One of the first examples I came across of velomobiles being put to practical use was in a back issue of Velovision Magazine. Having taken up a subscription in 2006 I began collecting all the back issues. The March 2006 issue 21 had the following article reporting on the Leitra velomobile being put to use by a number of German Doctor’s for home visiting.
The article entitled “Dr Leitra” is copied below.
A good example of practicing what you preach!
While looking for something else I ran across this interesting post over at the Commute by Bike blog. It is an extensive report by Josef Janning on his use of a Quest velomobile to commute to work all year round, and includes a potted history of how he moved from commuting on a road bike, through several stages, till he reached his Quest. If it looks or sounds a little familiar this is the same Josef Janning who organised the Roll Over AMerica (ROAM) of last year.
View from the Quest | Photo: Josef Janning
He summarises his view nicely.
The velomobile exceeded these bikes and trikes in all dimensions. It allowed me to ride faster than on any of my other bikes, in more comfort, with better weather protection through all seasons, better luggage capacity, and on top of all this, with the most sensational feeling I have ever experienced on wheels.
The article is quite lengthy and informative and features a couple of excellent YouTube videos as well as several illustrative pictures. It is well worth a read.
The good folks at Bicycle Forest in Canada produced an excelent little video showing a North American built Quest velombile by Bluevelo. Bicycle Forest themselves produce quite a number of ïnteresting” vehicles as they push the boundaries of what might be called human powered.
This has to be one of the most professional videos explaining the velomobile concept. It features the Sinner Mango velomobile but it should be obvious that the same principals apply to any other comparable design. Production is by Stephen at undercover cycling. The view is from an American perspective but if it can be done in the land of the Automobile it can be done anywhere.
Enjoy!
A note about the price mentioned in the video, the number he quotes is for shipping and importing a quality European built velomobile into the US! For those living in Europe the cost is much less. For those living in the US there are US manufactured velomobiles which remove the costs associated with importing.