It is so nice to see a velomobile that works fine i winter. When I started riding velomobil here in Trondheim,Norway in 2005, my hope was to use it all year round. The hilly terrain around here made it impossible to get a grip uphill even with studded tires.There is simply not enough weight on the back weel. Flats are fine though. My first winter as a velomobile cyclist is this season with a Podbike Frikar. It does the job brilliantly. Simlpy a pleasure, even in -15 celcius. The physical traning is absent with an electric bike, so I have to get it elswere.
One item I find important to bring in the velomobile in the winter is a pair of walking shoes. If you break down and need to walk, you don't want to walk very far in cycling shoes with clips. I put my shoes on either side of my seat, one holds my drinks and the other holds my phone and extra camera and extra gloves. I use a cloth shopping bag to hold my jacket, hat, snacks, money bag/wallet, etc. I stuff the bag on the left side of my seat /behind the seat.
I’m fine with the concept of extreme cold, it’s the practical application of it I find difficult. Your streets look a lot clearer than here in Des Moines!
Absolutely. There are several roundabouts in my area. Minneapolis is very forward thinking. It’s like a sensible little piece of Europe stuffed in the very backwards thinking mass that is USA.
As a fellow Minneapolitan, I recognize many of the areas you are commuting. What has been the reaction of motorists to your velomobile taking up more space in the driving lane versus a thinner bicycle riding on the right side of a driving lane?
I choose my routes carefully. When there is a rideable shoulder, I use the shoulder. Four lane roads with lower speeds allow drivers to have a lane to pass me. On smaller side streets, there’s not enough traffic anyway. Aside from going uphill, velomobile cruising speed it not far off from the speed of traffic where I ride, so I’m not often holding up traffic. Drivers with very few exceptions have been patient and polite. I think they probably are more focused on trying to figure out what in the world I’m driving than they are on having to go a bit slower. I take the lane for safety. I would do the same on any bike. Drivers will try and pass without pulling out of the lane if I ride to the right. I had some passes early on where the driver did not leave the state mandated 3 feet of space. Taking the lane is a safety decision on my part and has eliminated those close passes.
Some places are better than others at clearing the roads. Here they are cleared very quickly. Usually a couple hours after it finishes snowing the roads are clear enough to ride. The Bülk has enough space for GT365 front and a studded marathon winter tire rear, so even if there was an inch or two of snow I would still be fine riding. I just go out knowing that I will need extra time for the commute.
@@mnveloguy The Snoek doesn't allow puting large tires and in France they are only taking of the snow of the larger roads. I almowst doubled the time of my commute in 3cm of snow.
@@k10e3r5 Ah. The Snoek. Yes, that is one of many reasons I do not own a Snoek. It would not be practical for the kind of commuting I do. Too low ground clearance and not enough room for winter tires like you found out. For winter riding I think the Buelk and QV are definitely better options. The Quest works pretty well too, but now you can only buy used ones. It is not being produced anymore.
Thanks for the Video! Have you some recommendations for winter tires, expecially with snow. I ride a cargobike throughout the year and the tires make a huge difference as our winter service is really bad; basically non existent. Would some tyres with rougher profile fit or is it too tight? You get some Gravel tires or relatively rough 20" ones, but usually they are a bit wider and higher.
Yes. I made a video recently about Torre recommendations. ruclips.net/video/SseLIv04xeg/видео.htmlfeature=shared Right now I have a Schwalbe G-One Allround in back. Front tires are fine as Schwalbe Ones, but I have studded tire for the rear and snow tires for front if I need them.
Regarding the emergency clothing I like the saying "better have and don't need than need and don't have". Well, in German language it definetely sounds better. I remember you mentioned in a previous video that the tyre (yes, I write that with a y) clearance is something to be improved. Can you fit a winter tyre?
Ja. Winter Reifen passen vorne und hinten. Vorne Schwalbe GT365 und hinten Schwalbe G-one allround 35mm order Schwalbe winter spiked Reifen. Im Bülk ist der Reifen hinten 622. Das gibt viele Optionen.
@@robertjosephbussiere3888 with a fog city visor insert that works with the motorcycle visor used in the Bülks and alphas, and with double glazed side windows. On the rare occasion I still get some fogging on the side windows, I just wipe it off. With the visor cracked open I really don’t get any fogging though because of the excellent airflow through the visor. The Bülks have top-notch airflow overall. Properly designed air intakes and vent holes out the tail make a big difference.
I don't understand why the bike is slower in the extreme cold. Is it because of the tires? Or is it because the human body has more difficulty exerting itself in the extreme cold? Thanks!
It is a combination of factors. Rolling resistance increases because the tires are less supple and do not roll across the pavement as well. Air resistance increases markedly as well because extremely cold air is much more dense and creates more drag. Of course there is also some impact on the ability of the rider to operate efficiently and produce power when it is that cold as well, but I think that is a smaller factor than air and rolling resistance since it isn’t outrageously cold in the velomobile.
Also another thing is a lot of the lubricants on your moving parts become more viscous, so your chain, wheel bearings, bottom brackets etc. increase in friction. If you were super sold on maintaining speed you could invest in lower viscosity low temperature lubricants & bearings that are made for cold temperatures but that can be expensive and will generally be higher maintenance on all your moving parts as it’ll likely require more frequent reapplication/replacement of sealed bearings back to normal when it starts to warm up Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this can chime in but many if not all lubricants are optimal for a certain temperature range and this plays a big factor!
@@mrsteel250 these little things do add up, but the main source of drag is still air and rolling resistance. No amount of special grease will erase those two factors.
I do not have assist, but the new velomobile I’ve ordered is being built so I could add assist in winter if I needed. So far it’s really not necessary. I just give myself 5 extra minutes for my commute when it’s extra cold out.
Just watching this beautiful machine going through the world makes me wanna get my knee healthy and purchase one
Great incentive to get that knee back in shape!
It is so nice to see a velomobile that works fine i winter. When I started riding velomobil here in Trondheim,Norway in 2005, my hope was to use it all year round. The hilly terrain around here made it impossible to get a grip uphill even with studded tires.There is simply not enough weight on the back weel. Flats are fine though.
My first winter as a velomobile cyclist is this season with a Podbike Frikar. It does the job brilliantly. Simlpy a pleasure, even in -15 celcius. The physical traning is absent with an electric bike, so I have to get it elswere.
I have had the rear wheel slip on steep hills in the snow. Fortunately there are very few steep hills here where I live.
One item I find important to bring in the velomobile in the winter is a pair of walking shoes. If you break down and need to walk, you don't want to walk very far in cycling shoes with clips. I put my shoes on either side of my seat, one holds my drinks and the other holds my phone and extra camera and extra gloves. I use a cloth shopping bag to hold my jacket, hat, snacks, money bag/wallet, etc. I stuff the bag on the left side of my seat /behind the seat.
I use SPD winter shoes with big chunky tread. Very easy to walk. Someone that doesn’t obviously will want spare shoes or boots.
Yup. That is one cold commute made feasible by the velomobile enclosure. Thanks for the vid.
And thanks for watching! I always forgot over the summer just how much the shell helps come frigid winter.
I’m fine with the concept of extreme cold, it’s the practical application of it I find difficult. Your streets look a lot clearer than here in Des Moines!
The Minneapolis suburbs are pretty good about clearing the streets quickly. It also helps that we haven’t had much snow this winter.
Wow, a roundabout? In America? 😂
Absolutely. There are several roundabouts in my area. Minneapolis is very forward thinking. It’s like a sensible little piece of Europe stuffed in the very backwards thinking mass that is USA.
As a fellow Minneapolitan, I recognize many of the areas you are commuting. What has been the reaction of motorists to your velomobile taking up more space in the driving lane versus a thinner bicycle riding on the right side of a driving lane?
I choose my routes carefully. When there is a rideable shoulder, I use the shoulder. Four lane roads with lower speeds allow drivers to have a lane to pass me. On smaller side streets, there’s not enough traffic anyway. Aside from going uphill, velomobile cruising speed it not far off from the speed of traffic where I ride, so I’m not often holding up traffic.
Drivers with very few exceptions have been patient and polite. I think they probably are more focused on trying to figure out what in the world I’m driving than they are on having to go a bit slower.
I take the lane for safety. I would do the same on any bike. Drivers will try and pass without pulling out of the lane if I ride to the right. I had some passes early on where the driver did not leave the state mandated 3 feet of space. Taking the lane is a safety decision on my part and has eliminated those close passes.
Good information!
Thanks for watching!
I stoped commuting with the velomobile because of the snow. Not the temperature.
Some places are better than others at clearing the roads. Here they are cleared very quickly. Usually a couple hours after it finishes snowing the roads are clear enough to ride. The Bülk has enough space for GT365 front and a studded marathon winter tire rear, so even if there was an inch or two of snow I would still be fine riding. I just go out knowing that I will need extra time for the commute.
@@mnveloguy The Snoek doesn't allow puting large tires and in France they are only taking of the snow of the larger roads. I almowst doubled the time of my commute in 3cm of snow.
@@k10e3r5 Ah. The Snoek. Yes, that is one of many reasons I do not own a Snoek. It would not be practical for the kind of commuting I do. Too low ground clearance and not enough room for winter tires like you found out. For winter riding I think the Buelk and QV are definitely better options. The Quest works pretty well too, but now you can only buy used ones. It is not being produced anymore.
Thanks for the Video! Have you some recommendations for winter tires, expecially with snow. I ride a cargobike throughout the year and the tires make a huge difference as our winter service is really bad; basically non existent.
Would some tyres with rougher profile fit or is it too tight? You get some Gravel tires or relatively rough 20" ones, but usually they are a bit wider and higher.
Yes. I made a video recently about Torre recommendations. ruclips.net/video/SseLIv04xeg/видео.htmlfeature=shared Right now I have a Schwalbe G-One Allround in back. Front tires are fine as Schwalbe Ones, but I have studded tire for the rear and snow tires for front if I need them.
Regarding the emergency clothing I like the saying "better have and don't need than need and don't have". Well, in German language it definetely sounds better.
I remember you mentioned in a previous video that the tyre (yes, I write that with a y) clearance is something to be improved.
Can you fit a winter tyre?
Ja. Winter Reifen passen vorne und hinten. Vorne Schwalbe GT365 und hinten Schwalbe G-one allround 35mm order Schwalbe winter spiked Reifen. Im Bülk ist der Reifen hinten 622. Das gibt viele Optionen.
I live in Texas. The humidity here makes my racing hood on my Rotovelo fog up very fast when it gets colder. How do you fight fog?
@@robertjosephbussiere3888 with a fog city visor insert that works with the motorcycle visor used in the Bülks and alphas, and with double glazed side windows. On the rare occasion I still get some fogging on the side windows, I just wipe it off. With the visor cracked open I really don’t get any fogging though because of the excellent airflow through the visor. The Bülks have top-notch airflow overall. Properly designed air intakes and vent holes out the tail make a big difference.
What started this velomobile journey for you?
Wanted something warmer to ride in cold weather. Came for the cold, got hooked by the efficiency.
I don't understand why the bike is slower in the extreme cold. Is it because of the tires? Or is it because the human body has more difficulty exerting itself in the extreme cold? Thanks!
It is a combination of factors. Rolling resistance increases because the tires are less supple and do not roll across the pavement as well. Air resistance increases markedly as well because extremely cold air is much more dense and creates more drag. Of course there is also some impact on the ability of the rider to operate efficiently and produce power when it is that cold as well, but I think that is a smaller factor than air and rolling resistance since it isn’t outrageously cold in the velomobile.
Also another thing is a lot of the lubricants on your moving parts become more viscous, so your chain, wheel bearings, bottom brackets etc. increase in friction.
If you were super sold on maintaining speed you could invest in lower viscosity low temperature lubricants & bearings that are made for cold temperatures but that can be expensive and will generally be higher maintenance on all your moving parts as it’ll likely require more frequent reapplication/replacement of sealed bearings back to normal when it starts to warm up
Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this can chime in but many if not all lubricants are optimal for a certain temperature range and this plays a big factor!
@@mrsteel250 these little things do add up, but the main source of drag is still air and rolling resistance. No amount of special grease will erase those two factors.
Do you have a power assist?
I do not have assist, but the new velomobile I’ve ordered is being built so I could add assist in winter if I needed. So far it’s really not necessary. I just give myself 5 extra minutes for my commute when it’s extra cold out.
🇺🇸😍🥰🔥🇷🇺