Author Topic: Choose me a velomobile! (Read 18193 times)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #50 on:** 14 January, 2014, 06:55:17 pm »

Freaky coincidence!

Kim · « **Reply #51 on:** 14 January, 2014, 07:06:14 pm »

Does phantasmagoriana not read The Dark Side or something? You'd have thought this thread would have made her perk up by now...

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #52 on:** 14 January, 2014, 07:09:36 pm »

Dunno about her but I've been perked up by your advice on electrical widgetry Kim. Can I persuade you to take a trip to Nordrhein-Westfalen over the next six months with your soldering iron?

Arellcat · « **Reply #53 on:** 14 January, 2014, 09:57:49 pm »

The purple Versatile looks great, Auntie H. And you already have the Flevo roof, which is a nice wet weather accessory.

Quote from: Wunja on 14 January, 2014, 06:23:55 pm

The Versatile's power supply is 12 volts, so it might be worth looking at motor cycle after-market lights.

Although my Quest has all of the available lighting options from the factory: 12V supplying twin headlights, tail light, indicators, brake, and sort-of-fog (which is really just a brake override switch), and even though the single big LED of a tail light looks prosaic but is actually remarkably visible, I'm in the process of adding a high level rear light for better visibility when amongst traffic. I'm using the snappily-named Universal LED Stop/Tail Light with Integrated Indicators from The Online Parts Shop. It's good, and very compact, but there are brighter lights out there.

The indicators and brake light will be run off the standard wiring loom, but the tail light will be switched separately. I'm just waiting for VDC to send me my 5-pole mini XLRs so that I can easily unplug the light in the summertime.

In terms of adding a brake light function, the Quest (and Mango, and Alleweder I suppose) use a regular long lever-button microswitch screwed to one side of the brake lever clamp—custom, I know, and not terribly similar to Helen's panzer steering setup. It's bent to shape and wired such that at rest the brake lever depresses the switch and breaks the circuit, and pulling the brake lever releases the switch and completes the circuit.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #54 on:** 16 January, 2014, 02:39:09 pm »

And here's my write-up of my trip to Rotterdam:

http://www.auntiehelen.co.uk/auntie-helen-buys-a-velomobile/

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #55 on:** 20 January, 2014, 10:34:03 pm »

And another blog post about the Versatile with technical details and other stuff.

http://www.auntiehelen.co.uk/the-versatile-velomobile-and-v006-in-particular/

Valiant · « **Reply #56 on:** 22 January, 2014, 02:19:50 am »

Velos always look really narrow, is this because of the aspect ratio with the height of them? They do look like fun though and I'd quite like a go if anyone near London has an ickle one suitable for a short rider.

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #57 on:** 22 January, 2014, 06:06:13 am »

It looks like a nice buy ..........

The interesting part is that I could probably cope with the steering in one of them single handed whereas I probably wouldn't cope with the handlebar type steering in a Quest.
I wonder how long it takes to get an electric version of one built .......

Vince · « **Reply #58 on:** 22 January, 2014, 07:53:34 am »

Comment from Youtube

Quote

Quemo Velomobiel
3 days ago

That hooter doesn't sound right! Did the previous owner change it? It should beep at a high pitch instead of the strange sound (which sounds more like a bad brake).

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #59 on:** 22 January, 2014, 08:13:30 am »

Quemo is Wilfred van Norel whose wife owned it before Alex and did the electrics changes. I'd be surprised if Alex changed it, it's more likely gone wrong!

Andrij · « **Reply #60 on:** 22 January, 2014, 08:58:43 am »

Quote from: Tigerbiten on 22 January, 2014, 06:06:13 am

It looks like a nice buy ..........

The interesting part is that I could probably cope with the steering in one of them single handed whereas I probably wouldn't cope with the handlebar type steering in a Quest.
I wonder how long it takes to get an electric version of one built .......

Would that be to run air conditioning to keep you from overheating?

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #61 on:** 22 January, 2014, 09:03:42 am »

Quote from: Tigerbiten on 22 January, 2014, 06:06:13 am

I wonder how long it takes to get an electric version of one built .......

there already is an electric assist option on the Orca (the newer version of the Versatile).

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #62 on:** 22 January, 2014, 03:58:59 pm »

My father-in-law has invented a German-style name for the Velomobile:

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #63 on:** 02 March, 2014, 04:56:06 pm »

I shall also say a quick 'hi' here to Alex who sold me Penelope the Versatile has he has subsequently joined YACF with the username Roffa (which I gather is a nickname for Rotterdam where he lives).

Howdy Roffa!

roffa · « **Reply #64 on:** 04 March, 2014, 04:51:03 pm »

waving back.

Hi!

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #65 on:** 05 April, 2014, 09:43:10 pm »

And Penelope is now with me in Germany, safely tucked up in the garage.

You can read all about it here: http://www.auntiehelen.co.uk/penelope-the-versatile-moves-to-a-germany/

Here she is:

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #66 on:** 09 April, 2014, 09:43:35 pm »

Just cycled back from choir in the dark - and this is proper dark (no streetlights, farmland).

The two front lights in Penelope are, combined, not as powerful as my B&M IQ 60 Lux, and it does slightly notice in that I felt a bit less confident cornering in the dark. I have bought myself a headtorch (not sure how good it is yet, I didn't try it out this evening) as that might well provide enough extra light to help out on some of the darker patches.

The lighting system with Alfie is so good (SON dynohub and 60 Lux IQ) that I have been rather spoilt by it.

The indicators on Penelope are super-bright though! And having a rear light permanently on is good - Alfie's one's batteries keep conking out and I don't notice.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #67 on:** 11 April, 2014, 10:51:17 am »

Penelope now has a colour co-ordinated lock!

Kim · « **Reply #68 on:** 11 April, 2014, 01:46:18 pm »

What do you loop it round?

SlowCoach · « **Reply #69 on:** 11 April, 2014, 03:59:29 pm »

It's not meant for use - it's just meant to look pretty.

Phil W · « **Reply #70 on:** 11 April, 2014, 07:41:51 pm »

And heart shaped as well

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #71 on:** 11 April, 2014, 08:27:41 pm »

Just for Kim, here is the answer to your question...

With the lid open:

Seat forward, you can see the metal pole t-piece that is decidedly structural and non-removable

And another close-up:

You put the lock around the horizontal or the vertical post:

And pull it out through the lid and then round a handy lamp-post.

This prevents passers-by lifting up the lid and having a look inside, and indeed running off with the VM.

It was Roffa who told me how to do this and a very good plan it is too!

Canardly · « **Reply #72 on:** 11 April, 2014, 09:20:10 pm »

Oh go on then Auntie, who did the graffiti on the garage door? That velociraptor is something else.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #73 on:** 12 April, 2014, 08:31:20 am »

Here is a close-up of the garage door:

And here is the signature at the bottom right hand side:

Kim · « **Reply #74 on:** 12 April, 2014, 06:59:02 pm »

Author Topic: Choose me a velomobile! (Read 18193 times)

Phil W