Velomobile for commuting?
08-30-14 | 08:53 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 70
From: Kansas
Bikes: This list got too long: several ‘bents, an urban utility e-bike, and a dahon D7 that my daughter has absconded with.
Velomobile for commuting?
I have been living car free for several years; but I have not been living int he states during that time. Recently I was asked, by one of my students, why I don't drive a car. I told her that every month I put off buying a car I save $500. . . even for a middle schooler, that made sense.
That being said, I am thinking about the coming Kansas winter. I have already noticed, and confirmed with long term residents, the wind here is strong, frequent, and changes direction. Further, this town is reputed to have pretty bad winter weather. This is leading me to consider a velomobile.
Has anyone tried a velomobile for winter commuting?
How well did it work out? Did it give acceptable winter weather protection?
My reason for not asking on bentrider is that they, quite frankly, are already drinking the Cool-Aide. I have a strong preference for recumbent; however, I am currently commuting on a conventional safety bike.
Current commuter, image from here
Strongly considering, image from here
That being said, I am thinking about the coming Kansas winter. I have already noticed, and confirmed with long term residents, the wind here is strong, frequent, and changes direction. Further, this town is reputed to have pretty bad winter weather. This is leading me to consider a velomobile.
Has anyone tried a velomobile for winter commuting?
How well did it work out? Did it give acceptable winter weather protection?
My reason for not asking on bentrider is that they, quite frankly, are already drinking the Cool-Aide. I have a strong preference for recumbent; however, I am currently commuting on a conventional safety bike.
Current commuter, image from here
Strongly considering, image from here
08-30-14 | 12:09 PM
#2
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Been reading posts on another forum of someone on MV isle,. Mass. that has been using a Quest for several years ..
he loves blowing by full kit roadies in it, in the summer too ..
the $6K+ price is a bit of a commitment, and secure parking may be a challenge ,
quest velomobile - bluevelo
Myself, I've never had a place to bring one into where I live. Typical apartments dont include locking garages.
These Danish ones have long been desired , but un affordable .. https://www.leitra.dk/news.php.
he loves blowing by full kit roadies in it, in the summer too ..
the $6K+ price is a bit of a commitment, and secure parking may be a challenge ,
quest velomobile - bluevelo
Myself, I've never had a place to bring one into where I live. Typical apartments dont include locking garages.
These Danish ones have long been desired , but un affordable .. https://www.leitra.dk/news.php.
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-30-14 at 12:13 PM.
09-03-14 | 02:32 PM
#3
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I purchased a Bluevelo Carbon Strada in the dead of winter last year. I use it to commute 27miles round trip to work. I can tell you from experience it is plenty warm inside even during 20 degree temps.
Here is my honest opinion to date:
- It is way too hot in the summer for me. I ride my other bikes to work when the temp goes up.
- Depending on the terrain you are ridding the Velomobile can be a blessing or a curse. Down hill it is a blast even too fast some times. On the flat going with the wind I can't say it is too much faster then my high end racing bike. On the flat going into the wind the velomobile advantage is extremely obvious. You would almost swear there is a low pressure push coming from behind kind of like the air over the wing of a plane. I can tell you from experience I have blown by some fancy racing bikes with little effort doing into the wind on the flat. As for up hill you had better have strong legs. Even my carbon velo feels like a sled going up steep hills. Rolling hills are not too much of a problem so long as you keep your momentum.
- As for other things that you may have heard like being able to commute in your regular clothes I think that is BS. I am a sweaty mess when I get to the office even on the perfect days. Luckily I have a fitness center with a shower to use near my office.
- On the plus side these things are just fun to ride. Mine drives like a sports car.
- Storage is awesome. I have a garment bag from twowheelgear.com that slips right into the tail of my velo. I often pack a full suite plus a winter coat and I have plenty of room. I drop my dress shoes into a water tight bag and place hose under the seat. I don't have to worry about water seeping into the garment bag like I do when I ride my regular commuter bike.
- Safety: Everyone says to me aren't you worried about getting run over by a car. My response to them is the following "If you don't see by baby blue easter egg / kayak rolling down the road you probably aren't looking at the road in the first place. With that said I did install a 3 foot tall led antenna to the top of my velo for when I ride to or from work in the dark.
- Speaking of the dark I have the full lighting package with dual headlights up front. Turn signals in the sides and brake lights in the rear. Added to that is a giant reflective sticker on the back as well.
- Security: I lock mine to a light post right out in the parking lot outside of my office building. Its a small building with maybe 100 people if that and everyone in the building knows about the velo for sure. I have a GPS tracker on the thing as well but lets keep that a secret or not I guess if its on this forum.
- The only other thing I can tell about winter riding is be prepared to ride on the road if it snows. The plows around here get some snow off the side of the road but not always.
I am sure there is more but I have rambled enough for now.
Here is my honest opinion to date:
- It is way too hot in the summer for me. I ride my other bikes to work when the temp goes up.
- Depending on the terrain you are ridding the Velomobile can be a blessing or a curse. Down hill it is a blast even too fast some times. On the flat going with the wind I can't say it is too much faster then my high end racing bike. On the flat going into the wind the velomobile advantage is extremely obvious. You would almost swear there is a low pressure push coming from behind kind of like the air over the wing of a plane. I can tell you from experience I have blown by some fancy racing bikes with little effort doing into the wind on the flat. As for up hill you had better have strong legs. Even my carbon velo feels like a sled going up steep hills. Rolling hills are not too much of a problem so long as you keep your momentum.
- As for other things that you may have heard like being able to commute in your regular clothes I think that is BS. I am a sweaty mess when I get to the office even on the perfect days. Luckily I have a fitness center with a shower to use near my office.
- On the plus side these things are just fun to ride. Mine drives like a sports car.
- Storage is awesome. I have a garment bag from twowheelgear.com that slips right into the tail of my velo. I often pack a full suite plus a winter coat and I have plenty of room. I drop my dress shoes into a water tight bag and place hose under the seat. I don't have to worry about water seeping into the garment bag like I do when I ride my regular commuter bike.
- Safety: Everyone says to me aren't you worried about getting run over by a car. My response to them is the following "If you don't see by baby blue easter egg / kayak rolling down the road you probably aren't looking at the road in the first place. With that said I did install a 3 foot tall led antenna to the top of my velo for when I ride to or from work in the dark.
- Speaking of the dark I have the full lighting package with dual headlights up front. Turn signals in the sides and brake lights in the rear. Added to that is a giant reflective sticker on the back as well.
- Security: I lock mine to a light post right out in the parking lot outside of my office building. Its a small building with maybe 100 people if that and everyone in the building knows about the velo for sure. I have a GPS tracker on the thing as well but lets keep that a secret or not I guess if its on this forum.
- The only other thing I can tell about winter riding is be prepared to ride on the road if it snows. The plows around here get some snow off the side of the road but not always.
I am sure there is more but I have rambled enough for now.
