this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2024
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Bicycles

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Bicycle with roof (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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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[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 53 points 1 year ago (5 children)

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

[–] Please_Do_Not@lemm.ee 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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

Like in E.T.??

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago

Any kind of breeze. FTFY

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

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

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

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

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

Electric motors can help with that :)

[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year 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.

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

Idk, raincoat?

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

Maybe a helmet with a facemask?

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year 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 year 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 year 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 year 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 year ago

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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year 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.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year 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.

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

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year 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 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Para bike sailing sounds like it hurts, lower profile please

[–] egrets@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

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