The new velo

Sir Clive Sinclair, the British inventor often seen as a maverick, was more of a visionary than he is given credit for.

In the mid 1960s, Sinclair invented (but did not bring to market) the first pocket TV and in 1972 he invented, and did bring to market, the first pocket calculator (at the time it was not possible to patent "concepts" as it today in the US in relation to software and so he was unable to prevent others producing the calculators that have now become so ubiquitous).

In the early 1980s he produced the first true consumer-orientated home computer with the ZX series. Just a couple of years later, in 1984, he built the QL (for Quantum Leap, and it was - (see Wikipedia - opens in new window), a design so futuristic that its lines have recently been copied (sorry - mustn't make such allegations - its lines have been deeply influential..) in the design of the latest Sony Playstation PS2 (the little black one).

But then he bet the farm, so to speak, on his next big project, the Sinclair C5, a sort of pedal and electric-powered bathtub tricycle that sold almost none launched just a year after the QL. Technical development was undertaken by Lotus, and the manufacturing was by Hoover - some unkindly saying that this was because the shell was similar to a scaled up vacuum cleaner. The C5 broke the company and the computer products were sold off to Amstrad which promptly ditched the QL and all its fancy bits including the multi-tasking operating system. The stock of unsold C5s were sold to anyone that would take them and some ended up in holiday resorts as little more than novely playthings.

It was an ignomious end for an idea far ahead of its time for fifteen years or so later number of "reclining cycles" or "recumbant bikes" found their way to the market, several being three wheelers, and several manufacturers around the world developed small electic motors as aftermarket product for ordinary bicycles, to provide a bit of a boost on a hill, for example.Sinclair Research Limited is still persisting with some aspects of transport including powered assist for push-wheelchairs.

It's interesting, then, to see the current development of vehicles which are very similar in concept to the C5.

Dutch company Aerorider BV builds the Aerorider with the electric drive assist. It's an enclosed reclining tricycle made of composites.

Another Dutch company Velomobiel produce the Quest and the Mango, both lightweight composit shells around reclining tricycle. Although they have a degree of weatherproofing, they are not entire shells.

The Mango is slightly longer than the Quest. They are especially designed to resist sidewinds.

A third Dutch company, Flavobike builds several models including one with full weather protection and full electric lighting

The development of enclosed, or largely enclosed cycles makes good sense in cool and wet climates provided that condensation can be controlled. However, the benefits are less obvious in hot and sunny climates where the enclosed cabin cannot be adequately cooled.

For these climates, recumbant or reclining cycles may be a better solution.