Velomobiles, are they really that fast?

[squeaker]

1. Re: speed: Again, difficult to answer because for several years I seem to have been slowing down. Certainly I find mine slower uphill and faster downhill though how the two average out I've no idea.

The usual answer is that on average you spend far more time going uphill, so your average speed tends to be determined by how fast you can climb. Can't be too difficult to write out the appropriate formula, but I'm supposed to be cooking now

And I tend to agree with Upwrong: velomobiles seem to work better for stronger riders - which doesn't explain why I still have one

[Grldtnr]

1. Re: speed: Again, difficult to answer because for several years I seem to have been slowing down. Certainly I find mine slower uphill and faster downhill though how the two average out I've no idea.

The usual answer is that on average you spend far more time going uphill, so your average speed tends to be determined by how fast you can climb. Can't be too difficult to write out the appropriate formula, but I'm supposed to be cooking now

And I tend to agree with Upwrong: velomobiles seem to work better for stronger riders - which doesn't explain why I still have one

You still have it because they are fun ! Isn't that enough?
Further up thread Twiddler asserts that the kingcyles rear fairing contributes most of the aerodynamics, maybe fitting panniers lightly packed out with newsprint to fill them with it will give advantage to me on my trike, can't say I've been faster with luggage , but you can lug loads on trikes.

All academic really , I can:t get a Celebrity brought my front door and sit it in the hall with my other bikes, the recumbent is hard enough, besides I doubt very much I'd fit, but hey the question needed asking?

[Grldtnr]

1. Re: speed: Again, difficult to answer because for several years I seem to have been slowing down. Certainly I find mine slower uphill and faster downhill though how the two average out I've no idea.

The usual answer is that on average you spend far more time going uphill, so your average speed tends to be determined by how fast you can climb. Can't be too difficult to write out the appropriate formula, but I'm supposed to be cooking now

And I tend to agree with Upwrong: velomobiles seem to work better for stronger riders - which doesn't explain why I still have one

You still have it because they are fun ! Isn't that enough?
Further up thread Twiddler asserts that the kingcyles rear fairing contributes most of the aerodynamics, maybe fitting panniers lightly packed out with newsprint to fill them with it will give advantage to me on my trike, can't say I've been faster with luggage , but you can lug loads on trikes.

All academic really , I can:t get a Velo through my front door and sit it in the hall with my other bikes, the recumbent is hard enough, besides I doubt very much I'd fit, but hey the question needed asking?

[recumbent Jimm]

As an experienced rider and owner of several trikes and velomobiles, VMs carry most of the advantages of trikes and adds aerodynamics and weather protection and sometimes increased storage capability.

Depending on whose gauge you trust, you can be easily up to 30% more efficient in a well designed velomobile.

[Cowsham]

I wonder is there anywhere you can hire or even get a go on a velomobile ? I'd love to try one.

[Grldtnr]

Try John Williams of Velo-ads.com,
He used to post blogs on the YooToob about Velos, he is in South London ,but I don't know if it's still a going concern ,he hadn't posted recently .
He counted Mike Burrows as one of his associates, and often posted about Mike's development of racers faired and unfaired.
But life gets in the way.

[Jdsk]

I wonder is there anywhere you can hire or even get a go on a velomobile ? I'd love to try one.

The most that I've seen was at BHPC meetings.
http://forum.bhpc.org.uk

Jonathan

[Cowsham]

I wonder is there anywhere you can hire or even get a go on a velomobile ? I'd love to try one.

The most that I've seen was at BHPC meetings.
http://forum.bhpc.org.uk

Jonathan

Thanks Jon -- had a look through and see a few for sale.

[Marc]

Yes, the faster velomobile models (Milan SL, Bülk, Snoek, DF, Alpha 7, Milan GT, Quest, etc) are really that fast! The "slow" models (Quatrevelo, Strada, Mango, Hilgo, Alleweder) are still pretty quick, though.

While its true that velomobiles are rather slow at real climbing due to their weight (24-26kg with hood), in a "rolling hill" area like Northern Germany, they get so much speed and momentum on the slight downhills, that they almost coast over the next hill. I've once bombed down a short 13% slope, reached 90.8km/h at the bottom and "flew up" the next 12% or 13% hill, while still maintaining 55km/h over the top. Its flabbergasting and a totally different riding experience than you have with any other cycle. At night, going down gentle slopes at 80+ in my Milan GT, it feels like pedalling a human powered fighter jet.

Depending at the velomobile model, wind gusts or truck vortices are an issue though. Some models get easily blown all over the place (Quest) while others (Milan, Bülk) are relatively unfazed. Strong wind from the front or rear is a non issue, you hardly feel anything. Strong sidewinds propel especially the Milan and Bülk quite noticeably. Its amazing to "coast" with minimal effort at 70-75km/h in a 30-40km/h side wind.

Velomobiles are most at home on open country roads with gentle slopes. They kind of suck in stop-and-go city traffic, though. Also, not only strong riders benefit from the huge aerodynamic advantage, but riders with "normal" power output will greatly benefit as well. I'm one of the latter.

Here is very good explanation why velomobiles are so fast:


Take a look at the numbers of this guy in his Milan SL at a -1% slope:


An other Milan SL rider in a short all-out sprint: (the guy is a masher, who skipped a few gears sprinting)


A very good source is Saukki from Finnland, he got loads of contents regarding velomobiles in his Youtube channel:


Most questions about velomobiles are answered in the Velomobile Knowledge Base: https://anotherkiwi.gitlab.io/velomobil ... ledge.html

The go-to online resource about velomobiles is the (english friendly) German Velomobile Forum. Most velomobile designer, manufacturer, dealer and top racer (IIRC all current 6h, 12h and 24h world record holders) are members and post more or less frequently: https://www.velomobilforum.de

The German Forum is also one of the biggest markets for used velomobiles: https://www.velomobilforum.de/forum/ind ... omobile.12

If you look for a new velomobile (I'd strongly suggest you do some test rides before!), go here: https://www.velomobileworld.com

Since John Williams closed shop, I think the only velomobile dealer on your side of the channel is Laid Back Bikes in Edinbourgh: https://laid-back-bikes.scot

Update:
According to the Velomobile World Ambassador program, you have at least two 'velomobile ambassadors' in England:
https://www.velomobileworld.com/ambassadors

Nick Tulloh in Oxford: https://www.velomobileworld.com/ambassa ... las-tulloh
and
Joel Bradley in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire: https://www.velomobileworld.com/ambassa ... el-bradley

[jrs665]

, I'd likely have added a small e-assist system to reduce the energy output off the lights, out of junctions and up the hills (as I did on my ICE sprint when I was commuting 30 miles a day) but that's not essential.

Have an ICE sprint X 26 Tour. I converted it to electric as consider that the motor is essential at some junctions. One such junction is this one whereyou want to follow the road to the right, the A701.

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@55.9 ... RUGLDBLZOQ

You start on a steep hill, the lights are only green for about 5 seconds, then the traffic on your left gets the green light. You will be honked at and passed angrily as as wont even have reached the midpoint of this long junction by the time the traffic gets there,they will assume you jumped red lights. With a motor you can get past the midpoint and be on your way with no issues.

[[XAP]Bob]

Junctions like that really do need different timings - but good luck getting the council to do anything

[wheelyhappy99]

I've no experience of riding recumbents or velomobiles but have met a couple of velomobiles riders whilst away. The distances they said they travel a day was impressive. One, near Toul, was heading for Strasbourg, still 150k distant at lunchtime, having started in Aachen a couple of days earlier.

[Marc]

All the blogs & blogs I've seen , they have massive chainring sized much bigger than 53 - 54 race sets, with very small rings for climbing, or mountain drives.

In the faster velomobile models, you usually find a big 60t, or 65t combined with a 36t or 38t chain ring. Strong riders tend to use 70t to 80t chain rings. In my Milan GT, I have 45t chain ring on my Patterson Metropolis 2-speed bottom bracket (similar to a Schlumpf Speed drive). In overdrive, thats a "virtual" 72t chain ring. I like to state to the officers at police stops, that my Milan still has a faster gear left at 75km/h.

[[XAP]Bob]

All the blogs & blogs I've seen , they have massive chainring sized much bigger than 53 - 54 race sets, with very small rings for climbing, or mountain drives.

In the faster velomobile models, you usually find a big 60t, or 65t combined with a 36t or 38t chain ring. Strong riders tend to use 70t to 80t chain rings. In my Milan GT, I have 45t chain ring on my Patterson Metropolis 2-speed bottom bracket (similar to a Schlumpf Speed drive). In overdrive, thats a "virtual" 72t chain ring. I like to state to the officers at police stops, that my Milan still has a faster gear left at 75km/h.

Assuming 90 rpm I have a gear left over at 85kph... Top gear at 90rpm would be 96kph.

That's significatly beyond anything I would consider a reasonable speed... I'm pretty happy to about 80kph, assuming that the road surface is known to be good, and the sight lines are decent etc... I've not gone hunting for a nice long newly surfaced A road on a hill though.
I don't know if I'd want to push much past the 50mph though. But maybe I'll hunt for an appropriate test track one day.