Many people have tried, and failed, to make a mockery-proof urban tricycle.
On the web you can find all species of velomobiles – rockets like or crashed potatoes, and all sort of the information about advantages and disadvantages of human (or hybrid) powered vehicles designed for sport and transport in urban environment (see extracts below).
By my opinion, beside safety, beauty, efficiency, versatility and practicality there must be a FUN FACTOR to make HPV desirable for crowds. This kind of vehicle can't be ever very “serious”. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, but until urban tricycles are not common on the streets, better to sit in something pretty and cool, or not to know what the others think about you :).
So - this project is my attempt to create versatile HPV for everyday commuting, sport and fun. DADA is urban recumbent tricycle with fun factor in DNA. Not only looks like bumble bee, but thanks to full front and rear suspension and high ground clearance it is fun to ride not only on asphalt, but also on grass, forest and country bumpy roads. Even small steps are not problem. Only problem (common for all tricycles without leaning) is side angle and fast cornering. Despite DADAs quite high gravity centre the roll-over resistance is not bad at all (with a child in the rear seat a bit worse), but discovering its limits may be also fun (without the child please) :) . If you don’t like this kind of fun, you can use your brain and brakes :). For sure, with more or less effort you can roll-over almost every vehicle.
My experiments with tilting mechanism failed. Price to pay was low directional stability and low-speed side unstableness, what is highly unpractical if not dangerous in mixed traffic. With fixed front you can ride fully loaded DADA with hands up and even on the bumpy road it keep straight direction.
The body is classical bicycle technology- welded steel and aluminium tube structure -light, strong, damage resistant, easy lockable and versatile. I have plans to build roof less DADAcabrio (see photo), or to hang on lowered body bigger 26” rear wheel for DADAsport. Exchangeable front and side panels allow easy customization or significant design change in case of front panel. This kind of construction is also very silent without disturbing sounds and rezonations.
DADA can be equipped with a wide range of accessories. My originally designed foldable rear rack can accommodate all sizes of bicycle bags, motoboxes, baskets, child seats, theirs combination, spare battery, etc. Extra large and heavy items can be placed on front rack – extra weight here is even improving stability. There is another luggage (handbag) space inside the cockpit in front of the handlebars, and storage spaces for small items under the seat in battery compartment and on the central tunnel. The pay load is limited by strength of the wheel rims, but DADA is designed more for fun then cargo. Possible use for post services or similar might need construction enforcement.
Prototype is equipped with EVbike 250/500W hub motor set. Its performance fit perfectly in to EU pedelec legislation (only puzzle is that 500W in specifications , even supplier was not able to explain it clearly). On flat it is cruising at 20 km/h with no effort, at 25km/h with some effort and faster with big effort or downhill, because motor in 20” rim reach its maximal effective revolves arround 25km/h. Performance might improve with different or more powerful motorisation, but from my personal experience 25km/h is enough for city traffic and busy bicycle paths.
So here it is. Enjoy and don’t hesitate to send me your opinion. It may help me in my effort to improve DADA for production.
Thanks.
On the web you can find all species of velomobiles – rockets like or crashed potatoes, and all sort of the information about advantages and disadvantages of human (or hybrid) powered vehicles designed for sport and transport in urban environment (see extracts below).
By my opinion, beside safety, beauty, efficiency, versatility and practicality there must be a FUN FACTOR to make HPV desirable for crowds. This kind of vehicle can't be ever very “serious”. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, but until urban tricycles are not common on the streets, better to sit in something pretty and cool, or not to know what the others think about you :).
So - this project is my attempt to create versatile HPV for everyday commuting, sport and fun. DADA is urban recumbent tricycle with fun factor in DNA. Not only looks like bumble bee, but thanks to full front and rear suspension and high ground clearance it is fun to ride not only on asphalt, but also on grass, forest and country bumpy roads. Even small steps are not problem. Only problem (common for all tricycles without leaning) is side angle and fast cornering. Despite DADAs quite high gravity centre the roll-over resistance is not bad at all (with a child in the rear seat a bit worse), but discovering its limits may be also fun (without the child please) :) . If you don’t like this kind of fun, you can use your brain and brakes :). For sure, with more or less effort you can roll-over almost every vehicle.
My experiments with tilting mechanism failed. Price to pay was low directional stability and low-speed side unstableness, what is highly unpractical if not dangerous in mixed traffic. With fixed front you can ride fully loaded DADA with hands up and even on the bumpy road it keep straight direction.
The body is classical bicycle technology- welded steel and aluminium tube structure -light, strong, damage resistant, easy lockable and versatile. I have plans to build roof less DADAcabrio (see photo), or to hang on lowered body bigger 26” rear wheel for DADAsport. Exchangeable front and side panels allow easy customization or significant design change in case of front panel. This kind of construction is also very silent without disturbing sounds and rezonations.
DADA can be equipped with a wide range of accessories. My originally designed foldable rear rack can accommodate all sizes of bicycle bags, motoboxes, baskets, child seats, theirs combination, spare battery, etc. Extra large and heavy items can be placed on front rack – extra weight here is even improving stability. There is another luggage (handbag) space inside the cockpit in front of the handlebars, and storage spaces for small items under the seat in battery compartment and on the central tunnel. The pay load is limited by strength of the wheel rims, but DADA is designed more for fun then cargo. Possible use for post services or similar might need construction enforcement.
Prototype is equipped with EVbike 250/500W hub motor set. Its performance fit perfectly in to EU pedelec legislation (only puzzle is that 500W in specifications , even supplier was not able to explain it clearly). On flat it is cruising at 20 km/h with no effort, at 25km/h with some effort and faster with big effort or downhill, because motor in 20” rim reach its maximal effective revolves arround 25km/h. Performance might improve with different or more powerful motorisation, but from my personal experience 25km/h is enough for city traffic and busy bicycle paths.
So here it is. Enjoy and don’t hesitate to send me your opinion. It may help me in my effort to improve DADA for production.
Thanks.