The following nice 10 minute video shot by William Hunt somewhere in the US desert-lands shows what can be achieved just by smoothing the shape of a moving body. Without pedalling he tops 55 mph!
Meanwhile back in the UK we have another velonaut breaking the speed limt in a Quest XS. According to the subtitles top-speed is 62 mph with a previous record of 67 mph
Canadian, Larry of the VeloRydr blog, has produced the following nice, “Benefits of a Velomobile,” graphic. The original graphic, featuring a Mango, has been supplemented by a number of variations featuring other velomobile models, including a quest and a WAW.
If your machine is not there, Larry may well do a variant for you, if you ask him nicely.
It is not a velomobile, but it is certainly a very valid part of a transport portfolio. In the how-stuff-works category is the following, short US produced video, showing the manufacture of an iconic British folding bike, the Brompton.
Now what we need is a video showing a velomobile being made.
But wait we do! Below you can watch an Alleweder A4 build itself – apparently untouched by human hands.
There were rumours that the Dutch specialist cycle, recumbent and HPV event Cyclevision had run out of steam and been cancelled for 2013. However we learn from Ligfiets.net that this is not the case and the dates have been set for June this year.
Cyclevision has also returned to the usual location of FlevOnice near Biddinghuizen on Flevoland. Last year FlevOnice was undergoing financial difficulties which forced a relocation to the Midland Motor Racing Circuit outside Lelystad, on the other side of Flevoland. Now with a new owner those difficulties have been resolved and it is possible to return to the preferred location.
More details will be posted on the usual Cyclevision page in due course and there is also a facebook page and a facebook event page. Links to photos blogs and reports on Cyclevision 2011, the previous time at FlevOnice, are on this page.
The program is still being developed but there will be the usual races, competitions, lectures and recumbent try-out opportunities. New this year will be a dedicated dealer and manufacturer area and trade show.
A humourous take on how your velomobile might appear to “others.” Originally from the French velomobile blog envelomobile.wordpress.com.
How we see ourselves and how others see us, can sometimes by surprisingly out of alignment. It is always helpful to try and have a look through other people’s (or even animal’s) eyes, even if it only makes you smile.
As hinted, when the cancellation was announced, other plans have arisen from the ashes.
A new European based volunteer, Evelien van Jeroen, has stepped forward to continue the plan for the original EuroTour, which has now been postponed to 2014, and lead the organising. With the organisation now based in Europe there is good hope that many of the difficulties the previous organiser encountered will be easier to over come. At present there are plans for the organisers to meet at SPEZI in April, meantime announcements will be made via the logical-vehicles forum.
Additionally, a group has been formed to continue with plans for a somewhat smaller tour, to take place this year. Originally proposed by Carl Georg Rasmussen of Leitra and dubbed Plan B, more details, and the option to register, can be found at the original eurotour2013.com site.
The tour is expected to take place over two weeks with two rest days and the intention is to start the tour in Leer, Germany, about a month after the HPV World Championships are held there. The route will then take the velomobiles through a number of principal cities in the Netherlands followed by Belgium and a corner of France. From there the proposed route will pass through Luxemborg and then follow the Mosel and Rhein rivers back to Leer.
A third plan has also been proposed, by organisers from Austria to incorporate a further small scale tour into their third summer velomobile gathering at Lake Constance (Bodensee). Perhaps it might be appropriate to dub this additional alternative Plan C?
However these various plans develop, there looks to be plenty of positive velomobile promotional activity over the coming months.