Alleweder-Velomobile

[firedfromthecircus]

Re: Alleweder-Velomibile

Might be best to go for electric assist with one of those. They tend to be most popular in Northern Germany, Denmark, Holland where the terrain is mainly flat. Hilly Scotland would require low gearing and power assist thus only advantages streamlining going down hill. A recumbent with a streamlined windshield might be better. Kinetics in Glasgow is a good shop for this kind of thing. http://www.kinetics.org.uk/
http://www.velomobiles.co.uk/category/velomobiles/

It was on Kinetics website that I first spotted the Alleweder KV4, and the second pic is from their site. I think a visit to Glasgow is in my near future!

And I have been surfing the velomobiles site the last couple of nights finding out what I can.

I'm not sure that electric assist would be necessary round my way. The table below has some interesting figures about speed, inclines and power requirements.

I think my average speed on road rides round here shows that I would overall be faster in a velomibile than on a standard bike, even being slower on hills. Of course, speed is only part of the story. Feeling like the red baron is another part!

I am now on the lookout for a 'bent s/h, but it would need to be pretty cheap. Otherwise I'm saving for a velomobile!

want one!

I do know of a carbon fibre guy local to me - hmmm. He's too grumpy though and only listens to Eric Clapton...

Some of the carbon fibre jobs are very smart.

And of course, composite bodys have all sorts of paint options!

Very pricey though when you get into carbon. The Orca is 7800 euros before you have added any options!

I am really quite taken with the riveted alloy body though. Old school looks, self build compatibility and price all curry favour.

I found this fantastic site from a French guy who did a self build and photographed the process. Great reading.
http://guilhem.valentin.free.fr/aaw/album/

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Who knows, it might be piloted by Froome dog, but maybe power assist isn't needed.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7STNZ2QP99s[/youtube]

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Re:

If you're going to build something like that to feel like the Red Baron, you need to do it properly. Wooden structure covered with fabric.

Belt-fed machine gun is optional.



Quite liking the idea myself, but now they're talking about introducing a 30km/h (19MPH) speed limit on the cycle paths and canal paths here. :facepalm:

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Re: Re:

Belt-fed machine gun is optional.

If only! :twisted:

Quite liking the idea myself, but now they're talking about introducing a 30km/h (19MPH) speed limit on the cycle paths and canal paths here. :facepalm:

I'm sure a radar jammer could be installed.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

 

[velomaniac]

Take a look at this site to:
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/

 

[greencat]

Have a recumbent - but really fancy a velomobile. Suspect the wife will divorce me if I bought one though.

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Have a recumbent - but really fancy a velomobile. Suspect the wife will divorce me if I bought one though.

What you got Greencat? And how has your ownership been?

 

[greencat]

I have an M5, but quite an old one - probably from the early/mid 90s. Had it about a year. The very recumbent seating position and underseat steering takes a bit of getting to used to - and I'm not sure it really suits me. Which is unusual as I normally take to most recumbents like a duck to water. I fell off this one about 5 times before getting out of the garden.

But on the flat it comfortably does 25mph without too much effort.

Got to admit it isn't ideal for where I live (some short and very steep hills which are practically impossible to cycle up on it) so I don't get it out very much. Hopefully this summer I will.

 

[Ivo]

I've once encountered a temporary deaf Alleweder rider. That was during the Paris-Amsterdam Human Power Race. He had some rattling item inside his machine. There were a lot of cobbled roads during the crossing of Brussels. At the first control after Brussels he was partially deaf.