Good Idea? -- VeloMobile

The Velomobile, a new kind of bike.

Is it a good idea? Our Hilary Doyle finds out.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Hilary
• doyle
• velomobile
• bike
• new
• hour
• george
• stroumboulopoulos

[assym2006]

@ProJanitor So you think that other people should not have the right to use the road just in case they get in the way of your petrol guzzering , planet killing monstrosity of an ugle car ? what a selfish person you are.

[comicozy87]

I drove in one of these recently and it was the most fun I ever had riding a bike. Such a smooth ride and goes fast. I want one!! Don't knock it till you try it.

[Velotracer]

10,000 to 12,000 dollars......Good Grief !!

[bladder1010]

Yeah, it's *just*like* a Bugatti, or a racing car -- just a whole lot more gay.

$13,000 for a kiddie car? Really? Does it come with a little basket to carry your Barbie dolls?

[assym2006]

@RealityCheck05 I was not talking to you.

[RealityCheck05]

@assym2006 If mankind is in trouble, let that be the focus of our discussions. There is no need for pretense. The foregone conclusion that I have a problem with what anyone else drives is as incorrect as the assumption that I drive a 4x4 or anything else with poor mileage. If you want your arguments to be more effective than your efforts to "save the planet" try addressing people's statements (preferably after thinking critically) rather than making ill informed flames.

[MrAnthonyRizzo]

@rmickev (1/3) Agreed, but I believe you are quoting the price for a lower end model. The Blue Velo Cab Bike, 14 Speed with no electric assist starts at $10,750. The Go-One Evolution with no top and no electric assist starts at $20 shy from $13,000. When you add features such as electric assist, hard tops, solar chargers, custom wheels for different terrains, regenerative bicycle brakes and so on the price can double.

[MrAnthonyRizzo]

@rmickev (2/3) Understand that Velomobiles are marketed as eco-friendly alternatives to cars. Sure you can buy one for $5,000 but you can also just opt for a tadpole recumbent for half that and build your own shell for it but that will not bring you close to the creature comforts of a car and that is what velomobiles claim to offer. Velos supposedly bridge the gap between cars and bicycles as H/EPV Hybrids.

[MrAnthonyRizzo]

@rmickev (3/3) As such they should be priced accordingly. If I can buy a bicycle at WalMart for $200 and I can buy a new car for under $8,000 and a Velomobile is halfway between the two then its price should be no more than $3,500 fully equipped. But all you can buy for almost twice that at $5,000 is a basic trike with a shell and that my friend I can build for a couple of hundred dollars.

[rmickev]

@MrAnthonyRizzo I see a base price of $5,650 for one of the models on the site you've noted. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree and leave it to others to do their own math.

[MrAnthonyRizzo]

@rmickev A high end bicycle or three wheels recumbent will run around $5,000. Add the other bells and whistles including electric assist and an enclosed shell and you better believe they can cost $30,000. Here are a couple of examples that far exceed the above amount: BlueVelo and Go-One3- base price $10,000-$15,000 depending on models. Remember that these are high end toys for the rich. They are not designed or priced for the eco-friendly, average, daily commuter.

[rmickev]

@MrAnthonyRizzo I'm not sure where you pricing information is taken from, but velomobiles start at around $5,000. Not exactly cheap, but considerably less than $30,000.