trikeman
05-26-2008, 10:14 AM
One of the things I like about the Meridian is its straight chain line and over the seat steering. It also looks like one of the easiest bikes to build. The other thing I like is being able to put my foot down when I stop, since unlike my DW it will fall over if you don't. All in all, its a very civilized and laid back commuter.
Now, I have been thinking, and that usually gets me in trouble. I almost built the Marauder as my first bike, after seeing it in Brad's book. It looks very fast (low drag coefficient), but I really don't like chain pulleys on the power side of the chain, and I am not sure I want to put my hand out to keep myself from falling over, unless I am in a full take-no-prisoners race mood.
I was looking at some drag coefficients on a few recumbents, and one of the major gain seems to be getting your legs up even with your butt . So, the closer you get to doing that the better off you are on drag. But, there are trade-offs.
I recall seeing a post on the old forum about someone that built a Maraudian, which was a cross between the Meridian and the Marauder. Looking at the two bikes, the Meridian is really a Marauder with the seat raised enough to avoid a chain pulley, and allow you to put your foot out when you stop. As I look at the Meridian I see that it should be possible to lower the rear triangle (just weld it at a different angle) about 4-6" and still have seat-chain clearance without a pulley. My question is whether doing so would still allow you to comfortably put your foot out to hold yourself up when you stop? The other problem might be that the chain might eat into the rear triangle if you lower the rear too much on the Meridian.
Papa's LWB in the gallery looks about as low as you can go on seat height with a straight chain line. Trade-offs.
Now, I have been thinking, and that usually gets me in trouble. I almost built the Marauder as my first bike, after seeing it in Brad's book. It looks very fast (low drag coefficient), but I really don't like chain pulleys on the power side of the chain, and I am not sure I want to put my hand out to keep myself from falling over, unless I am in a full take-no-prisoners race mood.
I was looking at some drag coefficients on a few recumbents, and one of the major gain seems to be getting your legs up even with your butt . So, the closer you get to doing that the better off you are on drag. But, there are trade-offs.
I recall seeing a post on the old forum about someone that built a Maraudian, which was a cross between the Meridian and the Marauder. Looking at the two bikes, the Meridian is really a Marauder with the seat raised enough to avoid a chain pulley, and allow you to put your foot out when you stop. As I look at the Meridian I see that it should be possible to lower the rear triangle (just weld it at a different angle) about 4-6" and still have seat-chain clearance without a pulley. My question is whether doing so would still allow you to comfortably put your foot out to hold yourself up when you stop? The other problem might be that the chain might eat into the rear triangle if you lower the rear too much on the Meridian.
Papa's LWB in the gallery looks about as low as you can go on seat height with a straight chain line. Trade-offs.