Living with a velomobile

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Aushiker
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Living with a velomobile

Postby Aushiker » Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:21 pm

Hi

Thought their might be a bit of interest in this guy's story about touring/commuting with this really weird looking Velomobile :)

Image

Andrew
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}SkOrPn--7
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:05 pm

That's what I need for riding in the winter months.

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ldrcycles
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby ldrcycles » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:50 pm

}SkOrPn--7 wrote:That's what I need for riding in the winter months.
+1, if only they weren't so expensive :shock: .
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby trailgumby » Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:53 pm

Looks like Daffy Duck's space helmet :lol:

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:59 pm

I like the detachable roof.

Also like the way the wheels are "outside" the shell, so the rider doesn't get so much road splash.

I suppose on the down side such thorough enclosure carries a weight penalty, and I think in wet weather, there'd probably be a bit of humidity/fog inside to make things a little unpleasant. (Can't have everything :wink: )

Nice driver visibility too.

Very similar to some velomobiles I saw on an SBS program series on Bicycles. (Danish?) One of the guys was able to pick his VM up and carry it over his head to park it. The entire shell tipped forward, rather than just the cockpit cover.

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:42 pm

JB I'm not sure that it would fog up that much because looking at the web site Andrew linked too on page 5 it would appear that the floor isn't in the velo cover so I would say enough air would be push up to clear things. As you say having the wheels on the outside with no spray would reduce most of the fogging because you as a rider are not getting wet and steaming things up. ldrcycles I reckon one could be home made for very little cost if your prepared to invest the time but your right there not cheap to purchase even in kit form. That cover seems to have plenty of visibility and looks to be a great addition to a trike if you like the velo look. I'm not fond of them but keeping dry in a down poor during the crapping months I could use one for sure. I think that if I was to go down this path I would buy another trike set-up similar just to be ridden in the wet months or days because I couldn't be bothered taking it apart to use the trike for good weather rides then bolt back on when rain is on it's way.

PS I just noticed he also has a window wiper so with his "E" set-up he has it all.

Ricky

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:30 am

I'm pretty sure this is the VM I was thinking of on that SBS program. (Leitra)

Image

You can see where the shell joins to tilt forward. And what I think is neat is the built in overhead rear view mirror.

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:35 am

Image

Solar powered. (Sounds familiar?)

Image


Image
From the Leitra website.
http://www.leitra.dk/photogallery.php?photo_id=8

Joe
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nitramluap
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby nitramluap » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:09 am

I've had a velomobile here in Brisbane now for almost a year and I'm really enjoying it. I use it to commute to work 2 days per week (as only one workplace has a safe place to store it) and on almost every other day for fun/fitness or visiting friends. My flavour is the Sinner Mango Sport (Red Edition), made in Holland. Shipped to Australia, including taxes, etc. it cost me about $9,000 which is only a little more expensive than the locally made (but very different) RotoVelo. It is certainly cheaper than some of my friends' road bikes and much, much cheaper than a car.



Heat is not a problem unless it is a particularly hot and, more importantly, humid day AND I'm stationary (or if raining and I'm using the foam cover). So far in Brisbane's summers I've been fine. The velomobile has two small foot holes for 'reverse' but these double as ventilation inlets, allowing a small amount of airflow - enough to keep me cool.

I have a velomobile that is not only very practical (drivetrain out of the elements - my chain has no wear yet, plenty of storage space, etc) but also quite fast: :)



It is an absolute pleasure to ride.
My bike is heavier than your bike. :D

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recumbenteer
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby recumbenteer » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:48 pm

.... I gotta beg, borrow n steal.... 'cause I want one of these.... :mrgreen: .http://www.trisled.com.au/rotovelo.asp
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:25 pm

I suppose if I were going to leap from the frying pan into a flyer, I'd probably look at the Greenspeed Glyde.

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Glyde.htm

Image

But it'll be a while, if ever.

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby ldrcycles » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:35 pm

Please stop posting pics of HOT velomobiles, i'm already unhappy that i can't even afford an ugly one! :cry:
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:10 pm

ldrcycles wrote:Please stop posting pics of HOT velomobiles, i'm already unhappy that i can't even afford an ugly one! :cry:
Classic :mrgreen:

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:02 pm

ldrcycles wrote:Please stop posting pics of HOT velomobiles, i'm already unhappy that i can't even afford an ugly one! :cry:

Veloporn. :lol:

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Baalzamon » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:05 pm

keep em coming :)
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:15 pm

Hmmm. I can see sunburnt legs in this one.

Image


http://www.gizmag.com/real-deal-on-velo ... re/120252/

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Baalzamon » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:23 pm

Joeblake wrote:Hmmm. I can see sunburnt legs in this one.

Image


http://www.gizmag.com/real-deal-on-velo ... re/120252/

Joe
Yep, they need some good tinting on that one :)
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:24 pm

Just imagine if they could build a car that looked like a velomobile ...
















Oh, wait....



they did.
Image

Image


Thank you Buckminster Fuller.

Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:24 am

Joeblake wrote:Hmmm. I can see sunburnt legs in this one.

Image


http://www.gizmag.com/real-deal-on-velo ... re/120252/

Joe
I like that model it's appealing for so many reasons and the fact that the rear end is open to allow for panniers. As for the sunburn on the legs I dare say that a cover strip of some kind could be adhered to the clear plastic to add better protection. Does that model come with a head cover JB do you know?

Ricky

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:11 am

}SkOrPn--7 wrote:
Does that model come with a head cover JB do you know?

Ricky
According to this link (an earlier version???) it seems to have a hard top option:

http://www.gizmag.com/httpwwwgizmagcomb ... 735/13735/

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Joe
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Aushiker » Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:14 am

}SkOrPn--7 wrote: Does that model come with a head cover JB do you know?
Is this it?

Image

Image

Andrew
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby nitramluap » Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:32 am

}SkOrPn--7 wrote:...that the rear end is open to allow for panniers
Ricky
Maybe, but in my velomobile I have plenty of space for that sort of storage plus two small panniers beside me and because they're inside with me, away from the elements, they're always clean & dry. I don't know why anyone with a velomobile would want external panniers to be honest. With the Go-One, it's a bit of an afterthought - storage, that is.
My bike is heavier than your bike. :D

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby }SkOrPn--7 » Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:56 pm

Joeblake wrote:
According to this link (an earlier version???) it seems to have a hard top option:


Joe
Even that version looks smart.
Aushiker wrote:
}SkOrPn--7 wrote: Does that model come with a head cover JB do you know?
Is this it?

Image

Image

Andrew
Nice find Andrew that does look good with plenty of vis available.
nitramluap wrote:
}SkOrPn--7 wrote:...that the rear end is open to allow for panniers
Ricky
Maybe, but in my velomobile I have plenty of space for that sort of storage plus two small panniers beside me and because they're inside with me, away from the elements, they're always clean & dry. I don't know why anyone with a velomobile would want external panniers to be honest. With the Go-One, it's a bit of an afterthought - storage, that is.
I guess Nitram with open panniers you can load it up and not be worried about space because my current panniers on my tike make the back end square and 2-2.5 foot wide but that width would be lost with the tapering rear end. Do you have much trouble pulling your gear out and packing it again or is it pretty straight forward in just dumping your panniers in there? How much gear can you pack around the floor space in a velo since you have one no doubt you have tried or can at least give an informed opinion on this.

Ricky

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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby jet-ski » Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:11 pm

what about a velomobile with a bigger storage compartment in the back to stick a kid/dog in? when riding on the road do other motorists treat you more like a car?
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Re: Living with a velomobile

Postby Joeblake » Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:19 pm

jet-ski wrote:what about a velomobile with a bigger storage compartment in the back to stick a kid/dog in? when riding on the road do other motorists treat you more like a car?
They'd probably have mental alarm bells ringing:

Image

"DANGER DANGER WARNING. Object may scratch my paintwork. Avoid collision!!!"


I'd be looking at using my BoB trailer, a decent payload, can be waterproof, and can be removed when not needed. The BoB comes with standard quick release Skewer nutz. Should fit any velo.

Joe
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