Cruisin’ in Your Velomobile

It’s January and very cold in most of the northern hemisphere, but
some innovative and persistent cyclists have found a way to keep
pedaling even in the foulest weather. Great photos.

The human-powered vehicles they employ are called velomobiles –
fully enclosed recumbent bicycles that usually have three wheels, a
chair-like seat and a standard bicycle drivetrain. The modern
velomobile is the closest that anyone has come to building a truly
practical all-weather, human-powered vehicle.

These vaguely egg-shaped vehicles may never become a common sight on
the world’s roadways, but with increasing gas prices and never-ending
gridlock, short-distance commuters are starting to take them more
seriously.

Their origins can be traced back to early 20th-century France, but
modern velomobiles bear almost no resemblance to those pioneering
designs with their steel-tube frames and wooden bodywork.

Contemporary machines have carbon fiber or fiberglass monocoque
chassis, full suspension and integrated lighting. Electric power-assist
systems driven by rechargeable batteries are increasingly popular and
will continue to be a design focus for these vehicles, which can weigh
65 pounds and up.

Velomobile riders are capable of cruising at speeds of around 30 mph
on flat ground thanks to the aerodynamics of these vehicles, but they
often find that other factors tend to slow them down.