Good incentive to save up. Keep in mind a velomobile doesn’t require gas or insurance and is generally pretty cheap to maintain. Set of tires once a year, bottle of chain lube. That’s about it. The other parts usually last a long time. I get 6-10,000 miles out of the chain at least. Add up how much you spend on gas and maintenance and the price starts to look more like a bargain pretty quickly. Plus the improved health and fitness that comes with cycling everywhere and the knowledge that you are helping to reduce traffic congestion and pollution while pedaling yourself healthy. Switching to cycling everywhere is one of the best decisions I ever made. It brings me so much joy.

@@mnveloguy Thank you for the encouragement and excellent points about saving money on maintenance and fuel! I haven't spent much brain-power considering those factors, but they really are significant when I start adding them up and think about "the big picture". It might finally be time for me to start seriously contemplating a game plan to achieve the dream.

Yes. A definite shame. And as it turned out, had it not rained that day, I probably would have arrived in the mid afternoon. It did not take me very long to get from Pfunds to Meran the next day. We would have had plenty of time to check out the urban and chat.

@@mnveloguy I hope we will find another chance... Let me know when you are going to ride the Alps again!

I have not decided what I will do next year. I had several scary experiences with cars this year that added a lot of stress to the tour. I have to decide if that is a risk I am willing to take again or not. If I do come next year, most likely it would be to northern Germany where I have some friends I would like to visit. I will have to think about it.

@@derotterijders6143 the MK1 has similar turning circle to the XS. I rode an xs before I bought the MK1. For riding a lot on bike trails I think the Urban is better because it has a smaller turning circle. Otherwise they are very similar. The MK1 of course is a bit faster, but the Urban has easier maintenance access to everything. They are both wonderful Velomobiles.

56/33 front and 11-40 rear. That and a lot of grunting, sweating, and gummy bears.

@@mnveloguy Thanks for the information. For a Floridian such as myself who never sees mountains I think I would have to try and modify the gears for something easier if I was touring the Rockies. Maybe a 30 front and 11-50 rear.

@@markowsley4954 you can get a schlumpf mountain drive. 2.5:1 drop.

This is like saying a Quest and a Buelk MK1 are the same beause they both have closed wheel wells. An Urban and a DF are very different velomobiles. For instance the hinged hood, the removable access panel to the steering rods, the hotspot, and the easily adjustable seat. Then of course the excellent handling in wind and at high speeds. Give the Urban a try. It is a quantum leap forward in technology from the DF.

@@mnveloguy no no all the pros your are making are the pros from a Df since 2014

Sorry no. I know a lot of DF riders who say the bike does not handle well at high speeds or in wind unless you drive with Hosen. The Hosen make the turning circle much larger. The DF seat takes much longer to install and is also not as adjustable as the seat of the Buelk MK1. Just because a velomobile has open wheel wells, does not mean they are all the same. The Alpha 7 also has open wheel wells, but it is also much different than the Buelk Urban just like a Quest, MIlan SL, Buelk MK1, and Alpha 9 series are also all very different velomobiles even though they all have enclosed wheel wells. But, you would have to actually drive each of them as I have to see the differences I think.

@@mnveloguy I think DF guy might just be joke-trolling.

@@keinschwein8467 either trolling or has never ridden fast down a hill or in wind in his DF.

What is wrong with the audio? I watched it on my computer and it sounded good.

@@mnveloguytry headphones , it cracks when u r talking, your mic is clipping

There are a couple brief quiet cracks at the beginning, but then it goes away. It's not the mic clipping. The mic volume is actually set quite low and has to be raised in the software. The couple of little cracks is either an issue with my preamp or the software. I haven't had time to debug it and it's soft enough not to detract from the audio in my opinion. Sorry it is bothersome for you. It goes away around the 1:30 or 2::00 mark and doesn't come back.