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"Speedster" Winter Report

by Peter Noll

The impetus fort his report is the fact that I have just reached the 20,000 km mark with my Cab-Bike.  

After my old Cab-Bike canopy was damaged by a fallen branch, I had somehow lost my interest in velomobiles; the enthusiasm was gone.  I even raised the possibility of selling, but luckily came to my senses again. 

After 13,000 km with the enclosed Cab-Bike I had my eye on the Speedster-Version, which I had an opportunity to test-ride extensively at the 2005 Spezi bike show.  That was the one!  The Speedster conversion in effect makes a new vehicle from the old, with the advantage that I am already familiar with the mechanics of the “Old One”.  A completely different concept, the “Head-Out Concept” polarizes velomobile riders.  Proponents of the “Head-In Concept” can hardly imagine riding in the cold with an unprotected head. But it works. More about that below. 

During the test ride at the Spezi bike show, I immediately noticed the light weight of the canopy when opening it.  The slipstream gives you an increased sense of speed.  With the lower total weight and the lower center of mass in comparison with the closed Cab-Bike, it feels noticeably more agile.

I immediately ordered the conversion and was able to pick it up shortly afterwards. 

Since then, I have ridden 7000 km with the Speedster, including through the entire long winter of 2005/2006. 

Here, then, is what I noticed in comparison with the enclosed Cab-Bike Version:

- On the very first trip, the wind whistled over the smooth lid directly in my face.  A great sensation, but only as long as it’s summer.  I added a very small windshield to deflect the wind, with a huge benefit.  I can get by without goggles; even in the winter it’s possible to ride without glasses. 

- Uphill: I noticed the reduced weight of the lighter hood right away; I could mount a smaller cog on the back. 

- Straightaway/Downhill: The Speedster is definitely faster, but it’s hard to put a number on it.  I estimate that I can hold about 5 km/hour (3 m/hr) more on a straightaway. That’s a lot!  Downhill, the difference is larger, partly because with the smaller cog I can now keep up better with the pedaling.  The Speedster doesn’t rock as much, thanks to the lower pedaling cadence. 

- Sidewinds are no longer as bad.  Naturally there are gusts that make life difficult for me, but the susceptibility to sidewinds has clearly decreased. 

- The seat position can be set much lower because the view forwards is better.  Now I sit so reclined in the Speedster that if I were using the old canopy I wouldn’t be able to see the road in front of me.  It’s clear that the stability (speed on curves) is improved. 

- The lower profile unfortunately reduces your visibility in traffic. Only with a flag are you going to be noticed through the window of a car. With the high protective sides all around, I still have the feeling of being “well protected.” 

- Interior noise:  with your head out you still hear the road noise, the chain and the Rohloff hub, but they are much quieter.  Finally, you can converse with other cyclists while riding.  Putting on the rain roof increases the noise again somewhat. 

- Communication: I notice that people along the street are still talking ABOUT me, but also now much more WITH me.  You’re easier to talk to, more open.  In the closed Cab-Bike, in contrast, you sit closed off from the world as you would in a car.  

I decided to do something about the rain:

An umbrella just stuck in shook so much in the slipstream that it was no solution.  For emergencies (when you would just ride slower), the umbrella was fine.  Better than being soaked.  I used it to shield myself from the sun, too: that was a splendid show on the road. 

The next consideration was a fixed roof, so that I could park the Speedster outside in the rain.  The roof has a history of evolutionary development (first arched, then flat, then extending further to the front, with a variety of stabilization mechanisms.  With this version, I’m completely satisfied with its function.

Even when riding fast, (almost) no water gets on my face.  The roof doesn’t weigh much, and it can be removed quickly.  About the appearance, there are differences of opinion (especially the neighbors and co-workers…).  The roof has completely justified itself for me in the practice.  

Weather conditions in general:

- Weather conditions in general: with heavy snow falling, the wind screen is quickly obscured, and for the duration you’re left looking over it or off to the sides. Unfortunately, you then get the cold and snow in your face. A windshield wiper for snow – that would be great! That (along with the traction problem) was my most unpleasant situation during the winter.
In the cold, it helps to scrunch down, so that your head is as deep as possible in the warm air inside the cabin. With a headband, neckband and billed cap, I could handle the cold vry well. I had hoped, that it would be possible to “tolerate” the winter with the Speedster, but it actually went much better than I had expected.
And how about when it is really hot? Then you can really broil in the Speedster. A spacer that holds the top up a little works wonders. Extra ventilation ports in front are needed.

Comparison test:
To make a more objective assessment of the Speedster, I put the old canopy back on for comparison and rode to work three times with it.
The first thing that I noticed was the more upright seating position, but I quickly adapted to that. What I really missed, was the “Headrest” that the back edge of the Speedster’s head opening provides. The noise level inside is noticeably higher than in the Speedster, but there is a pleasant, sheltered feeling about it. It is easier to put on or take off clothing during the ride. There’s better ventilation for our body. I’m constantly taking advantage of the ability to open and close the side and front windows. On steep hills, I had expected difficulty, but despite the higher gear range I could climb well. Apparently, I’ve gained some strength.

On the downhills, thanks to the higher gear range, there isn’t much wobbling, but the greater sensitivity to sidewinds was immediately and unpleasantly obvious. In the curves, I don’t notice any more tendency to tip; I’ve probably already unconsciously adjusted my riding style, so no problem. With the longer support arms, the seat wobbles back and forth more than in the laid-back Speedster position; that is unpleasant. The Cab-Bike feels slower when accelerating, the reduced contact with the air impairs the sensation of speed. With the windows open, there’s a little draft on my neck. With the windows closed and when riding fast, I sometimes need a headband for my ears (temperature 7 degrees C). I also rode in the rain, which was a more pleasant experience than in the Speedster. The windshield wiper worked fine. Since I rode during daylight, I didn’t have problems seeing.

All in all, the conversion to the fully-enclosed Cab-Bike was easier than I had expected. It’s also good to ride in.

My conclusion:
With the Speedster, (especially now with my home-built roof), I have a velomobile that is absolutely suitable to everyday use. It is much better for winter riding than I had thought possible. Not having windows all around on dark, wet rides is a huge advantage. For higher-temperature riding, there is still room for improvement in the Speedster's ventilation.

For long night rides (because of visibility) and generally because of the higher maneuverability, I now prefer the Speedster version. For daylight trips, on shorter rides, and in high temperatures I have nothing against the enclosed version, which is better-looking, in my opinion, and gives a more "grown-up" appearance on the street than my simple-looking Speedster roof. The closed Cab-Bike is the cozier vehicle, the Speedster the more sporting.

Gelnhausen, im April 2006

Peter Noll