There is actually a third option for hood that is the one people are using for racing. It’s built and sold by Niklas Bostelmann rather than Velomobile World. He’s a young German guy who is an aerospace engineer. Very smart kid with some pretty good ideas about aerodynamics. The motorcycle visor and wiper blade are definite game changers. I would never order a hood without motorcycle visor because it is so much easier to use. I have one on my Bülk along with the wiper blade and really like it.
I have all three. The classic race hood has no side windows, just a forward facing view port. I'm Bill Thornton, the current top speed record holder at Battle Mountain (60.87 mph, 98 Km/ hr). Niklas and I are are headed to Battle Mountain again, in just about a week from now. I will be test riding and racing the new prototype Milan RS, with a version of the third hood Niklas built. We tested the race hood versus Niklas's hood last year at Battle Mountain. The two are very, very close. The road surface had a rocky layer added which slowed " "everyone" down compared to 2019. My speeds with the race hood was 60.29 and 60.22 mph with Niklas's hood, though my power output varied a little. I produced 912 watts through the traps in 2022 and 873 watts in 2019 on a smoother faster surface. This is right after holding an average 280 watts for 4.5 miles leading upto the final sprint, with a few short 500 watt burst, so its not a "fresh" recovered sprint to 900+ watts. Hitting 1400 + watts when 0:11 fresh is way easier that 900+ watts at Battle Mountain.. The bottom line is Niklas's race hood has better ventilation than the classic race hood yet its 99 % as aerodynamic, and has a far better view with side windows. The original race hood only has one forward facing port hole, nothing on the sides. Because of this, it has very smooth airflow, but its not streetable like Niklas's hood is. Ni 0:11 klas's hood has two aft cutouts that help direct the air flow from the venturi vent and around your head then aft out back. The sealed Race hood is torture by comparison. I would have a ratchet hook lever to hold open the vent window on build up, then slam it shut fror the last KM, then punch it open past the traps, feeling like you would burn up and sufficate if the window didn"t open. On one run in 2019, i punched it all the way out, because the wind blast kept slamming it shut. This version of the RS is what Niklas rode in the Trans America race ride. Now we are tweaking it for Battle Mountain.
I was surprised at how close the Milan and the Bulk are. I only rode a Milan for one day, and thought it was a pretty slippery ride. I just use my butt dyno, so my results are always skewed.
Thanks for not using the cameras on the outside when doing aerodynamic tests... 2:30 A 7Watt-difference is nearly 5,5%-savings, accomplished solely through aerodynamic means, so, that´s a LOT !!! Considering those vehicles are tuned for lowest earodynamic drag already, in the first place, so, to manage lowering the total drag by another 5,5% is a lot !!!...
Few questions: Where would you recommend to buy (or even just borrow for testing) a velomobile? :D Would it be a trainwreck idea in a city? (kuten tampere) :D
In Finland: Fillarivelho, Helsinki. Velomobilcenter Finland, Taklax. It’s not a bad idea to ride in a city. I know people owning velomobiles in London or NYC. If they can do it, you can do it.
@@ilaripori6148 it depends on the speed bump. I have no problems with our local speed bumps with the Bülk. But there might be some nasty bumps somewhere which will scratch the bottom.
There is actually a third option for hood that is the one people are using for racing. It’s built and sold by Niklas Bostelmann rather than Velomobile World. He’s a young German guy who is an aerospace engineer. Very smart kid with some pretty good ideas about aerodynamics.
The motorcycle visor and wiper blade are definite game changers. I would never order a hood without motorcycle visor because it is so much easier to use. I have one on my Bülk along with the wiper blade and really like it.
I have all three. The classic race hood has no side windows, just a forward facing view port. I'm Bill Thornton, the current top speed record holder at Battle Mountain (60.87 mph, 98 Km/ hr). Niklas and I are are headed to Battle Mountain again, in just about a week from now. I will be test riding and racing the new prototype Milan RS, with a version of the third hood Niklas built. We tested the race hood versus Niklas's hood last year at Battle Mountain. The two are very, very close. The road surface had a rocky layer added which slowed " "everyone" down compared to 2019. My speeds with the race hood was 60.29 and 60.22 mph with Niklas's hood, though my power output varied a little. I produced 912 watts through the traps in 2022 and 873 watts in 2019 on a smoother faster surface. This is right after holding an average 280 watts for 4.5 miles leading upto the final sprint, with a few short 500 watt burst, so its not a "fresh" recovered sprint to 900+ watts. Hitting 1400 + watts when 0:11 fresh is way easier that 900+ watts at Battle Mountain..
The bottom line is Niklas's race hood has better ventilation than the classic race hood yet its 99 % as aerodynamic, and has a far better view with side windows. The original race hood only has one forward facing port hole, nothing on the sides. Because of this, it has very smooth airflow, but its not streetable like Niklas's hood is. Ni 0:11 klas's hood has two aft cutouts that help direct the air flow from the venturi vent and around your head then aft out back. The sealed Race hood is torture by comparison. I would have a ratchet hook lever to hold open the vent window on build up, then slam it shut fror the last KM, then punch it open past the traps, feeling like you would burn up and sufficate if the window didn"t open. On one run in 2019, i punched it all the way out, because the wind blast kept slamming it shut.
This version of the RS is what Niklas rode in the Trans America race ride. Now we are tweaking it for Battle Mountain.
I was surprised at how close the Milan and the Bulk are. I only rode a Milan for one day, and thought it was a pretty slippery ride. I just use my butt dyno, so my results are always skewed.
Thanks for not using the cameras on the outside when doing aerodynamic tests...
2:30 A 7Watt-difference is nearly 5,5%-savings, accomplished solely through aerodynamic means, so, that´s a LOT !!! Considering those vehicles are tuned for lowest earodynamic drag already, in the first place, so, to manage lowering the total drag by another 5,5% is a lot !!!...
Few questions:
Where would you recommend to buy (or even just borrow for testing) a velomobile? :D
Would it be a trainwreck idea in a city? (kuten tampere) :D
In Finland:
Fillarivelho, Helsinki.
Velomobilcenter Finland, Taklax.
It’s not a bad idea to ride in a city. I know people owning velomobiles in London or NYC. If they can do it, you can do it.
@@TheVelomobileChannel How about crossing speed bumps?
@@ilaripori6148 it depends on the speed bump. I have no problems with our local speed bumps with the Bülk. But there might be some nasty bumps somewhere which will scratch the bottom.
@@TheVelomobileChannel thanks for replies :)
Português subtitles, thanks from a brazilian fan ;-)
The fastest racing hood is the one shaped like a 4kW motor.
How is the noise level inside between the Bulk and QV?
There’s not much difference in noise level. It’s just slightly different kind of noise.
I have places an order for the QV. what are some accessories that are must have for urban commuting? @@TheVelomobileChannel
Why do you talk about Bulk, since the actual name is Bülk.
It's a Bülk, not a Bulk. Ü like Finnish Y, AFAIK.