As always great vid. And I so agree with you, it is so much fun. Even after the hardest day at work - it puts a smile on my face when commuting with the velomobile
I hope you enjoy your Bülk as much as I do. There are a lot of nice little features that make it very comfortable to drive. And as we now know from the speed tests, it apparently is also quite efficient.
I would love to have one here in south michigan ....not so much for commuting but for long distant vacation rides like 200 to 300 miles across states would be an awesome..only thing is I would have to be a midnight to dusk rider (5-6am before rush hour traffic really gets going) I despise heavy vehicle traffic and it would take the fun out of it. An experienced cyclist once told me that these cars on the road are like sharks...and you have to look at each one of them that they are out to get you. So best practice is to venture out where there are as few of them on the road as possible. You would not go swimming in the ocean when. Its infested with sharks...no you pick the times when they are scarce to lessen your chances of being bitten...same thing applies to cycling..
Where in south Michigan? My parents live in southwest Michigan. I lived there for a few years as well. Here in the city I usually ride roads with bike lanes or through quiet neighborhoods. I don’t know about Michigan, but Minnesota has a map of state showing which roads have wider shoulders and the average amount of traffic on those roads. I use those maps when venturing away from my usual riding area. It helped me plan my route for my tour last august. I plan to make a video about route planning at some point. With the right resources you can find very pleasant riding conditions in all but perhaps a rush hour.
@@mnveloguy I meant to say southeast MICHIGAN...(ypsilanti area)..but that would be a great video...I had a recumbent bike with the fairing (not quite as fast as a velomobile but still quicker and more comfortable than a regular bike) but unfortunately I had to sell it..but was planning on a bike trip from Ypsilanti MI to Buffalo NY....in the process of trying to get a velomobile to do that soon....I will chose some bike routes but some popular highways i would inevitably have to take. So I would probably still stick to 2 or 3am leave out times for a tranquil ride
@@rogerrabbit7469 there is a velomobile ambassador near Toledo with a Bülk. I’d recommend getting in touch with him to see if he could get you a test ride. The Bülk makes for a great touring machine. www.velomobileworld.com/ambassadors/matthew-todd/
Several reasons: first, the Bülk is much more efficient. the Bülk is 1-1.5mph faster on my normal route. The Bülk is stiffer and lighter so it climbs more efficiently with less power loss. I really like the convenience of the hinged hood system, especially if I’m stopped at a stop light or going uphill and can open the hood to vent the steam. The Bülk handles MUCH better in wind and at higher speeds and has a lot more safety features built in as well. Maintenance access is much easier in the Bülk. I hated having to tip the quest on its side just to charge my power meter pedals or remove them to put them on another bike. I also didn’t like having to fish around in the back to adjust the derailleur. With the Bülk the access hatches and hatch location make maintenance much easier on my back. The biggest reason I made the switch though, is air circulation. I overheat easily and sweat a lot. In the quest it just got too hot for me in the summer. The front air intake in the Bülk brings a nice cooling airflow and aims it right at my chest where I need it. The cable that holds the tiller off my torso let’s that air hit right where I need it. That alone made buying the Bülk worth it to me. I also find the luggage space in the Bülk is better than the Quest. The rear of the Quest gets narrow very quickly compared to the Bülk. I can fit 5-6 bags of groceries in the Bülk plus a case of sparkling water. I can easily fit my briefcase and trumpet in the Bülk along with shoes, camera gear, water, tools, and a change of clothes. The Bülk is actually specifically intended for commuting and excels at that in my experience.
Oh, I'm an old saxophone player. While I don't play saxophone anymore, I compose all the music on my RUclips channel via modular synthesizer.
As always great vid. And I so agree with you, it is so much fun. Even after the hardest day at work - it puts a smile on my face when commuting with the velomobile
Really great points and demonstrations Ben!
very comprehensive roundup, pretty much to the point and beautifully done. thanks
Thanks for watching.
I am waiting for my Bülk right now and I ordered it for most of the reasons you mentioned here. Great video.
I hope you enjoy your Bülk as much as I do. There are a lot of nice little features that make it very comfortable to drive. And as we now know from the speed tests, it apparently is also quite efficient.
I would love to have one here in south michigan ....not so much for commuting but for long distant vacation rides like 200 to 300 miles across states would be an awesome..only thing is I would have to be a midnight to dusk rider (5-6am before rush hour traffic really gets going) I despise heavy vehicle traffic and it would take the fun out of it. An experienced cyclist once told me that these cars on the road are like sharks...and you have to look at each one of them that they are out to get you. So best practice is to venture out where there are as few of them on the road as possible. You would not go swimming in the ocean when. Its infested with sharks...no you pick the times when they are scarce to lessen your chances of being bitten...same thing applies to cycling..
Where in south Michigan? My parents live in southwest Michigan. I lived there for a few years as well.
Here in the city I usually ride roads with bike lanes or through quiet neighborhoods. I don’t know about Michigan, but Minnesota has a map of state showing which roads have wider shoulders and the average amount of traffic on those roads. I use those maps when venturing away from my usual riding area. It helped me plan my route for my tour last august. I plan to make a video about route planning at some point. With the right resources you can find very pleasant riding conditions in all but perhaps a rush hour.
@@mnveloguy I meant to say southeast MICHIGAN...(ypsilanti area)..but that would be a great video...I had a recumbent bike with the fairing (not quite as fast as a velomobile but still quicker and more comfortable than a regular bike) but unfortunately I had to sell it..but was planning on a bike trip from Ypsilanti MI to Buffalo NY....in the process of trying to get a velomobile to do that soon....I will chose some bike routes but some popular highways i would inevitably have to take. So I would probably still stick to 2 or 3am leave out times for a tranquil ride
@@rogerrabbit7469 there is a velomobile ambassador near Toledo with a Bülk. I’d recommend getting in touch with him to see if he could get you a test ride. The Bülk makes for a great touring machine. www.velomobileworld.com/ambassadors/matthew-todd/
Very nice bulk!! im about to order a quest xs but im still doubting…, why did you get the bulk being the quest better for commuting and leguaje space?
Several reasons: first, the Bülk is much more efficient. the Bülk is 1-1.5mph faster on my normal route. The Bülk is stiffer and lighter so it climbs more efficiently with less power loss. I really like the convenience of the hinged hood system, especially if I’m stopped at a stop light or going uphill and can open the hood to vent the steam. The Bülk handles MUCH better in wind and at higher speeds and has a lot more safety features built in as well. Maintenance access is much easier in the Bülk. I hated having to tip the quest on its side just to charge my power meter pedals or remove them to put them on another bike. I also didn’t like having to fish around in the back to adjust the derailleur. With the Bülk the access hatches and hatch location make maintenance much easier on my back. The biggest reason I made the switch though, is air circulation. I overheat easily and sweat a lot. In the quest it just got too hot for me in the summer. The front air intake in the Bülk brings a nice cooling airflow and aims it right at my chest where I need it. The cable that holds the tiller off my torso let’s that air hit right where I need it. That alone made buying the Bülk worth it to me. I also find the luggage space in the Bülk is better than the Quest. The rear of the Quest gets narrow very quickly compared to the Bülk. I can fit 5-6 bags of groceries in the Bülk plus a case of sparkling water. I can easily fit my briefcase and trumpet in the Bülk along with shoes, camera gear, water, tools, and a change of clothes. The Bülk is actually specifically intended for commuting and excels at that in my experience.