Great to see a real one at last. Thanks for taking the time to explain in spite of being jet-lagged. What max crank lengths will fit inside? And do you need, or is there the facility to fit bigger heel bulges underneath? Are the mirrors, as fitted, adjustable in some way?
Max crank length depends on your sizes, up to 175 could be possible. The bulges have a fix size. The mirrors are fix. Your Head should be in a spezific position (for that is a good seat adjustment important)
Here is a comparison test I did for climbing between the W9 and Bülk. I have since learned that the gearing in the Bülk is not as low as I thought. My lowest gear is actually 36 front and 40 rear compared to the W9 which has 33 front and 40 rear. That explains why the Bülk required more power. I think the climbing is actually quite similar between them. The Bülk is a little bit stiffer than the W9, but the W9 is 2kg lighter.
@@mnveloguy Thank you for your answer. The lowest gear is something between a race bike and a MTB. There is a dealer in Switzerland who offers test rides. I need to try it.
@@HansSchulzBalzers If you need extremely low gearing, there is the option for a schlumpf drive if your feet will fit with 155 cranks. This will depend on which model velomobile you choose and your foot size.
What drove your choice to the W9 and not the W9s which fits people up 5 ft 6 inches . IIRC you are not taller than that or am I wrong ? Nice velo BTW .
Well, first, the W9s is several months away from production. I’m in Germany right Now, not in a few months. Second, while I am short, I am short because my back is short rather than because my legs are short. With 140 cranks I’m just barely clearing the hood. I would not fit in the W9s. In fact, I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t fit a Snoek either. I barely fit I. The Quest XS.
the mirrors are fine, if the seat is correct installed and tank steering is really comfortable ;) when you set the W9 perfectly than it is as fast as claimed and of course you need very fast tires too ;) (dont forget to set it Tubeless or with Latex Tubes) the space in the small Velomobile is not as big as in other but small people need less space and it is more aerodynamic for more space you should go 4 the M9
I cannot use tank steering because of back problems. That arm position makes my back hurt quite bad. That is why I chose tiller steering. My back problems also make it challenging to get a good seat position. My back is crooked and that means my torso is very short. That is why I use the thicker seat pad so I can see out of the velomobile. I have the seat in as good a position as I can get right now. The mirrors just don’t work well for me. I’m glad there are people that like them, but they are not my taste and completely useless when riding with a foam cover. I am using my Velomobiles for long distance touring and for commuting with music instruments. The amount of storage space is very important for me. Remember that just because something works well for one person, does not mean it will work for everyone. I also am not interested in running latex tubes or race tires. Where I normally ride the roads are very rough with lots of glass and gravel. That is not the place to run race tires. Instead I look for durable tires with still good speed like the contact urban. If I am having to stop to fix flat tires, that erases what little time I save by running those fast tires. Velomobiles are not only about speed. They can be very practical and I think it is important to consider this when buying a velomobile. Otherwise you are buying a very expensive toy. Oh, and I cannot ride in an M9. I would not be able to see over the hood.
@@mnveloguy yeah the hood or foam cover makes the mirrors useless, they are set to ride in cabrio mode ;) sadly to hear you have back problems, that make it more complicate. In your case a "bikefit" for the Alpha could do a good work for setting all correkt (the inventor of the Alpha is about 70km from your atm place ;) ) the choosen tires make a lot and the inner tubes as well (Tubeless>Latex>TPU>Butyl) the CCU is not bad with Latex or TPU you can get a little extra speed (~1-2mph)
@@woife01 speed really is not so much what I look for. I like not having to pump up tires often. I considered bringing my urbans from home, but there are logistical issues with getting things from the hotel to the airport. Since I am here for a long leisure tour and not for racing, I decided to make it easy for myself and not being so many extra things. When I get home then I will play with tires. For now I will just enjoy the very nice scenery at whatever speed I end up riding. I stop often when touring to take pictures and visit bakeries.
@@mnveloguy at the end you can choose between more speed or less effort for the same speed to test good stuff it is easier and better to do it from home and not on a holiday trip btw Daniel asked to have a look over your W9 and set all things correctly
@@woife01 yes. Testing is best at home. I’m not sure I will even have a chance to do a test run between the Bülk and W9 while I am here. I did hear from someone that Daniel wanted to do some work on my W9. I’m not sure what he wanted to fix though. I have all my hotels reserved and a very tight schedule. I am not sure I would have time to go and see him. My model is not the final edition. I will be sending regular feedback to Jan about things during my trip that could be improved for the customer models that come later in June. If the things Daniel has in mind are technical things, those I can change myself. I do a lot of work on bikes and built a velomobile at one time. So far I don’t see anything that is a problem. It runs very well, even though the chain is too long. I will fix that today. Yesterday I was just too tired.
Lever action -> How the cable runs influences that a lot. Concerning speed: 23 mph cruise speed is nice, but won't really show the difference aerodynamically yet. At that speed the air resistance is only costing you about 20 watts. Unless you're running some ultra fast rubber you won't really be able to tell the difference with a Bülk, or at least unless you're a continuous 400W beast 😁
I am definitely not a 400 watt beast. Ballern am Deich is not my thing. I’m not so focused on saying one bike is so much faster than the other either. They are both excellent bikes with slightly different features.
@@mnveloguy Of course! I wasn't being Bülk-protecty or against W9. Just explaining that it's not possible to assess whether a velomobile is fast at 23 mph (with normal wind), because you're basically only testing whether the wheels are aligned correct or not.
I used to run Schwalbe G1's on my Ice VTX - changing to Pro Ones was SO Much faster. They aren't slow - but they are soft on the edges, so cornering speed\grip was really affected (they would fold over themselves easily). So probably good for comfort, but not great to corner at speed.
I’m working on a video about the speed. I was away on vacation with the W9 and didn’t have a way to overlay metrics from ride footage. Be patient. I will get that video up hopefully this weekend and do some comparison rides with my Bülk.
They would have to make two separate molds for the W9 to get rid of those. They already have a lot do molds to keep ready for production. Adding more would increase the cost and make it much more complicated. I find the steering trunks are a nice place to wedge the hose end for my water bag.
@@mnveloguy Thanks. A dealbreaker for me anyway. The reason I ordered only tiller before is the freedom of movement to the sides. This trunk stops it. Being a mechanical engineer myself, I think it is absolutely not complicated to make another mold...the factory improves, develops fast, so it might happen. Till then, another model seems to be better suited for MY personal needs. This is my point of view, while it seems people in Europe prefer panzer steering.
@@benicsakp it’s not a question of difficulty in making the mold. It’s an issue of the number of personable, the amount of storage space, and the time it takes to maintain so many different molds plus the cost to make them. The number of people choosing tiller steering is so low, I’m not entirely sure they could justify the financial cost to make a tiller specific mold. That also is where the front of the seat attaches. That means a whole new seat attachment system would have to be developed. That increases coat and complexity as well. The Bülk does not have these bumps. Perhaps that bike would suit you better?
@@mnveloguy I was in the factory in Transilvania.There is space...maintaining various configurations is the capabiltiy the lack, ut this is something must be done about it. Preferably soon.
@@benicsakp the existence of the bumps for the tank steering is a pretty small thing for them to be investing in a whole new set of molds because one person doesn’t like the bumps being there.
I've had this exact thought as well. Better to go with one of the Buelks I think. They have more width in the thigh area, are easier to set up without a dealer, and cost a bit less too, especially the new 4More.
Welcome to Europe; greetings from Belgium!
Great to see a real one at last. Thanks for taking the time to explain in spite of being jet-lagged.
What max crank lengths will fit inside? And do you need, or is there the facility to fit bigger heel bulges underneath? Are the mirrors, as fitted, adjustable in some way?
Max crank length depends on your sizes, up to 175 could be possible. The bulges have a fix size. The mirrors are fix. Your Head should be in a spezific position (for that is a good seat adjustment important)
The built in mirrors have no adjustment. Same for the foot bumps. Crank length depends on shoe size and leg length.
Very nice looking. Do you already have some experience going uphill?
Yes. Quite a lot. I spent over a week riding in the alps with a couple 1-2km climbs rolling out at 13%.
Here is a comparison test I did for climbing between the W9 and Bülk. I have since learned that the gearing in the Bülk is not as low as I thought. My lowest gear is actually 36 front and 40 rear compared to the W9 which has 33 front and 40 rear. That explains why the Bülk required more power. I think the climbing is actually quite similar between them. The Bülk is a little bit stiffer than the W9, but the W9 is 2kg lighter.
@@mnveloguy Thank you for your answer. The lowest gear is something between a race bike and a MTB. There is a dealer in Switzerland who offers test rides. I need to try it.
@@HansSchulzBalzers If you need extremely low gearing, there is the option for a schlumpf drive if your feet will fit with 155 cranks. This will depend on which model velomobile you choose and your foot size.
@@mnveloguy Thank you very much for the information. I looked at the web page of Schlumpf. Very nice design.
What drove your choice to the W9 and not the W9s which fits people up 5 ft 6 inches . IIRC you are not taller than that or am I wrong ? Nice velo BTW .
Well, first, the W9s is several months away from production. I’m in Germany right Now, not in a few months. Second, while I am short, I am short because my back is short rather than because my legs are short. With 140 cranks I’m just barely clearing the hood. I would not fit in the W9s. In fact, I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t fit a Snoek either. I barely fit I. The Quest XS.
the mirrors are fine, if the seat is correct installed and tank steering is really comfortable ;)
when you set the W9 perfectly than it is as fast as claimed and of course you need very fast tires too ;) (dont forget to set it Tubeless or with Latex Tubes)
the space in the small Velomobile is not as big as in other but small people need less space and it is more aerodynamic
for more space you should go 4 the M9
I cannot use tank steering because of back problems. That arm position makes my back hurt quite bad. That is why I chose tiller steering.
My back problems also make it challenging to get a good seat position. My back is crooked and that means my torso is very short. That is why I use the thicker seat pad so I can see out of the velomobile. I have the seat in as good a position as I can get right now.
The mirrors just don’t work well for me. I’m glad there are people that like them, but they are not my taste and completely useless when riding with a foam cover.
I am using my Velomobiles for long distance touring and for commuting with music instruments. The amount of storage space is very important for me.
Remember that just because something works well for one person, does not mean it will work for everyone.
I also am not interested in running latex tubes or race tires. Where I normally ride the roads are very rough with lots of glass and gravel. That is not the place to run race tires. Instead I look for durable tires with still good speed like the contact urban. If I am having to stop to fix flat tires, that erases what little time I save by running those fast tires. Velomobiles are not only about speed. They can be very practical and I think it is important to consider this when buying a velomobile. Otherwise you are buying a very expensive toy.
Oh, and I cannot ride in an M9. I would not be able to see over the hood.
@@mnveloguy yeah the hood or foam cover makes the mirrors useless, they are set to ride in cabrio mode ;)
sadly to hear you have back problems, that make it more complicate. In your case a "bikefit" for the Alpha could do a good work for setting all correkt (the inventor of the Alpha is about 70km from your atm place ;) )
the choosen tires make a lot and the inner tubes as well (Tubeless>Latex>TPU>Butyl)
the CCU is not bad with Latex or TPU you can get a little extra speed (~1-2mph)
@@woife01 speed really is not so much what I look for. I like not having to pump up tires often. I considered bringing my urbans from home, but there are logistical issues with getting things from the hotel to the airport. Since I am here for a long leisure tour and not for racing, I decided to make it easy for myself and not being so many extra things. When I get home then I will play with tires. For now I will just enjoy the very nice scenery at whatever speed I end up riding. I stop often when touring to take pictures and visit bakeries.
@@mnveloguy at the end you can choose between more speed or less effort for the same speed
to test good stuff it is easier and better to do it from home and not on a holiday trip
btw Daniel asked to have a look over your W9 and set all things correctly
@@woife01 yes. Testing is best at home. I’m not sure I will even have a chance to do a test run between the Bülk and W9 while I am here.
I did hear from someone that Daniel wanted to do some work on my W9. I’m not sure what he wanted to fix though. I have all my hotels reserved and a very tight schedule. I am not sure I would have time to go and see him.
My model is not the final edition. I will be sending regular feedback to Jan about things during my trip that could be improved for the customer models that come later in June.
If the things Daniel has in mind are technical things, those I can change myself. I do a lot of work on bikes and built a velomobile at one time. So far I don’t see anything that is a problem. It runs very well, even though the chain is too long. I will fix that today. Yesterday I was just too tired.
Lever action -> How the cable runs influences that a lot. Concerning speed: 23 mph cruise speed is nice, but won't really show the difference aerodynamically yet. At that speed the air resistance is only costing you about 20 watts. Unless you're running some ultra fast rubber you won't really be able to tell the difference with a Bülk, or at least unless you're a continuous 400W beast 😁
I am definitely not a 400 watt beast. Ballern am Deich is not my thing. I’m not so focused on saying one bike is so much faster than the other either. They are both excellent bikes with slightly different features.
@@mnveloguy Of course! I wasn't being Bülk-protecty or against W9. Just explaining that it's not possible to assess whether a velomobile is fast at 23 mph (with normal wind), because you're basically only testing whether the wheels are aligned correct or not.
I used to run Schwalbe G1's on my Ice VTX - changing to Pro Ones was SO Much faster. They aren't slow - but they are soft on the edges, so cornering speed\grip was really affected (they would fold over themselves easily). So probably good for comfort, but not great to corner at speed.
I need some semblance of traction on gravel. I have a GP5000 on hand as well.
Do you have w9 width, length and height data? Could inform me? I did not find this data on the website.
257cm long, 72cm wide. Not sure about the height. Maybe 86cm? The model is very new and they have not fully updated the website with this information.
Tank you very much!
This thing looks like a train
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
It's really fast but I'm not gonna show you.
I’m working on a video about the speed. I was away on vacation with the W9 and didn’t have a way to overlay metrics from ride footage. Be patient. I will get that video up hopefully this weekend and do some comparison rides with my Bülk.
The panzer steering trunks inside is a dealbreaker for me. :(
How lame that design is!!!!
They would have to make two separate molds for the W9 to get rid of those. They already have a lot do molds to keep ready for production. Adding more would increase the cost and make it much more complicated. I find the steering trunks are a nice place to wedge the hose end for my water bag.
@@mnveloguy Thanks.
A dealbreaker for me anyway. The reason I ordered only tiller before is the freedom of movement to the sides. This trunk stops it.
Being a mechanical engineer myself, I think it is absolutely not complicated to make another mold...the factory improves, develops fast, so it might happen. Till then, another model seems to be better suited for MY personal needs. This is my point of view, while it seems people in Europe prefer panzer steering.
@@benicsakp it’s not a question of difficulty in making the mold. It’s an issue of the number of personable, the amount of storage space, and the time it takes to maintain so many different molds plus the cost to make them. The number of people choosing tiller steering is so low, I’m not entirely sure they could justify the financial cost to make a tiller specific mold. That also is where the front of the seat attaches. That means a whole new seat attachment system would have to be developed. That increases coat and complexity as well. The Bülk does not have these bumps. Perhaps that bike would suit you better?
@@mnveloguy I was in the factory in Transilvania.There is space...maintaining various configurations is the capabiltiy the lack, ut this is something must be done about it. Preferably soon.
@@benicsakp the existence of the bumps for the tank steering is a pretty small thing for them to be investing in a whole new set of molds because one person doesn’t like the bumps being there.
Needs yo be bigger for woman
I've had this exact thought as well. Better to go with one of the Buelks I think. They have more width in the thigh area, are easier to set up without a dealer, and cost a bit less too, especially the new 4More.