All neither
The Alleweder is a boarded recumbent bike (tricycle). This type of bicycle is called a velomobile . The name 'Alleweder' indicates the all-weather suitability of the vehicle (Alleweder = "in any weather"). The casing is used to improve aerodynamics and provide weather protection. The first Alleweder was developed by Bart Verhees in the Netherlands in the late 1980s. It was built in 2008 in different versions in the Netherlands, Germany and the USA. It had an aluminum body that was 2.60 m long and 0.82 m wide and weighed between 31 and 42 kg, depending on the model.
Versions
In 2008 the following main versions were distinguished:
- AW 1: the original Alleweder by Bart Verhees (prototype in the late 1980s, first salable models from 1991)
- AW 2: the Alleweder by Flevobike (produced between 1992 and 2000). Successor:
- from 1996 the C-Alleweder
- the "limit"
- and the "Versatile"
- AW 3: Alleweder with 26-inch rear wheel (from 1993)
- AW 4: Alleweder with a 20-inch rear wheel
- AW 5: shortened version of the A4
- AW 6: from 2008 successor to the A4 with plastic casing
- AW 7: from 2010 sporty version of the A6
In addition to the version number, the type of circuit is often specified. The V-terms (ndl. "Versnellingen") refer to the number of gears:
- V8: eight-speed gearbox
- V14: Rohloff hub (14 gears)
- V24: 3 × 8 gears on the rear wheel (triple gear hub with an eight- speed chain gear )
All neither 1
The first study of an Alleweder was made by Bart Verhees in the late 1980s as a student project. He used common household tools for construction. A year later he built a second Alleweder with a self-supporting body. The prototype had two 20 "front wheels and one 26" rear wheel. Bart Verhees used his prototype for both transports and races. It won a title in its starting category for HPVs (Human Powered Vehicles).
After completing his studies in 1991, Bart Verhees tried to market the Alleweder, but could not find any buyers.
All neither 2
Johan Vrielink from Flevobike, together with the students Titus van de Brink and Bart Massee, first developed a kit based on the kit by Bart Verhees. In 1992 the first 25 kits were sold. The kits were still difficult to recreate; so the sheets had to be cut and bent by hand. From 1993 some changes were made to the drive. The sheets were now rolled in the Fokker aircraft factory, which also made assembly easier. In 1995, over 100 of the Alleweder kits were sold.
An improved version of the AW 2, called "FAW +", is still manufactured today in the USA , in Midland, Texas by David Eggleston or offered as a kit.
All 3
The Alleweder was later further developed by Leo Visscher von Alligt and got a revised body and a 26 "rear wheel.
In the A3 version, the front lighting is hidden under the front hood and can be extended with a folding mechanism. The two rear-view mirrors are also covered.
C-Alleweder
In 1996, Allert Jacobs from Flevobike began building the C-Alleweder. The C-Alleweder was not originally intended for production, but several people who had seen the prototype wanted to buy a C-Alleweder. As a result, around 30 Flevobike units were produced and sold.
limit
When Flevobike began developing the "Versatile", the Tempelman recumbent bike shop continued production and sold the C-Alleweder under the name "Limit". In contrast to the Alleweder, it had a completely encapsulated chain and a body made of plastic reinforced with carbon and aramid fibers .
All neither A4
Background: From 1997, Bart Verhees decided again to produce an Alleweder, but only a few dozen of them were sold. Nico Pluimers also failed a year later. He sold everything to Leo Visscher from the Alligt company. Leo Visscher improved a lot of the Alleweder and has been producing it since then (as of 2008).
Version 4 of the Alleweder is based on the A3. The rear has been redesigned and now has a larger trunk. As with the A2, a 20 inch size was used as the rear wheel; In addition, the rear suspension has been completely redesigned. The fold-out headlights and interconnected rear-view mirrors have been omitted from the A4. The assembly of the A4 has become easier due to the further development.
mass and weight
The Alleweder A4 is approx. 2.60 m long, approx. 82 cm wide (on the front wheels at ground level), and approx. 85 cm high and has a wheelbase of 1.3 meters. The turning circle from wall to wall is 9 meters. In the basic version without a roof and rain tarpaulin, it weighs 31 kg. The driver should not be more than 1.95 m tall and weigh less than 95 kg (source "Dutch Liegfietsen") or 110 kg (source "Lohmeyer").
construction
Versions 1 and 2 of the Alleweder still had a self-supporting body made entirely of riveted aluminum sheets. In order to increase the rigidity and reduce the weight at the same time, however, aluminum supports are now used. They were already used on the A3; In the A4, however, in many more places: The A4 consists of a cast aluminum support that runs from the crank down near the ground to the swing arm of the rear wheel. This carrier is screwed together from several parts. At the front of this main girder there is an oval grid frame (see picture "Drive"). The front wheels are supported by an annular bulkhead; a third bulkhead is behind the seat, the fourth bulkhead stiffens the rear of the trunk. The entrance consists of an aluminum tube encased in sheet metal. The girders and frames are connected by the cladding, which consists of riveted aluminum sheets. The cladding stiffens the body and is a load-bearing component of the velomobile. The beams are screwed together, all sheets are connected to the beams and to each other by blind rivets . There are around 1,600 rivets in total. The seat is also riveted from aluminum and has a thick foam pad. Only the black front hood is made of flexible plastic; this prevents dents in minor rear-end collisions. Depending on the type of installation and the severity of the accident, however, the light and drive motor may be damaged.
The floor opening below the crank is necessary; on the one hand, to provide enough space for the heels down when stepping, on the other hand, the opening is also required for maneuvering backwards, since a (motorized) reversing is technically not possible with this type of drive. So you push the bike backwards with your feet. The opening is also used for ventilation. When it rains, however, no splash water penetrates through this opening because it is completely in front of the front wheels.
The following accessories are available: a side paneling of the rear wheel, a small windshield, an unbuttonable tarpaulin that covers the interior, and a narrow roof made of fiberglass rods and foam, the so-called "Versatile roof", named after a successor to the Alleweder, the " Versatile ". The roof complements the tarpaulin, protects the head from rain and allows a view up through a small plastic window at the front. Another option is a large aluminum roof that completely surrounds the entrance and the driver's head (custom-made on request by Lohmeyer).
Since a large part of the weight is in the front area of the vehicle, the empty alley can be easily turned by lifting the rear. A handle has been integrated in the A4 since 2007 by changing the transom.
Chassis, drive
The Alleweder is built according to the Tadpole principle , so it has two steerable front wheels and a single wheel in the rear. The rear wheel is also the drive wheel, which makes a long chain guide necessary, but simplifies the drive. All wheels are sprung. The rear wheel is in a die-cast aluminum swingarm with rubber buffer suspension, the front wheels are guided on MacPherson struts and wishbones. In contrast to the demonstration vehicle in the picture , the front wheels can be designed as disc wheels to reduce air resistance. The drive chain runs through the double floor and is deflected once on the pulling side , the slack side is deflected twice (in the 2007 version only once). The A4 is normally delivered with a chainring with 60 teeth and 170 mm cranks . The chain is a standard part of bicycle construction; this makes maintenance and repair easier.
The velomobile is optionally available with a combination of chain and hub gears (SRAM 3x8) or with the 14-speed Rohloff hub . The empty weight of the vehicle is then 34 kg.
Steering, brakes
The Alleweder is directed above. A small handlebar ( Tiller handlebar, English tiller , pulled up ) sits on a long bar that has a universal joint on the ground between the legs . This means that the handlebars can move freely inside the vehicle. To get in, the handlebars are folded forward into a holder. It is used during the journey. The 3-speed gearshift, the controller for the electric drive and the 8-speed derailleur, or the Rohloff gearshift are located on the handlebars. In front of the handlebar grips, the brake for the front wheels is within reach of the index and middle finger, and the brake for the rear wheel is within reach of the thumb at the back of the handlebar. This also has a locking mechanism to prevent the bike from accidentally rolling away when getting in and out and on the mountain. The front brakes are designed as drum brakes (hydraulically operated for a surcharge), the rear wheel is braked by a V-brake using a cable .
loading
The bucket seat can be folded forward and behind it there is an approx. 80 liter trunk. To the side of the seat, there are two more storage spaces at floor level from the front to the rear wheel arch. The batteries are also located there in the E version. At the customer's request, an overhead opening for the trunk can also be constructed. This opening can be equipped with a child seat. Two-lane bicycle trailers can be mounted on the rear swing arm .
lighting
With the AW 4 version, the light is usually mounted behind an opening in the front hood. The rear light is attached to the transom. A dynamo operation is not provided, so that the lighting is operated exclusively by batteries.
DIY
The Alleweder 4 can be purchased as a kit from Alligt (NL). The general distributor in Germany is Lohmeyer Leichtfahrzeuge GbR. The kit comes directly from the Netherlands by post. Two containers are delivered, a large cardboard box and a flat box made of plywood. All parts are in the box except for the sheets and frames; these are in the plywood box.
The kit includes a battery light for mounting the handlebars, which is intended to be attached near the left rear-view mirror. A battery-operated rear light is also included in the kit.
Thanks to instructions available online, it is easy to set up and can even be set up within an apartment. The resulting waste consists largely of aluminum chips from drilling the rivet holes and the torn off rivet pins.
Before building, you just have to make sure that the fully assembled vehicle can be removed from the apartment. Most doors are only 80 cm wide, but the finished Alleweder is just over that.
Despite the good instructions, you have to proceed carefully when assembling the Alleweder and a lot of thought is required. According to the developer of the instructions, it takes about 40 hours for the case, and another 30 hours for the rest.
The aluminum material and approx. 400 remaining rivets make it easy to expand the body and attach accessories.
Alleweder-E
The Alleweder-E is based on the AW 4 or AW 6 and is an electric velomobile from Lohmeyer-Leichtfahrzeuge GbR in Hennef near Cologne. It is an Alleweder that is equipped with an electric motor with either 250 or 500 watts and - in the more powerful version - is also approved. This type of electric bike is not allowed to be sold in the Netherlands. However, registration in Germany ( insurance number ) and operation in the Netherlands is permitted.
- The small version of the electric drive (250 watts) is license-free. The electric drive only works as a support when pedaling and switches off at speeds above 24 km / h ( pedelec ). The curb weight with an 11 Ah Li-ion battery is 42 kg.
- In the more powerful version (500 watts, approved as a three-wheeled moped with insurance registration ), the engine reaches 45 km / h on the plane. The motor can, however, be assisted at any time by pedaling. Sporty drivers can use their own physical strength to reach 60 km / h on the flat. In this version, the bug a 25-watt fixtures installed behind a (additional) brake lights and turn signals as an option (to direction indicators ) are mounted.
The electric motor is located in the bow under the black front hood and drives its own chainring on the crank via a chain. The crank has its own freewheel so that the motor works without pedaling. Because the motor drives the rear wheel via the bicycle gearshift, it can always run close to its optimal speed; this is about 90 revolutions per minute on the crank.
Energy supply and consumption
The electrical energy for the drive motor comes from lithium-ion batteries with either 8, 11 or 16 ampere hours at 24 volts; This results in capacities of 192, 264 or 384 watt hours. Several batteries can be used at the same time or one after the other, which increases the range. Depending on the motor version and with two 16 Ah batteries, a range of up to 84 km is possible. This range can be further increased by supporting the motor by pedaling.
The energy consumption is 1 to 1.5 kWh per 100 km. For comparison: a vehicle with an energy consumption of 1.5 kWh requires around one twentieth the energy of a scooter or three-liter car.
All 5
The AW 5 is the same as the AW 4, except that it is intended for people between 1.5 and 1.7 meters tall. It is 2 kg lighter, 27 cm shorter and 8 cm lower. The lower height in particular is crucial, as smaller people in the AW 4 cannot look over the front hood. This version is no longer produced.
All 6
The AW 6 is a new development by Alligt and Lohmeyer-Leichtfahrzeuge GbR. The substructure still largely consists of the aluminum parts of the AW 4 and continues to come from Alligt in the Netherlands. The rear suspension is also unchanged. However, the entire structure is now made of plastic and is manufactured and assembled in Hennef von Lohmeyer. The A6 has become more spacious, the entry is lower in the front area to make it easier to get in and out. The A6 is also suitable for taller and wider drivers. Larger people with broad shoulders in particular push their shoulders against the boarding edge from the inside in the AW 4.
The AW 6 is supplied with hydraulically operated drum brakes for the front wheels. The dimensions are 2.6 m long, 82 cm wide, weight: from 32 kg, depending on the equipment.
Because Alligt continues to supply the substructure, the serial numbers of the AW 4 are also continued and used for the AW 4 or AW 6 as required. Vehicle number 144 was built at the end of April 2008. In 2008, 50 Alleweder were built: 38 AW 4 and 12 AW 6 in the second half of the year.
All neither 7
The AW 7 is a further development of the AW 6. The floor pan is narrower, the entry is high and narrow and of the same shape as the Quest velomobile; the foam lids of the quest at Alleweder also fit. The dimensions of the Alleweder are 250 cm in length, 76 cm in width and it weighs around 34 kg.
See also
Web links
- alleweder.com
- Alligt.nl
- dutchbikes.nl (Instructions) ( Memento from March 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
Footnotes
- ↑ Versatile.web-log.nl: Limit en Alleweder ( Memento of July 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Dutch Speed Bicycles: Build your own Velomobile! ( Memento from March 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive )