It's ALIIIIIIIIVE!!!

[Andrews]

I just took the maiden voyage - with no brakes or shifters (which I normally wouldn't recommend but I live in Kansas and it's pretty flat here) and I couldn't be more excited!

The Meridian is even more comfortable than I expected - I never knew what I was missing! Thanks AZ and crew for the design and the support!

Taking that first ride on a machine I built with my own hands was undescribable!

Thanks,
Steve

[nzvet]

Steve - awesome to hear and well done! You'll find you attract lots of attention and queries of interest are never a quick conversation. Remember to post pictures when you can.

Best regards

[AtomicZombie]

Cheers dude!

Brad

[Andrews]

I have a question about turning radius. I think I may be able to get a few more degrees from reworking the rod ends, but my turing radius is at the moment quite large. I know that the radius will be large with a LWB recumbent, but not having anything to compare to, what is normal?

Any suggestions as to increasing turning radius on the Meridian?

Thanks,
Steve

[AtomicZombie]

The turning circle should be almost as good as a regular cycle. Are your control arms restriction motion on your rod ends?

Brad

[Andrews]

I think they may be - I'm not exactly sure yet what to do about it. I have some rod ends without bearings, and I need to make a new rod with bearing ends, but I'm wondering if I can do anything in the mean time to make it better.

The angle of the control arms seem to be relatively good - when steering straight ahead, the control arms are level. I don't have the bolt through the rod end too tight, but I can't make it too loose either, or else I introduce some slop...

[SirJoey]

Congrats on reaching the riding stage, Andrews! Is this your first? Can't wait to see some pix!

http://64.136.20.22/1280460_l.gif?download=1

[Andrews]

I finally finished the Meridian today! I haven't put any sort of distance on it yet, but from the short test rides I've taken it's an incredible design.

Thanks Brad and Kat for introducing me to the satisfaction and accomplishment of building my own bent!

And thanks to everyone on this forum who have provided knowledge and encouragement along the way. You guys are quite a resource!

Thanks,
Steve

[Andrews]

I plan to add a rack, headlight and tail light. Anyone have any insight on how best to mount these items?

[TheKid]

Beauty. Love the color. For the headlight just weld a mount onto a handlebar stem and install the stem into the front headtube. A piece of a handlebar or 3/4" conduit welded 90 degrees to the stem will give you a mount for dual headlights, or two small pieces of flatbar will give you a mount for the type of light Brad installed on the Lode Runner. You could easily build a rack that will mount on the seat tube, with two legs that slide on the axles, like a store bought rack. Then just add a piece to mount a taillight to that

[trikeman]

Great looking build.

[Andrews]

Thanks - it's Apple Red - right out of the Rustoleum rattle can. Notice I didn't include closeups. Didn't want anyone to notice my newbie painting skills. Looks killer from about 5 feet away! ;)

[rykoala]

Hey good job! It looks great! Don't sweat the paint. Mine is great too... from 10 feet! I used brush on rustoleum hunter green. I kept joking with my wife that it looks like John Deere green but she says its not... The thing sure is a tractor though! As for turning radius, my Meridian has an 8 foot wheelbase and is 9 feet long total. It turns like a truck, but rides a lot better ;-)

[AtomicZombie]

Kudos dude! Now they will ask you.. "where'd ya buy that cool bike?".

Brad

[SirJoey]

Wow, that looks great, dude! Really nice work!

Now that you've been bitten by the "AZ Bug", you might as well give in. There's no cure... :D

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

[Richie Rich]

Congrats, Steve...Well done...!!

You're now an Official AZ builder. You'll be easily recognized by other Krew members by the burn holes in your clothes and the grinding dust on your shoes. Wear them with honor & pride...!!!

.......Richie >>
.
.

[Andrews]

You'll be easily recognized by other Krew members by the burn holes in your clothes and the grinding dust on your shoes..

There is a lot of truth in that statement - more than I care to admit! :D

[JLB001]

great job, buddy.

[locolarry]

Sharp lookin' Ride!! How does it feel to FINISH A BUILD????? Congrats!!
Larry

[savarin]

I finally finished the Meridian today! I haven't put any sort of distance on it yet, but from the short test rides I've taken it's an incredible design.



Sweeet!
I never seem to be able to finish mine to the painting stage.I rides em, alters em but never seem to paint em.