Felix’s velomobile is turning heads
Felix Hohener uses a threewheeled velomobile to cycle 25km to work every day, rain or shine, writes Mike Watson.
Hundreds of cyclists will line up to ride right around Mt Taranaki this weekend - but only one of them will attempt do it twice on a $15,000 tricycle.
Te Aroha chemical engineer Felix Hohener will attempt to complete two laps of Taranaki’s Round the Mountain cycle event in a velomobile - an enclosed, aerodynamic three-wheeled cycling pod.
He has entered previous longdistance cycling events using the tricycle, but never in Taranaki.
It is also the first time event organisers have allowed a modified enclosed cycle in the event.
Hohener will line up at 2am on Saturday to ride two laps, or 300km, in the solo category, over a mix of undulating and hilly terrain. It will be the longest stretch he has ever cycled in one attempt.
The velomobile’s aerodynamic design was an advantage on the flat, and also helped protect the rider from weather and collisions, he said.
‘‘Nothing turns more heads on the road than a velomobile.
’’They are similar to recumbent tricycles but with a full fairing, or aerodynamic shell, around the rider.’’
Hohener rides the Dutch-made DF XL velomobile every day, rain or shine, to work near Morrinsville.
He had it imported to New Zealand at a total cost of $15,500, including delivery.
However, he says using it to get to an from work each day means it will pay for itself in four years.
Having three (or more) wheels on a bike added better stability in crosswinds, although the extra wheels increased aerodynamic drag, which reduced energy efficiency and limited use for racing, he said.
‘‘I bought my first velomobile because I was getting tired of getting wet going to work on an upright bike during winter,’’ he said.
‘‘Although it doesn’t stay 100 per cent dry inside, wearing wet weather gear and ‘frozen’ limbs are a thing of the past.’’
‘‘Even if it is below zero degrees, it doesn’t take long to warm up in it.’’
Velomobiles come in variety of shapes and sizes with some models having the rider’s head exposed to give unobstructed vision, hearing, and some cooling.
However these are more exposed to weather and less aerodynamic, he said.
Other models are designed for racing, commuting, carrying loads, or for multiple occupants.
There are also hybrid velomobiles which use pedal power and an electric motor which does not exceed the power of the human rider, or 1:1 ratio.
Fairings add weight compared to standard upright cycles, or unfaired recumbent cycles, and can demand lower gearing depending on terrain, making the velomobile slower up hills than an unfaired counterpart, he said.
His velomobile is the fastest commuting velomobile on the market. ‘‘I am using it to go to work which is 25km one way with a third of my rides are during darkness over rural roads. On average it takes me 40 minutes.’’
The Round the Mountain event has attracted more than 800 entries.
It will begin from the TSB Stadium, Mason St, at 7.30am on Saturday.