4 ms·

While this seems to be a really cool research project, it mostly made me curious if something like this could ever be available as a consumer product -- i.e. an

by scythe 12y ago

While this seems to be a really cool research project, it mostly made me curious if something like this could ever be available as a consumer product -- i.e. an aerodynamic, safe recumbent. I'm guessing the "catch" is that ultralight materials are expensive and the design doesn't really help much on a hill. It seems like it might work well alongside something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NuVinci_Continuously_Variable_Transmission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NuVinci_Continuously_Variable_T...

maxerickson 12y ago
You also tend to want to turn, so you can't have all that tight an envelope for a casual or commuter bike.
tromp 12y ago
Velotilt is a very interesting tilting velomobile design meant for practical use and with potential commercialization in mind http://bicycledesign.net/2012/10/velotilt-design-of-a-low-drag-practical-velomobile/ http://bicycledesign.net/2012/10/velotilt-design-of-a-low-dr... Its progress is detailed (in Dutch) on Wim Schermer's site http://wimschermer.blogspot.nl/search/label/Velotilt http://wimschermer.blogspot.nl/search/label/Velotilt
mesofile 12y ago
Neither the material costs nor the gearing system are barriers. You can put a fairing on your recumbent bike today [1] although to get a fully enclosed shell you'd have to go custom. The market doesn't support fully enclosed bikes, recumbent or otherwise, because they're not practical. The same principle that makes a fully faired bike fast on a closed course would make it a nightmare to ride in open traffic with moderate crosswinds and/or sunny, warm conditions. [1] https://t-cycle.com/-ezp-16.html https://t-cycle.com/-ezp-16.html
- Someone 12y ago
  Even ignoring that, you will need assistance to get in and out of these recumbents. For examples, look at the various "catch practice" videos at http://www.hptdelft.nl/en/index.php?option=com_youtubegallery&view=gallery&Itemid=56 http://www.hptdelft.nl/en/index.php?option=com_youtubegaller... (the current world record honderd, if I am not mistaken) Three wheels might make these things more practical, but apparently, that doesn't make them faster.
aroden 12y ago
Back problems lead me to a recumbent like your talking about. Love my Aero. Doesn't have the fancy gearing but I'm ~20-30% faster and with no pain (except for hills). Still expensive but comparable to traditional carbon bikes similarly equipped (about $3-4k). Cruises comfortably at 25-30mph; good downhill speeds get into 50-60mph. http://www.bacchettabikes.com/bikes/performance/carbon-aero-2.0-700c http://www.bacchettabikes.com/bikes/performance/carbon-aero-...
- blacksmith_tb 12y ago
  Bacchetta make an aluminum version for $2K. I haven't ridden many 'bents, but I would have thought under-seat steering would be more aero, and possibly more stable at high speeds (can't imagine descending at > 50mph on a diamond frame, don't think I've ever gone faster than 45 or so, and that was nervous-making).
buro9 12y ago
You're looking for a class of trike called the velomobile : http://en.velomobiel.nl/fietsen/ http://en.velomobiel.nl/fietsen/
fernly 12y ago
There are numerous recumbent bikes[1] and trikes[2] that use simple front fairings for speed and weather protection. Some builders like [3] put fully-enclosed bodies over OEM trikes to get velomobiles. And there are from-the-ground-up velomobiles like [4] and numerous others. [1] http://easyracers.com/ http://easyracers.com/ [2] http://www.greenspeed.com.au/trikes.html http://www.greenspeed.com.au/trikes.html [3] http://velomobiles.ca/Aurora.html http://velomobiles.ca/Aurora.html [4] http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html

by scythe 12y ago

maxerickson 12y ago

You also tend to want to turn, so you can't have all that tight an envelope for a casual or commuter bike.

tromp 12y ago

Velotilt is a very interesting tilting velomobile design meant for practical use and with potential commercialization in mind http://bicycledesign.net/2012/10/velotilt-design-of-a-low-drag-practical-velomobile/ http://bicycledesign.net/2012/10/velotilt-design-of-a-low-dr... Its progress is detailed (in Dutch) on Wim Schermer's site http://wimschermer.blogspot.nl/search/label/Velotilt http://wimschermer.blogspot.nl/search/label/Velotilt

mesofile 12y ago

Neither the material costs nor the gearing system are barriers. You can put a fairing on your recumbent bike today [1] although to get a fully enclosed shell you'd have to go custom. The market doesn't support fully enclosed bikes, recumbent or otherwise, because they're not practical. The same principle that makes a fully faired bike fast on a closed course would make it a nightmare to ride in open traffic with moderate crosswinds and/or sunny, warm conditions. [1] https://t-cycle.com/-ezp-16.html https://t-cycle.com/-ezp-16.html

Someone 12y ago
Even ignoring that, you will need assistance to get in and out of these recumbents. For examples, look at the various "catch practice" videos at http://www.hptdelft.nl/en/index.php?option=com_youtubegallery&view=gallery&Itemid=56 http://www.hptdelft.nl/en/index.php?option=com_youtubegaller... (the current world record honderd, if I am not mistaken) Three wheels might make these things more practical, but apparently, that doesn't make them faster.

aroden 12y ago

Back problems lead me to a recumbent like your talking about. Love my Aero. Doesn't have the fancy gearing but I'm ~20-30% faster and with no pain (except for hills). Still expensive but comparable to traditional carbon bikes similarly equipped (about $3-4k). Cruises comfortably at 25-30mph; good downhill speeds get into 50-60mph. http://www.bacchettabikes.com/bikes/performance/carbon-aero-2.0-700c http://www.bacchettabikes.com/bikes/performance/carbon-aero-...

blacksmith_tb 12y ago
Bacchetta make an aluminum version for $2K. I haven't ridden many 'bents, but I would have thought under-seat steering would be more aero, and possibly more stable at high speeds (can't imagine descending at > 50mph on a diamond frame, don't think I've ever gone faster than 45 or so, and that was nervous-making).

buro9 12y ago

You're looking for a class of trike called the velomobile : http://en.velomobiel.nl/fietsen/ http://en.velomobiel.nl/fietsen/

fernly 12y ago

There are numerous recumbent bikes[1] and trikes[2] that use simple front fairings for speed and weather protection. Some builders like [3] put fully-enclosed bodies over OEM trikes to get velomobiles. And there are from-the-ground-up velomobiles like [4] and numerous others. [1] http://easyracers.com/ http://easyracers.com/ [2] http://www.greenspeed.com.au/trikes.html http://www.greenspeed.com.au/trikes.html [3] http://velomobiles.ca/Aurora.html http://velomobiles.ca/Aurora.html [4] http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html http://www.bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html