Monday 2 December 2013

No, we never owned one!

Is the answer to the question you are going to ask when you have read this blog.

Today on our way back from the market at Lencloitre we spotted this zooming towards us and we were in the 2CV! We did wonder if we could have passed it had it been going in the same direction...

We have seen it once before but did not get chance to photograph it.

We have no idea of the make or power BUT it did bring back memories of this... (for all you old enough to remember)

Yes the Sinclair C5... You can find out the history if you Google it and there is an active owners club!

The vehicle we spotted looks much more superior and I for one (Col) would definitely like to burn some rubber in it! Trouble is we have searched the internet and been unable to determine just what it is... Maybe we will see it again closer up or even talk to the owner!!

If you have any knowledge please share it with us we would be interested to know.


7 comments:

Tim said...

What I do know is...
it is a recliner bicycle.
I used to know a guy in Norfolk who was developing these as a form of transport...
and there were, in the mid-80's plenty of streamline body styles being conceived to encase them.
I have never seen one like this...
and it wouldn't enclose the pedal gear of the ones I knew...
on those, that was the diameter of the wheel itself.
Actually, on closer inspection it might...
but only just.
Having riden one for a short while, I found it very comfortable...
but the devil to steer...
the handlebars were underneath me!!
I'm second on it if you get the use of one, Colin!!
I'll give the ODD steering another chance...

Tim said...

Sorry, I should have said tricycle!!
...
and the steering was by the rear wheel!!

Tim said...

Colin, you've got me looking...
and I found this blog entry:

http://thetinkersworkshop.blogspot.fr/2013/07/a-streamlined-body-for-my-recumbent.html

which mentions...
"These vehicles are used a lot in Europe and are called Velomobiles."

which led me to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile

which led to....

http://www.milan-velomobil.de/index_en.htm

and this page full of photos>>>>

and the price...
6750,-€

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Well done Tim I think that looks very much like it... I don't think Milan I will not be buying one!!

Susan said...

We've seen this velomobile (or something very like) in Pont de Ruan earlier this year, but were too slow to get a pic. We could see it was a recliner bike, but because we didn't get a pic and never saw it again we didn't do any research as to what it was.

Anonymous said...

We have a very frequent, entirely enclosed reclining cyclist, complete with flag. His bike looks a lot like a rocket if you ask me!

Tim said...

Possibly, in France, people are more willing to use these...
because motoring law ensures that the cyclist is given preference over the motorist on the open road...
we, humble 2CV drivers*, must give due care and attention to the safety of the cyclist...
but not at junctions, roundabouts, etc.
There, the rules of priority apply to all.

* but, as a 2CV driver, you would avois a cyclist anyway... the deuche would come off worst!!