Comments on: Velomobiles: Efficient Commuter Vehicles

By: Psiberzerker

Psiberzerker — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:31:07 +0000

Yes, and no. For acceleration at a standstill, you’re basically fighting an incline until momentum takes over. Also, the energy to maintain speed is based on several factors, including mass, and friction/resistance, which is also dependent on mass. So, it may not affect top speed as much, depending on the gears, but you’ll still run out of “gas” sooner with a heavier vehicle. In a nutshell, weight is th ultimate limiting factor for a velomobile, because it determines the energy needed to move it. That’s why they use mostly bicycle components, instead of motorcycle, or automotive parts, they’re lighter.

By: Psiberzerker

Psiberzerker — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:48:46 +0000

Not gonna happen. Collapsing structures add complexity, and weight to something that’s already in the hundreds of pounds. The collapsing faring would be most complex, and at least double the weight, unless a simple flexible material (Cloth, or plastic sheet) which won’t protect you much, and prevent the laminar flow that is critical for aerodynamic efficiency.

By: Pieter

Pieter — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:20:34 +0000

Great site!
Although i realy like it that you spent some attention to the velomobiel I think that this article should be more extendet.
Like you say in the article, a velomobiel is an ideal sustainable alternative to a car when you travel in a flat area and the distances arent too large. However, when you also want a lot of speed in the hills than a lowrider recumbent bike is the better choice.

There are other aspect to take into account.
The climate, in a colder climate you need the protection from the shell more, in a warmer climate the shell can be a problem because you sweat more.
The length of the roads, the more crosspoints the more you need to accellerate and as you know accellerating is easier with a lowrider recumbent bike than with a velomobiel.

So, I would like to suggest to combine the velomobiel and the lowrider in one article.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:36:10 +0000

Having owned 3 velomobiles so far, I can say that whether or not the weight of the machine is an issue depends mostly on the terrain. In a flat area, or one with with rolling hills, the superior aerodynamics of a well designed velomobile can more than make up for the increased weight. In such an area, the aerodynamics can have the effect of making seem as though the hills have been flattened. So running at speeds that would make upright road cyclists jealous, while carrying a weeks worth of groceries can be possible without a motor.
On the other hand, if you do most of your riding in an area with very long hills, then a velomobile is probably not a good option – in that case it probably would be a good idea to fit a motor.
As the price of oil and gas increased, the price of velomobiles is likely to seem more attractive – and if we start seeing shortages at the pump, that is likely to attract even more widespread attention.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:17:57 +0000

This is the kind of product that, if mass-produced on a scale that made it more affordable, could really take off. My guess that the cost would have to come down to somewhere between $1000-$2000, though, which is quite a drop.

By: gmoke

gmoke — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:30:35 +0000

I want a velomobile that has a safe but collapsible faring and this is designed something like a folding wheelchair, something that I can ride throughout the winter without being completely at the mercy of the elements but can also carry up three flights of stairs as easily as my present bike.