Today I took the Bus and visited Dronten for the second time.  On the previous occasion only Velomobiel were open, as the other velomobile manufacturers had decamped to the SPEZI in Germany, so this time I visited both Alligt and Flevobike.

Flevobike came first, where I had an appointment to meet with Johan Vrielink, one of the original founders of what is now Flevobike.  Here I also met with Jos Sluijsmans of Fietsdiensten.nl.  Both were part of the team that organised the recent Velomobile Seminar, which is currently planed to be repeated in 2014.

Johan Vrielink is now retired but for all that he is still full of energy with an active mind, and ideas to promote and further the velomobile concept and secure a greater knowledge and acceptance of the velomobile as a very practical mode of transport.  Jos is quieter but similarly full of ideas and it is encouraging that both their minds, as well as others, are engaged on this problem.  I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and flow of ideas.

Johan also gave us both a tour of the Flevobike facility where the Orca velomobile and the Green Machine recumbent are manufactured. A professional facility.  Here we also met Andre Kjaersgaard, from Velomobil Center in Denmark, who is working a placement to gain skills to service the Orca velomobile in his home country.

Next I went round to Alligt where I was able to talk with Leo Vischer for a while.  Again more ideas, and reality checks too, a good conversation.  One is impressed with both the possibilities and also the fact, that at present, there is not enough time as resources to pursue them all.  Much material to write about another time.

I was then able to borrow an Alleweder A4 for my return trip to Putten.  Perhaps I was mad, some think I am, but I had to prove for myself what I already believed, that a 45 km (28 mile) trip was quit realistic when tackled with a velomobile.  First of all I am currently very unfit and secondly this was the farthest I had ever traveled in a recumbent position. To cut things short, I was slow, slower than I originally expected, but I made it with nothing worse than jelly-legs.  I plan to write more on the Alleweder later.  Now I must get some sleep and make the return journey tomorrow.

Leaving Dronten

Between Dronten & Harderwijk