too old to die young

So you think how to control a bicycle …

wim harwig — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:47:38 +0000

… I thought I knew too. But after seeing the next video, I learned a lot more

It took Jason Moore seven years to find out what techniques we’re using for a simple bike ride. Suddenly I realize why I like my three-wheeled velomobile so much

Here is a video of his doctoral exit seminar ;

“That is how a bicycle is made “

wim harwig — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:20:59 +0000

I like everything about this film; the photography, the pronunciation, the scenario, the technique, the old machines, etc,etc.

review of the hood (race cap)

wim harwig — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:07:26 +0000

Daniël asked me if I wanted to write a review of the hood (or race cap), which I use on my Quest. Well, because I think it’s a good idea and Wim Schermer consistently writes his blog only in Dutch, here it comes;

I bought the hood that is sold by velomobielonderdelen.nl and I decided to choose for the “tour“- model which is divisible in two parts. With this model you can stow away the hood inside the back of a Quest and ride convertible !

I have used the hood on my commutes all winter. In freezing cold, misty, rainy and stormy weather. And I don’t regret I buying it. It gave me a lot of comfort during my commute. Overall, I am very positive about the use of this hood.

It didn’t keep me dry though, because I came out sweating like a reindeer ! But always nice warm sweat, like in a sauna You look like a real sportsman when you climb out of your Quest (advantage) ! But when the wind outside the Quest starts evaporating your sweat, you feel like Amundsen on Antarctica (drawback).

Another thing you have to realize is that you’re putting your head in a sound box when the hood is on the Quest. So I can turn the volume on my radio down from 10 to 4 (advantage) and I had to find ways to reduce the rattles en shakes of the chain (drawback).

When it’s cold and foggy the screen gets steamed up. A deflector keeps the inside clean and clear, but when the fog forms little drops on the outside of the screen, the only way to keep sight on the road is to open the screen. Just a minor inconvenience which happens only a few days a year .

There’s just enough space around my head to look right or left, to scratch my head, to drink out of a bidon or just to smoke my cigarette . I use an astray inside the cockpit, because the hood prevents getting it outside the Quest (the ash will come right back into your face and hair). I realize that I may be the only smoking velomobilist

There’s also a hood made by Sinner; known as Da Hood . But this model is not divisible and I never tried it on my Quest.

Overall, I think it was a good investment because it made my Quest more comfortable than it already was ….

Couchsurfing.org

wim harwig — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:46:02 +0000

Sam & Laura surfed our couch. Want to know more; see couchsurfing.org . It’s for the travellers of the future. For freedom and understanding in the world. For a sustainable earth, and a lot more of that kind of vague language. Cycling and couchsurfing are the keywords for this new generation !

Labor Day

wim harwig — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:06:58 +0000

The Dutch don’t celebrate Labor Day (anymore). So I’ve done some simple things like checking our roof , cleaning the shed and doing some shopping …

…. and made some nice photos in our garden.

one of the many frogs

Velomobiel.ro

wim harwig — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:04:26 +0000

Reblogged from velomobiel.nl blog:

Onze Collega Jan Wijnen is met met zijn gezin naar Roemenie verhuisd om daar namens Velomobiel.nl een werkplaats op te zetten voor de bouw van velomobielen. De fundamenten zijn gelegd en deze week arriveert de eerste vrachtwagen met bouwelementen uit Belgie.

Our colleague Jan Wijnen moved with his family to Romania to set up a workshop on behalve of Velomobiel.nl for the construction of velomobiles.

Levon Helm

wim harwig — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:47:39 +0000

“… trying to find a place where I could lay my head …” He found it on April 19th in New York; he was 71. Too old to die young …..

stainless steel …

wim harwig — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:56:54 +0000

… doesn’t mean maintenance-free. Six of the spokes in the front-tire of Marjan’s bicycle broke while it was standing unused in our shed.

Bad quality, I guess. I renewed them with normal but tougher ones.

Qatar

wim harwig — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:00:12 +0000

The lady of the house has been to Qatar to visit her friend. An impression in photos is here.

And again I started with Pink Floyd …

wim harwig — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:12:52 +0000

… on my virginal white motorhome. Not by writing the band’s name (as on our old motorhome), but with a text that immediately refers to it.

So now bored people have something to do, when they’re driving in the traffic-jam behind me. ;-) There’s lots of space left, so it’ll take some time before all the favorite bands are mentioned.

What does it mean that I never had the intention to write on my velomobile, but can’t resist to paint my motorhome with this shit ?