A sheltered e-bike seems perfect for the winters where I live but the ones I see available start at $10,000 which seems very steep given they are categorized as bikes.
A sheltered e-bike seems perfect for the winters where I live but the ones I see available start at $10,000 which seems very steep given they are categorized as bikes.
I’ve never tried (or really even looked at?) a velomobile but there has to be disadvantages right? Extra weight, more difficult to mount / dismount, clunkier for parking, unsightly scratches, and simply the lack of wind in your hair…
The weather tends towards inclement where I am, but the thing is it’s rarely so bad that a velomobile would really be warranted. It usually only rains for a few minutes at a time.
A velomobile or a recumbent tadpole is much more comfortable and safer. You can go much faster and/or more relaxed and you can transport more weight to go shopping. It’s the most energy efficient personal transport.
The only insurmountable downside is that upright bicycles are more agile in city traffic, and that a veomobile / tadpole requires more space at home.
But once they are cheaper and more geared for practical use instead of enthusiast speed machines, they have the potential to allow to mostly replace cars. At least if we change how we live and work to a less insane way.