tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348678562104470862024-03-13T09:24:58.063-04:00Merrill's Velomobile AdventuresChronicling my journey from constructing a homebuilt through the 3000 mile Roll Over America on in to my recent aquisition of a used Quest that I commute with.Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-27805061586346182862014-05-10T19:11:00.000-04:002014-05-10T19:11:00.148-04:00Another New Prototype to Lust AfterThe Marvelo SKR velomobile designed in Canada has some very nice specs and and even better target price. If they get any where near the $7,000 target they are going to sell a lot of these.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLZ5mzXZPi8R8AIjzfIBrCMQDpOQE0phbJ7aJVKkStmolEHTg6oRhrWIMiNKuvvkxkhDR4fqWSu_NDDACMIx7XZCy5NEeMVXICYGpnSSAY7ODOwt_bidbJ-6jiyCSR5WayaOE9hgk0A/s1600/SKR+velomobile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLZ5mzXZPi8R8AIjzfIBrCMQDpOQE0phbJ7aJVKkStmolEHTg6oRhrWIMiNKuvvkxkhDR4fqWSu_NDDACMIx7XZCy5NEeMVXICYGpnSSAY7ODOwt_bidbJ-6jiyCSR5WayaOE9hgk0A/s1600/SKR+velomobile.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">SPECIFICATIONS:</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Overall Length 109.5" (2781 mm)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Maximum Body Width 25.75" (654 mm)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Ground Clearance 3.75-4.75" (95-121 mm) *Adjustable*</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Overall Height 35-36" (889-914 mm)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Wheelbase 51" (1295 mm)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Track Width 26" (660 mm)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Weight 58.4 Lbs. (26.5 Kg)</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">LIST OF STANDARD EQUIPMENT:</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Body Shell - Vacuum Infused Carbon Fibre Structural Monocoque</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Front and Rear Quick Release Access Hatches</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Clear Polycarbonate Open Cockpit Wind Shield</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Front Suspension - Velomobiel.nl Struts</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Rear Suspension - Single Pivot Swing-arm with Risse Genesis Air/Oil Damper</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Front Brakes - Sturmey Archer 90mm Drums</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Front Wheels/Tires - 20" (406)/Vredestein F-Lite 20"x2"</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Rear Wheel/Tire - 26" (559)/Choice of Various Schwalbe up to 2.4" wide</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Front Wheel Covers - Carbon</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Steering - Dual Side Stick</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Seat - Aluminum Frame with Mesh Fabric or Carbon Hard Shell</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Drivetrain - (Front) Triple Ring Crank 24/36/50</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> - (Rear) 3x10 Sturmey Archer CS-RK3 (3 speed hub) with 11-36 Cassette</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Gear Inch Range - 13-158</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Shifters - Bar-ends and 3 speed twist grip</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Cables - Jagwire</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Idlers - Dual TerraCycle Elite Power 23 Tooth</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Mirrors - Dual (Left & Right)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><a href="http://marvelomobile.blogspot.co.uk/p/specifications.html">Marvelo Web site</a></span></span>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-39519976832059894342014-03-11T22:58:00.001-04:002014-03-11T22:58:14.754-04:00A ride with the other local velonautsThis past weekend we got four velomobiles together a Hammonasset state park for a 40 mile ride along the Connecticut shore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxmaC4oVUEt5S4_Mbe8jz0rBTduECtzseqLC3xxWla2_R-Li0RCrOAST_JnhQ8XDXHAYK8tvSc1NsjO-uIzF7vykEBx23gIx-C7UYlnvYs9QYqETOpamlQCMdoyuAkrdVip-Huatg2g/s1600/20140308_114817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxmaC4oVUEt5S4_Mbe8jz0rBTduECtzseqLC3xxWla2_R-Li0RCrOAST_JnhQ8XDXHAYK8tvSc1NsjO-uIzF7vykEBx23gIx-C7UYlnvYs9QYqETOpamlQCMdoyuAkrdVip-Huatg2g/s1600/20140308_114817.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Making its first appearance was Rick O'Brien's beautiful Spearhead coroplast fairing over an ICE trike. Rick designed it in a CAD program and had the coroplast CNC cut. Its beautiful and he will be selling them as kits. More info at <a href="http://spearheadvelo.wordpress.com/">http://spearheadvelo.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqEmZGCpLDyEyz-TrRAFPiE5HATQRZNSbuagCfAGLSinz458pJ_GhiF83rX_1Bqymq-HbKDdeIxrTojzqNb3_ZSicdCHonjgkjKK8w5ABI_-iJKirbVKbapxPL5PRL5cgDr4TOsg9Ww/s1600/20140308_114849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqEmZGCpLDyEyz-TrRAFPiE5HATQRZNSbuagCfAGLSinz458pJ_GhiF83rX_1Bqymq-HbKDdeIxrTojzqNb3_ZSicdCHonjgkjKK8w5ABI_-iJKirbVKbapxPL5PRL5cgDr4TOsg9Ww/s1600/20140308_114849.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's some video shot on my phone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJxBdFlKsWLcxeTNyT39POzQjuQBAjDZzZM8aRTWpgqL7CVcg0rAWNPjJ8AZcxmMzC8u1BFOdpfo1Kjh9mgBw5xXuN2A3w18pcWyt2BOOdSCgvAX6Jhyphenhyphen5JwvpLivYhJiQk41Qoy74vA/s1600/20140308_150339.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJxBdFlKsWLcxeTNyT39POzQjuQBAjDZzZM8aRTWpgqL7CVcg0rAWNPjJ8AZcxmMzC8u1BFOdpfo1Kjh9mgBw5xXuN2A3w18pcWyt2BOOdSCgvAX6Jhyphenhyphen5JwvpLivYhJiQk41Qoy74vA/s1600/20140308_150339.mp4" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWm3O9tC_oUmkM6U8HT1HC-p3D1-7rt1670RqeHp5SGpo92EBCgztt5a3jQoLLUOJUYgESodWcgt5EHiiyF3Wm9iOUq_qNNcBtyj2R6Jd4uMVEadnIBbkwnnE8_cvAhmJppoTd8NTrg/s1600/20140308_143420.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWm3O9tC_oUmkM6U8HT1HC-p3D1-7rt1670RqeHp5SGpo92EBCgztt5a3jQoLLUOJUYgESodWcgt5EHiiyF3Wm9iOUq_qNNcBtyj2R6Jd4uMVEadnIBbkwnnE8_cvAhmJppoTd8NTrg/s1600/20140308_143420.mp4" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf-EvoU26GmaFQVMYsqjSPlnTPK1kCLBBYD4tkuaCgxINdzaC_IpV3LLbY6JSVDlbYIvS0NybRklASPA4aRC01Ox9RsD3hELuK52vg3iOSxt1i8BkbvWJ7CzQvo02rEPlqFGWRJvAmg/s1600/20140308_143105.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf-EvoU26GmaFQVMYsqjSPlnTPK1kCLBBYD4tkuaCgxINdzaC_IpV3LLbY6JSVDlbYIvS0NybRklASPA4aRC01Ox9RsD3hELuK52vg3iOSxt1i8BkbvWJ7CzQvo02rEPlqFGWRJvAmg/s1600/20140308_143105.mp4" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-24236105156750700082014-03-11T22:39:00.002-04:002014-03-11T22:39:18.034-04:00New Look for the QuestThe new decals are on and I approve.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGfLc-M4v_gWAN1L5NGWuLuCMy2otILMfgWnywh1vg3QdsrK5Hg8FuDSKAmGIhQSbM2GeFjSx9JA32hHnCPtSzN6lpNIb-a2ScJz6oaJewl8LWp2_R5IX1fR3ZRzgeFLrzygpHmPAhA/s1600/20140308_114907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGfLc-M4v_gWAN1L5NGWuLuCMy2otILMfgWnywh1vg3QdsrK5Hg8FuDSKAmGIhQSbM2GeFjSx9JA32hHnCPtSzN6lpNIb-a2ScJz6oaJewl8LWp2_R5IX1fR3ZRzgeFLrzygpHmPAhA/s1600/20140308_114907.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-13259313907010713282014-02-22T20:13:00.001-05:002017-10-27T18:43:58.609-04:00The Coroplast HoodAfter trying out a Sinner hood I got to thinking, " I could make one of these out of coroplast. Here it is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLMgtm7AvUAqfJkKL-evTLojjfNczTilnhaG3P_o32qpTZ9VN7tN-cXZpBcP5sfEu8XylMwQH4RbM7ozZdiXoXh138M77wq-94dVs3lnJWpQNJ3TqFxGlYNHUc7nef04wLaz7oxY6wA/s1600/20131201_163543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLMgtm7AvUAqfJkKL-evTLojjfNczTilnhaG3P_o32qpTZ9VN7tN-cXZpBcP5sfEu8XylMwQH4RbM7ozZdiXoXh138M77wq-94dVs3lnJWpQNJ3TqFxGlYNHUc7nef04wLaz7oxY6wA/s320/20131201_163543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here it is from underneath<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYSHcq4Ddv5qFhG3SNb1OW7G-K83VT8dQrMJ0SnRMw5F8qsC0DfpJpIXL1lqahlH6XxTl7zfbKaukd4R9Rd6Py0jqTtTSXZ4nSUU2OH3uREmKmHL16OqjbSUhnVnNDPwNQlEVXxaiQA/s1600/20131201_182826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYSHcq4Ddv5qFhG3SNb1OW7G-K83VT8dQrMJ0SnRMw5F8qsC0DfpJpIXL1lqahlH6XxTl7zfbKaukd4R9Rd6Py0jqTtTSXZ4nSUU2OH3uREmKmHL16OqjbSUhnVnNDPwNQlEVXxaiQA/s320/20131201_182826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kLoRwLPD2QQ-0enB8uH5UeRIAUhPeggUDliodXvKckTScY2ICv4JSaS3WA6gxNOUF-sdrgmEWQ63y6hp0LjZDSy-CLsLPYWB9kaQRsS-uIfY3ssd-OXHEgk3On3huMPpOOwZwkuKAw/s1600/20131201_182914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kLoRwLPD2QQ-0enB8uH5UeRIAUhPeggUDliodXvKckTScY2ICv4JSaS3WA6gxNOUF-sdrgmEWQ63y6hp0LjZDSy-CLsLPYWB9kaQRsS-uIfY3ssd-OXHEgk3On3huMPpOOwZwkuKAw/s320/20131201_182914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The visor is made out of Makralon which while more expensive than acrylic its almost impossible to fog up.Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-51898547923998204192014-02-22T18:55:00.000-05:002014-02-22T18:55:18.903-05:00Three Velomobiles in East Windsor, CTI met up with Dan Chalue and Mike Zych for a ride starting in East Windsor<br />
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<br />Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-80596307915578216332012-10-07T09:18:00.003-04:002012-10-07T09:18:18.295-04:00First Connecticut Velomobile Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yesterday we got three of the four velomobiles in Connecticut together for a 40 mile ride.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ23FC9TXMwieE4_jj7cb6mMD4G3b1Qy60eRKRPz-CuWdJeUdF1tUhd56_ID-90TGZzw7ja37HL6WasdgGaMBJOJ7ooD_212Sn_gf1rdG6ZI5GX6y_FM-fxCWEWXG7rxeg1UfTwtUH5g/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ23FC9TXMwieE4_jj7cb6mMD4G3b1Qy60eRKRPz-CuWdJeUdF1tUhd56_ID-90TGZzw7ja37HL6WasdgGaMBJOJ7ooD_212Sn_gf1rdG6ZI5GX6y_FM-fxCWEWXG7rxeg1UfTwtUH5g/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
From left to right Howard Pfrommer, Mike Zych, and Merrill Gay. Howard met me at my house in New Britain and we rode out to meet Mike at the Bristol Farmers Market. After a stop at Super Natural Market and Deli (where the picture was taken) we headed out to Collinsville. There we encountered the normal attention one gets with a velomobile times three. Including someone from the Canton Patch who took a picture and wrote a <a href="http://canton-ct.patch.com/articles/velomobiles-spotted-in-collinsville">short story</a>. After breaking loose from the curious we finally headed out. Along the way we saw a sign for a solar house tour and stopped in for a look. Turns out it was the home of Lou and Judi Friedman, parents of a co-worker at the Connecticut Citizen Action Group from some 20 odd years ago.<br />
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Here's the<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1787348"> route</a> we took.Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-52574561676445711852012-06-17T22:10:00.002-04:002012-06-17T22:10:29.393-04:00New rod ends, suspension and lid I spent the weekend working on the velomobile. I replaced these old worn out ball joints<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX9zVJEnGSXoQ1uSf897KwztKxr5l3g6zJDLiRdQVoymslhO_UdBd2wrZQuc8pM1n23E_ZIoNIjXR7btSxJ5QLgvN6xAfsvxUOTDz7jLH8IIBIfy9f0W8FN6o0jP91wdaslvv3d_mMQ/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX9zVJEnGSXoQ1uSf897KwztKxr5l3g6zJDLiRdQVoymslhO_UdBd2wrZQuc8pM1n23E_ZIoNIjXR7btSxJ5QLgvN6xAfsvxUOTDz7jLH8IIBIfy9f0W8FN6o0jP91wdaslvv3d_mMQ/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With these new Teflon race rod ends<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS-e6i3MybD_aVzuGcCh5L5utCXMTHCpUE4vzPmZ9A9NeeVzIuJ0rQaTwGktOARMDCTaPcyvrNrZarvpe8gyFthJnyDpB-L67CiciefIT4Zdeq6XgFalrBFhT65nhC97201k5eL2gWA/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS-e6i3MybD_aVzuGcCh5L5utCXMTHCpUE4vzPmZ9A9NeeVzIuJ0rQaTwGktOARMDCTaPcyvrNrZarvpe8gyFthJnyDpB-L67CiciefIT4Zdeq6XgFalrBFhT65nhC97201k5eL2gWA/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" /></a></div>
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The new rod ends really tightened up the steering. I also replaced the springs and dampers in the shock absorbers. I took the velo out for a test ride and it was so much better. I wish I had done this before ROAM. It would have made some of those fast descents down the Rockies and Alleghenies a lot less hairy. <br />
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If you've been following Bentrideronline's velomobile or homebuilder forums you know that the "hot" new material of choice for making fairings this year is blue camping foam. While not as refined as Zote foam, its a whole lot cheaper and available at the worlds larges retail chain. Since everyone else is playing with it, I figured I'd try it out. The Alleweder A-3 has probably the largest opening of any velomobile. Great for getting in and out, but pretty awful for aerodynamics. So here's my stab at a velo skirt. I haven't tried a roll down test or anything to see if it really made it any faster, but it should have. I have to find that wireless speedometer my brother gave me for Christmas and get it mounted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ItNFZzvGl4y8e0ID90iJNV8F6iJ97_CfYVYz5HYt9OZ4jmMp8rwabZ_f0R2DGMNkKb6kJpbBw-DVx0411PVGMKiDabQwZ3MMiBJIg3DUFBWDsVlwFZLLVU3k6AAxu5ta4dqs_Kxaw/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ItNFZzvGl4y8e0ID90iJNV8F6iJ97_CfYVYz5HYt9OZ4jmMp8rwabZ_f0R2DGMNkKb6kJpbBw-DVx0411PVGMKiDabQwZ3MMiBJIg3DUFBWDsVlwFZLLVU3k6AAxu5ta4dqs_Kxaw/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Next on the list is a Wakefield roof. Based on coroplast guru Lee Wakefield's unique design that he used on the Roll over America, its remarkably simple and aerodynamic. Here's a picture of Lee's mounted on the Quest he rode on ROAM. </span> Lee even found some silver shelf liner to stick on the top to make sure he had lots of shade. He was the one Brit on the trip who didn't get sunburned. <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Beside being very light weight and having virtually no wind resistance, it comes apart easily and folds so it can be </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">stored in the velo if you want that big sky </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">experience</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">. </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvDEypyNOUemjO36oIX1PD7iwFjjJh0EqI6VB2NTr0DFISY0zzsmQ7KOvHPDCNqeDN-hBtwEAGOioVFkFeBtmMNZ7Lsf1tvG2oVZBpujXpNbhroZzD6teKouI6KQuijTw_CN0ZIGxqA/s1600/Lee's+coro+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvDEypyNOUemjO36oIX1PD7iwFjjJh0EqI6VB2NTr0DFISY0zzsmQ7KOvHPDCNqeDN-hBtwEAGOioVFkFeBtmMNZ7Lsf1tvG2oVZBpujXpNbhroZzD6teKouI6KQuijTw_CN0ZIGxqA/s320/Lee's+coro+roof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-62683186845016844272011-12-01T21:51:00.006-05:002011-12-01T22:12:37.419-05:00Interest in Velomobiles AcceleratesThis past Sunday,(11-27-11) The Hartford Courant published an article titled, "Interest in Velomobiles Accelerates - New Britain Resident Rides Bullet shaped recumbent trike cross country" Here's the picture that went with the story.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe6WBHMseyugqRjfpLa69Ee00bnnUBBvLegeB9lEcMaJ3oGCEwmv5vusq9ZT1T41XA-Errgy7qZObJ5I5cBYPDOEJ2SoYMNQBp3aj1EEtAHLj60T_UDePsYQvWDdLGcDrCsIGBtAe8w/s1600/Velo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe6WBHMseyugqRjfpLa69Ee00bnnUBBvLegeB9lEcMaJ3oGCEwmv5vusq9ZT1T41XA-Errgy7qZObJ5I5cBYPDOEJ2SoYMNQBp3aj1EEtAHLj60T_UDePsYQvWDdLGcDrCsIGBtAe8w/s400/Velo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681358348810770770" /></a>Here's the <a href="http://www.courant.com/community/new-britain/hc-new-britain-trike-rider-1127-20111126,0,2648781.story">link to the article in the Hartford Couran</a>t <div><br /></div><div>Here's me turning the camera on the photographer as he attached a big camera to the velomobile to take some video.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn51rD29Q-wxmPnPfk-YldZjoddOLtzEqN0aBYIozCThIhwdyMk8ECt-p3J9mCc9Z8mbj3LSBPpMzYrv_GEhxCQqnECS8Gt6sKMx0ipnEpn360xGAj771g0NRvJAzr9lkXi6dbANxew/s1600/2011-11-21_16-03-56_306.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn51rD29Q-wxmPnPfk-YldZjoddOLtzEqN0aBYIozCThIhwdyMk8ECt-p3J9mCc9Z8mbj3LSBPpMzYrv_GEhxCQqnECS8Gt6sKMx0ipnEpn360xGAj771g0NRvJAzr9lkXi6dbANxew/s400/2011-11-21_16-03-56_306.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681360067948602258" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u div=""></u></span></div><u><br /></u></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIO4S0D6IuJGnF-QtW3Y1OdRFO6YyM6qC962RPdcxo-qgwIovend9qLX05q5B5omtqUQiPkocd3CXrU8_drjAO-gtjFGD6_72emXqZSWhZ1qiAFViwbR1mDVjb7d70UdPVv2LppTP6A/s1600/2011-11-21_16-04-43_572.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIO4S0D6IuJGnF-QtW3Y1OdRFO6YyM6qC962RPdcxo-qgwIovend9qLX05q5B5omtqUQiPkocd3CXrU8_drjAO-gtjFGD6_72emXqZSWhZ1qiAFViwbR1mDVjb7d70UdPVv2LppTP6A/s400/2011-11-21_16-04-43_572.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681361282705154626" /></a>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-61420288322463714822011-10-08T16:18:00.005-04:002011-10-08T16:23:01.561-04:00Interviews of ROAM RidersThe guy who interviewed me at the campground in Indiana sent me a link to this video. It's a nice compilation of interviews with some of the ROAM riders. It is a 30 minute video. I'm interviewed about 25 minutes into it.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fWZedB8eXjQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-25831759390697521272011-10-04T22:01:00.010-04:002011-10-04T22:31:03.559-04:00<div><span class="Apple-style-span">A friend just directed me to this interesting video of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 238); "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Harald Winkler's presentation on his 12 kilo foam velomobile at the 6th annual velomobile seminar<span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?%20%3Cobject%20width=" height="250" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':['format=Thumbnail?.jpg',{'autoPlay':false,'url':'6velomobile_seminar_Harald_Winkler_meufel_presentation_2Mbit_PAL_DVD_CCBY_512kb.mp4'}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/6velomobile_harald_winkler/','scaling':'fit','provider':'h264streaming','showCaptions':true},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':true,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true}},'h264streaming':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.pseudostreaming-3.2.1.swf'},'captions':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.captions-3.2.0.swf','captionTarget':'content'},'content':{'display':'block','url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.content-3.2.0.swf','bottom':26,'left':0,'width':345,'height':50,'backgroundGradient':'none','backgroundColor':'transparent','textDecoration':'outline','border':0,'style':{'body':{'fontSize':'14','fontFamily':'Arial','textAlign':'center','fontWeight':'bold','color':'#ffffff'}}}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="345" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':['format=Thumbnail?.jpg',{'autoPlay':false,'url':'6velomobile_seminar_Harald_Winkler_meufel_presentation_2Mbit_PAL_DVD_CCBY_512kb.mp4'}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/6velomobile_harald_winkler/','scaling':'fit','provider':'h264streaming','showCaptions':true},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':true,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true}},'h264streaming':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.pseudostreaming-3.2.1.swf'},'captions':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.captions-3.2.0.swf','captionTarget':'content'},'content':{'display':'block','url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.content-3.2.0.swf','bottom':26,'left':0,'width':560,'height':50,'backgroundGradient':'none','backgroundColor':'transparent','textDecoration':'outline','border':0,'style':{'body':{'fontSize':'14','fontFamily':'Arial','textAlign':'center','fontWeight':'bold','color':'#ffffff'}}}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed><br /><br /></a></div><div>While I was on the Community Video website I found all of these other videos about velomobiles.</div><div><a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?%20%3Cobject%20width=" height="506" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000">query=velomobile%20AND%20collection%3Aopensource_movies">http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=velomobile%20AND%20collection%3Aopensource_movies</a></div><div></div><div></div>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-75757796314802343012011-08-28T14:35:00.002-04:002011-08-28T14:38:00.105-04:00OK so I guess I'm officially in ROAM withdrawal. I've spend the better part of the day going through other riders blogs and searching YouTube for ROAM video. Since I found one the includes me, here it is:<div>
<br /><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EvUuDsKqG4k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-12285845130528296572011-08-28T14:15:00.001-04:002011-08-28T14:15:58.069-04:00Video from the last day of riding down the bike path in Virginia
<br /><iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/H21Ssfqtr_E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-28416770975607827762011-08-28T10:53:00.005-04:002011-08-28T14:16:50.170-04:00Video of our arrival in Georgetown (a section of DC)<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G-tPEpj3k9A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-79504992880818155472011-08-27T16:10:00.003-04:002011-08-27T17:01:02.131-04:00Reflections on ROAM
<br />As one of the riders said at the EU reception, "Others will do it, but we were the first to ride velomobiles across the US." It was quite an adventure. Had we not had a time definite that we had to reach DC (the Europeans had planes to catch), we might still be riding. The last couple of weeks I would develop "hot foot" 90 to 100 miles into each day's ride. It would have been easy to stop someplace else to camp if we hadn't had the imposed discipline of Josef's planning.<div>
<br /></div><div>It was a great group of riders from 7 countries. 22 Europeans and group of North Americans that varied in size over the ride. Over 50 riders participated in some part of the ride. 35 riders peddled into DC and John Abbey drove the truck carrying his damaged velomoblile.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>There were several velos that were damaged along the route. The primary culprit was the dreaded rumble strip. Great for waking dozing truck drivers, they were the bane of our existence. It turns out that when you ride a velomobile on a rumble strip, the bouncing it causes screws up the rear suspension and creates a phenomena very much like skidding on ice in a car. Three velos flipped after losing control on rumble strips. Drivers were generally courteous although two riders were forced off the road by passing cars. Finally on the afternoon of the "victory lap" in DC one of the Dutch riders was hit by what turned out to be an unmarked secret service car making a turn. The rider was a little banged up but the velo will need some serious repairs.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>That said, we velomobilists (velonauts if you prefer) definitely prefer roads to Multi Use Trails.</div><div>Local bike activists, rightly proud of the the trails they have worked so hard to establish couldn't quite understand why we kept ignoring their carefully planned routes to ride down roads. The reality is that velomobiles are best suited to smooth surfaces with the gentle curves of roads rather than the sharper turns of some bike paths. Packed limestone may be fine for mountain bikes but give us a road any day. Gravel, forget about it. We spent a lot of time on US 12 the least traveled of the cross country routes. While there were trucks, it had a wide shoulder and a smooth surface. There were times in Indiana riding on bumpy back roads when we all longed for US 12. At the end of the ride Mike, one of the North American riders presented Josef (our tour captain) with a replica of a US 12 sign</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CKkElxoaKdhEjlleobKbrntGpOYxPAIcQDylndBtsv5TBfMPmLepsHWnVlgpTSkwbVuxPerP8KdDtyYW2iBYQ59wihrsUwbsSou1Na02H8PfIA8WhrHQjxqmexexhctKTx4WiRC22A/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CKkElxoaKdhEjlleobKbrntGpOYxPAIcQDylndBtsv5TBfMPmLepsHWnVlgpTSkwbVuxPerP8KdDtyYW2iBYQ59wihrsUwbsSou1Na02H8PfIA8WhrHQjxqmexexhctKTx4WiRC22A/s400/IMG_0164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645643379838400770" /></a>
<br /></div><div>For four weeks I focused almost completely on riding and related tasks, (eating, sleeping and keeping the velomobile running). I frequently found myself asking what day of the week it was, and only looked at the news for stories about ROAM. <a href="http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110821/LOCAL0201/308219930/1002/LOCAL"> I think this was my favorite.</a> </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I got to know some great folks that I hope to stay in touch with. Roll Over Europe anyone?</div>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-29796342330169558172011-08-27T15:30:00.006-04:002011-08-27T16:09:52.354-04:00Made it to Washington!We made it to DC. The highlight of the trip was our arrival in Georgetown (a section of DC)
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<br />We arrived at 6:30pm and decided to stay together as a group. In order to do that the first two riders stopped to block the crossing traffic at intersections so that all the velos could proceeded through the intersection. We were all blowing our horns and ringing bells. No one on the sidewalk had a clue what was going on but they were all snapping pictures and shouting questions.
<br />
<br />After our impromptu parade, we ended up parking our velos in the lower level of the basement parking garage and posing for a group picture. Maybe in front of the Welcome to Washington DC would have been a better picture, but here's the garage shot.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge087Bt4cujzrL9ALPnN5nWkjamHRv-NcJDZQMKKfWM26_FRdd1dInj7nbDD1cOp0B4FvMBvEyqVXcMUH7B4058_Qw7F-mfeYte5XJT81cQMoeraRXFmu-zPU7ijqWkxIbtm9E5hdCOA/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge087Bt4cujzrL9ALPnN5nWkjamHRv-NcJDZQMKKfWM26_FRdd1dInj7nbDD1cOp0B4FvMBvEyqVXcMUH7B4058_Qw7F-mfeYte5XJT81cQMoeraRXFmu-zPU7ijqWkxIbtm9E5hdCOA/s400/IMG_0127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623275632180402" /></a>
<br /><div>The next morning we attempted a "victory lap" around the capital city only to be thwarted by a combination of mother nature (it rained hard on us for the first time of trip) and the park police who wouldn't allow us into Lafayette Park across for a picture in front of the White House and then proceeded to chase us off of several other photo op locations. We did manage to line up the velomobiles on the mall for a picture in front of the capitol.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4fZRYpnvJSGdakLxVLfNKhn8c5_VG_kwWUhVnFsF2IXlp8G6z4dwoObUmZKiu8bdlCd_2FHv40LBasT4hP69_5kk2NVS3kq5SLiOkdCEQCNOC5ks3jeSvYjezpjqrWG-6lkVodMWeQ/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4fZRYpnvJSGdakLxVLfNKhn8c5_VG_kwWUhVnFsF2IXlp8G6z4dwoObUmZKiu8bdlCd_2FHv40LBasT4hP69_5kk2NVS3kq5SLiOkdCEQCNOC5ks3jeSvYjezpjqrWG-6lkVodMWeQ/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645625497462986482" /></a>Another shot of the velos.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM-2vn7rwisHiERbRhKYjzKv5A-ixGkMHb0JOzd9lvwWGMpN5N4-qW801IErIAncNxP4I_mktrwAsNZnFeB5tgORMLNMdhtgybZyLjEIrBemgT5fbc_RVD5uCDwXagRK7I3JnZKojww/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM-2vn7rwisHiERbRhKYjzKv5A-ixGkMHb0JOzd9lvwWGMpN5N4-qW801IErIAncNxP4I_mktrwAsNZnFeB5tgORMLNMdhtgybZyLjEIrBemgT5fbc_RVD5uCDwXagRK7I3JnZKojww/s400/IMG_0157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623282244411042" /></a>
<br /><div>Finally here's one of me in front of the Washington monument which was closed due to the damage caused by the earth quake earlier in the week.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTloXTDzUUV_zUuBTjsVffsbmZFLwvUdicb_MChutBvhJCRPr_rhc_JwNxDJloc25N5YUpMxyc_-8gMehqbilQYMWhJ0pJcyVSLXkMjAPAPIWUmh6OWOrvspBNRB-pE7Ut1jAjMW3xWQ/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTloXTDzUUV_zUuBTjsVffsbmZFLwvUdicb_MChutBvhJCRPr_rhc_JwNxDJloc25N5YUpMxyc_-8gMehqbilQYMWhJ0pJcyVSLXkMjAPAPIWUmh6OWOrvspBNRB-pE7Ut1jAjMW3xWQ/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645623268526232002" /></a>
<br /></div></div>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-54518589714005508102011-08-18T22:52:00.002-04:002011-08-27T15:30:25.836-04:00Fort Wayne IN<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div></div>Made it back to the eastern time zone today. The highlight of the day was the town of Nappanee IN.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkr-RWaVCqBNlK7Bi9FqEG5HzOfXkDV3Pu-195-Btt0m4BsdUxfroPNVj6HIKf_0D-Yqbpx0DuG6E3hwq19lwpFNABSvbrF7MvyCj01ehB-rlRhqHHTBLzWOW9xGaxxVSMb347Ati7g/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645618022174894594" /><div style="text-align: center;">Velos parked in front of the round Amish barn.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Namanne has a large Amish community that in addition to the horse and buggy have embraced>BREAK</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p5G3CSrsM_Wga4bO9UonkFpmDCIhcRzAKvzAu5WEm8BX6Lf5sHGh-eVWAJdHFHuDu-UsNQ7M-TcHkFw8meYKbIJ6J_7YdOEee2Io9tQuPeGSZMY4oDM1ksPrOFn7Am43eOiRAvq99A/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645614723316219394" /></div><div>
<br /></div> bicycles and tricycles. This was new to me so you can imagine my surprise when I rolled up to an intersection to find twist young Amish guys one on a Tour Easy recumbent and the other on a Baccetta recumbent. I chatted with them for a couple of minutes and learned that an Amish guy runs the only recumbent shop in Indiana.
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WtKpqXRZx-X2HNYD_b24J6kRG3_s7zc2oZRtW6jnt3EPwFrHAmaPw2WOOHTaKRtODz-zH-0MKSEK_VoAfaI0DQoo0CaQxBr4tgDJS08kG3_QiRWxVh2wGmNE6095GOiupwudVRHChQ/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645617103557436130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span>One of the Dutch riders works for a company called Ciber that is located near Nappanee and treated the group to lunch at the Amish Acres resort.<div>
<br /><span><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.11224668333333,-85.11931785">1136-1798 N Harry Baals Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46805,</a></span></div>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-54392222616404956892011-08-17T12:55:00.001-04:002011-08-17T12:55:33.722-04:00Battery replaced<br>Happy to report a good experiance with Golden Oasis New Energy Group. After one of my 20 ah batteries only held 12.5 ah I sent them reporting the problem an told them I would be passing through Chicago today. This morning one of the SAG vans drove me over to swap the bad battery for a new one. No hassles and they were very impressed with our cross county trip<br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.02202258333333,-87.95571306666666">Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-30317502076055237292011-08-17T11:06:00.001-04:002011-08-17T11:06:01.634-04:00Met up with my brother outside of Chicago<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r5dthjRpoLo/TkvY1I7Mn_I/AAAAAAAADhg/j2Y_L7P_wq4/Met%252520up%252520with%252520my%252520brother%252520outside%252520of%252520Chicago%252520_img_1.jpg"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r5dthjRpoLo/TkvY1I7Mn_I/AAAAAAAADhg/j2Y_L7P_wq4/Met%252520up%252520with%252520my%252520brother%252520outside%252520of%252520Chicago%252520_img_1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer;" height="240px" width="320px" /></a><br><br>On the ride from Madison WI to Evanston IL I met up with my brother Brian and his co workers who came out to see the velomobiles.<br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.04453025,-87.68188153333334">1451-1461 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-23392226133866442202011-08-13T13:26:00.001-04:002011-08-13T13:26:03.495-04:00Twin cities<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BqxKY4Q0_9w/TkazqOoSaOI/AAAAAAAADhY/kM9Rl-4t7mk/Twin%252520cities_img_1.jpg"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BqxKY4Q0_9w/TkazqOoSaOI/AAAAAAAADhY/kM9Rl-4t7mk/Twin%252520cities_img_1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer;" height="240px" width="320px" /></a><br><br>Rest day in the rain cities. We only ride 60 miles between camp sites on the east and west sides.  Stopped for a vegan scone, soy cappachino and a new bike pump at freewheel cycle and cafe. A very cool place.<br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=44.9503756,-93.26087975">Midtown Greenway, Minneapolis, MN 55407, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-116857635912239162011-08-10T22:51:00.003-04:002011-08-10T23:11:27.224-04:00Flooding in SD still causing problems.The spring's floods washed out part of u s 12 in Roscoe south dakota so we had to take a detour be about 20 miles. When we finally got for lunch to Ipswitch SD, one of the locals mentioned that the priest at the catholic church had somethin sorta like this without the shell. I suggested he give him a call and a few minutes later there was a priest outside of the Subway checking out the velos.
<br />It turns out that Fr. Randy Philips has a 2008 ICE trike that had been a demo. I asked him what he thought the odds were that 34 velomobiles would roll through his little town of ipswich. Later I wondered what the odds were that we would encounter a recumbent trike riding priest in at town of 941 souls in the middle of South Dakota.Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-22592711412402242982011-08-10T00:30:00.001-04:002021-07-28T22:39:54.563-04:00Longest ride ever<br />Today was a 160 mile ride from Bowman ND to Mobridge SD. It was generally down hill, the temperature a perfect mid 70's and partly cloudy. With the exception of a few miles of road construction the road was smooth with a car or truck passing every 5 or 10 minutes. In the morning we were blasting along at 25 to 30 mph with a tail wind. After 50 miles we had our coffee break and I joined a bunch of folks for an early lunch. 15 miles later I started wishing I had coffee instead. 70 miles into the ride I was getting distinctly drowsy. I kept hoping that over the next hill there might be a town big enough to have a place to buy coffee. At one point I found my self with my head resting on the inside of the roof fighting to keep my eyes open. I looked down at the speedometer I saw that even on the verge of falling asleep I was still pedaling fast enough to be going 27 miles an hour. Just then as I was writing off another cluster of broken down buildings and farm equipment as another has been town, I spotted a hand written sign for a restaurant with a neon "Open" sign. I hung a quick U turn and went back to a little dive full of locals. Coffee in hand, I fielded the usual, "What do you call them there little buggies?" When I asked how much I owned, the owner said, "That will be 50 cents, no you only had one it's on the house. You have a safe ride." Later in the day we stopped at the Prairie Dog Cafe where they had a map where patron could stick a push pin in to their home town. For you doing the blog with my location shown on a map its clear, but for us riding through the endless hay and wheat fields, it was quite a revelation that we are now almost half way across the country.
<br /><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.51514205,-100.38096818333334">Indian Creek Rd, Mobridge, SD 57601, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-82454421571058382502011-08-08T08:09:00.001-04:002011-08-08T08:09:16.373-04:00Miles & Miles in Miles City<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jMvohERXOsM/Tj_R6DfjB9I/AAAAAAAADhI/5MhDEDrBDYQ/Miles%252520%252526%252520Miles%252520in%252520Miles%252520City_img_1.jpg"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jMvohERXOsM/Tj_R6DfjB9I/AAAAAAAADhI/5MhDEDrBDYQ/Miles%252520%252526%252520Miles%252520in%252520Miles%252520City_img_1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer;" height="238px" width="320px" /></a><br><br>Miles Kingsbury (ROAM rider) on right poses with Miles Milligan owner of Pedal Power Sports in front of the Miles city sign<br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.40620995,-105.85949181666666">299-201 Front St, Miles City, Mt 59301, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-12999124811198801292011-08-07T19:48:00.001-04:002011-08-07T19:48:12.533-04:00Repair day in Miles City<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZXupS_pQUCg/Tj8kOHxOQ6I/AAAAAAAADgs/AmL5-OEuf9Y/Repair%252520day%252520in%252520Miles%252520City_img_1.jpg"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZXupS_pQUCg/Tj8kOHxOQ6I/AAAAAAAADgs/AmL5-OEuf9Y/Repair%252520day%252520in%252520Miles%252520City_img_1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer;" height="240px" width="320px" /></a><br><br>Our rest day in Miles City turned into repair day for a lots of folks. I discovered a quite a few loose bolts on my velomobile which contributed to the lousy steering I was experiancing. <br><br />In the picture Bengy is completing major surgery on his Quest. Seated on the ground next to him is Miles, The owner of bike shop in Miles City. <br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.40643308333333,-105.8588848">299-201 Front St, Miles City, Mt 59301, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-53385146882902938452011-08-07T19:13:00.001-04:002011-08-07T19:13:49.233-04:00Why no daily posts?<br>I had the best of intentions to blog daily about ROAM (Roll Over America) but the reality of the trip makes that hard. On a typical riding day we get up as early as possible (someone's alarm goes off around 5:30am). Then we pack up, eat something and get on the road as fast as we can. For me that's been as early as 6:30 and once as late as 8:30. The reason for this mad dash to ride in the cool morning rather than the hot afternoon. That and the later you get into camp the less time you have for dinner etc. Typically we ride 100 to 150 miles each day. Prior to ROAM I had done one century ride, so this has been challenging. Each day we have coffee break and a lunch break planned. In Montana, which will take us 6 days to ride across there are only a million people (less than a third of CT's population) and great swaths of the state don't have cell phone service.<br /><br/><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.406294566666666,-105.85940793333333">299-201 Front St, Miles City, Mt 59301, </a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867856210447086.post-88455547797492044112011-08-05T00:15:00.001-04:002021-08-01T11:39:03.472-04:00Day 8<br />Today we rode 131 miles. We had a 12 mile hill that wasn't fun, but we were rewarded with a the 10 mile down hill to lunch. After lunch we had a couple of climbs but then a 20 mile stretch of rolling hills that gently descended into Harlowton Montana. After realizing how primitive the camp site at the rodeo grounds was, one of our of our advance people called the superintendent of schools and got him to open the high school locker room so we could take showers. Lots of towns folks came by to check out the velos including a guy with two six shooter on his hips. The Europeans assumed he was the sheriff an was surprised that a regular guy could walk around wearing guns.<br />
<br /><font size="1"><b>Location : </b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.434634,-109.83891713333334">Address not available</a></font>Merrill Gayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08488407273189580011noreply@blogger.com0