy mid July to let her see the grandbrats. Her hubby has a nice garage with all the basic fixn's to build. I will take what I need to work on the Meridian while there. If I have not started yet I should get the frame done while there for the 3 days or get lots done on what I have gotten done prior to going up.

I still have not come to find a solution for mounting the Scott motor or gearing it. I was using any extra time I had reserching gate hardware for the neighbors new steel gate I have been commission to build - which is good as it will be 300 - less material cost - thinking 100 - so 200 I can put towards my batteries - I have 120 saved now and if they get me to do a 2nd gate and the other neighbor goes ahead with his gate I should be able to afford a really great pack. I am still considering ordering some large nicads - but time will tell - more research required.

[TheKid]

So Kid - You're saying that I could have built it faster by myself than by committee? Dang it, I knew they were slowing me down! HeeHee!

I cheated. I already had a main boom set up with almost the same angles as the plan, and I didn't have to build a seat. So all that was left was to add the head tubes and the rear, a few cable stops, plus some tube to mount the seat onto. The rest was a piece of cake.

[Patrike]

Was reading over the plans yesterday -- can't my head around the rear end -- why use front forks for the rear wheel stays?

[trikeman]

Was reading over the plans yesterday -- can't my head around the rear end -- why use front forks for the rear wheel stays?

I think Brad used them because he didn't want to make the builder have to use an intact rear triangle. Since the design calls for essentially building your own rear triangle (with perhaps iffy welding) he wanted the additional strength the front fork gives. Besides it looks way cool.

[Patrike]

I think Brad used them because he didn't want to make the builder have to use an intact rear triangle. Since the design calls for essentially building your own rear triangle (with perhaps iffy welding) he wanted the additional strength the front fork gives. Besides it looks way cool.

Cool factor I got -- that's why I am building :hippy: Not sure about it giving that much more strength. I see that that the triangulation is different, but still, why not utilize the existing wheel stays by doing some bending of the seat stays down to meet up with the back rest tube I will try, bending them should not comprise to much -- now I think of it, I wonder if I have a 26" rear end to use.:eek:

[trikeman]

Cool factor I got -- that's why I am building :hippy: Not sure about it giving that much more strength. I see that that the triangulation is different, but still, why not utilize the existing wheel stays by doing some bending of the seat stays down to meet up with the back rest tube I will try, bending them should not comprise to much -- now I think of it, I wonder if I have a 26" rear end to use.:eek:

Several people have done just that. I think GregLWB was the last one I saw on his MomRidian, and I know I have seen at least one other here. There is some good stuff on bending the rear triangles on recycledrecumbents site.

[Patrike]

Several people have done just that. I think GregLWB was the last one I saw on his MomRidian, and I know I have seen at least one other here. There is some good stuff on bending the rear triangles on recycledrecumbents site.


Tman -- good memory -- knew I had seen it somewhere (RR) but could not think of it. I did not realize the Gregster had done it as well - I will revisit his build of Momridian.

[Patrike]

Several people have done just that. I think GregLWB was the last one I saw on his MomRidian, and I know I have seen at least one other here. There is some good stuff on bending the rear triangles on recycledrecumbents site.

Looks like Greg bent his wheel/chain stays up -- lots of options to choose from :punk:

[Patrike]

now I think of it, I wonder if I have a 26" rear end to use.:eek:

Hmmm -- maybe I will do up a rear end like 25Hz does on his trikes - that should do the trick.

[GregLWB]

Looks like Greg bent his wheel/chain stays up -- lots of options to choose from :punk:

Actually, I welded the chainstays on at the angle I wanted then I notched the seat stays and bent them down to fit and rewelded. I had been looking to use that rear triangle in a project since it was off of my old MTB. I had used the front of the bike and the BB on my TourMaster.

I mainly did it because I was lazy and wanted to speed up that part of the Mom-Ridian build. But it was kind of cool how it turned out (at least in my mind).:jester:

Good luck on your build.

Greg

[Patrike]

I mainly did it because I was lazy and wanted to speed up that part of the Mom-Ridian build. But it was kind of cool how it turned out (at least in my mind).:jester:
Good luck on your build.

Greg

Thats not laziness - that's being innovative. Thanks - if I get out of work I soon enough I will pick up some framing material on the way home and maybe get something done on it tonight!!!!!!

[SirJoey]

Thats not laziness - that's being innovativeOh, I dunno...
http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?p=26728#post26728


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[Patrike]

Thats not laziness - that's being innovative. Thanks - if I get out of work I soon enough I will pick up some framing material on the way home and maybe get something done on it tonight!!!!!!

As usual - when I need(want) to really get out of work early - I can't - got to the metal shop 5 min before their listed closing time yesterday at 5:25 - being a holiday the next day - today, I gues they closed up shop early - can't blame them for that! I will have to pick up the metal tomorrow or next day. Nice thing is that they do open early -730am and are on my way to work. I also need to pick up metal for a gate for the neigbour - 1 stone, 2 birds

[Patrike]

I'm going off line for a while -- got lots of things on the go and work is really busy right now -- I will probably repost when my Meridian is up and running, ETA for that is now end of July - hopefully I will get some done when I am up visiting me mom -- safe riding to all -- cheers

[GregLWB]

Safe Travels. Can't wait for pics.:jester:

Greg