this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2024
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Bicycles

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Bicycle with roof (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by MrFloppy@lemmy.world to c/bicycles@lemmy.ca
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I don't know why roofed bikes and bike-caravans have appealed to me so much for years. They are expensive and take up a lot of space at home. I probably won't buy one. And yet I'm always looking to see what's new in this area.

They would be handy in spring and autumn. So here's my list which velomobiles are available with a roof:

And which may be ready for series production in 2025:

In my opinion, it would be enough for a cargo-bike manufacturer to offer an optional roof like the one built by "Ekki Mobil". (picture in title) A cargo-bike with a box at the front would be ideal. It would also be much cheaper than any of the velomobiles listed above. What do you think about it?

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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

Having tried one ages ago, I can tell you they absolutely suck. With headwinds, you've got to work twice as much, and with crosswinds, they are a total nightmare. While not really protecting you from rain.

Get yourself a nice rain poncho. It is way cheaper and better.

[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 49 points 1 day ago (5 children)

That looks like it would be hell to pedal in any kind of headwind!

[–] Please_Do_Not@lemm.ee 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

With a headwind, sure. But with a crosswind, you can (accidentally) fly!

[–] Old_Yharnam@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Like in E.T.??

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 13 points 1 day ago

Any kind of breeze. FTFY

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

I feel like headwinds would be less of a problem than tacking into the wind.

[–] kozy138@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Electric motors can help with that :)

[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago

It isn't exactly efficient use of energy thoufh and as others have also said it would cause serious safety problems with wind coming from other directions.

Dressing appropriately for the weather would be a far better solution.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Can't take your hands off the bars and lean back for a little bit of comfort and a stretch.

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 3 points 1 day ago

Para bike sailing sounds like it hurts lower profile please

[–] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

have they actually tested this against headwinds/cross-winds? I feel like nowadays everyone with a genius idea rolls out a product to the market without even testing it themselves or bothering to get some knowledge on the field.

[–] BlazarNGC@lemm.ee 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Idk, raincoat?

[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe a helmet with a facemask?

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Honestly, I just wear safety glasses: clear when it's cloudy or dark, tinted if it's sunny. That takes care of rain/snow and bugs in my eyes, and a coat takes care of everything other than my face.

If you want to get fancy, you can also use a balaclava or a scarf. Helmets w/ facemask are bulky.

[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I use ski goggles currently for my winter rides, but I've been considering a helmet with facemask to integrate everything. But maybe it would be too bulky. There's a lot of bulk with a balaclava, headband, hood (for wind blocking) and helmet already.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I just let my face get cold, but it doesn't get that cold here, and the coldest I've ridden in is 5F (-15C), and winters are usually about 15-30F (-10-0C), and are pretty dry. But my eyes drying out sucks, hence the glasses. Oh, and I'll add a teenie weenie beanie if it's particularly cold.

I worry ski goggles would cloud up too much, but then again, I haven't tried them. I've only worn a face mask when the air quality sucks, and that's separate from the glasses. If they were integrated, I'd go back to worrying about fogging up.

[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ski goggles are designed to not fog up. They are after all intended to be used at speed and in the cold. Mine are vented so I can feel a little bit of wind while using them.

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

They’re designed for that but it doesn’t always work well.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I could see riding one of the fully enclosed quad or trike type, but I would miss being able to easily bring it inside. Although here it would probably just get stolen, or get run over with me in it by a big truck. The other day in the wind storm I actually got lifted from my bike by the wind and the roof add-on seems like it would just have caused the bike to go flying with me...

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 day ago

This is the kind of thing that really demands performance testing. It's a lot of mass and expense. You just don't know whether it pays vs a fully enclosed shell until you run the numbers.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Poor OP wants to talk about practical sheltered velocipedes and we won't stop talking about the thumbnail photo.

[–] MrFloppy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

I'm ok with this. Here ist the source for the thumbnail picture: https://youtu.be/yXujcmVfrJE

I like the fill of details and the dialect.

[–] egrets@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Just move to Portmeiron and you'll get your own canopied penny-farthing.