The Ugly Truth About Velomobiles
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- Velomobiles are pretty awesome, but they don't come without problems. In this video I'm going to tell you the truth, everything which is wrong with velomobiles. If you want to see something positive about velomobiles, go watch my other videos.
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Chapters:
0:00 intro
0:14 Are velomobiles comfortable?
2:00 How stable velomobiles are?
2:59 What if you sweat inside a velomobile?
3:31 Do you stay dry when it's raining?
4:50 Can you see out?
6:02 What if it's not warm summer day?
6:48 Do velomobiles work in mountains?
7:33 Are velomobiles convienient?
8:23 But they say velmbiles are fast?
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#saukki #velomobile #problems - Sport
Despite some of the inconveniences, it’s the best, most efficient mode of transportation humanity got thus far. Thanks for sharing. I hope velomobile companies are listening. 🙂
That’s true!
Yeah, it's really odd to see cars which weigh 1500 kg carrying a useful load of about 80 kg around the place. If they go uphill, 95% of the energy is being used to move the box, not the contents.
The most efficient mode of transportation of men and load is train. Always been and always will be.
Outside The Catholic Church there is no Salvation. czcams.com/play/PLUcjoO2Bj8AsiGYdzfqZyXae1lhMw_p2s.html
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@@karakondzula1388 It depends on the conditions. Starting and stopping a 205t diesel regional train every 5km is going to be very very inefficient to transport a load of 100 passenger (7.5t) with a awfully lot of energy lost in heat during braking. On the other end, an electric train on long distance will be much better as it will transform the kinetic energy back into electricity when slowing down/braking.
Honest claims, metal soundtrack, drone footages, Saukki has it all ! Thanks again for your channel !
One thing that most velomobiles seem to ignore, is that when you pedal 3/4 of the energy you burn turns to heat and only 1/4 turns to pedal-energy which moves your forward. That means that you will sweat even in cold winter. That's why velomobiles should have much more air-intake and give you control about how much air comes in to which spots of your body. I built these into my Alleweder A4 myself, but even they are not enough for warm weather. When it's cold, I enjoy riding it without getting cold and with not fearing to become ill because of sweat with riding bike - a problem I allways had with my upright bike.
Have you ever tested the Orca velomobile by Flevobike? It is my daily commuter and it one up's almost all your downsides. Let me start with the only negative right out of the gate: it is not as fast as a milan or alfa. But: The seat is mesh (so no sweat buildup) but firm (so no hammock like most mesh seats) with adjustable seat angle (no sliding away). It is a 3 wheeler but quite stable due to the wheel placement, good steering geometry for great straight line stability and the joystick steering gives a lot more control, comfort and ventilation over the chest and armpits. It has quite large foot holes and the rain cover/roof is designed in a way that it allows more ventilation and visibility without letting more rain in. It also has good sideways view but I would like curved mirrors for a wider rear view. Getting in and out is a breeze with the large opening top and there is about 60L of (indeed awkward) storing space. Due to the sturdier, more padded, build, it is a lot quiter as well. Mountains are harder though, because it is heavier. I do have to admit, mine is equipped with e-assist to counteract the weight and aero penalty for all of the above comfort. So it is cheating/not really cycling. But it get's about 120km/kWh (or converted to gasoline just over 1000km/L) at a cruising speed of about 45-50km/h. I know this may not be your cup of tea but I think this might me the direction for the general public to accept and adopt super efficiënt velomobile like vehicles. Sadly the Orca is discontinued since it wasn't for the hard core velomobile rider and it was still too extreme for the general public. Sorry for the long comment but I really like your video's and I hope velomobiles will be adopted more broadly in the near future!
Maintenance on Velomobiles can indeed be a pain in the neck. Sometimes, it requires three pepole do tighten a nut. One to see, one to hold on and one to tighten the actual nut. If you don't pull some kind of trick out of your sleeve. Particularly, if you acquire a pre-owned one and attempt to refurbish it. Depending on how maticulous the former owner(s) were with maintenance and how old the velomobile is or how much road has already been covered with it. Or if prior owners did some sloppy jobs. Furthermore, your local bike shop will probably refuse to touch them, although they are in essence just - if unusual - bikes.
Really Appreciate the Bald Honesty, and Love Your Sense of Humor. You are a Great Resource for Prospective Velomobile Owners. Keep it Up!
I can't disagree with anything you say but the most important fact is that I have a good upright carbon road bike, a good upright MTB and 2 velomobiles and the only ones I ride are the velomobiles. I could see myself getting a recumbent 2 wheeler at some point and when I get old and have trouble getting in and out of the velomobiles I could see myself getting a recumbent trike, probably with e-assist, but I can't see myself buying another upright. My Strada now has e-assist and I think that overcomes the uphill speed issue which was always a big thing for me, living in a hilly area. I thought it was cheating when I did it but really it is just making the most of what is possible and really puts a smile on my face. I am now as fast as most uprights on the uphill sections of my normal loop, not been overtaken on the flat for a very long time and faster than anything downhill. The big issue for me is transportation, particularly to races. I carry my velomobiles on the roof of my car and it is difficult to get them up there. I built a ramp that allows me to do it on my own but it takes 3 people without the ramp. You can't carry them on a train like you can an upright.
I have two recumbent bikes with fairly upright seating position. I have more drag than something more reclined, but I have no comfort issues most of the time-and that's with direct steering. I did have to put fenders on one of them, but that's in part because the mesh seatback lets moisture through so well!
I just realised, that you missed the main issue: for velomobile, you need some sort of garage.
Upright bike is quite normal to park at home, I park my tricycle at my flat too, but...it is already a bit problematic. Chances of me moving a velo through all those doors, elevator and another set of doors are...unlikely... 🙂
Besides the price, this is the biggest thing keeping me from getting a velomobile. My partner's Tern GSD barely fits on out apartment elevator and it's not that large of a bike, no way I could get a velomobile to fit... 🤣
Stand it on end?
Lock it up outside?
@@ghz24 good luck with that, at least in my country.
@@tri-seeker2753 How so, should be more weather resistant than a regular bike.
Theft?
I have both Quest and Quattrovelo. What I can say is:
1-Seat confort: I find the seats very confortable on both velomobile and have no problems.
2-Stability: I have problems with stability on Quest but none at all on the QV: very stable, never had problems.
3- Sweat: I sweat a lot too, I have ventist pad and I do not seat in a puddle despite my pad is wet. I almost always take off my shirt.
4-Raining: I stay mostly dry but I sweat more so that is the problem.
5-Visibility: Very good! The QV alien hood is the best because it has great visibility and pratical when it is raining because I just have to put the manhole cover.
6-Fog: yes I have fog issues on the visor of the QV , mostly in winter.
7-Airflow: Sure, not enough airflow on hills, and even on flat road in the summer because of the heat.
8-Brakes: I have lot of downhill in my area . if the downhill is long, the brakes overheat even with the additionial disk brakes on the QV.
9-Not convenient: Yes, sure! what is most difficult for me is do repair because of limited access.
10-Speed: I agree! real work condition are different. I notice that for me It depends mostly with the air density, the less dense, the more I am fast.
in conclusion, my major concerns are brakes and airflow.
All of theses are nothing compared of the limitless pleasure I have on riding my Quattrovelo. It is an awesome velomobile!
Great vid and u tell the truth! Not seeing and hearing enough are the reasons two and three that keep me from getting a velomobile. The main reason is security and wanting to stay alive - and as a former Pro-Level-Rider (on roadbikes) I wouldn´t have survived my hopefully worst and last accident in 2020 when a Volvo XC 80 hit me from behind after a curve with around 80 or 90 K. per hour. I flew backwards in his windscreen and had a lot of good luck and help that I survived this. Greetings from Germany and stay safe and sound!
In fact security with velomobiles is A LOT better than any upright bike, trike or even motorbike.
Because first when crashing with one of these others, what happens most is that your body "flies" forward into some object, what means that your head risks getting hurt quite a lot, which obviously IS very dangerous. With a velomobile instead, you are always with your feet first (not your head), and even have a shell as an additional protection and a metal or carbon chassis that will absorb most of the crashing energy. What will also happen in many cases (especially when being hitten from the side) is that your velomobile will roll over and away (instead of being driven over with a normal bike).
So security is a big advantage when talking about velomobiles.
thanks Mr Heavy Metal for taking on the heavy task of speaking the inconveniant truth, so mankind can learn how to do mobility better :) ✌😎👍🌻
I personally think that daily-use velomobiles need to be designed differently from the ground up.
As a newbie to the velo world, I would say compared to an upright bike, a velo is much better. Even in the hilly country of New Zealand. Less than 500 metres from my house are streets with >10% inclines. I just have to harden up for the hills. Braking down hill is not an issue, yet. One never brakes after slogging up a hill.
A problem I do have is that the velo is hard to transport. At 2.5m in length. I need a trailer. Just a hassle.
A major benefit is that on the Waikato roads of New Zealand one does not get covered in wet cow manure, on early morning road rides. The wheel arches collect it all.
Clothing options are easier. Shorts and T-shirt for anything above 10 degrees celcius, and maybe a single for anything around 10 degrees celcius. and wet weather is not a major baddie. Much drier than an upright.
Summer is almost here, and the last 30 plus degree celcius ride I did, it was warm in the velo, but still nicer than being stuck on an upright in the heat, getting fried. It wasn't as tiring.
A velo is a great choice, despite the downsides. 😄
On gearing:
Velomobiles, recumbent trikes and quads have rather absurd gear requirements that stock bike components typically can't cover. This is less of a problem if you ride in mostly flat terrain and don't carry more than a light load of cargo.
For example, I am a utility rider. My bike/trike is for getting me from A to Z with a heavy load and often towing a trailer. My trike turned quad has a low of 10 gear inches for getting those loads up the local 20% grades. But to get that low kills my top end, which maxes out at ~60 gear inches for about 10-12 mph.
To get the low end I need and have a decent high would require a gear range of ~1,200%. Yes, about double the gear range of a Pinion C1.12.
Note: that this can be done with a 10-50 cassette and Schlemph mountain drive. Though that has it's own problems.
If you want to go realy fast you should also change your tyres. Since i swapped from conti contact speed+latex to schwalbe pro one tubeless i gained 8km/h. One important thing to get faster is to keep your tyrepressure on the right spot. If you got shitty roads or regular asphalt maximum is7 bars or 100psi, if you go over this it will slow you down(i was surprised by this). Tyres make a huge difference in comfort and speed.
Thankyou for the honesty this is really refreshing
so glad someone is speaking the truth on the internet. I've been a full time rider for 20 years and have always been interested in these. However where I live getting flat tires can be daily and there is no way I'm changing tires on one of these. Last week I got 3 flats on a 20 mile ride doing errands.
Nice that you also touch on the impracticalities of a velomobile. While the fanbaseay be happy with what is available, there are still way too many car drivers, who wouldnt touch these overpriced and impractical designs with a barge pole.
I personally think that daily-use velomobiles need to be designed differently from the ground up.
I'd start with easy entry and exit in rain and eye-height at least comparable with a compact car and strong electric pedal assist for climbing hills and reaching cruise speeds without sweating. At the same time, the electric drive train allows for less exotic materials, which will have a positive impact on cost.
I agree with all of those issues, I live in Michigan and ride my Strada when weather is below 60 degrees F to be comfortable. It keeps me warm down into the 20s with no problems with a windshield and side windows installed. I've ridden over 10,000 miles this way, loads of fun!
This was an eye opening clip 👍 I agree in many points. Velomobile is very comfortable and fast to ride on fresh asphalt, but where do we have those kind of roads haha... The usual roads and cycle paths are filled with holes, seams and cracks. Quite uncomfortable with the tires like 32 front and 42 rear (DFXL) and the speed slows significantly, like Saukki stated. So, the watt discussion is really pure theory. On the other hand, I usually pass all the other cyclists very easily, even on uphill.
My butt gets tired on long distances too. Still, there's no "balls in hydraulic press" feel as with most upright bikes. I have never experienced slipping forward on the seat. My seat front end rises slightly up, don't yours? Plus, the seat is fastened with bolts to the wheel arches, so it's quite safe, too
My solution with the visibility is sunroof that DF offers as an option. Great visibility to the sides and no fogging on the windscreen. Maybe not as efficient aerodynamically as the hood, but close 😊
A couple of years ago, I bought a hard back seat to replace the mesh seat on my trike. I always felt like I was going to slide out of it so I went back to the OEM seat. I recently had a friend fabricate some "wings" or bolsters from aluminum plate (1/4") to help hold me more securely. Waiting for my wife to heal (she cut her thumb badly) so she can make some covers for them. I will then install them and remount the seat for testing. It felt good sitting on the garage floor, but have to see how it feels in actual use.
I think you cover it very well. I would also add that some places to ride are not so good with a velomobile. Bike paths are not so good because you have to slow down for people and other cyclists. Cities are also not so good because it can be hard to see around parked cars, lots of starting and stopping with a heavy bike. But, on a good route, a velomobile is a lot of fun. I ride a lot more now that I have my Quest XS. Once I adjusted the front wheel alignment with my bodyweight in the quest, the handling is very good and I’m much faster for lesson effort.
Very interesting to have a dedicated video to the cons of some Velomobiles, most of your videos explore one or two aspects of each and give a decent overview. I can see how some viewers might not understand and think that you are only praising the subject of the video when in fact you are just sharing your personal experience. It was a good idea to compile the most asked questions this way. Thank you :)
The biggest disadvantage is the danger of rear wheel loss of traction and blowouts. The potential of a horrific crash scares me all the time.
When it's raining you are indeed still wet but much warmer and I feel more comfortable- I am able to maintain 50km/hr in my Milan SL on 165 Watts easily and did a 25 mile road loop with 177 watts average for a sub 3 hour century. 33.4mph ave on 177 watts - I did optimize with just a tiny rear mirror. Latex tubes in Gran Prix LTD tires and a 100 tooth chainring to reduce chain friction!
- Good video!
Well, I have a suggestion concerning the seat cushion, because I'm like that, and I invent stuff...
If the seat cushion can be opened, you might be able to make it more comfortable by installing a 26" bicycle inner tube inside it with a porous mesh pad on top inside the cover and arrange it, partially inflated, so that the mesh lets the moisture drop through and adjusting the air pressure to better support your back. Or you could also add a sheepskin to the seat cover. I did that with my unfaired, unsuspended Catrike Villager and it's almost comfy on longer rides in the potholes and stuff...
But I could be completely wrong because I don't have a velomobile....
Good video!
Thanks Saukki - really enjoying your videos - Have you tried using something like Rain-X on the visor, would certainly help the rain to bead up and improve visibility on the outside of the screen - may even help with fogging on the inside 🤔
I love how you tell the truth about velomobiles. Thank you so much.
I love this video. It is an invitation to the industry and newcomers to take the things that are great about velomobiles and address the shortcomings.
When the video started, I saw the trees and heard the accent and thought, "Oh, I'm pretty sure this guy's in Finland" Then, I heard the metal bumper music, and it removed all doubt :-D subscribed!
Great video again Sauki! couple of obvious other downsides: you always attract attention and need to answer questions about your transportation. The other inconvenient is it isn't the easiest bike to park and forget about it. It is always at risk of vandalizing or just curious folks touching your VM. BTW the best thing in your videos is the MUsic that tops it all. Thank you!!
I was actually afraid if the track at the part when I talk about velomobiles in rain was little bit too much (or too heavy) for you guys but seems like there’s nothing to worry about 🤘
I actually consider it a PRO to attract attention and have to answer questions about velomobiles. It always causes me a big smile on my face when somebody shouts "wow, cool!" when passing me or some people start filming. And it's always nice to have an interesting conversation about velomobiles when people really are interested (on the other side I have to admit that I do not ride/stop much times within cities, so it does not happen that much that people are coming to me and starting to ask questions).
You are spot on, on the various peculiarities of using a velomobile. I have a WAW which has many of your issues except maintenance which is almost completely straightforward. To me the issues are part of the package. I see mine as a mobile gymn that provides scenery and fresh air. Now if we could only get rid of some of the aggressive and careless car drivers!
When climbing, open up your hood (unless it's sunny). On downhills, a parachute can be convenient. Also, Ginkgo Veloteile supplies XL-SD drums (90mm) with cooling fins, which can be very useful in FINland ;)
Great video! Many thanks. I have put about 7500Km into a DF over the last year and am generally pleased. Sweating and ventilation is an issue. One minor mod/hack I have done is to recess the horn by about 2cm (with some longer bolts and plastic spacers) so that the hole it it works through can act as a bit of an air intake. It does seem to help. I have not the skills to build an air scoop to force more air. I have wondered about riding without the derailleur cover on so see if that draws air through the body of the velomobile on hot days. If that works, maybe someone could create a louvred derailleur cover?! Sweating - I seem to reach a certain level of sweatiness and no more, no matter what the temperature. I have found that a long sleeved base layer like a Helle Hansen Dry Stripe works well. Having fabric over the elbow prevents the elbow rest getting soaked and puddles below. Works for me. Racing hood - generally good. No room for helmet inside though. The fogging issue is greatly helped by fitting a Pinlock visor. Side windows fog up on cold mornings though. Am considering some Pinlock related hack - essentially double glazing them. Glasses fogging up - yes, it happens. It used to happen on cold days on my Cruzbike too as steam rose from me at the lights. Not much to do there. Fit and seat comfort - mine is about 90% right. Lots of compromises with just fitting into the darned thing. Manufacturers - more sophisticated seat adjustment would be appreciated. I find the seat not as comfortable as on my Cruzbike. Perhaps a custom fit service (like the F1 boys have where a carbon fibre seat is moulded for them... someone would buy it!) The seat supplied does not fit me that well. Lumps in the wrong places and I like to hang my shoulder blades over the edge of seats, as I could on the Cruzbike. This is not possible on the DF. Handling and stability - When I got it the steering felt very twitchy. I am used to it now. Relax and don't fight it. Stability - feels pretty planted to the road. I have only lifted a wheel once when (rashly) making a 90 degree left turn and close to 30kmph. And that was not a bad one - just a tiny lift. Maintenance - I am getting better! Next job to change the chain tubes for some PTFE ones (from ginkgo-veloteile.de) to try to reduce that huge drive train friction. We need Haynes Manuals or equivalent! Brakes overheating - have not really had an issue. Not dragging the breaks on a descent helps. ginkgo-veloteile.de make/modify Sturmey Archer drum brakes, fitting heat sinks etc if you are struggling. I have heard they are good. Overall comfort, luggage etc. It's not a car! But it's better than a bike. That's me done!
IMHO Sturmey Archer can easily add some fins around their drums if they have the necessary machining allowance on their raw parts
I have seen other velonauts talk about the hassles of owning velos, but they have all said that they will NEVER go back to "Diamond Frames" or drive motor vehicles if they can absolutely avoid it. I am still thinking about the EQ Hawk and waiting on info about it, a fully enclosed two-person velo.
I can agree that I would never go back to upright (or upwrong) bike. But unfortunately the weather conditions here in the north do get so bad sometimes, that velomobile just isn’t feasible only mode of transportation. That’s why I still have to own a car.
Just a remark, that "velo" means bicycle in french... So, abbreviations are nice and cool and all (I guess), till u end up using an abbreviation that means something totally else...
@@klausbrinck2137, I know that velo means "bike" and that mobile means "to move" and at one time meant "car" . I am using terms that are now common within the velomobile community and are used by many riders and some builders.
@@MSSmith1022 I know why u do it, I´m just questioning the sense of it. using a word that means something familiar (bike is familiar to velomobile), but also clearly different, is a slippery path.
Thanks Saukki of hones video! 😁 Very valuable to someone who is thinking of buing one. 😊
Of course, the main problem with velomobiles is their rarity, especially outside Europe. Here in North America they would simply be an oddity, like riding a unicycle to work. (In fact, unicycles are more common.) I think there was one little store here in Toronto that sold them, but it appears to have shut down. This means that even if someone was interested, there's nowhere to go to even try one out. It also means they are overpriced - if they were less than $8K then MAYBE you'd start to get more interest. Maybe sticking a lithium battery in there to help with climbs, and more powerful brakes or some sort of governor for downhills which would also charge the batteries.
As for sweating - dress for the cold weather like you would for cycling. (But Finns would know all about this). In the warm weather, perhaps make the shell removable - just held on by some latches so you could take it off. Most people would be happy to trade a bit of speed for comfort, and not be locked into a claustrophobic little shell when the weather is nice. Plus it would be a lot easier for servicing the mechanism down below.
Yes, velomobiles are quite expensive and are only sold to the die hard fans. I had a velomobile, but I returned to cycling trikes.
Cheaper at roughly 50 % of the price of a velomobile.
Cooler then a velomobiles, due to the wind.
Easier to get on and off.
Less weight uphill.
Easy maintenance.
Trikes can be folded, so easy transport in cars, or planes, or busses, or trains.
Trikes can be fitted with a motor, I cycled 132 km/ 82 miles with 25 kg/ 55 lbs luggage with my motorized trike last summer.
Do not get me wrong, velomobiles are excellent for travelling extreme long distance in the flat countryside, at high speed.
What the hell is inconvinient on Quattro's luggage space? 😀 You should see mee sqeezing my stuff into panniers on my tricycle!
In terms of your neckpain, try to avoid headrest at all - I had it on my trike and eventually get to dismounting it, because I wasn't using it at all. Headrest tend to transmit all vibrations and bounces right to my head, which was rather uncomfortable.
Natural way of carrying your head is to have it balanced on your spine and muscles just balanced it there so MAYBE your headrest is comfy, but not in a right place/position relative to rest of your body. Maybe try to put something between headrest any your head to lift it more, like a pillow or something, to get it into that natural position...
these and other HPVs are so interesting to me and id love to try one, but your point about climbing hills is one Ive felt would be a problem here. I live in Scotland, there are no flats and the hills are steep. everyone either has a super advanced road bike, or a mountain bike, because those are the only two that have the gearing to make riding possible. I have seen 1 trike and its been under a tarp in someones garden its whole life, no one rides cruisers, no one rides tall bikes, no one rides cargo bikes, you just cant. lot of E-bikes have been popping up though, unsurprisingly.
Thank you for your excellent videos: I am thinking of the Katanga waw E for some occasional holiday travelling as worried that quattromobile too heavy, I am 189xm and 91kg, any thoughts ? Many Thanks
For dirt biking we use something called "spit" that works pretty good for anti-fogging the plastic/glass lenses on your helmet, I imagine it'd work really well for the visors on these, you do have to reapply it every few hours but it's certainly better than nothing!
I'm just back home from Malmö with a Leiba Cargo (1200 km trip) and I must say that ventilation is pretty good (even in hot days), much better than on a standard bike but not as good as an AC car, of course.
This specific model has a passenger seat that offer a lot of storage space, which I love.
Entering and getting out of it is also very easy, and it even has a small passenger door (which is lovely!).
I'm debating whether I should cut round holes in my driver seat, to help with ventilation (the mesh would cover it). Or maybe add a layer of breathable cotton to the mesh?
This specific model has most parts visible and accessible, as well. So, it's less sporty but quite functional when service is needed.
I'll need to change the front light, though (not powerful enough). Any recommendation?
Thanks again for providing such valuable information on the velomobile topic!
I'm now on my 3rd velo, a DFXL. I agree with the seat. I sometimes felt that way in my Quest (sliding forward), but it was a most comfortable seat. The seat in the DFXL is still not exactly where I'd like it, but it is pretty close. I still have the sliding forward issue. Hopefully I'll get all those things fixed soon. One thing you didn't discuss, as you live in Finland, is there are some places where riding in the summer is nearly impossible with temperature and humidity combined. Riding slowly, up hill, in an enclosed velo on a hot humid day is the worst! This gives me an idea for a follow up video similar to this! Let me know if I can borrow some of this video.
Feel free to use clips from my video. Just leave a link to the original video.
Hi Jim, I deal with velo seat issues in a pretty low-tech way. I slice thin pieces of closed-cell foam, [initially] tape them to the seat and then install the seat pad. By the time I'm ready to glue the foam to the seat, I'll have (at least): one piece to keep me sliding off the seat, one for better lumbar support and one to adjust my shoulders for a better view of the road. It takes a little trial and error but it's eliminated issues with both my Quest and DFXL seats.
You Sir are the hero everybody needed! Thanks for that subjective review!
Agree with all of your points. Velomobiles are great machines but have their drawbacks. Biggest issue i had with my velomobile was 90 degree turns and reaching the buttons for bicycle traffic lights. Other than that they are easily the best bicycles there are for most journeys except for steep climbs. I usually rode around 35-40km/h with my velomobile (mango) with the same effort i ride an upright bike at 25km/h and with much more comfort and protection from the weather. I don't have mine anymore (nowhere to store it) but do want to buy another one in the future.
You missed two pretty major points: usability in urban space and cost.
If I mainly drove around in villages or quiet suburbs AND had a garage to properly store a velomobile and do some of the service myself, it might be a good idea to have one.
Urban traffic with its frequent stops, however, is not where they shine. Parking one in the city centre will be interesting, too - they're too bulky for the sidewalk but will probably be crushed when parked between cars.
Then, there is the cost issue.
Yes, they're cheaper to operate a car... but is that an honest benchmark? With what you said about sweating, velomobiles are no viable option for a commute to the office as most offices do not have suitable off-street parking, a shower and a wardrobe.
So they are a hobby, and quite an expensive one.
I love the idea of highly efficient cycling, so I really want to like velomobiles - but these two really are deal breakers to me.
thank you very much.i never thought about these things
With limited space within the velomobile, I am confident several mechanical advantages could be up graded in it's design to increase comfort and reduce excessive jarring from road conditions. The changes don't have to necessarily add weight.
There are anti-fog and ant-rain treatments for visors, motorcycle suppliers can be a good source. We in UK have 'Bob Heath ' anti fog and Rainex anti rain. Both work really well but I need to reapply every so often. I'm sure cheap Chinese stuff will work adequately at a fraction of price.
(You might be able to source a motorcycle visor that has these features built in to the material).
Also worth trying would be 'nano particle' waxes for both the outside of visor and for the bodywork of the velomobile, so dirt doesn't stick to them.
Thanks man I was contemplating getting to build a mark t ford life the Finland one on you tube but sounds like a push bike and a year drop camper trailer might be better?
Your biggest problem seems to be that you are too much in a hurry and/or too fond of physical excercise. Thats not the velomobile manufacturers fault! 😁😁😁
On the serious side; My ride is not by far as fast an speedy as any of yours but still we share some of the issues; My experience is that even VERY small adjustments in body position affects ass numbness astonishingly much! I have also experienced big differences from different shoes and feet position on the pedal.
Thanks for sharing! 👍Useful as always, keep up the good work! 👍
I could imagine that velo mobiles would make a rider tremendously hot inside the tight, airless, body.
Thinking back to a winter commuting in a Kingcycle Quattro (prototype 4 wheel front wheel drive) velomobile the biggest advantage I found was even when it was really cold outside I was warm and cozy inside, stayed sweaty dry and could carry loads of work kit int he big boot. 👍🏻
You are right about sliding forward in the seat, i have the same in my QV.
I’ve started to think that maybe the reason is the headrest being too far back. 🤔
I have to test if modifying it will make any difference.
Had a similar sliding problem on my Bacchetta Strada, so I put a small foam wedge under the front part of the ventisit seatpad. Works quite well - I used foam from a gardening pad (the type used to protect your knees when kneeling).
True indeed, but a great idea to fix and learn and exercise! 🎉
A velomobile is basically just a fully enclosed recumbent trike. The question is, how would you compare it to an unenclosed, or partially enclosed recumbent trike. Recumbent trikes without the enclosure would have much of the same comfort, but easier access and better ventilation, at the cost of poorer aerodynamics (most a problem on long flat terrain, no so much in areas where you cannot develop the speed to make use of the aerodynamic efficiency), and inferior weather protection (but with better ventilation and better visibility). The question is, with a partially enclosed recumbent trike, to what degree can you draw a balance between the advantages and disadvantages of each (depending on the environment in which you are using the vehicle)?
it‘s an experiment … there is a lot of space for improvement … thanks for the footage
I learned a lot about velomobiles. I actually did not know anything about them but they are a covered bike. You did not mention how inconvenient it is to get the velomobile to a place you want to ride, if you are not starting from your home on it. It is not fitting in my Leaf trunk. Another major terror is trying to ride this in the bike lanes in USA cities. The bike lanes are narrow and these velomobiles would just barely fit.
I love your accent, man.
Thank you for your honesty. Can I add they are horrible to work on if there is a mechanical problem on the road because parts are hidden from view and most shells do not open fully for servicing.
True. Some models are difficult to work with even in a workshop with all the tools and equipments available 😄
do you have some wattage numbers in the same conditions as a upright bicycle then? since manufacturers claim certains speeds at certain wattage, the more interesting thing would be to point to the improvement from other alternatives of travel
Wonderful vids. Pretty interesting for people discovering velomobiles.
Lot's of people will say it's not a current velomobile anymore, but the Leitra is better than a lot of other models for most of the points (sure, not speed and efficiancy)...
Looks a bit like the Leiba Classic, which i have an interested in.
Nice to see some honest opinion. Not that much of downsides, but sometimes the most important ones.
Did anybody ever have an Idea how to mitigate the sweating?
I think better ventilation would help with that. Some on-the-move adjustable scoops won't spoil overall aerodynamic efficiency. They may be opened uphill and closed on flat and downhill parts of the journey.
The sweating was my nr. 1 reason to sell my velomobile. I return to cycle trikes, 100 % wind cooling.
I would look at getting pinlock inserts from motorcycle helmet visors as even when in heavy rain and cold (fogging weather) the visor stays completely clear even when fully closed. 👍🏻
I am looking at getting a velomobiles for 7 mile trip to store for food which would you recomend i ride a upright bike 25 miles a day at 70 years old
I´m reminded of some pizza sauce spilled in one of your velomobike videos which indicates yet another disadvantage :)
Hi Saukki. Are there any clubs or events in Finland for recumbent bikes?
I love this video so much info
While I would love to use one, they are clearly not yet a practical transportation solution.
Thanks for a realistic view of using one.
Thank you 🙏
Puncture repair by the roadside is hard. I use tuneless now.
Do any velomobiles offer shoulder braces to keep you from sliding up? Kind of like at the gym for the leg presses.
Saukki, did you loose your brakes once? I wonder how I can start noticing I am at that point with my qv?
I'll give a like! 1800 miles from a Quattrovelo dealer to far to go for a test so I now have a order for a Quattrovelo should get this November without ever seeing or test riding a Quattrovelo. So I'm interested in the seat but you didn't coment on your Quattrovelo seat i would like to see a video about adjusting to fit a 6' foot man and comfort level on long rides.
I order a Quattrovelo plus for extra room inside hopefully I fit.
Here’s a video about how to adjust a velomobile seat featuring a Quattrovelo & Quest: czcams.com/video/AA3Avd-OxcA/video.html
I’m 6’2” and I thought that I would not fit. But with the right seat position and a single ventiseat pad I fit nicely, unless you have very long legs because that was my initial issue. My knees where touching the top, so I thought of an QV+. But in the plus my front view angle was a lot worse. I’m glad to have gotten the standard and adjusted the seat properly for me. Where are you at that you are so far away from testing possibilities?
@@caspervanosch8654 thanks Casper I haven't been riding much this year but have a average mph rate on my two wheel uprights and much lower average on my trike loaded with camping /touring gear what's your normal riding speed and top speed ? If you don't mine me asking
@@travelsofacycles1584 I live in a very hilly area of Germany, not the usual habitat for a Velomobile. In the flat lands of my home country the Netherlands I average at about 35-37 km/h max about 45-47 km/h. Here in the hills average tour speed is about 28 km/h,topspeed downhill is when I reach chicken out speed! Last week 110 km/h
I have the same in alleweder but no headrest great I think the position is too reclined and that makes me sit and hard to keep speed so I drive slow the side motion while peddling I try not to compensate
I can see why the Quatrovelo might have vague steering. In the tracking shots of you riding it, you can see the front end bobbing up and down with your pedalling effort, so the front wheels are very lightly loaded half the time. Either it needs stiffer suspension, or you need to learn a smoother pedalling action (not 'pedalling squares'!)
I'm a Quest owner, by the way (Q311).
The most bad for velomobile is the price. Its almost the price of used small car, for example zoe or twingo. If you combine it with the discomfort of sitting and quality become expensive toy.
A moped can go just as fast a velomobile for a fraction of the price of a velomobiles. I bought a folding trike with 2 suitcase wheels under it. So it can be taken on the train with me for the long distance. Brand: HP Velotechnik, type: Gekko 26 FX. Cost 50 % the price of a velomobile.
This bike is Very expensives but this is beautifuly machine for traveling! Very interesting youtube canal!Good job!
Great Voice of Customer feedback that should help Velomobile designers to improve their concept . thanks Saukki
Yeah, well, I think I'll just stick with my E-Bike and some good rain gear. And as they seem to be limited to roads mostly, I'd surely miss my way back from work through the woods.
Thank you for the truth 👍🏻
The truth is what sets us free they say.
We really need to have velomobile dealerships.
I have to specify the rain thing to people wen they say i bet u stay dry in the rain. Im like well you dont get wet from the rain but from the condensation and sweat cuz it basically turns into a sauna inside. As far as the visor fogging i run the pinlock visor this allo2s me to keep the visor closed however a few drops do get in from the gap underneath the visor which is there to allow air to come in i do block that in the winter time cuz it will form a light layer of ice on the visor from my condensation if i dont, this is usually in temps below 20f. As far as hetting a wet but i did drill a hole in my quest seat this has let more of it drain otherwise there would literally be a puddle under the pad.
Just to say I'm thinking to opt for no wiper but do a coating on windows for no rain or fog staying
Thanks for your videos!!
I‘m very interested in a velomobile but I‘m not so sure if it is any good for my region. On my way to work there are some klimbs up to 10% which are pretty bad on my normal roadbike for me. The first one starts just a few meters from my house.
Maybe there is a way to get a E-bike motor into a velomobile, that would be the best for me. So I have support on the uphill and could go fast on the flat.
I hope my car will run for a few years but then a velomobile could be the future for me.
Greetings from Austria,
Günther
E-assist would make sense for you.
There's going to be some e-assisted velomobile content on my channel later, so stay tuned ;)
I live in a region with hills in France. To save time on commuting, I had to put e-assist on my Quattrovelo. Thanks to that, I save a lot of time commuting.
@@N.i.l Thanks for your answer!
Did you build the quadrovelo on your own or didi you modify it yourself?
It‘s a very interesting topik for me in the not so far future.
Thanks for further info,
Günther
The WAW velomobile can be bought with e-assist. Other Velomobiles can have it added later on. Some of the slower and heavier models of Velomobiles come with e-assist, but I don’t know those models very well. Saukki has some videos about different models of Velomobiles that might be helpful for you.
Try installing a Zero Breeze 2 battery powered air conditioner! It could reduce the sweating a lot and would be a nice experiment that would gain a lot of views.
In the Milan, open all ventilation but close the visor. Air will come up and keep the visor clean as long as you're moving.
Yeah, it works on fine weather. But when the conditions are extremely moist, the airflow just isn’t enough.
@@TheVelomobileChannel Pedal faster! 😂😂
Hips, angle of your upper body in relation with your head. All play a part, if I remember correctly you can change both the inclination of the seat and the length of the seat in one go. Those seem to be linked, I'd suggest to lower the seat. Probably you'd also need to change the angle of the backrest.
I’ve started to think that maybe I could solve the Quattrovelo seat issue by modifying the headrest. 🤔
I have to find some time and do some tests.
Both times I've been in Finland, it was extremely hot 🥵 I guess we were lucky...sort of. I'm seriously considering a Velomobile.
The soundtrack is marvellous
Telling it like it is 😀👍
You need to test the M9, it has real room and is extremely comfortable. I have one, I'm 6 foot and weight 220 pounds and this is without a doubt the best bike for those of us who have large frames. My DFXL is a great bike, but it doesn't have the room and comfort the M9 has.
kiitos bro. guess I'll keep using my good old trike or cargo bike
Interesting on speed. Do you track your average speeds and powers over your real world rides?
Yes I do.
Here's an idea for carrying stuff: see if Quattrovelo will make a Quattrotrailer with onboard braking, solar charging and power assist...?
What's the seat angle of the Milan SL and the Quattro? Maybe you're too reclined in the Milan and your body isn't used to your neck holding your head up at that angle. A few more things to add... lousy signals where you'd rather push the cross walk button. Or left turns with a left arrow and no cars to make the light turn. Also PARTS! Hard to find velo specific parts like a rear hub or steering rods/plates. It usually takes weeks or a month to order and receive parts in USA. Also transportation. Try taking a velo on the local bus or train into town (if there's a break down)...
Came for the strange looking dry salt lake speed run without a motor vehicle, stayed for the metal and the fun accent.
:) video bring me good mood!)
Since you are a velomobile expert, and have personally ridden many different models, which model would you recommend to a first-time owner???
Thanks
You would think that the addition of heated visors/mirrors and solar powered fans would drastically improve the rider experience.
i think it is very interesting transportation device, but extremely dangerous on roads with cars. where i live motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrians get killed on the side of the road. Velopod are only 50cm tall so it seems to be ALOT more dangerous than other modes of transportation.