Can't even ride this weekend, did ride it to work and back though (not far enough!). The usual little adjustments to do, but good fun. 50/50 from the great unwashed, hopefully it improves over time. Dork flag or no dork flag... Most of my riding will be around town and I feel like it *might* be useful in that scenario. I just can't get my head around the fact that people can't see a giant orange wheelie bin....?Rhubarb wrote:Ha - I thought you were "that" Peter. He is itching to get his. How many kms did you do in it this morning?petie wrote:Second orange one is heading to brissy to another Pete!
Living with a velomobile
-
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:16 pm
- Location: The Ice rink, bring skates
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby petie » Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:17 pm
-
- Posts: 964
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:42 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Rhubarb » Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:29 pm
Outside of these blind spots, you are the most visible bike on the road.
Depending on where you ride, you may also be hidden by fences or shrubs too but riding proactively is much better than a flag.
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:33 pm
Theres a RV on here. Name Bargo so suspect that's the one.Aushiker wrote:Ah so you got the first orange one Enjoy.petie wrote:Living with a velomobile has just started for me [emoji1]
I saw a blue one one the PSP at Cottesloe a couple of days ago ... anyone here?
Andrew
http://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=11726 ... 326292&z=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Don't know if he's on the forum though.
John
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:38 pm
That orange looks great and should stand out for sure.
Now no excuses you have to get out and ride.
Hope you will do a write up on your experiences as you get used to it.
John
-
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:18 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Bargo » Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:38 pm
Aushiker wrote:Ah so you got the first orange one Enjoy.petie wrote:Living with a velomobile has just started for me [emoji1]
I saw a blue one one the PSP at Cottesloe a couple of days ago ... anyone here?
Andrew
Andrew, the blue RV in Cottesloe is mine. It is awesome for my Cottesloe-city commute every day. I have ridden over a 1000km on it already. do you want to come and have a look at it?
-
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:18 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Bargo » Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:42 pm
Yes that's me, I check on the forum probably about once a week. I agree with John's comments about visibility, it can be a bit scary when a big SUV (landcruiser) pull up beside you and all you can see is door. I don't have a flag, but I don't do much riding on the road. I might think about one as it would be good to be as visible as possibleJohn Lewis wrote:Theres a RV on here. Name Bargo so suspect that's the one.Aushiker wrote:Ah so you got the first orange one Enjoy.petie wrote:Living with a velomobile has just started for me [emoji1]
I saw a blue one one the PSP at Cottesloe a couple of days ago ... anyone here?
Andrew
http://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=11726 ... 326292&z=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Don't know if he's on the forum though.
John
- Aushiker
- Posts: 22398
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:55 pm
- Location: Walyalup land
- Contact:
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Aushiker » Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:57 pm
Nice to put an owner to it. You where moving along nicely when I saw you I think there is another one here as well.Bargo wrote:Andrew, the blue RV in Cottesloe is mine. It is awesome for my Cottesloe-city commute every day. I have ridden over a 1000km on it already. do you want to come and have a look at it?
Andrew
Aushiker.com
-
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:16 pm
- Location: The Ice rink, bring skates
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:04 pm
So how are you finding the RV and how many km to date.
Inquiring minds would like to know.
John
-
- Posts: 725
- Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:16 pm
- Location: The Ice rink, bring skates
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby petie » Sun Apr 26, 2015 12:18 am
I'm finding it fun and interesting on the whole. It took a huge amount of fiddling to get the ergonomics dialled and I'm still making adjustments. The seat shape created by the mold is not at all comfortable for me and needed radical change. It certainly doesn't hide it's weight well up inclines or starting off. I think because of this it really isn't any quicker (probably always slower) over a short commute for me. I am really enjoying the stability and perceived feeling of safety of a trike, and cars generally give a very wide berth (I really don't cope with close passing and the general treatment of DFs by cars). The RV itself is ingenious. A fibreglass velo would be trashed by now on my route where I try to stick to bike paths. It scrapes up footpaths and I've bumped fences etc on tight turns and you can't even tell. I am finding it an interesting challenge of route planning, the trike footprint and weight means the long way is mostly best. It really exposes the complete lack of thought/attention applied to bike path building and footpaths in general. The handling is fine, the brake steer is a little annoying but no problem after you work it out. The lighting is decent, I would dearly love to convert to dynamo power but can't see it happening any time soon. As I said, fun and interesting!
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Fri May 01, 2015 9:15 pm
I agree it takes a while to get things dialed in. I think I can still make minor improvements to seat position etc.
Cars in general give lots of space but then I get the odd driver hanging out the window trying to take a photo which is a bit unnerving.
Speedwise I'm about 5kmh faster on the velo than the trike and I put it down to the velo being stiffer. A lot less flex.
One thing I've noticed is that if I have a quartering head or tail wind then for some reason I'm much faster. I think the body must act as a sail. I imagine that would be true of the RV as well.
I have a few scratches on the Mango. Mostly underneath and near the wheels from speed humps and sticks and pot holes on paths. I totally agree about the lack of thought given.
Here they just take a shoulder line or a crummy footpath, add bike symbols and call it a cycle path. I don't use them unless its unavoidable. There is one spot that is steep uphill and it would be unfair to use the road at 4-5 kmh so I use the path.
I really like the velo when its wet or very sunny. Of course I'm not heading to work so the problem of being sweaty doesn't apply so much.
Great to hear you are enjoying the ride. I just wish I had more opportunity to ride mine . I've had it 2 years or so and still only a couple of thousand km. We often take the dog in the trailer on longer rides and I use the trike for that so the velo mostly gets used when I want to go into town for some reason or other.
Again thanks for the comments. Most interesting.
John
- recumbenteer
- Posts: 642
- Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:36 pm
- Location: Fairfield 2165
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby recumbenteer » Mon Jun 08, 2015 1:53 pm
I wish the owners/users of these things, would use a bit of nouse & place them at wider parts of the path.
It only has to be moved 100 meters. FFS!
Rotovelo Across Australia
-
- Posts: 964
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:42 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Rhubarb » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:01 pm
It only has to be moved 90 degreesrecumbenteer wrote:
It only has to be moved 100 meters. FFS!
-
- Posts: 1214
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:05 pm
- Location: Bright, Victoria
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Hergest » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:41 pm
Rhubarb wrote:It only has to be moved 90 degreesrecumbenteer wrote:
It only has to be moved 100 meters. FFS!
Alas no as it's as long as it's wide. It only really needs the handbrake undoing and to push it in the road where it belongs.
-
- Posts: 964
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:42 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Rhubarb » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:44 pm
I meant 90 from the vertical axis, ie toppled over onto the road or into the bush. I've never done it and almost certainly wouldn't, but I love the thought of itHergest wrote:Rhubarb wrote:It only has to be moved 90 degreesrecumbenteer wrote:
It only has to be moved 100 meters. FFS!
Alas no as it's as long as it's wide. It only really needs the handbrake undoing and to push it in the road where it belongs.
-
- Posts: 1214
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:05 pm
- Location: Bright, Victoria
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Hergest » Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:52 pm
I like the sound of thatRhubarb wrote:
I meant 90 from the vertical axis, ie toppled over onto the road or into the bush. I've never done it and almost certainly wouldn't, but I love the thought of it
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:30 pm
Further reading put me right but I recalled an incident with my better half when she got her trike and was in the early stages of learning to handle it.
She came hurtling down a small hill,ran off into gravel and slammed on brakes. The trike veered off the road and over a small cliff.
It rolled inverted and landed in a small bush with her hanging below it from the pedals by her cleats.
It took a bit of extricating her and getting the trike out of the bush.
Fortunately no harm was done. And worse..... I didn't have my camera with me.
John
- Bartek
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:43 pm
- Location: Waikiki, Western Australia
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Bartek » Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:19 pm
I have done nearly 7000 km on the kojaks, is this about normal for tyre replacement or should they have lasted longer?
The rear tyre is a Marathon racer which still shows very little sign of wear, so I will hold off on replacement.
I have inflated to the max recommended of 70psi, anybody else running shreddas what tyre pressure are you using?
KMX Viper
Trek 350
-
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
- Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby John Lewis » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:19 pm
The tires hitting the side of the wheel well on sharp turns.
I recall reading that it was a good idea to turn the tires around each 500 km or so to even out the sidewall wear.
Best place to ask may be on BROL in the Velo sub forum. More chance of finding people using Shreddas I'd think.
John
-
- Posts: 964
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:42 pm
-
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:27 am
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby smoran » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:03 pm
-
- Posts: 964
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:42 pm
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Rhubarb » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:10 pm
Its not exactly the best editingsmoran wrote:Your quick! I havent even thought about editing my video together!
PS - your little cameo is at 31:20
-
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:27 am
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby smoran » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:12 pm
- Bartek
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:43 pm
- Location: Waikiki, Western Australia
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Bartek » Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:26 pm
Hi John I do "rotate" my tyres and not just by cycling I have posted on BROL as well, I have had 3 punctures in two years and then 7 in the last 5 weeks. 2 were in the sidewalls which prompted the tyre change, and now I have had 5 on the wheel side of the tubes (front wheels only) since changing the tyres. so I have installed new rim tape on the front wheels and I am considering adding slime or stans to the front tubes.John Lewis wrote:I'm still using Kojaks. I notice a bit of sidewall damage which I put down to
The tires hitting the side of the wheel well on sharp turns.
I recall reading that it was a good idea to turn the tires around each 500 km or so to even out the sidewall wear.
Best place to ask may be on BROL in the Velo sub forum. More chance of finding people using Shreddas I'd think.
John
Does anyone have experience of using these tube sealants? Pro's/Con's ?
Do they work with presta valves?
I have also noticed that since changing my front tyres to the Shredda's my average speed has increased, so the question is do I change the rear tyre from the Marathon Racer to the shredda? the racer is showing very little signs of wear and has never punctured!
also will I need to remove the wheel to change the tyre?
KMX Viper
Trek 350
- Bartek
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:43 pm
- Location: Waikiki, Western Australia
Re: Living with a velomobile
Postby Bartek » Tue Jun 30, 2015 12:11 pm
KMX Viper
Trek 350
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.