Making a velomobile (Maybe)

[Dwight92397]

Hello,
I used to do a lot of bicycling touring and commuting. That ended when I moved to the mountains. Now, my commute is 30 miles with nearly 5000 feet of elevation gain on the ride home. Cold, wet weather is an issue in the mountains where I live. Heat is an issue in the desert where I work. And, I have to arrive looking and smelling like a "professional person..." So, I've been driving my car all the time.

I'm thinking about making a velomobile- probably one of the kits sold buy VelomobileUSA. I'm toying with numerous engine set ups. Electric doesn't have enough range for my mountain climb, so it will have a gas engine. Or, I may make a three-way hybrid with peddles, gas, and electric.

I may try to stay withing the motorized bicycle laws. Or, I may try to register so I can go a little faster and blend with traffic a little better...

It's all starting to seem rather complex to this beginner. I'm not sure how the story will end.

I may wait until Lightfoot starts selling the motorized Stormy. The downsides include cost, low power, and not having a DIY project. Upside is that it would definitely work, weather protection is better, and it would have room to take my dog on a tour.

Dwight

 

[bamabikeguy]

Welcome Dwight,

There are ways to climb those mountains, I did Colorado and there are other Rocky Mountain members. So, where theres a will.......

 

[ozzyu812]

Welcome! & Good Luck!

 

[Alaskavan]

Ozzy, welcoming a Member who made 1 post in Feb. 2007, has little chance of getting a response.

 

[KiDD]

Maybe he is busy building his velomobile?

On a thread hijacking side question... would putting two 48 cc engines on a bike keep it within the under 50cc regulation? I'm think dual engine trike?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Maybe he is busy building his velomobile?

On a thread hijacking side question... would putting two 48 cc engines on a bike keep it within the under 50cc regulation? I'm think dual engine trike?

Almost certainly the answer is NO!

It would be viewed as a two cylinder 96 cc engine by the courts.

 

[KiDD]

But I'm only using one at a time? For like long distance one can cool down while the other is working?

 

[loquin]

Probably not unless there was a mechanical interlock which disallowed one from being used while the other was running.

But, if that was the true intent, for about the same $$$ you could get a Mitsubishi, Honda, or R/S engine that could be run all day long without neededing to cool it down.

 

[loquin]

Dwight - you could probably throw a Staton VuVinci kit with the Robins-Suburu engine on the velomobile. That would get you the torque you need for the mountains, as well as the speed to keep air moving while in the desert.

 

[KiDD]

Nah, that would just be my excuse to the cop when I get pulled over.

I hope dwight comes back to show off his hybrid velomobile, cause I want to build a velomobile too.