Versatile 007 English version

Jacques.

2005-08-20T12:46:00.000+02:00

My neighbour Jacques can fly with the Versatile.
NASA does not have to look further to replace the shuttle...

Test Cabbike, WAW and Versatile.

2005-08-14T12:26:00.000+02:00

The three velomobiles before the test. Christophe, in the white t-shirt behind the WAW, wants to buy a velomobile for his commute from Hamme to Brasschaat. He eliminated the Quest because it is too unstable and there’s a waiting list of almost two years. The WAW is more stable and faster (winner of a race at Cycle Vision). He’s been test-riding it for a week.
Now he’d also like to take a ride in a Versatile (at the moment the only one in Belgium) and a Cabbike.

2005-08-14T12:24:00.000+02:00

Christophe and Wouter

Christophe crawls into the Cabbike, with its sticker for the Hamme Youth Night (an event for which the owner is an organizer) on it. Wouter gives him instructions...don’t activate the ejector-seat button...

2005-08-14T12:21:00.000+02:00

WAW and Versatile

In 5 minutes (very easily!) I was able to un-mount the front and rear sections of the WAW and to put them in Christophe’s car. With the rear seat of the car folded down, the WAW fits right in. To close the backdoor, we did have to let the air out of the rear tire.

2005-08-14T12:17:00.000+02:00

Cabbike and WAW.

There’s still no roof on the WAW. Dries Callebaut (manufacturer) didn’t have it ready yet. Wouter sits completely dry now in his Cabbike, which he has lined on the inner surface with insulation material.

2005-08-14T12:16:00.000+02:00

Bruno in the WAW

The WAW was somewhat too small for me, and I had to be satisfied with a very short ride. My knees came up against the fairing, and riding was out of the question. For Christophe the fit was perfect. The WAW is more stable in the curves than the Versatile. You sit lower in the WAW, so you’re not as visible to others. It weighs 10 kg (22 pounds) less than the Versatile and is also a somewhat rougher (fragile) construction. For Christophe, who will be commuting 50 km each way, the weight is imprortant.

2005-08-14T12:12:00.000+02:00

Neighbourly interest.

The neighbours examine the interior of the Versatile. One of them tried a little ride. The more-complete finish details of the Versatile also increase the weight in comparison with the WAW. In the background is the little red car in which the WAW was transported.

Versatile on 'Cycle Vision 2005'.

2005-06-07T13:14:00.000+02:00

Finally we have a chance to see a prototype of the new rain-cap. The side is open, and in front there is also a little windshield between the mirrors (not on the photo). It sure looks like a race-monster. The rain-cap will be available in juli 2005.

2005-06-07T13:11:00.000+02:00

The prototype of the cap, which is still in the experimental phase. Here for the moment fastened with tape. At the back there will be push-botton fasteners. It will roll up so that it can be taken along in your velomobile.

2005-06-07T13:10:00.000+02:00

A few changes in comparison with my Versatile.
The battery is now located on the left side, a different computer, and the paint is now applied to the outer side. Unfortunately this Versatile crashed in the lorry that transported it.

Winter in the Versatile. (4157 km)

2004-12-24T15:49:00.000+01:00

The roll-bar behind me...

Winter grips the Versatile tight.
21st of December and winter makes its entrance. The temperature this morning was around -6 degrees C. I started out under a splendid starry sky. Orion, the Pleiades, ... and a whole multitude of twinkling stars among them. In Sombeke we have very little light pollution.
The flag in its holder, lights on, and I roll onto the dike. The bushes are white. Water vapor from the Durme and the Schelde lies heavy on the landscape.
The first meters feel fresh. Just warm, pedaling. In places where I might have slipped with the recumbent, I feel myself more secure on three wheels. The roll-bar behind my head acquires a wintery design as the moisture from my breath freezes on it. Despite the low temperature, everything functions as it should. I don't set the parking brake in this weather.

2004-12-24T15:46:00.000+01:00

frozen inside

After a half hour of riding, the water vapor is frozen to the inner side. But it doesn't feel cold in the Versatile. You always stay warm from the riding. I zip the 'skirt' nearly closed, so that less cold air passes over my body. Glasses with clear lenses protect my eyes.

2004-12-24T15:44:00.000+01:00

winternose

I have to keep my head properly warm. It's always outside the Versatile and has to face the icy wind. A fleece head-warmer over the chest/neck piece (black) and on top the helmet. In a Cab-Bike or Leitra, that isn't supposed to be necessary, but the windows sometimes freeze up. After a quarter-hour riding, it's nice and warm. A long-sleeved shirt and a thin, long pair of pants are sufficient.

Computer. Tyre pressure. Mist.

2004-12-13T15:06:00.000+01:00

After a day of rain, when between 20 and 40 liters of water per square meter poured downn, the “panorama” computer failed. I stopped in at a bike shop in Dendermonde and had a new battery installed, but to no avail. I e-mailed Johan Vrielink of Flevobike. It seems that the thing can be sensitive to moisture. After drying out for a few days inside, the screen still refused to light up. Johan had told me that I should then send it back, so I did that on Friday. Curious whether a new one will arrive soon by mail. In the meantime, I count up the kilometers on paper. Right now, I’ve ridden 3670 km.

I’ve pumped up the tyres a bit.
The ride had gotten noticeably slower. You gear down lower than usual for your route. The tyres had gotten down to a pressure of 4 bar (58 psi). Pumping them up to 6 bar (87 PSI) yields a 3-4 km/hour increase in speed. It feels like a lot. It is almost the difference with the Quest... Although the Versatile has three-wheel suspension, you definitely notice a difference. At 4 bar, it rides very soft, but somewhat slower; at 6 bar, you feel the unevenness of the pavement, but it goes better with the Vredestein slicks.

mondag, december 06, 2004

Mist
In the mornings there is often a thick mist over the fields. Visibility falls off sharply, as does the speed. The light from the Versatile rests on a white mist and reflects back. Careful riding is the order of the day. Especially since now and then an unlit rider comes toward you and passes. I’ve already twice ridden a bit off the path in the curve, despite knowing the way well, but it completely disappears ....in the thick mist.

In the velomobile, it is now comfortably warm. Passersby also seem to realize that. An older lady on a bike says to her companion, “we really ought to have something like that.”

The post.
Around 11 o’clock, the mailman brought a package from Flevobike. The replacement for the computer that gave up the ghost. Some time with the manual, putting in the settings, and then testing it in the velomobile. It works. I can see again how fast I ride. I velomobile, therefore I am...

To the KBC branch bank in Elversele to make a funds transfer. “Oh no, sir, for foreign funds transfers you must go to Waasmunster.” The technology is lacking... The transaction must be postponed to tomorrow.

Today, my arrival at the school (12 o’clock) at the time the pupils are coming out. That results in some extra chatter, but in a friendly way. That’s nice. It’s not yet an everyday experience, such a “bike.” Usually, I take care to arrive or leave outside the “rush hour.”

This afternoon, I go with the teachers to play mini-football against other schools. One contest won, another lost. Other teachers complain somewhat of fatigue after the game. By commuting every day with the Versatile, you can stay in great shape, and you don’t put as much stress on your joints as with walking. Crossing a bridge now and then provides some interval training.

At the end of the week, it will be more than 4000 km. At 5000 km it needs to go back to Flevobike in Dronten for its first major tune-up.

Nearly winter.

2004-11-22T18:19:00.000+01:00

Brisk autumn...
The first snow hasn't fallen yet. Between 0 and 5 degrees C, I ride now in a sweater with long sleeves. After the getting out, I immediately put on a fleece jacket to keep my sweaty body from cooling down too fast. I cover my neckwith a scarf or a neck gaiter such as they wear on motorcycles. While riding, the cold wind slips under your chin into the space under the protective cover (which zips up to close the hatch). Also the eyes need to be shielded with glasses during the winter. (photograph on dutch version: www.brunovdbl.bogspot.com).

During my ride home, I caught sight of a woman pushing a pram on the right side of the bicycle path. In such circumstances, I think: should I honk my horn or come alongside quietly? She looked as if she would stay to the right, so I came past, not too fast (25 km per hour). And as soon as I passed her, there followed a frightful scream. A phenomenon that I had already experienced earlier. Is this due to the appearance of the velomobile or to the conscience of the one you are passing?

One year without car... 3000 Euros saved.

2004-11-22T18:16:00.000+01:00

It was a year ago that I gave away my car. What has that accomplished for me? Insurance (650), license/taxes(200), annual inspection(50), repairs would have been necessary (500 Euros, but possibly double to remove the rust) and gas for approximately 8000 km(550). A total of somewhere around 2000 Euros without even figuring in the parking costs. Further a bicycle compensation for the daily commuting distance (16 km x 2) of 1000 Euros. Already there's a 3000 Euro profit. Is a 6000 Euro Versatile really expensive? I don't think so. At this rate, it pays for itself in two years.

This October 650 km by velomobile. (And 200 km with the twister-recumbent.) Maintenance expense: 0.

Fall and 3333 km ridden.

2004-11-12T09:05:00.000+01:00

Tints of red, yellow and green adorn the Schelde dikes. Autumn is to be admired now in all its beauty. The amber tree is clothed in scarlet. You smell the beginning of the decomposition of the leaves. A mushroom-smell enters your nose as you quietly cycle along the meadows. Under the wheels, the leaves crackle, dried out and not yet washed away by the rain. After a short cold spell, it remains warm for this time of the year: today 17 degrees and lovely sunshine. Last week I had a bit of a cold, but I cycled to work nonetheless. Though it had been slow. After a stormy night (a week ago) some branches were lying on the path. On a concrete section in Hamme a broken branch blocked the whole width of the road. Noticed too late. This required me to squeeze me the brakes all the way for an emergency stop. The Versatile managed to just brush the leaves as it passed through. Fortunately the branch was not too thick and couldn't tip the velomobile. By dusk even on a totally familiar route I will certainly make sure to have the lights on in the future. The batteries last with turning on and off in the mornings just 14 days with. I estimate that they can burn continuously for three hours. Now that it's really dark in the mornings, I ride the whole route with the front light on. The rear light (LED) remains on wheneven you turn the key. Charging the batteries after a week ensures that I won't be without light. Also in the evenings, we can run late, with the rehearsals for the musical (' Doctor De Vuyst'). One of these days I will install some extra LEDs on my the flag. We'll have to see how they can be best fastened. A photo follows..

Flevobike has improved its website. New photographs --among others -- of my aquamarine little car. Delivery date for current orders is now July 2005. (See: www.flevobike.nl) Kees van Hage has ordered a silver-metallic Versatile number 23!

Short sleeves at 5 degrees C (41 degrees F).

2004-11-11T10:24:00.000+01:00

11th of October and finally a 'Versatile-temperature'. This morning 5 degrees: short sleeves and thin long pants were more than warm enough. It warms up very fast in the velomobile. Above 25 degrees (77 degrees F), it's like sauna weather. You can ride better then on a normal recumbent. It's hard to call it a 365-day-bike, unless you are a sauna enthusiast and can change chothes at work. Extra air intakes like the ones in the LEITRA would be welcome. You can stick your little finger under the PET-structure and let in some extra air. But in cold weather and rain you realize the advantages of a velomobile.

In this biting east wind, I wanted to let my pupils run around outside. They declare me to be crazy at first. Some power of persuasion is needed, but after running, they come indoors, flushed and convinced that it was for the best. We gradually build up endurance. Each session, we run somewhat further, longer. Cross is a winter sport, and the pupils need to learn to live with the seasons. We become estranged too much from nature ... in the car, in front of this computer... After teaching for four hours in the morning, the pool. . . After a few laps, I'm totally relaxed. The pool is open on Monday mid-day for the 17- and 18-year olds. Not a single pupil comes to swim of his own accord. The students have only 1 hour free at noon during which they must also eat. A possible explanation for the paltry participation. Next week the other years get the opportunity to swim. Possibly more people will come.
As I rode away from the school in the Versatile, a class window opened and a few urgings to ride faster. The pupils are so easily distracted...

Renovated swimmingpool of the school

2004-11-11T10:22:00.000+01:00

New swimmingpool of the school
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

In case anybody is interested in the renovated pool, I'm including a photo. Dimensions: 20 meters by 8. Note the surfer on the tiles on the background. The temperature of the water: 28 degrees C. It streams continuously over the left edge and is filtered there. Do you like to swim with a group? Rent the pool for instance for a Saturday morning. Info on the Heilige-Maagdcollege (translated: Blessed-Virgin School), Dendermonde. (See also: www.hemaco.be).

1000 km in September.

2004-11-11T10:10:00.000+01:00

In September, the Versatile was ridden 1000 km. Included are 250 km of the test weekend ( I didn't ride myself) and among others a ride to the dentist: from Dendermonde to Mortsel (85 km). A painless dentist is worth the trip. One day I rode to work twice: the opening of the new school pool was the reason. At the end of September I rode along with my wife once more in her car to Dendermonde. In Waasmunster-town, we were already caught in a traffic jam. And, oh yes, you guessed it, I could have ridden that 16 km faster with the velomobile. It took 40 minutes more with the car. In 1991 I could get to Dendermonde in 15 to 20 minutes. Now that is only possible on a quiet Sunday morning. With the bicycle, you know what time you will arrive. My commuting subsidy provided me with 105 Euros in September. The school pays that much for a teacher riding a bicycle, and the ministry of education reimburses the school. But the ministry appears to be more than a year in arrears with the payments. They have underestimated the number of teachers that would bike to work ride. A mere 30,000 of the 150,000. If they had e-mailed a simple questionnaire to each school, they might have been able to plan for this in the budget ...

the inside of the Versatile.

2004-10-11T15:58:00.000+02:00

inside

1.left turn signal-(indicator)
2.right turn signal-(indicator)
3.headlights button
4.parkingbreak
5.blinker
6.headlights
7.buzzer
8.headlights-flash
9.disconnecting battery
10.chair

Parking the Versatile at work.

2004-10-05T17:24:00.000+02:00

parking the Versatile at work

In a garage where the bicycles are kept, I've made a little corner for the Versatile. The schoolchildren use the school bicycles every other session to get to the Sport Hall. Now and then, a careless student causes a domino-effect and the bikes fall over. To protect the chassis of the Versatile, I've built an extra stall in the garage (on the right).

2004-10-05T17:20:00.000+02:00

damage prevention

A stall for the Versatile.
Simply a normal table on concrete blocks, a wooden board on the side, with strips fastened to the legs and a wooden door. That provides sufficient protection.
Last week, a class from Pretoria (South Africa) came to visit. When I asked if they could come up with a good name for a velomobile, they couldn't come up with anything beyond 'pedal car'. They don't have any point of reference for it. They themselves can't bike to school. It is too dangerous. Do we realise that we live here so free and happy...?

PET in PET

2004-10-05T17:16:00.000+02:00

PET in PET
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

When I load up from the shopping trolley, six 1.5 liter bottles of water fit easily on one side behind the seat. On the other side and around the seat, you can find space for even more stuff.

magazine 'De Standaard'

2004-10-05T17:15:00.000+02:00

magazine second page
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

Front page of the newspaper: 'De Standaard' - Belgium

2004-10-05T17:12:00.000+02:00

Front page of 'De Standaard' - Belgium
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

8 of 10

2004-10-05T17:10:00.000+02:00

8 of 10
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

Had to get up early even though it was a weekend. But we weren't bothered by that. It is after all a festival day for velomobile enthusiasts. Spare clothes in a waterproof pack, fleece and rain jacket for standing outdoors all day, and naturally liquids to protect the kidneys from crystallising. The kitchen clock says twenty to eight, as I seal up the Versatile and am on my way.
Against a headwind going to Ghent. The ride takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Just 10 o'clock as I turn in to the 'Blaarmeersen'. I had promised Dries to be there a quarter hour earlier. Following the signs, 'velodroom' I come like Alice, in Wonderland. And there they stand... the velomobiles for the test weekend!

An American (Illinois) in Ghent

2004-10-05T17:07:00.000+02:00

An American (Illinois) in Ghent
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

In the white tent, the participants can sign in and take their badges. The badge is then turned in to the attendant of a velomobile to allow the participant to make a round with the velomobile. Also, the participants sign an agreement to take responsibility for any damage to the vehicle. In the photo, a gentleman from Illinois in the United States, who flew over especially to test the velomobiles. Maybe you are thinking: crazy. But it isn't, if you've decided to get rid of your car and switch over to a velomobile. With the savings, you can fly repeatedly after a few years.

Radio 1 reporter

2004-10-05T17:06:00.000+02:00

Radio 1 reporter
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

In addition to 'De Standaard' (the article appeared the next weekend in the magazine section), there was also a reporter from Radio 1. He took a ride in the Alleweder en interviewed several people. You can catch the atmosphere if you surf to www.radio1.be and listen to 'brood en spelen' (Bread and play?). Too bad it isn't 'color-radio'... (see the photo with the three velomobiles in yellow, red, and aqua).

Sociability is trump.

2004-10-05T17:00:00.000+02:00

A lot of people.
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

125 riders tried out my seat. Not a single pilot did any damage, there wasn't even a scratch on the exterior. Thanks indeed to all the people who drove around so carefully with the velomobiles. An impression of the atmosphere on this photo, with the WAW (red), Versatile, and Leitra (white). The latter is made in Denmark. There were people who asked a lot of questions. A very sociable and pleasant atmosphere, and on Sunday sun-drenched...

WAW and Versatile

2004-10-05T16:56:00.000+02:00

Versatile and WAW
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

The east parking lot was marked off with ribbons and the young test riders quickly reached speeds of 30 km/hour on the straightaway. Braking before the subsequent corner probably prevented excessive speed and accidents. With my velomobile, 250 km were ridden in the parking lot over the weekend! Sunday, it was continually in use, and there was a line of 3 or 4 people waiting, where you could have a little conversation again.

Aerorider

2004-10-05T16:53:00.000+02:00

aerorider

Aerorider was there, too. A yellow and a brown version. Here you see Wouter driving off. With the electric motor, you are soon tempted not to pedal along. Pedaling unassisted is difficulty, since you have to move a 70 kg vehicle. It certainly is a nice-looking design.

Versatile, WAW and Quest.

2004-10-05T16:51:00.000+02:00

testweekend-velomobiles
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

Sunday there was also a Frenchman there. He came from southern France and was looking for a velomobile with electrical assist in order to ride around in a hilly region. Also a man from Slovakia with a beard and hat was a colorful figure and along with the American lent an exotic color to the event. At 17.30 we said our farewells, with a few more photos and set out on the journey homewards. Sixty km along the dikes of the Schelde in just under two hours. And they say that today, people were sitting for 7 hours in the traffic jam around Brussels. The velomobile gives you a feeling of freedom then.

Pulled over to the kerb by the police.

2004-10-04T17:28:00.000+02:00

Mid-day yesterday with the Versatile from Waasmunster to Ghent and back (96.6 km).

In Melle in the Frater Street (cycleway along the left side) a woman in a white van passes me, rolls down her window and hollers something about a cycleway. I continue on, undisturbed and begin to come up to speed. I see her stop up ahead and swing open her door. That doesn’t keep me from passing diagonally ... it looks like it’s a police officer. While I pass at about 42 km/hour, she shouts: ‘pull over to the kerb.” Whether she would have shot me if I hadn’t obeyed, I don’t know. In any case, I braked with full power and set myself down in a parking place. She, while pulling up, calls down: ‘that’s just a bicycle; you belong on the cycleway.” I: ‘No, you do not have to use the cycleway with it.’ She: ‘who says that?’ I: ‘the law ... three wheels and no motor! Unless the police order you to ride on the cycleway, but I couldn’t know that you were an agent (no typical police car and just her head visible)'. She: 'But it’s dangerous'. I: 'there’s a flag on it, and don’t you think it would be dangerous to ride 40 to 50 per hour on a cycleway like that?' She: 'mmm...I’ll have to look up and see if you can ride with that on the road...’ And off she went in her car.
If she had only read the newspaper the week before...
I have to ask Johan Vrielink whether he’ll produce a bulletproof velomobile...

By the way: for the new episode of 'Flikken' ('Cops', a Belgian TV show) a recumbent bike is used in a scene on September 15.

Noses on the testweekend.

2004-09-13T23:24:00.000+02:00

Noses
Originally uploaded by Bruno 007.

This week I'll publish some pictures of the event.

Velomobile test weekend 11 and 12 september 2004

2004-08-20T11:28:00.000+02:00

Velomobile test weekend 11 and 12 September 2004

Velomobile test weekend, September 11 and 12, 2004
On September 11 and 12, you can test 12 different 'bikes'
from different European countries in Ghent (Blaarmeersen,
velodrome) Nearly all commercially available velomobiles are
expected to be there: Quest, Mango, Versatile, Leitra,
Cab-Bike, Aerorider (only on Sunday), Alleweder, WAW, Limit,
and Go-one2 ( Go-one is still tentative.) This
event is unique in the world and region! In this time, when
people are looking for alternatives to automotive
transportation, seeking a healthier lifestyle, it's
certainly worth the trouble to come and take a look. With
protection against the rain, a large space for your baggage,
and cruising speeds of some models up to 45 kilometers per
hour, a dream.... Goal of that test day: promotion of the
bicycle in general. Register at www.fietser.be (or send
an e-mail by way of me: brunovdb@tiscali.be )

Snout

2004-08-12T12:13:00.000+02:00

Snout

Snout
At Cycle Vision 2004 the developers showed the new nose for
the Versatile. The blinkers are set in and can be seen
better from the sides. Now you don't see the feet of
the rider moving any more.

The paint is applied to the outside of the ABS snout. On the first ten Versatiles, it
was on the inside of the PET.

Color changing.

2004-08-11T12:33:00.000+02:00

Color changing

Depending on the angle from which you look, the color shifts
from deep green, through blue to purple. A special
effect-color from Sikkens. Wilfred van Norel's Versatile
will change from blue to red. You can see other possible
colors at:
http://members.home.nl/wfvn/sikkens

Locking sailcloth.

2004-08-10T19:20:00.000+02:00

A picture of the blue test-Versatile (spring 2004), while
the one I ordered waits for one molded piece that has been delayed by a broken mold.
The sailcloth that locks the velomobile is probably similar to what kayakers would call
a skirt. It can be removed completely for summer or somewhat opened and turned back to the inside and held in place with velcro. In front, in the center, is a zipper that one can pull closed while riding if it's too cold. Behind the rider is another transverse zipper (the two form a "T"). To close it up completely, when you get out, you pull the back flap over the front part and close a velcro fastening.

Flagholder

2004-08-10T12:48:00.000+02:00

Flagholder

In the rear, a little flag holder is mounted, where I can
put a flag as I ride through a city like Dendermonde, Antwerp or Ghent. Visibility is important !

A velomobile is actually not all that expensive...

2004-08-10T11:36:00.000+02:00

Expensive? If you bike to work, you can collect (more and more firms are conforming) 0.15 Euros per kilometer.
I ride 32 km per day. That is to say that after 6 years, my Versatile is reimbursed through the Ministry of Education. My Versatile then costs me zero Euros!!! Even better: in the long term, it brings in money. That assumes that no large expenses arise and that it lasts as long as ten years. If you buy a Versatile to tour around a bit on the weekend, then it is very expensive. (Unless you find a sponsor -- see also the site of www.velomobiel.nl, service, reclame)
By ordering it (as I did) in June of 2003, I did (and do) run a certain risk. Something could go wrong with the early production runs. But in the meantime the purchase price has been raised by 2000 Euro, which is a windfall for me. So far (at 1500 km) I am tremendously pleased with this velomobile. Not even a flat tyre. It meets my expectations: it replaces my car. I ride with it to the store, to the baker, etc. After 10 years, this yields a profit of around 25.000 euro if I compare it with a second-hand car. I can assure you that this was for my wife the decisive argument for the purchase.

Tour de France

2004-07-06T12:12:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I went to watch the Tour in Ninove (Meerbeke), about 45 km from here. Along the way, a new speed record for me: 66 km per hour on the descent from a bridge. The Versatile remains stable at this high speed, with very accurate steering.
I had set myself up along the side of the road before a curve. Amazement among the bike fanatics when they realized that they were actually looking at a bike. The conversations almost all ended with: “And what does that cost, then...?”
The advertising caravan goes on for an hour and is amusing, certainly worth seeing once. Caravan riders throw balloons and other advertising things out of the cars. Some of it fell into my velomobile. A man in an advertising car commented over his loudspeaker on the Versatile, which suddenly came into his view and which he thought was a little car. And then the racers, who zoomed by in thirty seconds. A circus. I would have liked to ride in the advertising caravan; a velomobile wouldn’t stand out among all the odd little cars. (Perhaps an idea for when the Tour passes through the Netherlands: a group of velomobile riders in there...)
On the way home, I came upon a camera team. They were filming in the green along the dike and took my picture as a passerby.
All in all, 90 km in a good three hours. At the end, it was going more nearly 24 km per hour, worn out and nothing to eat until I got home. A shower then did wonders ....

Testing the Versatile

2003-08-01T13:29:00.000+02:00

Testing the Versatile in Ghent 22 November 2003

At last I was able to testride the Versatile. With thanks to Johan Vrielink (the designer) and Manu De Hauwere (shop: De Ligfiets).
There are quiet some differences with the Mango and the Quest.
This really is a luxurious velomobile. Easy to get in and out. Designed less for speed than the Quest.
A divine seat that can be adjusted in height by pulling out two simply tubes. If you want to sit deeper, you simply glide your seat down. This is a velomobile which actually gives you a very good sight on the road.
A very short radius makes it very manoeuvrable. Direct steering :
the slightest movement of the handlebars can be felt. It took some time getting used to. There's also no rattling inside. It strikes me how quiet the Versatile is. The integrated mirrors can be adjusted from the inside. You keep having a good sight on the traffic behind you.
Without SPD's you can easily maintain 33 km/h.
A recommended velomobile, another dreambike...