Introduction

Alligt Alleweder Construction Project

This site represents a rough view of the construction process for my latest HPV (human powered vehicle). There are far more photographs than can be displayed here. There are far more photographs than one might care to see.

You can find more on the internet regarding velomobiles in general and the Alligt Alleweder (AAW) specifically. My kit was purchased from David Eggleston in Midland TX, after I found the AAW on his web site at www.pedalyourselfhealthy.org. I took a flight to Texas to test ride his vehicle to make sure it was the one I wanted.

Click on each photo for a larger image, which will open in a new window.

Test Drive in Midland, TX May 2005

01/26/2006

The AAW is completed and road-ready! I took it for a spin today, only twelve miles, but it felt great! It's lighter than "book spec" at 76.25 pounds and accelerates well from a stop. The shifting works flawlessly and the brakes function as required. At one point during the ride, I performed a too-fast U-turn, hit the rain gutter at the edge of the road and mistakenly got the vehicle up on two wheels. Because I was making a U-turn, I could not "turn out" of it and held it comfortably on two wheels until headed in the right direction. The inside wheel was only a couple inches off the road and it never felt like it was going to turn turtle on me. An incredibly stable ride. When cornering at high speed, there is no tire scrub and it feels like I'm driving a race car.

Having three tracks instead of one as with a bicycle meant that my wheels hit far more bumps than a bike, but the suspension soaked them up. I heard the bumps more than felt them and railroad tracks were a non-event.

I collected smiles in this short ride and positive comments and funny ones too.
"How do you register that?"
"You should put wings on it"
"It looks like a bullet"
"That sure looks fast"
"What sort of motor do you have in there?" - this one from a couple on a motorcycle who were surprised to learn that the motor was this human being.

Just a short commute sort of ride, eight and a half miles in ordinary street clothes, to Sandy Point Sports to pick up the roof rack mounts which should allow me to transport this vehicle atop our Scion xA econobox. No real comments today, other than my own, that the fun isn't any less for having done a shorter distance. Click on photo for larger image, opens in new window.

The AAW went out for a real ride today, for a total of 30 miles. I learned a few things during the ride. I thought I had the steering and alignment properly adjusted, but found that the handlebars have a slight turn to the left while I'm travelling straight ahead. This is not a good sign, as I have the bars set to straight ahead with the steering linkage in the belly centered. That means a re-alignment, to be sure.

Descending one of the Florida hills (called bridges) the AAW reached 41mph, but created a bit of concern with the pilot (me) when it displayed some serious oscillations in the steering. I am hopeful that the re-alignment will resolve this problem. On a second bridge descent, the oscillation showed up at 35mph and a headwind prevented much of a speed increase from there.

Not the best photo of me in the AAW, considering the distortion of the glass. This was shot in front of a closed (Sunday) bike shop. An earlier shot, taken with the flash turned on resulted in a bright spot on the glass and one unexpected effect, that of highlighting every reflector on every bike in the shop!

Not as many comments during this ride, but a slightly disparaging one of note: After I signalled to take the lane for a left turn, the "motorist" pulled alongside in the right lane and said "You must think you're a motor vehicle," to which I responded "Are you aware that bicyclists have the same rights to the road as you do?" Her response was to wave her hand at me (all fingers) and drive away as the light changed.

Because the AAW is a working vehicle, I've taken it to the grocery store today. I've constructed Coroplast panels to fit behind the seat, held in place with a cheaper version of 3M's SecureLock fastener, like Velcro, only formed like plastic mushrooms. The AAW held quite a bit of groceries, but I had to put one of the gallons of milk next to the seat along with some cereal that would not fit in the compartment.
As usual, click on any photo for a larger image, which will open in a new window.

I had also my first experience with an inattentive motorist this fine sunny day. Heading southbound on a local four lane road, with a bike lane/wide shoulder, a vehicle moved to the other lane to pass me. I was slowing as the traffic light ahead of me was red and traffic was crossing from east to south on a green signal. Apparently the motorist was looking at me and not at the red light and went through it at about 40-50mph (speed limit is 50 there). He managed to swerve into the right lane and did not hit anyone. Had he collided, it would have been a big mess.

A little shopping at the local warehouse store. That's six half gallons of orange juice and twenty-four bottles, twenty ounces each of my velomobile fuel/lubricant (Gatorade). I filled the cargo compartment completely and most of both sides of the area alongside the seat. The AAW handled very well so heavily loaded.

I've had a couple new exchanges with motorists since my last posting. As has become the custom, most of the comments are positive.

Crossing lanes to make a left turn at a traffic signal, I extended my arm and when cleared, I made it to the turn lane. A motor vehicle pulled alongside and shouted "Get a flag!" My thought was that he saw me, why do I need a flag?" Unfortunately he was not close enough for a conversation.

Another lane change situation, crossing three lanes... a motorist pulled alongside and said "You need to put lights on that thing." (It was lunchtime on a sunny day). I responded "you did see me, didn't you?" His reply: "I've got special glasses on!"

Somewhere in this chronology, I was sitting at a red light for left turn, with a green light straight ahead. An automobile pulls up to the right of me and stops. A long horn blown by the motorist behind had him on his way. Crazy drivers!