Living with a velomobile

[nitramluap]

Fantastic!

The heavy cardboard certainly does its job in protecting the contents during transit - that's what really matters!

[Riggsbie]

The cardboard is heavier than the wooden pallet the Mango was strapped to !

And the fact you need a cordless drill to remove the screws was a surprise, it is so dense......

At least Sinner take great effort to ensure it arrives safely and in one piece !!!!

[John Lewis]

Ah Ha! Pictures so it must have really happened.

Good to see your mango has arrived safe and sound Paul.
Time to set it up ad go ride.

You are right about the cardboard. I have cut mine into strips and will use it for shelving as it is plenty strong enough.
Most of the shelf framing will come from the Pallet.

John

[nitramluap]

Ah Ha! Pictures so it must have really happened.

Good to see your mango has arrived safe and sound Paul.
Time to set it up ad go ride.

You are right about the cardboard. I have cut mine into strips and will use it for shelving as it is plenty strong enough.
Most of the shelf framing will come from the Pallet.

John

I didn't consider using the cardboard for anything as in our humid summers cardboard tends to absorb moisture at a great rate. You'll probably be OK down south!

[Riggsbie]

It is hammering down with rain !

Grrrrr.......

No Mango tonight

[Baalzamon]

It is hammering down with rain !

Grrrrr.......

No Mango tonight

Oh no hood for you? I thought velomobile + hood = waterproof

[Riggsbie]

I want to get familiar with the Mango in daylight without rain.....best not try to run before I can walk !

Maybe when I have a few rides completed I'll get out in the rain with Da Hood !


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[John Lewis]

..................................................

You are right about the cardboard. I have cut mine into strips and will use it for shelving as it is plenty strong enough.
Most of the shelf framing will come from the Pallet.

John

I didn't consider using the cardboard for anything as in our humid summers cardboard tends to absorb moisture at a great rate. You'll probably be OK down south!

The cardboard looks to be treated so may not absorb much moisture. I'll give it a coat of paint anyway.

John

[Baalzamon]

We are still waiting for the pictures or it hasn't happened

[Riggsbie]

Look up a few posts......




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[Mulger bill]

Niiiiiiiiice one Riggsbie.

Now I know why Sinner have such long lead times, the Velo is built in a week but it takes a while to fell enough trees for the crate...

Shaun

[Baalzamon]

Niiiiiiiiice one Riggsbie.

Now I know why Sinner have such long lead times, the Velo is built in a week but it takes a while to fell enough trees for the crate...

Shaun

Hence I'm awaiting for a year or so to see with Trisled comes out with. If I like it, I'll drive over and come back with it on my roof possible or fly other and ride it back to Perth

[Roinik]

Hence I'm awaiting for a year or so to see with Trisled comes out with. If I like it, I'll drive over and come back with it on my roof possible or fly other and ride it back to Perth [/quote]

I think that Pete mentioned suspension is on the cards for the RV. The Trisled boys reckon the end of 2012 for the next gen. It'll be interesting to see whether it weighs more or less than the 33kg current RV.

I wonder whether it will now attract a premium due to their holding the world record for a fared trike?

[Baalzamon]

I emailed trisled
They confirmed the rumour that yes but they are not too sure when it will be out, but they said possibly 12 months

[recumbenteer]

Finally.... got a spare half hour this arvo, so managed to take the RV out for its first run on the road... nice warm weather, fairly light traffic, Sure is a head-turner lol

AND with a free day tomorrow... might give it a full "day" out.

[Aushiker]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2dhd68ifhU&hd=1[/youtube]

Andrew

[Riggsbie]

My first proper ride on my new Mango......

A little 60km loop, 3 kph faster on a nice easy ride at 145bpm.....

Lots of really nice car drivers, lots of photos....was stopped at the end of a cycle path for an impromptu photo session.....nice young couple......lots "wow, that's cool mate !". Lots of nice toots of car horns.....ironically the usual "I can't see you" from the Lycra brigade uprighters......

Maybe Velos are the answer to the car vs cycles hatred ?

More tweaking needed on my Mango, need to tweak the gears and soften the rear shock.....I think it'll be a Velo commute on Monday !


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[recumbenteer]

""Maybe Velos are the answer to the car vs cycles hatred ? ""

Yes, Yes, Yes.....

[Riggsbie]

My first commute today in the Mango.....

This morning's trip was good, going steady I managed to equal my best ever Vortex commute and I caught 6 sets of lights.....

Smoked my first Roadie

On a gentle 2% descent - I hit 55 kph....

More really positive comments, even from Tradies.......lost of drive alongsides as well......

Let's hope the ride home is just as good !!

That is all......

[John Lewis]

There will be no stopping you now! I hope you remembered to submit your flight plan.

Poor roadie. Sitting up there on an axe blade and suffering only to be left in the dust.

Catching the lights is good as you don't have the effort of having to get back up to speed from a stand still. That appears to me to be the biggest problem when commuting.

John

[Riggsbie]

When I said caught lights I meant caught reds so had to stop

The ride home was my best ever by 20 minutes......we get a Southerly in the evenings so it's a headwind but today it was not apparent at all, you have to love aerodynamic cycles......

The return was 1 minute longer and the ride 1km shorter and heavier traffic......so the usual afternoon fatigue was not so evident in the Mango as it is on an unfaired trike.....

On the trainer tomorrow.....

One thing I have noticed is the lack of side support.....the Vortex has 'love handles' which you lean on and it stops your sides aching after fighting the camber......my GT5 used to give me muscle spasms and aches on my left side as well......so I need to figure out how to make some glass fibre love handles for the Mango......to get better lateral support.....

Everyone at Ford liked the Mango !!


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[nitramluap]

What's the aero advantage of the fully faired front wheels (Quest) vs wheel covers (Mango) ?

Clearly the disadvantage is the turning circle of a small Australian Shire.....


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It makes a big difference at cruising at speed and also the top speed that you can obtain. The Quest is definitely faster. The disadvantage is manoeuvrability in tight spots and wheel/brake cleaning & maintenance. As for gearing. You need to calculate what gear range you need (in gear-inches or whatever measurement you use) and then work from there, bearing in mind that a velomobile weighs 30kg empty.

Look forward to seeing a Quest in Australia!!

[Bartek]

Mango owners - more questions

did you all get the standard gearing option?
did anyone get the extra gear wheel for the mid drive? (the one that alters the gearing by 15%)
if so have you used it?
did you all get the standard drum brakes? if not what did you get and why?

Thanks again

[Riggsbie]

Did a big training ride today.... Lots of wind on the Bellarine Peninsula, 25-35 kph but still a good 29kph average for 6 hours of riding......the Velomobile was drawing some attention too !

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/230743510



Feeling a bit tired now but a big roast dinner and a couple glasses of red are helping !<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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[Riggsbie]

(AT) Bartek

I think we all requested different gearing options but got standard.......it's a Dutch thing ;-p

I swapped to a 32-11 thanks to Ben's advice......it definitely is more suited but still not really lower enough on the really steep stuff......I guess it just makes you stronger !

I did request the extra mid drive gears but who knows if they will arrive ?


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