In six months time I am moving to Germany, the Niederrhein area. This is flat - very flat - except for one moraine which isn't too high anyway.
Having met a bunch of velomobile riders before LEL (
http://www.auntiehelen.co.uk/breakfast-with-velomobiles/), the benefits of these machines have been churning round in my head for a couple of months. In considering the approaching winter, where I will be riding in cold, rain, snow etc, a velomobile sounds more and more attractive.
Obviously most of these things are in NL and Belgium and Germany so it's not something to purchase before I head over there (plus transporting it will add another layer of complication when I move a year's worth of stuff by car to Kempen). But I am starting my research now so that I can get on with it when I get to Germany, if I do find a suitable option, and make the most of their smooth cycle paths. If I get on with it then I'll bring it back when I return; if I don't think I would use it enough in England with our rough roads and hillier terrain then I'd sell it before I left DE.
Anyway, my main issue is not speed, weight, price etc but accessibility. Because of my disability in my left arm I can't lean on it at all when getting up out of something. For example, I almost never have baths because they are very difficult to get out of one-armed. I was going to have a go in one of the Quests with whom I breakfasted but it was clear that there was no way I could get out without help so there was no point. This means that I haven't actually ridden a Velomobile at all - I am only assuming I would like it!
I am also working on the theory (and this is purely an assumption) that Velomobiles with hinged tops which give you a larger exit area might be manageable for me. Someone who is selling a Versatile has told me he can get out one-armed but I would like some backup evidence from someone who isn't selling something...
And, assuming it is the case that I might be able to exit from something with a larger opening than a Quest/Mango, does anyone have any recommendations? (I'm also posting this on the German velomobile forum as I think they are much more common over there, but there is still some knowledge over here!)
I'm 1.75 metres tall (5'9") and heavy/lardy at 90+ kgs. Although I have no great desire to go super-fast in one of these, Jedrik has warned me about the hill climbing ability and I will undoubtedly meet one or two hills on my travels, particularly if the thing comes back to England with me eventually (Essex does have hills). So low weight would probably be good, although it might make it out of my price bracket (I'm mentally hoping for 4,000€ or less second hand).
My current list of options are:
WAW
Milan
Go-One Evo
Versatile (40kg)
Sunrider (50kg!!!!)
Leiba X-stream
Leitra
Alleweder
This is from looking at photos which suggest I might be able to get out one-armed.
On the 'not possible' list are
Quest
Mango
Strada
Any advice from people who know, or who know people who know, would be much appreciated!
