Snoek Velomobile: my commute: Aceoffix trifold vs Bike Friday vs Snoek

[@2disbetter]

I was surprised at how much a difference there was with the tri-fold. I guess you really just don't fully feel all the typical speed you have in a velo. Thanks for the video!

[@shenzhenpingpong]

If you don't care about the extra 30 mins, the trifold is very comfortable to ride in 100ºF dry weather. The velomobile is nasty to ride under such conditions, but you get home quicker (assuming the road is not blocked and you don't have to carry over obstacles or push it by hand). As soon as the weather gets nicer, the velomobile is a joy to ride.

[@timhunt4339]

Would be interesting to understand the energy differences for the different transport modes for the equivalent journeys.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

Wattage is similar for all three I think. Except I didn't have a powermeter on the trifold. I rode it by feel. Total energy is then proportional to time taken.

[@timhunt4339]

So rode as hard as could in all 3 instances 😊👍

[@shenzhenpingpong]

@@timhunt4339 , I'm an experienced randonneur, so I am used to a level of power output that I can sustain for a long time. It's not my max but it's comfortable. If I really wanted to push, I'd be breathing hard the whole way, like in a race. But this is not that level.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

@@timhunt4339 on my 120-145km Loop rides, I push a lot harder as I try to beat my PR.

[@peterskottt7150]

Velomobile wins. It was so obvious. :D

[@shenzhenpingpong]

Yabbut, by how much?

[@peterskottt7150]

@@shenzhenpingpong When it rains and/or cold, time does not really matter. IMHO. More importantly, your personal preference matters most. I love my VM.... A LOT.

[@pedalpowercycling]

Wow I can't believe you're not saving that much time in the Snoek vs the Bike Friday. For commuting purposes have you considered a faster folding ebike like a Juiced JetCurrent Pro? Perhaps you can charge it and leave it in your office on campus? On my upright it takes nearly 90-100 minutes for my commute each way (20 miles, 1800 ft elevation gain, very few stop signs / signals) and on an ebike it's around 65 minutes. The velomobile is probably the same time as the upright (I too have limited storage options for the velomobile that's why I ride upright bike as it can sit in a cubicle).

[@shenzhenpingpong]

The Bike Friday is not a regular road bike, it's a race machine, I have raced it at a triathlon a long time ago. Look at how low the handlebar is. It enables a nearly flat back aero position. It's easy to do 200km on it. My road bike enables the same position, but has no rear rack. A time trial bike is probably faster still. The Snoek is handicapped by the real-world course, it has to come to a complete stop or near complete stop a number of times, and it has to do a loop to do a 180 degree. And it's heavy, accelerating up to speed means the road bikes get way ahead. Plus up a steep hills, even the trifold kills the Snoek. Actually, I think the trifold is stiffer than the Bike Friday, but of course, body position is everything on upright bikes, so the trifold loses big time.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

UPDATE: today I rode the Aceoffix trifold home again. But it was a whopping improvement. 1 hr 20 mins ride time. (Last one was 1:32.) Reason for such a huge difference? I used clipless pedals and shoes.

[@richardtydryszewski8919]

I would think the difference wouldve been greater. I usually am going about 8-10mph avg on my brompton where in my velomobiles usually im going 15-17mph avg. Also its worth noting my brompton maxes out around 30mph going down a hill theres no more gears on my 6 speed brompton. Where as my velomobiles both max out over 45mph. But i akso have marathon racers on my brompton.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

@@richardtydryszewski8919 the slowing for turns and uphills slow the velomobile down. The Aceoffix is very lightweight. Around 8.5 kg without accessories

[@richardtydryszewski8919]

@@shenzhenpingpong i dont really have many stops along my routes wen i go places. Usually its just long stretches of twisty hilly roads for miles. So hills yea it goes up slow once it loses momentum but i can carry my speed further up the hill because im approaching faster and with less air drag on my velomobile but yea once that momentum is gone, an upright bike can beat me on a climb. But then the velomobile can make up for it on descents. But when i record my rides usually auto pause is turned off. My velomobile even had a faster avg speed than my etrike because on the downhills my velomobile can go so much faster than my etrike.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

@@richardtydryszewski8919 I have traffic lights, so I need auto-pause. Otherwise, times vary wildly.

[@DarkLord666-f1w]

buy yourself toxy zr for 3000 bucks foldable version 300 bucks extra. it is as fast as velomobile but cooler in summer

[@timhunt4339]

As fast as a velomobile for the same energy input? Curious to understand the comparison. Thanks.

[@shenzhenpingpong]

I'd like to test ride one next time I have the chance in Europe. I'm sure it's faster than the two uprights, but I doubt it's faster than the Snoek.

[@DarkLord666-f1w]

@@timhunt4339 acceleration, stop and go is much much faster on the straightline velomobile will beat it. one dude was second place in a race between velos with his toxy zr