I’ve owned 4 velomobiles so far, each unique in their own way. Two were classics, one of which was a homebuilt copy, and the other an older used model. My other two were early editions of hot new models.
All of them got at least 1,000 miles of quality riding in a variety of conditions, ample opportunity to put each bike through its paces. Of these four velomobiles, one has become my all-time favorite.
So what is it about the Buelk that I (and nearly 200 other riders), love so much?
Handling/Driving experience
Comfort vs Sport Suspension
The biggest selling point of the Buelk is its versatility. It can be set up with sport suspension for low ground clearance and great cornering for racing, or comfort suspension for plush touring and cruising.
Stiffness, climbs and accelerates well
I noticed right away when I got my Buelk how stiff and lightweight it was. Thanks to that, the Buelk is a great climber, and with the right gearing can climb even the stiffest grades with ease.
Efficiency/fast + option e-assist
I’ve also been blown away by the superb aerodynamics of the Buelk. You can keep pace with the fastest velomobiles on the market, or just enjoy cruising comfortably for less effort.
Option for tiller or tank steering
And with the addition now of tank steering, you can choose the steering option that fits you best ergonomically
Creature comforts
Easily adjusted seat
The seat system in the Buelk is ingenious. Not only is it easy for someone to set up without help from a dealership, but it also has the flexibility to dial in the perfect seating position for every rider.
Tiller cable
Sometimes it’s the little details that can make a big difference in comfort. Like the adjustable tiller cable that keeps it off your chest allowing better airflow and cooling in hot weather.
Hoods
The hood system is another of my favorite features. The racehood is great for going fast and riding in cold weather. The combi lid is perfect for warmer weather riding and touring and the foam cover can easily be stored in the back and pulled out if you get caught in the rain.The hinge system makes swapping hoods easy and also allows you to open the hood when stopped or climbing for better cooling.
Airflow/cooling
The air intake in the nose and NACA duct in the racehood were big selling points for me. The airflow through the bike is excellent and has allowed me to ride on even the hottest days.
Maintenance
- Fully enclosed drivetrain
- Access hatches
- Parts last a long time
- Bike is well-built and durable
Most velomobiles have a fully enclosed drivetrain, something the Buelk does particularly well. Since everything stays nice and clean, parts last much longer than other bikes. The Buelk has carefully placed access hatches that have made maintenance really easy for me. Since the Buelk is so well-built, I’ve not needed to do anything more than oil the chain in over 5,000 miles of riding, despite the rough Minnesota roads.
Safety
- Hotspot option
- Great visibility through racehood
- Padded shoulder rests
- Padded headrest for whiplash and headbump for rollover safety
- Seat back not fixed
- Nothing sharp in front of rider
- Y support detaches from boom so it doesn’t shift towards rider
- Composite sandwich with nylon core to prevent carbon splintering
- Shell protects against abrasions in case of rollover
The designers of the Buelk have put a special emphasis on safety including having studied all known accidents involving velomobiles. The HotSpot module first introduced for the Milan is great for getting lights up closer to driver eye level. The long windows in the racehood give an excellent view even over your shoulder.
What’s not to love about a velomobile that’s comfortable, efficient, adaptable, easy to ride, and easy to maintain?
The Buelk is unique in offering padded shoulder rests so that if you are hit and thrown forward, the pads help hold you in place and prevent bruising and scratching of your shoulders. The padded headrest helps reduce whiplash, and the seat back is not fixed in place so it provides support to your back and helps disconnect you from the transfer of energy. There’s nothing sharp placed in front of the rider that could scratch them and even the tiller is designed with very thin tubes so it will bend and cause less damage to the rider.
Team designed and constantly improved
And finally, I love that the Buelk is a team design effort that is being constantly improved. The team includes not just experienced engineers, but also incorporates suggestions from the velomobile community. Some of my own suggestions such as the rear swingarm cover have been used to improve the Buelk.
What’s not to love about a velomobile that’s comfortable, efficient, adaptable, easy to ride, and easy to maintain? That’s what has made the Buelk my favorite velomobile and has led to it being the fastest-selling model since the Quest was introduced over a decade ago.
You can learn more about the Buelk here in the US and velomobileworld.com in the rest of the world. We’d love to help you order your own Buelk, or if the Buelk isn’t quite right for you, we can help you find the velomobile that is.