Hey Jan Thank you for that supercool Video. It will be very useful to show people who never heard of velomobiles what they are all about. If you d do a future Video, I'd be glad to keep this one so we could see the development. In a future Video I think it would be very useful to show all the types of velos that are on the limit of the kind. Meaning those who are not that aerodynamic but maybe a bit more suited for people who would like to feel closer to positions in a car. Obviously these loose a lot of advantages like the aerodynamic advantage and thus the max speed, but I feel those are the ones that could convince more users to change vehicles. Obviously speed was one of tha main advantages of the VMs. But as most routes are less than 5km and most people wouldn't mind to go a bit slower if they can go door to door and economise time looking for parking I think it would be helpful to present also those models so they could have it easier to get interested to the subject. Same goes for the addition of other firms and also the tandemtypes ... I also think Saukki did an overview to Velomobiles. Maybe it could be a further addition to material to show. Here's the Link: ua-cam.com/video/cYCDS5od4O8/v-deo.html Again thank you for that introduction and hopefully it will convince more people to get one, so that one day I can buy a used one for a price I am able to afford :D Until then I ll keep dreaming and go to the SPEZI to continue admiring those speedy beauties. See you there hopefully
I want one but will have to build my own : most are too low, in the UK we have speed bumps everywhere and they are quite high in some places, most velo's would have problems clearing them. 2) I want to go off road which i can with a mountain bike which is my main bike. 3) I want to carry cargo, the space in most velo's is very small I've seen to carry camping gear or shopping. 4) they cost the earth! As mentioned I could get a van for that price and run it for a year at least. (not knew of course). So I have seen plans for a velo - that does this and i'm assembling the parts now. I am also taking welding lessons from a fabricator at work. where there's a will...!
Riding a vemobile off road is not recommented. The clearance is too low and the thin road tires are not suited for the mud. I recomment buying a Fat Trike from ICE or Azub. With my fat trike I can go anywhere and I can carry a trailer. Make sure it is a 2 wheel trailer. 1 wheel trailer are too instabile.
about electric assist, bc law limits power and top speed, so most of the time, it doesnt affect the performance of a velomobiles beside during acceleration from a complete stop or going uphills
I think people adding electric assist to a velomobile are really missing the boat. The key is to use your gears and don't try to kill yourself by going as fast as possible up hills. When you are on a hill, try to go as slow as possible, not as fast as possible and look around and enjoy the scenery, as if you had almost stopped for a break. The three wheels allow for going super slow up hills, so take advantage of it.
It's not, at least not compared to a normal roadbike. Compared to a racing bike, you have a bit more weight, but that's it. On a conventional racing bike, you're always making trade-offs between aerodynamics and physical efficiency. In a velomobile, the always relaxed position (fairly stretched body, arms unstrained, shoulders backward, chest wide open) makes it possible to pull in air more efficiently, which will give you a good advantage in terms of power. Unless you're talking extreme and long climbs (>10%), the disadvantage is a lot smaller than you'd think.
@Seb Ba infrastructure specific for a velomobile is problematic. Both from a cost perspective and legally. As always it has to do with safety for the greatest denominator. As stated the Quest is produced for now around 1000 times. Why then would a government widen the fast routes by two meters to accommodate velomobiles? It doesn't make sense for the majority of users. It could work in the Netherlands, not in other countries where bicycles have a hard time surviving. If and when they were interested in HPV transport the bicycles have to get priority in inner cities. It is the only thing that could be doable. As you know in Belgium, even with many bicycles on the road, is a pain to get from a to b without decent bicycles infrastructure. There is a reason why they ride in groups, it is safer.
I used to ride a velomobile, but I sold it and returned to cycle trikes. For the following reasons: 1. Too hot, I was sweating very much. I am a hot body heat person when I cycle and I missed air cooling of riding. 2. Lack of lookdown visibility; I could not see potholes, so I rode through the potholes. Also I could not see the curb or shoulder on the right side of the road. So spooky. This downside is for below average height people. Tall peop can look down with ease. I could not get the seat higher, so I looked just over the bonnet. 3. Riding uphill was very heavy. A velomobiles weights between 30 and 35 kg/ 66 and 77 lbs and that heavy weight has to hauled uphill. A trike weights 10 kg/ 22 lbs less, so much easier to go uphill. 4. In a tight turn, you can not use a single brake. Like hitting the right brake in a right turn, to turn tighter. I do that with my trikes, but in a velomobile the left and right brakes are paired. So a trike has a tighter turning circle. 5. Tight fit. Velomobiles take care to get in and out. The cockpit is very cramped. 6. VM's are less visible then trikes. Trikes are 1 or even 2 flagpoles and VM's do not. 7. VMs take special motorized transport measures, like a roof rack or a 3 meter/ 10 foot trailer. Most trikes can be folded and carried in the back of a car. 8. Most VM's are equipted with a derailleur gear system. So after a emergency brake stop, you can not switch back to lower gear. You have to start in high gear. All my trikes have a Rohloff gear hub or a Schlumpf Mountain Drive, so I can switch back. Of course you can fit your future VM with a Rohloff, Pinion or Schlumpf MD. A SMD can be installed in an existing VM for the price between 500 and 700 Euros. 9. The shell can be easily damaged. During the OlieBollenTocht tour of 2018 a VM rider crashed into a post and the nose of his VM was shattered. Very expensive. With a trike there is less damage, the chain ring will be warped. Final question; where to ride the VM? The countryside is best. No emergency stops, all the space and visibility on the nearly empty road. Riding in the city is not handy, but possible. I reconment a trike for city cycling. I you love speed and long distance, buy a VM and have the time of your life.
I use my rotovello to commute in Idaho Falls. Countryside commuting is fun in a velomobile. When I was in Dayton, Ohio I had a fat tire bike because my apartment was on the second floor. Carrying a velomobile to the second floor, up stairs that twist, is impossible. Few bike routes in Idaho Falls through.
The Alpha 7 velomobile actually solves/addresses a lot of these issues. 1) It has rather large hole in the front which shoots a lot of air on to you when in motion to cool down. There is a third party 'bug box' available to keep bugs out even. 2) I'm not sure about this, I didn't have this issue in my Alpha 7. 3) It only weighs 21kg. If you don't try to 'rush' up a hill and you have proper gearing, I don't think there will be a problem will hills 5) Lower yourself in with both hands, like doing a dip exercise. To get out, move you butt up on the seat, then do a dip again to get out. 6) Everyone is staring at velomobile, I find it hard to believe no one notices it. You can install a flag pole if you want, but no one wants to do that. I used to do it with my trike, but stopped doing it 7) Width is 67, it fits through standard doorways. I was able to fit it inside an uber van one one time. So a van taxi is an option, almost all van taxis have fold down seats. 8) Order one with the gears you want in it 9) a front collision with a car into a post will also damage a car or any other bicycle. I mean, what do you expect? You might kill yourself too, but there will be less chance of that in a velomobile because the velomobile will absorb the blow instead of your body ejecting and flying into the post. I prefer to damage velomobile than my body.
A lot of velomobiles have a locking hook, which is almost impossible to remove without actually breaking it, and making it even more difficult to cycle in than simply anyone elses velomobile already is (due to size differences - they're more of an issue than on an upright bike). Also, at the moment velomobiles are still so uncommon that I wouldn't want to be seen in a stolen one. They stand out like Donald Trump in bikinis.
@@mardiffv.8775 A Quest is a bit heavier, but I don't think I'll have big problems carrying a DF or Alpha 7 for a kilometer. And if I'd really want to steal one, I'd park within a kilometer of my target :-)
This is a new version which is pretty not different from the previous, only some very few details in addition, after having consider the comments. (but you didn't take care of all the rhein228's comment for missing brands, and mine too about some forgotten cons) But, as you deleted the previous video, all the comments disapeared at the same time; that's not nice for people who contribuated. You should have add the missing details into a comment of your previous video.
Loss Pedal replacing the original was not possible, youtube doesn’t allow an overwrite, so I had to delete it together with the number of views and the comments, unfortunately. This new version was made mainly to clean up the audio. And at once I added some more manufacturers.
@@JanTrenson Did you realy need to update the video? I don't think; it was able to rewrite your video description only, or to add some description into the video itself (YT offer you to make that very easily). It was also possible to prepare an other video specialiy dedicated to the different manufacturers around the world, with some pictures of the different models, and then add the link of this video into your previous one (in addition that should have been more interesting to see in picture or few seconds of video each different model, than a list of names like you wrote)
Loss Pedal Again, the main goal was to redo the audio entirely, speaking more fluently and making it four minutes shorter, which requires a totally new upload. Contentwise it wasn’t my intention to change much. I don’t have to take everyone’s suggestions, I’m not a democracy :-) feel free to make your own alternative video.
@@JanTrenson But in your previous video nobody complained about the audio or the duration. Sorry to have bothered your majesty with my stupid suggestions.
USA the ontake of recumbents or velomobiels slow, political infrastructure slower. Green is spelled gasoline here and dangerous driving. velosRus dotcom
Thank you, Jan, for this informative video. I really enjoyed it and I am sharing it with my velo-buddies.
Thanks, great video! I own a WAW and a Milan (Canadian made), but appreciate that your video was very objective :)
Ótima explanação, parabéns!
Good info nice i love it.
Thank you for the video!
Very good video. Thanks!
Hey Jan Thank you for that supercool Video.
It will be very useful to show people who never heard of velomobiles what they are all about.
If you d do a future Video, I'd be glad to keep this one so we could see the development.
In a future Video I think it would be very useful to show all the types of velos that are on the limit of the kind. Meaning those who are not that aerodynamic but maybe a bit more suited for people who would like to feel closer to positions in a car. Obviously these loose a lot of advantages like the aerodynamic advantage and thus the max speed, but I feel those are the ones that could convince more users to change vehicles.
Obviously speed was one of tha main advantages of the VMs. But as most routes are less than 5km and most people wouldn't mind to go a bit slower if they can go door to door and economise time looking for parking I think it would be helpful to present also those models so they could have it easier to get interested to the subject.
Same goes for the addition of other firms and also the tandemtypes ...
I also think Saukki did an overview to Velomobiles. Maybe it could be a further addition to material to show.
Here's the Link: ua-cam.com/video/cYCDS5od4O8/v-deo.html
Again thank you for that introduction and hopefully it will convince more people to get one, so that one day I can buy a used one for a price I am able to afford :D Until then I ll keep dreaming and go to the SPEZI to continue admiring those speedy beauties.
See you there hopefully
Nice video Mr Trenson ;)
Nice video with all the ins and outs. I wish they were easier to get in the USA as I am tired of being cold in the winter : (
Bicycle Evolution in Plano Texas
I want one but will have to build my own : most are too low, in the UK we have speed bumps everywhere and they are quite high in some places, most velo's would have problems clearing them. 2) I want to go off road which i can with a mountain bike which is my main bike. 3) I want to carry cargo, the space in most velo's is very small I've seen to carry camping gear or shopping. 4) they cost the earth! As mentioned I could get a van for that price and run it for a year at least. (not knew of course). So I have seen plans for a velo - that does this and i'm assembling the parts now. I am also taking welding lessons from a fabricator at work. where there's a will...!
Riding a vemobile off road is not recommented. The clearance is too low and the thin road tires are not suited for the mud. I recomment buying a Fat Trike from ICE or Azub. With my fat trike I can go anywhere and I can carry a trailer. Make sure it is a 2 wheel trailer. 1 wheel trailer are too instabile.
about electric assist, bc law limits power and top speed, so most of the time, it doesnt affect the performance of a velomobiles beside during acceleration from a complete stop or going uphills
I think people adding electric assist to a velomobile are really missing the boat. The key is to use your gears and don't try to kill yourself by going as fast as possible up hills. When you are on a hill, try to go as slow as possible, not as fast as possible and look around and enjoy the scenery, as if you had almost stopped for a break. The three wheels allow for going super slow up hills, so take advantage of it.
Gut.
DOWNSIDES........its very slow when you go uphill
It's not, at least not compared to a normal roadbike. Compared to a racing bike, you have a bit more weight, but that's it. On a conventional racing bike, you're always making trade-offs between aerodynamics and physical efficiency. In a velomobile, the always relaxed position (fairly stretched body, arms unstrained, shoulders backward, chest wide open) makes it possible to pull in air more efficiently, which will give you a good advantage in terms of power. Unless you're talking extreme and long climbs (>10%), the disadvantage is a lot smaller than you'd think.
@Seb Ba Cheaper for government to relax ebike laws to enable enough power to easily climb hills maintaining road speeds of cars.
@Seb Ba infrastructure specific for a velomobile is problematic. Both from a cost perspective and legally. As always it has to do with safety for the greatest denominator. As stated the Quest is produced for now around 1000 times. Why then would a government widen the fast routes by two meters to accommodate velomobiles? It doesn't make sense for the majority of users. It could work in the Netherlands, not in other countries where bicycles have a hard time surviving. If and when they were interested in HPV transport the bicycles have to get priority in inner cities. It is the only thing that could be doable.
As you know in Belgium, even with many bicycles on the road, is a pain to get from a to b without decent bicycles infrastructure. There is a reason why they ride in groups, it is safer.
You lost the French constructor JVcycles who made 2 or 3 models of VM actually available. Thanks for this video!
Co2 are not breathing while you ride? Like electric cars bring actually coal fired. Or the Paris accords not including China and India.
I think about a velomobile not too heavy like a Leiba Record (6500€) but I like very much my Azub Tricon 20.
I used to ride a velomobile, but I sold it and returned to cycle trikes. For the following reasons:
1. Too hot, I was sweating very much. I am a hot body heat person when I cycle and I missed air cooling of riding.
2. Lack of lookdown visibility; I could not see potholes, so I rode through the potholes. Also I could not see the curb or shoulder on the right side of the road. So spooky. This downside is for below average height people. Tall peop can look down with ease. I could not get the seat higher, so I looked just over the bonnet.
3. Riding uphill was very heavy. A velomobiles weights between 30 and 35 kg/ 66 and 77 lbs and that heavy weight has to hauled uphill. A trike weights 10 kg/ 22 lbs less, so much easier to go uphill.
4. In a tight turn, you can not use a single brake. Like hitting the right brake in a right turn, to turn tighter. I do that with my trikes, but in a velomobile the left and right brakes are paired. So a trike has a tighter turning circle.
5. Tight fit. Velomobiles take care to get in and out. The cockpit is very cramped.
6. VM's are less visible then trikes. Trikes are 1 or even 2 flagpoles and VM's do not.
7. VMs take special motorized transport measures, like a roof rack or a 3 meter/ 10 foot trailer. Most trikes can be folded and carried in the back of a car.
8. Most VM's are equipted with a derailleur gear system. So after a emergency brake stop, you can not switch back to lower gear. You have to start in high gear. All my trikes have a Rohloff gear hub or a Schlumpf Mountain Drive, so I can switch back. Of course you can fit your future VM with a Rohloff, Pinion or Schlumpf MD. A SMD can be installed in an existing VM for the price between 500 and 700 Euros.
9. The shell can be easily damaged. During the OlieBollenTocht tour of 2018 a VM rider crashed into a post and the nose of his VM was shattered. Very expensive. With a trike there is less damage, the chain ring will be warped.
Final question; where to ride the VM? The countryside is best. No emergency stops, all the space and visibility on the nearly empty road. Riding in the city is not handy, but possible. I reconment a trike for city cycling. I you love speed and long distance, buy a VM and have the time of your life.
I use my rotovello to commute in Idaho Falls. Countryside commuting is fun in a velomobile. When I was in Dayton, Ohio I had a fat tire bike because my apartment was on the second floor. Carrying a velomobile to the second floor, up stairs that twist, is impossible.
Few bike routes in Idaho Falls through.
The Alpha 7 velomobile actually solves/addresses a lot of these issues. 1) It has rather large hole in the front which shoots a lot of air on to you when in motion to cool down. There is a third party 'bug box' available to keep bugs out even. 2) I'm not sure about this, I didn't have this issue in my Alpha 7. 3) It only weighs 21kg. If you don't try to 'rush' up a hill and you have proper gearing, I don't think there will be a problem will hills 5) Lower yourself in with both hands, like doing a dip exercise. To get out, move you butt up on the seat, then do a dip again to get out. 6) Everyone is staring at velomobile, I find it hard to believe no one notices it. You can install a flag pole if you want, but no one wants to do that. I used to do it with my trike, but stopped doing it 7) Width is 67, it fits through standard doorways. I was able to fit it inside an uber van one one time. So a van taxi is an option, almost all van taxis have fold down seats. 8) Order one with the gears you want in it 9) a front collision with a car into a post will also damage a car or any other bicycle. I mean, what do you expect? You might kill yourself too, but there will be less chance of that in a velomobile because the velomobile will absorb the blow instead of your body ejecting and flying into the post. I prefer to damage velomobile than my body.
@@100toeface Thank you very much for this information. I really appreciate it.
How easy are they to lock to prevent theft? A chain or cable lock is ok for bikes against street furniture or trees but what about Velos?
A lot of velomobiles have a locking hook, which is almost impossible to remove without actually breaking it, and making it even more difficult to cycle in than simply anyone elses velomobile already is (due to size differences - they're more of an issue than on an upright bike). Also, at the moment velomobiles are still so uncommon that I wouldn't want to be seen in a stolen one. They stand out like Donald Trump in bikinis.
Besides the locking hook. You can take off a wheel cover and run the chain lock through the wheel, like a normal bike.
@@mardiffv.8775 On most yes, but most wheels are also only hinged on one side.
@@4nz-nl True, but a bike thieves has a hard time rolling a trike/ velomobile on just 2 wheels.
@@mardiffv.8775 A Quest is a bit heavier, but I don't think I'll have big problems carrying a DF or Alpha 7 for a kilometer. And if I'd really want to steal one, I'd park within a kilometer of my target :-)
This is a new version which is pretty not different from the previous, only some very few details in addition, after having consider the comments. (but you didn't take care of all the rhein228's comment for missing brands, and mine too about some forgotten cons)
But, as you deleted the previous video, all the comments disapeared at the same time; that's not nice for people who contribuated.
You should have add the missing details into a comment of your previous video.
Loss Pedal replacing the original was not possible, youtube doesn’t allow an overwrite, so I had to delete it together with the number of views and the comments, unfortunately. This new version was made mainly to clean up the audio. And at once I added some more manufacturers.
@@JanTrenson Did you realy need to update the video? I don't think; it was able to rewrite your video description only, or to add some description into the video itself (YT offer you to make that very easily). It was also possible to prepare an other video specialiy dedicated to the different manufacturers around the world, with some pictures of the different models, and then add the link of this video into your previous one (in addition that should have been more interesting to see in picture or few seconds of video each different model, than a list of names like you wrote)
Loss Pedal Again, the main goal was to redo the audio entirely, speaking more fluently and making it four minutes shorter, which requires a totally new upload. Contentwise it wasn’t my intention to change much. I don’t have to take everyone’s suggestions, I’m not a democracy :-) feel free to make your own alternative video.
@@JanTrenson But in your previous video nobody complained about the audio or the duration.
Sorry to have bothered your majesty with my stupid suggestions.
Loss Pedal not in the comment section. These remarks were sent by Messenger.
USA the ontake of recumbents or velomobiels slow, political infrastructure slower. Green is spelled gasoline here and dangerous driving. velosRus dotcom
I will brake it down easy Velomobile is a full body helmet tell that to the police when they stop you and believe me stop you they will.