Blue Strada #009 Velomobile

I'll be back!

2011-04-10T19:04:00.001-06:00

After a Winter hiatus I will be back with new blog entries. Have had the Strada on the road only twice this Winter. The Winter has been a rough one in Western Canada. Reminded me of the brutal Winters of the 1960's and 1970's when I lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I have been working on the Strada after having some problems with the rear derailleur. Will be testing it out this week and see if the new cables make it shift better.

It seems to be running fine, but Mother Nature has kicked us in the head again and now more snow and ice on the roads!

Decals from Holland & Toronto

2010-09-30T09:54:00.007-06:00

New Strada decals were applied yesterday. I received the complimentary "strada" decals from Ymte Sijbrandij, at Velomobiel.nl. He was so kind as to send them to me for free and they arrived in less than a week! The decals match the silver pinstriping I put on the Strada.

Today, I also received the decals from Bluevelo and they went on before my ride today.

I completed a 100 kms in the past two days and find myself getting more and more comfortable on the road. The two mirrors are great in keeping tabs on the traffic. I also think my body has finally found the "sweet spot" in the seat. I stopped wearing a helmet since it always hit the back rim of the cockpit. I like wearing a helmet. It has become a habit that I cannot shake. Will look for another model that has more of a flat back. Someone suggested a skateboard or snowsport helmet.

Detailing

2010-09-20T14:23:00.011-06:00

While not wanting to put too many "doo dads" on the Strada, I did want a bit of detailing on the body. I put the silver pinstriping on the seam and a couple of Canadian flags near the rear.

... and of course, a small ol' bluecoyote decal on the side just in front of the wheels!

I have been waiting for Bluevelo's decals to arrive in the mail but nothing so far.

In addition, I plan to get a "Strada" decal made to make it look very much like the European model. Having a hard time determining the font on the European Strada logos.

Plan to attach the Flevo roof today, so I can get out on the road in the rain. I just will not stop raining here!

Update to this Post:

Ymte at Velombile.NL sent me an email saying that they would send me the "strada" decals in the mail. Thanks so much!

Fits me like a glove! A snug glove!

2010-09-08T10:37:00.002-06:00

Well, I finally have the Strada totally fitted to me. It had been quite a challenge finding the sweet spot in the seat so that my shoulders do not rub the underside of the cockpit. It is not easy readjusting the rear of the seat lower so that it is seated properly on the rear support, but front of the seat up enough to cradle my butt! In addition, I did not want the bottom of the seat to bottom out on the floor. This whole process involves taking the seat out and adusting the various fittings up and down many times.

I also changed my pedals, from the supplied Shimano M324 SPD pedals, to the Shimano A520 pedals. The latter are only one sided but they hang facing toward you when you clip in. No need to spin them as is the case with the M324. I have used the A520 pedals for a number of years and have just become really comfortable with them. They look great too but that really is not a factor in a velomobile.

I am really starting to enjoy the ride and my speed is improving daily. My average speed is up over 5 kms an hour over my average in my Catrike Expedition. The one thing that I am impressed with is my hill climbing ability. I had thought that that would have been reduced, but in many ways the Strada climbs better than I had ever expected.

I did a night ride the other evening and the headlight is really good. The Strada does need some side reflectors. The one thing I did discover is how nice it is inside. My body was toasty warm while my head was fairly cold by the time I arrived back home.

I am hoping to find the time this week to do a longer trip along some smoother pavement than I have been on lately. The suspension on the Strada is nice but I find the ride no better than my Catrike Expedition.

Wheel Discs Installed.

2010-09-02T20:23:00.001-06:00

I have resisted putting the discs on until now. I have been running the tires with different pressures and did not want to remove the discs each time I changed tire pressures. I have settled on 55 psi on the front Schwalbe Kojaks and 70 on the rear Marathon Supreme. I also positioned the Flevo roof to see how it would look. I will install it later when the weather gets a bit worse. I will have to drill two holes for the front support fittings. I really pained me to drill a hole in it to install the second mirror. Drilling two more will really hurt!

Some more photos of the Strada

2010-09-01T19:52:00.003-06:00

This photo shows that I have added another mirror. I also installed my Garmin GPS. No high tech mount, just added a strip of Velcro™ to the back and it seems to stick no matter how bumpy the ride gets. I added a mount for the bell on the right side using an unused hole where the body sections meet. I used a Minoura bottle mount with a 2.5" chunk of handlebar in it. The brass Mirrycle Saturn Bell fits easily without rubbing the side of the body. It has a great musical and loud sound when you spin the outer ring!

Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

TWEEKING, TWEEKING, TWEEKING!

2010-08-29T15:03:00.004-06:00

Today, as for most of the Summer, it is raining. so, I am doing a bit more "tweeking" or in English "making adjustments" on the Strada. Firstly, I increased the size and shape of the reflectors on the rear and used it to cover up a few seams at the rear.

I also need to install my GPS and this will require installing the mount where I can see it. I can hardly see the Cateye speedometer, that is inside the velo, since I am no 'wisp of a boy" and rather fill the cockpit! I have scoured the internet looking to see how others have done that and nothing really strikes my fancy. I do not want to drill and more holes in the body so I might have a look at using Velcro. Hopefully, it will resist vibration. I Will work on that this afternoon and show the results of what I come up with in a future post.

I had an e-mail from my friend, Christine in Ottawa. She said something that made me stop and think. Very astutely, she said and I quote; "Wow! This is fabulous! You always have the best toys. But don't spoil that beautiful aerodynamic exterior with too many do-dads and decals." She might be right and I will have to re-evaluate what I am going to do for the exterior design. I might go really low-key and simple!

More adjustment and a Visit from a Mango!

2010-08-28T06:10:00.008-06:00

Friday morning I did a bit more adjustment to the seat. I guess I am a "big boy" and had to lower it significantly. Took it for another run and determined that more needed to be done. Had a phone call from Ray at Bluevelo and we talked about the adjustments I could make. Worked like a charm and did not have to move the crank at all. It is ready to go.

After lunch, Rob Mackenzie (Recumbent Blog) drove down from Olds, Alberta to check it out for himself and brought his Mango. Great fun!

The Mango was no match for the Bluecoyote! LOL! Rob was nice enough to take this 15 second video of the Strada whipping down the road.

One thing I noticed right away is how well this thing climbs up a hill. A hill that I usually use my 22 tooth granny gear on in my Expedition was no match for the Strada. I made it up this hill effortlessly and still remain in the middle chain ring!

Spent another hour after Rob left to do some more adjustment and took it out again. Getting a bit more used to the tiller and the steering of the Strada at higher speeds.

I think I am really going to like this Velomobile thing!!!

It needed its sleep so it went into the garage for a snooze:

Strada #009 is now in its new home!

2010-08-28T05:49:00.002-06:00

On thursday afternoon, we picked up the big box from Bluevelo at the YRC Reimer terminal in Calgary. It was late afternoon before we got home with it. My buddy Keith and I had to stop at Rocky's Burger Bus on the way home to get some celebratory comfort food!

Taking it out of the box was pretty exciting. It has been a long wait and even my wife was pleased to see it. So, we put her to work removing the shipping straps from the wheels.

It was everything I could have wished for and took it for a spin before it got dark. I rode it around my neighbourhood and one of the neigbourhood kid's said it looked like a giant blue jellybean! It was not set up for me so I spent a bit of time "tweeking" the seat.

Strada #009 is now on the Great Plains

2010-08-25T17:32:00.006-06:00

As I write this Blue Strada #009 is on the Trans-Canada highway between Winnipeg and Calgary. Easy riding for the big blue pill. The highway is fairly new and twinned all the way. The weather is warm sunny and beautiful on the Prairies today. I might get lucky and be able to pick the velo up tomorrow, but so far none of 6/49 Lotto numbers have come in. So I will not hold my breath.

The Calgary YRC trucking depot is 60 kms away so I am not looking forward to that drive through city traffic. Construction is everwhere in Calgary and bottlenecks are the norm. Went to Calgary today, so I know of what I speak!

While in Calgary, we did see the most amazing crane putting together overhead sections of the new West Light Rapid Transit line. This is one of the largest construction projects undertaken in Calgary's history.

Sorry, I digressed again ... that Velo better be in my hands soon!

Strada #9 now in a YRC Reimer semi-trailer!

2010-08-24T10:31:00.007-06:00

Today, Strada #9, encased in a really BIG BOX, is now travelling along the Trans-Canada Highway. It is in the back of a semi-trailer, heading toward Thunder Bay, Ontario and on to Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is getting closer all the time. Still due in Calgary for pickup on Friday!

A really BIG BOX is heading West!

2010-08-23T15:41:00.003-06:00

Strada #9 has been shipped out of Toronto today! According to the shipper's website it should be here in about 4 days. Man it, has been a long 6 month wait and I will be glad to pick it up later this week. Hopefully, it will be out on the Alberta roads on the weekend.

Those "cowboys" in my neighbourhood are really going to do a double take when they see this! My neighbour, big and gruff John in his black cowboy hat, is always driving up beside me and saying things like "Cornell, What @#$& are you riding now? Can't you find a real bike to buy? Then he laughs and drives off in his Dodge Ram Dually Pickup! He is the only man that stopped and asked to ride my Catrike in his Ostrich skin cowboy boots!

Strada Ready to be Shipped!

2010-08-20T07:31:00.007-06:00

Well the wait is almost over! Just got word that my Strada will be shipped from Bluevelo in Toronto on Monday, August 23rd.

The Strada looks great in all of its blueness with its optional Sturmey-Archer 90mm brakes. It comes complete with brake light and on top of that has the following options on it: Turn signals, Electric Horn, Second Mirror, Flevobike top and, yes, I sprung for the Radical Design Interior Storage Bag. I have not had the second mirror installed and will determine if I need one after I get it on the road. Right now it is rather a large plain blue canvas but hope to start making it totally mine in the next few weeks.

While I generally do not name inanimate objects, I have been thinking that I should name this Velo. The idea really came from a Dutchman, Pjotr320 who has named all of his beautiful Velomobiles. Another one of my Bent Rider-on-Line buddies, Duncan Watson named his orange Mango, the carrot!

Rob Mackenzie of the Recumbent Blog gave me the idea that I could name it Stradavarious! Other things that have crossed my mind are, of course the Bluecoyote and the Strada Warrior (after the Road Warrior movie of 1981). The translation of Strada in Italian is Road.

Italian is such a great cycling and Velomobile language! "Questa strada finisce nella piazza del paese." English translation: This road leads to the town square. Maybe "Il mio bambino blu" - My blue baby! The Italian references makes me think about the 197( film, Breaking Away, where the main character is obsessed with all things Italian and the Italian Cycling Team.

Will have to think about a name for it!

Nikki is doing fine!

2010-08-11T16:41:00.008-06:00

Well it has been a few days since I posted that Nikki, my velodog, has had major surgery. She is doing just great. Still a bit slow and wobbly on her feet ... but she is walking by herself. Just bloody amazing! It is going to take about 6 weeks for her vertebra to heal up and she will be on minimal duty. She cannot run or go up and down stairs. we now have baby gates in our house to stop her from doing that.

As for my Strada, I just paid for it yesterday so the deed is totally done other than getting delivery of it. Boy that left a big hole in my bank account!! This waiting is going to kill me but I have waited this long and another couple of weeks will make me stronger! Can't wait to get my "Big Box" thread up and going on Bentrider-On-Line very soon.

Next Week is Assembly of the Strada but Poor Nikki!

2010-07-29T19:21:00.011-06:00

Had a message from Ray, at Bluevelo in Toronto, that my Strada will be assembled next week! This is very good news. The weather is just turning really nice here and looking forward to seeing my "Big Blue Pill" in my garage. More importantly, I am looking forward to getting it on the road here in the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Of late, we have had some unexpected financial set-backs. However, the funds are in place for the Strada so I am not that worried. To make a long story short, we have a massive Veterinarian bill to deal with.

My little velodog is recovering from her accident over the weekend and told her today that she better get better soon because her ride is coming soon. For those who are wondering what happened, my little Jack Russell Terrier got injured by being stepped on by a horse. Just a second of me being inattentive and she gets seriously hurt.

She had a back operation on Tuesday, July 27th and she is progressing really well. She had two broken vertebrae and some serious bruising. We are hoping she recovers the use of her back legs. She has feeling in them, but can only move her right leg. It was heartbreaking since we both love this dog too bits!

She loves riding with me on the Catrike Expedition so the Strada will be a joy for her. Get well little buddy!

Patience is a virtue??

2010-07-21T06:49:00.004-06:00

Still waiting for the call from Ray that my velo is being shipped. Anyway, I have made room in my garage for the Strada once it does arrive and have purchases a few goodies for it. Now thinking about the design decals I will put on it. Thinking about some tasteful stripes down the sides. I have decided that I will will put a Canadian and a Dutch flag on it. One for my home and the other for the land of my birth as well as the origin of the velomobile itself. I will now wait for it to arrive before deciding on any other designs.

I am being patient .... Really!

My New Blue Strada Body is in Canada! Number 9!!

2010-07-20T07:24:00.012-06:00

I have been a recumbent bike and trike guy for about 6 years. I have a Catrike Expedition and a Catrike Road. I have owned an Easy Racers Gold Rush and a Catrike Speed.

In 2009, I saw my first Velomobile, at a recumbent gathering in Kellogg, Idaho, and I was smitten. Later that year, I saw and sat in a Greenspeed Glyde at the Hostel Shoppe during the Midwest Recumbent Rally in Steven's Point, Wisconsin. My interest was solidified and I had to really test drive one. Living in Rockyview County, Alberta did not help at all since there are virtually none around this part of the world. Drastic measures were required.

In February of 2010, I flew to Toronto to test drive a Quest velomobile at Bluevelo. After that visit I decided to buy a Quest velomobile. I placed my order and started the long wait. After a couple of weeks, Bluevelo announced that it would be handling the Strada velomobile as well, so I changed my order to a Strada. I felt the shorter length and the outboard front wheels to be an advantage. In addition, the color selection was greater and the Strada and the Quest are virtually the same. The Strada is a bit less aerodynamic but then so is the engine! It just felt like a better fit.

Well, last week, I finally got word that my Strada body is in the shop in Toronto and was told by Ray at Bluevelo to be patient. I am being patient.

The Strada will now be finished to my specifications in the shop at Bluevelo and then shipped to Calgary.

This Strada will be one of the first two to be imported into Canada. They are made by Velomobiel.nl in the Netherlands. Well, actually they are made by a company in Czechoslovakia for Velomobiel.nl.

My delivery date is still same time in August. I hope! This is what it will look like when it is is fully assembled. A number of my friends have commented to me that it is Viagra blue!

Check out the models that Bluevelo produces and imports. www.bluevelo.com