Choosing a Velomobile

Before proceeding, I should confess that much of my VM knowledge comes from spending too much time on the Internet. My first VM kit is set to arrive in the near future. So, I'm not really speaking with experience. Also, people's needs will vary. The ideal VM for me may be different than your dream machine. Read what I have found, but do your own research before you make up your mind. Velomobiling.com has links to all the manufactures' web sites.

There are several decisions to make when choosing a velomobile. First, do you want a fully enclosed VM or a head out VM. Americans tend to think they want a fully enclosed VM, but the head out VMs are quite popular in Europe. Europeans have more experience with VMs than we do, so it might be a good idea to consider their opinions. The fully enclosed VMs have better weather protection, but there are some potential problems. The enclosed VM will make rumbling sounds that make it harder to hear approaching traffic. They are heavier. They are more complex and cost more. The roomier models tend to be less aerodynamic. I'd probably get an enclosed model if I regularly road in extreme cold, but an open model should do fine for me and a lot of other people as well.

Location of the maker is another factor. Trans-Atlantic shipping is much more costly than I would have imagined. Also, the falling dollar has made imports more costly. So, I'd recommend a local maker unless you really have your heart set on one of the European beauties. Europe has a greater variety of VMs than we do, but Americans do have several good models to choose from.

Size is another factor. I'm 6'4" inches tall (194cm). This automatically eliminates half the models on the market.

Cost and versatility are important to me. In the end, I chose the FAW+ in kit form from Velomobile USA. The FAW+ is a head out VM made of aluminum sheets riveted together the same way airplanes are made. It's predecessor has a proven record in Europe and seems to perfectly balance the need for speed and practicality. The drive train is easy to modify. That's important for me because I live in the mountains and want a variety of options for adding a motor.

My kit should be delivered in the near future. When it does, I will blog about my construction project.