: Mike,

: Care to toss a few links to those bikes this way?

: Tom

Hi Tom,
I don't know much about velocycles as such, they're basically a bicycle or tricycle with a streamlined fairing. I come across them in seemingly unrelated articles. Most recently, as article on a assist electric motor system. That can lead to meanderings on the net.
Here's some I found in my history files, http://www.velomobiles.net/ This is a North American site.

Here's a Belgian site, in English, http://www.fietser.be/en/index.htm

Here's the culprit, http://www.waw-bionx.blogspot.com/

As I live in kind of hilly country, and can't be bothered going fast enough, a fairing doesn't make sense to me.
Mind you, coasting down some hills is a blast, a fairing would spoil the fun. (is there a 'smiley' for maniacal glee?)

Kind of like catching a perfect green wave and 'surfing' it for a mile. Not beach surf, these waves run parallel to the coast here, west to east. The best ones are generated by mid-Atlantic storms, 15 to 20 feet.
They're actually two waves peaked at the same time but not perfectly. There's a front slope with a short 'flat' bit, followed by another wave. The first slope lets you speed up and the 'flat' bit tells you to sprint as the stern starts lifting, otherwise you just fall over the top and down the backface. It's not traumatic ('cept to pride)(Ah'm not proud). Sitting with the stern just below the crest is the sweet spot.
My best kayak for this is my baidarka, that stern shape does work with waves. I think it's how the Aluet suprised Europeans at their speed on the water, the magic of surfing and boat design. The bow works, too.
The greenlander is pretty good as well, accelerates well but feels 'twitchier' at the top.
It's possible in my playboat, a Morris recovery, but only if I want to drink a gallon of water(fresh). It takes a lot of effort. It's easier and more fun on small waves.

Hope the links to the velocycles/mobiles helps,
Mike Savage
South West Cork