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I've thought about giving up my car. I live in a rural area, so it would mean a lot more time to get places, but I would also have the time since I wouldn't need to pay for the car, the insurance, the gas, and the maintenance. I don't have a Volomobile, but I enjoy carrying stuff on several bikes and grocery shopping. I take my packages to the post office most days, which burns around 600 to 700 calories, and I feel fantastic afterward. The thing to think about is the cost. What will it cost me for all that time, and what medical costs will I save in the future from the health benefits, which are insane? I might just be "earning" money with each ride.
My guess is you’ll quickly earn back your investment in a velomobile. Now there is the new budget friendly 4More that starts around $6000USD. That could be a really good option to start with. I’d say time is money, but good health is priceless.
For the access hatch get yourself some vinyl wrap like people do there cars in you could even make it decorative. I bet you could find a 2 inch wide roll of reflective vinyl pretty easy.
I can recommend just selling the car and not replacing it. I got rid of my car five years ago and it felt like freedom. Own a DF XL and ride it all over Holland, use trains or walk. And a regular bike in addition for short rides in the city. I can recommend life without a car to anyone.
I think Holland probably also doesn’t get harsh winters though. Here it is not unusual to have -18C in winter and .5m snow in a snowstorm. For that it is harder. That is why I want to see how it goes in the winter. If I lived in Europe I would def entirely not have a car. There are so many good bike paths and great train and bus service. We don’t have that here and it makes me very sad 🙁
You are right about the winters, they are milder here. I live in down-town at 4 miles from my work, a 20 minutes bikeride on mostly segregated bike trails. Train system here is very good.
For the service hatch - factory could have a look at the WAW! I saw an actual model. the service hatch is very well done (but on the negative side it perhaps would leave us with a smaller service hatch) I' m curious what solution you're coming up with as I experience the leaking as well - looking forward to it!
I did not know the DF hatch also leaked. I would like to find a weather stripping that is tall enough to make a lip around the opening that can then direct the water down and out the front.
About the seats, I would like to know if you actually sit up straight, or bent with your spine in a c position? I would love a vm instead of a car so so much, but sitting with a curved spine for prolonged periods of time is horrible for the spine and will eventually cause discs to bulge and eventually a pinched nerve in the spine. I know from personal experience from sitting in a low soft disc chair that forces the spine to curve in a c position. It is absolutely terrifying when the nerve in lower back starts to bulge and cause nerve issues. Would love to know more about the seat.
This depends on the model of velomobile. The seats in the alphas are more of a C shape. I find them very uncomfortable for my back, but others really like them. The seat for the Bülk has a really nice lumbar support curve that I find supports my back very well. I have never heard of a recumbent rider getting bulging discs due to riding a recumbent even with the alpha seats. In fact, back and neck problems are why many people switch to riding a recumbent. I have scoliosis. Riding recumbent has allowed me to continue cycling despite my back discomfort. The days when I spend a lot of hours riding are when my back feels the best. I highly recommend it.
@@mnveloguy i just have the green pads right now. the carbon one would prolly do it. as i recall from your vid showing it it adds about the same as the full stock green pads?
@@xanderbrown4094 yes. Roughly speaking. It also provides a more stable support than a tall stack of the foam pads. Worth contacting the factory about.
I also have neck troubles. What is the most confortable velomobile for that problem ? I guess the pain comes when the rider is tempted to lift his head from the head rest to check the road or sides.
In my opinion the Buelk is by far the best option. The seat has a wide range of adjustment and the different sized headrest modules allow quite a bit of adjustment as well. Now, if you're on the upper end of the height range, say over 6'2", you may not have quite as much adjustment, but for most people, I think it is the best option. Naturally the best way to know for sure is a test ride.
I've thought about giving up my car. I live in a rural area, so it would mean a lot more time to get places, but I would also have the time since I wouldn't need to pay for the car, the insurance, the gas, and the maintenance. I don't have a Volomobile, but I enjoy carrying stuff on several bikes and grocery shopping. I take my packages to the post office most days, which burns around 600 to 700 calories, and I feel fantastic afterward.
The thing to think about is the cost. What will it cost me for all that time, and what medical costs will I save in the future from the health benefits, which are insane? I might just be "earning" money with each ride.
My guess is you’ll quickly earn back your investment in a velomobile. Now there is the new budget friendly 4More that starts around $6000USD. That could be a really good option to start with. I’d say time is money, but good health is priceless.
For the access hatch get yourself some vinyl wrap like people do there cars in you could even make it decorative. I bet you could find a 2 inch wide roll of reflective vinyl pretty easy.
I don't follow what you're suggesting I do with the vinyl wrap.
@@mnveloguy he means the paint rubbing with hatch movement
@@legitcrack6438 factory has already addressed this issue end of last summer.
@@mnveloguy just what i thought
@DTom-yc7zp
was suggesting
I can recommend just selling the car and not replacing it. I got rid of my car five years ago and it felt like freedom. Own a DF XL and ride it all over Holland, use trains or walk. And a regular bike in addition for short rides in the city. I can recommend life without a car to anyone.
I think Holland probably also doesn’t get harsh winters though. Here it is not unusual to have -18C in winter and .5m snow in a snowstorm. For that it is harder. That is why I want to see how it goes in the winter. If I lived in Europe I would def entirely not have a car. There are so many good bike paths and great train and bus service. We don’t have that here and it makes me very sad 🙁
You are right about the winters, they are milder here. I live in down-town at 4 miles from my work, a 20 minutes bikeride on mostly segregated bike trails. Train system here is very good.
For the service hatch - factory could have a look at the WAW! I saw an actual model. the service hatch is very well done (but on the negative side it perhaps would leave us with a smaller service hatch) I' m curious what solution you're coming up with as I experience the leaking as well - looking forward to it!
I did not know the DF hatch also leaked. I would like to find a weather stripping that is tall enough to make a lip around the opening that can then direct the water down and out the front.
@@mnveloguythat sounds great - keep us updated 👍
About the seats, I would like to know if you actually sit up straight, or bent with your spine in a c position? I would love a vm instead of a car so so much, but sitting with a curved spine for prolonged periods of time is horrible for the spine and will eventually cause discs to bulge and eventually a pinched nerve in the spine. I know from personal experience from sitting in a low soft disc chair that forces the spine to curve in a c position. It is absolutely terrifying when the nerve in lower back starts to bulge and cause nerve issues. Would love to know more about the seat.
This depends on the model of velomobile. The seats in the alphas are more of a C shape. I find them very uncomfortable for my back, but others really like them. The seat for the Bülk has a really nice lumbar support curve that I find supports my back very well. I have never heard of a recumbent rider getting bulging discs due to riding a recumbent even with the alpha seats. In fact, back and neck problems are why many people switch to riding a recumbent. I have scoliosis. Riding recumbent has allowed me to continue cycling despite my back discomfort. The days when I spend a lot of hours riding are when my back feels the best. I highly recommend it.
Just completed 1800 miles in my bulk. my seating is also an issue. i need more boosters
Contact the factory. They can send you more boosters. You are Ian g the carbon fiber booster plus the green pads?
@@mnveloguy i just have the green pads right now. the carbon one would prolly do it. as i recall from your vid showing it it adds about the same as the full stock green pads?
@@xanderbrown4094 yes. Roughly speaking. It also provides a more stable support than a tall stack of the foam pads. Worth contacting the factory about.
I also have neck troubles. What is the most confortable velomobile for that problem ? I guess the pain comes when the rider is tempted to lift his head from the head rest to check the road or sides.
In my opinion the Buelk is by far the best option. The seat has a wide range of adjustment and the different sized headrest modules allow quite a bit of adjustment as well. Now, if you're on the upper end of the height range, say over 6'2", you may not have quite as much adjustment, but for most people, I think it is the best option. Naturally the best way to know for sure is a test ride.
@@mnveloguy thanks for this. I will try one soon as I live in France.
🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺👍👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥