Azub Max - My New Winter Bike

[@a.nameline653]

I read the Blog about this build. That is good information. You inspire me to ride winter more. I sold my motor vehicle. My recumbent tricycle is stable on winter surfaces. It is time to get the studded tire prepared. Thinking ahead to Spring a 2 wheel recumbent is more desirable for my big city traffic. The height of the rider's head higher than the tricycle seems safer for seeing and being seen.

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

On a high racer your head is on similar height than upright road bike.

[@poe5418]

Great Saukki. I am following with interest in the performance in various snow & ice conditions.

[@robingoergner725]

Interesting project, I'm looking forward to seeing more in the future. Cheers!

Interesting looking bike. The rear mudguard is nice. It's almost invisible.

[@brighton_dude]

I'm contemplating buying a Hase Kettwiesel which I think would be very good in the winter if it is equipped with a differential on the rear axle. With two wheels at the back both driven and with the rider's weight over the wheels it is very good for off road and I guess snow.

[@MischaESC2]

Hey, my brother in law had a Kettwiesel with rear axle differential. He was very pleased with the traction in rough terrain. In snow however the 20" wheels will do you no good I am afraid.

[@brighton_dude]

MischaESC2 - Thank you for your comment. The snow I deal with is not deep and I’ve found it to be navigable with 20” wheels (406). The problem is the ice, rather than the snow for me really. That’s why three wheels is very appealing.

[@wilmstormer418]

hey man, looks different, but the high seating position probably helps to be seen better by car drivers.

[@ОлегМалков-э2б]

Greetings!And why didn't you choose a fat bike for winter?

[@velosapien]

I see the crankarm length has been shortened.Is it 145mm? Is it not less torque?

[@Gee-Man-Adventures]

Nice bike. It looks like you have room to shorten your stem to stop it being in your line of vision. I have had two recumbents with superman bars. As long as I had a few cm in front of my knees it was fine.

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

I agree. It’s quite annoying when you can’t see well enough.

[@johnftenwolde3746]

hi Love your youtube channel , I'm in Canada and have a trike and a High racer recumbent. I would like to know why do the disc brakes make noise as in the start of this youtube on your bike. I have a new bike and after one ride they make noise

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

There are different types of brake pads (3 different types if I remember correctly). Some of them make less noise, but wear out more quickly. So maybe try different type of brake pads. Also check your brake alignment. Brake pad might be rubbing against the disk when it shouldn’t. That might cause some noise in slow speed and when starting to move.

[@edsonsport8208]

Nice! Super i like et

[@doogiedoesyoutubable]

With the high pedals it looks like you make the bike waddle. I'll stick with comfortably leaning foreword with my pedals under me

[@oreosaysb00]

Wait, why isn't the velomobile good for winter? Isn't it better than a standard bike because youre protected from snow and cold air. Also wouldn't 3 wheels mean better stability on slippery roads?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

It depends on road conditions. We usually get a lot of snow and the roads are in bad condition. Three weeler is better on icy roads, but during winter the roads here are in so bad condition that three wheeler is just uncomfortable and dangerous. That’s why I have now full suspension two wheeler. But I know guys riding their velomobiles year around in the north. They must have better winter roads. Lucky bastards.

[@alexanderhetzel8271]

Looks like I'm watching your videos in reverse order and was wondering, why you wouldn't go for 3 wheels on the winterbike video. I guess if the velomobil turns into a sled in deep snow, that couldn't work for you.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

Hey Saukki, did you have to cut and thread the steerer-tube on the fork, or just use spacers?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

I did have to cut it to the right lenght. No threads though.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@TheVelomobileChannel, Thanks, I don’t have an Azub, but have my hacksaw ready for another project!

[@johanneskoedood2235]

looks more balanced than understeering recumbent have balance isues my self had understeer but was looking for othere top steer but position is relaxed like in quest

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

The normal above the seat steering like I had in my Challenge Hurricane has similar steering position than Quest.

[@joeybandit2861]

yeah side ways steering feels strange , and it needs a lot of concentrarion

[@jakobskoglund300]

I like this bicycle! what is your top/max speed with this bicycle? average speed?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

This is not top speed kind of bike. On my 25 km commute I average about 28 km/h.

[@josealvarado3243]

saukki are you selling that azub 20incher...let me know joe nyc

[@mrvotrenom]

aren't those long tubular chain guides causing a lot of losses (or noise) ?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

Not so mutch actually. But using an idler sprocket to bend the chain line would be more efficient. As long as the chain runs straight inside a chain tube, there’s almost no extra friction.

[@mrvotrenom]

@@TheVelomobileChannel thanks ! aren't they wearing out quickly (since it's plastic on metal) ? do they need periodic cleaning (i guess grease and dust could accumulate inside and clog them) ?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

Yes they do wear out, but not very quickly. Rotating them periodically makes them last even longer. I guess they do get little bit dirty, but that hasn’t been a problem for me.

[@GET-Designsuk]

Hi Saukki, I have been building my own two wheel recumbent and watching some of your videos. Firstly I have found some pedal cranks that are 152 mm long and fitted them which was a great improvement to the existing 170 ones. However I was interested in the handle bars on this one of yours, as so far I have not found any that will give me the vision and knee clearence that I need. any ideas?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

Under seat steering gives you both. Clear line of sight and knee clearance. 😉

[@GET-Designsuk]

@@TheVelomobileChannel I have thought about that but I am new to recumbent riding, 71 years old and wondering if the high handlebar configuration aids ballance?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

The open cockpit style of handlebars (as my Azub has) is the easiest to ride. It works in the same way as regular bicycle. With tiller type over the seat steering you need to learn to use it, because it is quite counter intuitive at the beginning. I've tried under seat steering once, only short test ride, but I have to say, that it too needs some learning.

[@adrianrosenlund-hudson8789]

Saukki, is an Azub Opus okay for a first recumbent, do you think?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

It looks like very good bike. I think it would be very good first recumbent. Check out my latest video for few tips about how to ride decumbent.

[@jakobskoglund300]

If I buy the Azub frame set - what kind of 26 inch MTB do you recommend that I buy to disassemble??? Any suggestions? what kind of suspension on front fork? Any special parts?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

The frame set comes with cheap rear shock, but you might want to replace it with better one. So get full suspension mtb with 165 mm rear shock and 100 mm suspension fork. (any longer and it might get too inconvienient to start riding.) You probably have to buy the adapter parts (bushing set) connecting the rear shock to the frame. And then of course you need new brake and shifter wires/cables, because you probably need longer ones for the Azub. How long? It depends on your handlebar setup. My open cockpit handlebars are so long that I had to buy extra long cables/wires made for tandem bikes. And of course the chain is longer. And then don't forget to check that the bottom bracket & cranks from the donor bike are compatible with the Azub frame. There are many types of bottom brackets out there.

[@jakobskoglund300]

@@TheVelomobileChannel where did you bought the adapter parts (bushing set) ???? thanks for the help so far!!!

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

@@jakobskoglund300 I don't remember from where I ended up buying it. Just look for bushing sets from different online bike shops. Like for example here: www.bike-discount.de/en/search?q=bushing+set

[@christianturner]

Hey How much Azub max frameset cost you? Azub full bike is around 2.7k. Thanks

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

If I remember correctly it was about 1800€.

[@christianturner]

@@TheVelomobileChannel Thank you for the reply, mate. If I put like road tires on, will be 35-40 km/h average :)?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

christianturner probably not that high average. That’s velomobile speed. I guess average guy like me could maybe just and just average almost 35 km/h if the coditions are right. You can go higher if you can output very high power for long period of time.

[@bFlattheOriginal]

I'm new to the world of recumbents, wow, those chains are crazy long! How long do they last?

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

Long chain actually last longer than short chain. But not all recumbents have long chain. Front wheel drive recumbents may have as short chain as on basic diamond frame bike.