The old magnetic tree stump, gets velomobiles every time... Good tracing back to the cause and thanks of showing us, we all have learnt from your misfortune. The main thing is your ok and safe and thanks for posting this.
In 2015 I crashed my Quest at a similar speed (65kph) also due to loss of traction in the rear wheel. I did not have a blow out or a puncture, all tires stayed pressurized in the crash. The problem was some remnants of a rumble strip I did not see. The road was a patchwork of differents shades of asphalt and did not even have the white lines any more. When I moved over to the side to make room for an overtaking car my rear end started fishtailing with increasing amplitude and I could not hold it on the road. I went off the road, jumped about 1m down the embankment into a field where the velo landed primarily on the nose but due to some sideways momentum started rolling to the left. I blacked out at the first impact and woke up with my face to the ground, my body halfway out of the velo and my 11th rib on the right back side broken. Vitnesses told my I must have done at least 6 or 7 rolls but it was too fast to count. Interestingly the hump behind my head on the velo was broken but my helmet had no damage. I had some LED strips on the surface of it and those LEDs need very little force to be stripped off. All were there. So I guess after the nose-first impact the start of the roll was violent enough to break the relatively thick fiberglass on top of the hump and yet my head was still somehow protected enough being lower than this. Untill the rotation pulled me halfway out and broke my rib on the edge of the entrance. In the hospital I found out my face bone under my left eye got broken too. Nothing moved, it was just a hairline thing fracture. The only was it was detected was that when I tried to blow my nose it inflated my left eye insted :-). The only way I can think this happened is an impact of my head onto the front of the velomobile entrance during the first impact of the nose into the field. I had the neoprene cover on but it just flew away easily. The lesson for me is that I am no longer willing to ride a 3-wheeled velomobile. Every slight downhill results in speeds that are life threatening if you loose rear tire in any way. And where I live it is flat like the Netherland - for about 5km in any direction and then at least small hills start. I cannot afford a Quattrovelo and some parts of its design do not sit well with me anyway. So I am slowly designing my own 4-wheeler. It will be slower and heavier but it will also have a structure designed to protect and seatbelts. I don't want any more broken face bones. They are too scary for me.
Wow! Yes, certainly more of an accident than mine. Same as you, I'm not a fan of the Quatrovelo design, looks too much like 1950's design. I rarely have rumble strips to ride over in my area, but lots of hills. I'll keep riding and finishing work on my 3 wheel velomobile creation, with better rear tire :)
Amen. I also had a close call with a rumble strip on my Hilgo. Once nearly bitten; twice shy. So I now have a much greater respect for those damn strips.
Thanks for sharing and glad you pulled through ok! I’ll make extra sure I keep the valve alignment, especially on rear tire, lined up as perfect as I can. I’ve been over 40 mph many times and sure want to avoid going out of control.
Glad to see that you only had minor injuries as that could have been so much worse. This was an intense and I can imagine expensive lesson to learn. Best of luck on repairs/rebuilding the Milan GT.
Thanks for sharing and explaining in detail what had happened. There is much to learn from it for velonauts all over the world. Even if you cannot avoid an accident totally when a tire blows on a three wheeler going that fast, you can be aware how critical tire maintenance is actually for your safety. It may be also wise not to choose a tire for speed reasons only. You were very lucky not to get seriously hurt in that accident. And I admire your calmness after such an accident.
Que bom que estás bem, excelente vídeo , muito importante para todos os amantes do ciclismo ,para que vejam o quão seguro é um velomobile ,sua proteção é muito boa mesmo, parabéns pelo vídeo e que logo seu equipamento esteja pronto pra voltar a andar 🤗
Thanks for sharing. I think you are right about your analysis. When you are in the curve, there is some lateral force on the wheel which produce a flexion/torsion on the rear arm. I have such issue with contact of the tire on my velomobile and make a structural correction of rear wheel positioning. But I was never imagine that it can produce what was happens to you.
My God you are lucky to be alive going that fast. Glad you are ok and great you are positive after the wreck. I too have been in a wreck thanks to the rear wheel. Also in addition to the damage, after reviewing the damage to the front skin. The upper section can be repaired if you drill tiny holes along the cracks and inject with a tiny syringe resin. Once de-lamination occurs, you need to re-bond those areas that came apart with injecting resin into them. AS far as the bottom section. With careful and meticulous time and effort, it can be reassemble and a mold made of the front and removed. Theres no way it can be repaired, best bet is to make a mold of the shape, and patch a new bottom front half.
Thanks so much for this. I will certainly keep a closer eye on my valve stem from now on, although on my Hilgo, I've also never put anything less robust than Marathon Racers on any of the wheels.
Glad to hear that you're ok after that impact! Very informative and well done video, Dan. Sounds like an on-board tpms (tire pressure monitor system) would be a nice safety feature! They have inexpensive aftermarket systems for autos that look very simple and compact/light
A TPMS might be nice, but it wouldn't have done anything for me on this, since it was a blow out on the side wall. I didn't hear any loud noise though.
I am really interested in watching videos of your repairs. Especially if you say you're not experienced at doing these things. Glad you aren't more hurt.
New to your Channel, glad your OK!! I worry about this happening as well. I have never experienced a rear flat as of yet and I have been riding my Quest for three years. I moved back to the USA two years ago. I only experienced one small accident as I was blinded by a impatient car as I was coming off a ferry in Germany. Luckily I was able to do the repairs my self.
Sadly there are too many distracted drivers on the road. I'm glad I live and ride in a rural area where I can choose decent roads that have little vehicle traffic. As someone else commented, it would be nice if the velomobiles could self-heal after an accident!@
I've always checked my valve stems and made sure the lock ring is tight to the rim. No reason, just did it. Now I see why it is a good idea! Wish I could say that I was, thinking ahead or being safe but it's just a habit I picked up somewhere. Good to see that, you aren't badly hurt.
This was a stopping video.... and a tough lesson indeed I'm in my 60's and just started the great velomobile riding this year, with my DF. I've heard that it would be a disaster to have a puncture at high speed. It really seems to be that way... I chose a Schwalbe marathon+ for my rear tire when I ordered my velo from Intercity bike. Of course it can have a blow out, too. So, more checking on the tyres, the lesson learned. Hope fast recovery for you and succeeded repairs to your nice Milan.
I watched this video and I realized. You are a Madman. So I quick hit the Subscribe button and the notification Bell. We need more people like you. Thank you
Very glad with your important first part in the video that you managed it quite well, even those bruises and wounds did not look so nice. I myself fell with our Mango Sport this summer in a very slow speed and that one bruise was still painful weeks after. So, glad you are well! If I would have been in your situation with the velomobile I would have made contact with my insurance company. But maybe yours wasn’t insured? Hope you are able to repair it. Very thankful for your video.
I didn't contact insurance company, I think that would serve to create frustration for me, and end up not paying me very much. And of course what that would do to insurance costs in future years. I'm fortunate that I can afford to do the repairs.
In March 2020 we had a big storm here in North part of Sweden. My Quattrovelo flew away (!) from the yard and got some scratches. Nothing of course compared to yours. In November a company dealing with repairing car damages repainted the right part of the QV. The repair costed around 11.000 SEK and of that I payed 900 SEK. That insurance was well worth it. The insurance cost will not increase due to me using it. Here is the film about my accident. I speak Swedish there but you see the scenery. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FUEp7ntO0T0.html
Oh geez that went fast and side ways in all definitions of the words. Considering the angle and movement of the center brace/rod it was fortunate it didn't straight up punch you in face or gut. Glad you got away with minor issues... apart from the Milan.
I feel bad for you. But glad you got out allright. This is a couple of years along so i'm hoping you got it back on road again. That aluminium boom is scary. Aluminium tends to break. Even without an accident it can come apart. So hope you solved that. Because everything inside the velomobile could hurt you if it comes apart. Next point its a bicycle and you tried to fly it and tried to cut a treestomb. Wish you well & greetings from the Netherlands,, Kitty.
Glad you are ok! I have a Rotovelo it is very tough never crashed but now keeping an eye for rear blow outs. I use Schwalbe Marathon plus which you might know is the most bomb proof tire there is. I want to go to a WAW but now this carbon fiber thing has me thinking again.
Not sure what you mean about "this carbon fiber thing"? Yes, I'll be putting something like the Marathon Plus on there, and inspect the tire much more.
I ride a recumbent and if I get a blow out it's painful but like you, close to the ground so impact not too bad unless I wrap it around a tree. Good protection with that Milan.
I saw this video a while back, it changed my mind I decided a velomobiel is not for me. BUT, A Quatrevelo plus is a better choice for me. One thing I learned from that a velomobiel is a lot saver to ride then a bike or my trike! I love my Quatrevelo it’s slower than a Velomobiel. If you’re interested in a velomobiel go for it! Just keep good tires on it. I had a blow out on my bike, pure hell getting to stop . All most all ways going down on a bike will get you a dislocated shoulder with pain the rest of your life.
Imagine crashing into a tree at that speed with a traditional bodyless high bicycle. Probably deadly. So the velomobile did a really good job to protect you
So glad to see your helmet on my friend. Many velomobiles seem such a tight fit that a rider cannot fit in with a helmet on. I am a member of the BHPC and at events ie race event their rule is no helmet no race entry. Hope your ride was fixable and glad to see you up and about after such a huge accident
Thanks for the comments..... I used to ride without a helmet, but seeing all the stone walls zipping by while I ride, I changed my mind about that :) And that velomobile is going to be repaired this winter.
I always use the race hood on my Hilgo. However, I also use a "Spin" foldable vintage helmet, which allows me to turn my (rather large) head around inside the hood. Of course, it's not quite as much protection as a conventional helmet, but then again, I also have that added bit of protection from the race hood itself.
Great you're ok so far. I'm pretty sure there are cracks all over the laminate as they appear here and there all over the Milan. As a boatbuilder I wouldn't rebuild it. I'm just about to build an four wheeler higher than a quatrovelo for improved visibility in traffic along with some other innovations.
Well, watch this channel for when I do repair it! There are various cracks in the body, aside from the destruction of the "chin", but it's certainly repair-worthy. I'll make a mold from the other Milan that I've repaired for that chin area.
Thank you for showing all this in detail. To clarify is this a full carbon Velo with kevlar added to the mix in the front? Even if it's a write-off (hope not) on the tub, it protected you really well. So are you running tubeless and was that a separate tubeless valve adjusted to sit lower? Valve designs are still feeling pretty imprecise in many ways (how much pressure is lost when we pull lock mech off the valve? Are we bending/chafing anything in that area when we have to mash the rubber lock mech down on the valve every ride?) Maybe as we all gravitate toward tubeless, new valve designs will come.
Yes, carbon fiber with kevlar in areas, including the nose. I converted the front tires to tubeless about a month before the accident, and no issues with them, still holding pressure. The rear tire had a butyl tube in place. I'll repair the Milan, but will take a bit of work to fabricate a new boom, but hopefully the end result will be an improvement!
We used to race velomobiles / human powered vehicles HVP in Australia (search for pedal Prix) . You crash or are crashed into quite often but they are repairable. My daughter had a speedo mount cut the rear tyre at 60kph 40mph and rolled it a few times, we fixed the roll cage and other broken bits and finished the race, we also broke a aluminium boom on it T boneing a rolled trike, had it welded, it broke again, braced it and finished, just, the 24hr race. The are pretty resilient really good luck with the repairs. Oh we ALWAYS wear helmets - it’s the law here and has been for 30years, and don’t use race tyres on the rear it has to be a solid walled puncture proof tyre like a Scwalbe Marathon Plus or similar.
Yes, I'm familiar with the pedal Prix; would love to win the big lottery and get something like that established here in the US.... assuming we can convince people that it doesn't need an engine ;)
Yowza! I feel you. I once test drove a Milan SL. Didn't get to that speed, but it started wobbling and almost tipped into the ditch. I don!t know how I saved it, but the owner/builder was riding behind me and saw everything. Twtchy machines, not to be treated casually.
Twitchy indeed. Even at 40 kph, I still get a bit nervous in my Hilgo. However, I now use a trick I saw on the German forum. I have cord wrapped once around the tiller and then have the ends attached to each rear view mirror bolt. It does indeed reduce the twitchiness, but still allows easy steering.
Thanx for sharing your experience. I feel sorrow about your damage. Hope you are soon back with your Zephire, tracking your great progress. I thought you sold your WAW? You talked about taking the katanga beam for a replacement or are your trying to get a czech spare replacement beam?
I am still working on the Zephyr creation; creating manhole opening and wheel wells right now. I purchased a Katanga aluminum boom, my original plan was to use that in the Zephyr. I've since decided to build a carbon fiber boom, so the project is taking longer. I'm ordering another aluminum boom for the Milan and will repair it. Replacing all the steering linkage and tie rods as well.
Don't have a velomobile but do have a recumbent trike. Doubtful I would get a flat as have marathon plus tires, but the rear end lost traction at high speed a few times on bends with rough road. Easy enough to counter the backend sliding around though. Havd a cyliq rear camera on the back of a top bag that fell off a bicycle after hitting a bump. It detatched itself from the bag , recorded a thief steal the bag before I could turn around to get the bag. The thief clearly had no idea that it was an expensive camera as just ran off with the bag leaving the expensive camera.
I had a rear tire blow out 3 years ago. Within a few seconds my velomobile was completely uncontrollable. I was just lucky not to crash. I had to buy I new tire to continue my tour, a Schwalbe Marathon 47-559. That tire looks indestructible and it has proven to be so. It is hardly slower than the "very fast" Schwalbe Furious Fred. It is much heavier though. But my life is worth more than my top speed although for me speed has a high correlation with fun ;)
Yes, very quickly, about the time it took my brain to register the steering was getting weird. Probably a Marathon or similar when I finish my velo build.
I’d imagine this would be an excellent reason to add a space frame to any future design of velomobile based on a recumbent tricycle; I’m currently building one with exactly this kind of situation in mind, keeping the rider inside the vehicle instead of being sent into the pavement. Would it be cool too to add a bubble canopy that opens like a fighter jet? That would be helpful.
I did stay inside of the velomobile; can't say that it ever felt like I was going to be ejected, but it did happen damn fast. A bubble canopy has been used on other designs, the problem is that it will fog up on the inside when riding, and works like a greenhouse and is very hot on sunny days.
Front tires are tubeless (and still holding air). The rear tire was with butyl tube. I did another video that reviewed the damage, it was the valve stem being stuck in the tire not perpendicular. It formed a bubble/bump on the sidewall of the tire, that rubbed very slightly on the body causing the blow out.
What the name of the Canadian maker of this Milan is? With such extensive damage, wouldn't it be easier and better to replace the whole monocoque (bodywork) of Milan? Based on your velonaut experience, what would you change in velomobile designs?
Actually I'm getting ready to repair the Milan. I was planning on making a carbon fiber boom for replacing the broken aluminum boom, but I'm going to see about getting a new aluminum boom, and repairing the body damage. The body isn't as destroyed as it may appear. I'm continuing with my three wheel velomobile creation, but thinking that a 4 wheel version will be next.
I emailed the Canadian builder last year when I was in the market, but no reply, so I went with a Hilgo from Doug at Bicycle Evolution. I don't think the Canadian guy is making them any more.
Honestly, I think you're lucky to be alive. Without that outer body, at that speed, you would have broken bones if lucky. Glad you're ok. Live to fight another day. Any time, any where, always ready, always there.
Wow, what a crash! Glad to see you're ok! Do you know if something could have protected the velomobile shell from cracking? Cheers! By the way, congrats on 100 subscribers!
Thanks, and the velomobile did crack, but you really want it to do that and act as a crumple zone, instead of all of that shock going into the rider....
Wow, I'm glad you are okay. I will learn from your video to be more careful. I will be interested to know what cycliq says about why the camera didn't record the accident; I have been considering getting one.
I would recommend something else. Cycliq effectively blamed this on the media card, even though using a Cycliq branded media card, and following their instructions on use..... I'm thinking Garmin Varia radar unit instead. Doesn't provide video but the flashing light on the radar speeds up and gets brighter as the vehicle gets closer. Seems like a great idea
@@DanKildea I've only ever been on a DF, but using the Varia 315 so far has been awesome as long as there aren't too many cars - it can get annoying then (just like the cars themselves ;) )
No advance warning of the blow out. And yes, very fast.... about the time it registered in my brain that the velomobile was deciding where to go, and then boom
That's why i devinitely going to buy a Quattrovelo. Wenn i first discovered Velomobile i thought first "its very cool and fast but isn't that dangerous on 3 Wheels" so i searched vor crash videos. After that i search for Velomobile with 4 Tires an im glad that this actualy exist.
I've noticed that single vehicle accidents always seem to hit that solitary road sign, light pole, mail box, or in this case a tree stump. Its almost like some unseen force of nature is in control of events,,,
@@DanKildea I had a crash myself in the city with a car running a red light. I was ok, the Milan a wreck… These velomobiles are tougher than most people think :-)
I would recommend something else. Cycliq effectively blamed this on the media card, even though using a Cycliq branded media card, and following their instructions on use.....
@@DanKildea I am not entirely surprised. I tried to pursue an issue with them with the fly6 killing the battery in a few hours when turned off. Works fine(ish) right off the charger but won't hold a charge. It was a brand new device at the time. Their final suggestion was to buy a new device. I like the idea but I wish there was a competitor that could provide a good device, I'm considering using a car DVR.
There must be some trick with gravity, that trees use, or perhaps they just move quickly somehow. Notice how that is the only tree and stump, near the road along there. That thing knew you were coming and either, just sucked you in or moved to where, you would hit it. Would have been a bit of a scary sliding stop, with a blown tire but no, that evil tree just had to get ya.
A friend of mine lost traction on the rear tire of his Quest at high speed, dove off the embankment, ploughed nose-first into the ground and ended up rolling completely at least twice end-over-end. His legs are messed up from the initial impact, but he's otherwise fine. The top of the arch above his head cracked from the first pitchpole, but probably saved his life. Seeing that this is not a unique case, it does make me wonder about what could be done to prevent it. Yes, velos provide a lot more protection than uprights, but they are also massively faster.
The simplest answer is to ride with 4 wheels instead of 3.... I'm going to be much more diligent to check condition of the rear tire before rides. And a tire more rugged!
@@DanKildea redundancy of tires is indeed a great thing. I'm just still not sure I like the tradeoff - with the somewhat hilly terrain around here, I will be badly tempted to go for a streamliner instead once I save up for such a vehicle. I already dislike the climbs on my diamondframe, especially when loaded.
@@matejlieskovsky9625 climbs in a velomobile are more work, but it's very nice to simply put the brakes on and sit in the velo while you take a rest! And of course the downhills are a blast.
@@DanKildea tell that to the guy in the quest I overtook on a downhill due to his brakes overheating! :-D I'll have to take a velo out for a proper test ride eventually. I'm quite a big guy, so the weight of the thing might not be too much of a pain. But the prices really must come down if we are ever to see a significant number of velomobiles (or even just recumbents) on the roads!
The velo looks pretty good for having had a direct hit with a tree stump! The lesser weight than would be with a motor car may mean that the lesser mass allowed the velo to bounce and deflect better than just cramming itself more and more into the stump as with a motor car. All the damage to the velo body looks reparable -- more like having "battle scars" rather than being "totalled". The rider seems to have not been injured at all as much as might be expected from hitting a tree stump at 30 - 40mph (speeds which look verifiable by the video). This wreck is a point of caution to remember when (or whether to be) running at high speed on a velo. ...A good documentary of a velo wreck.
Your video begs the question, in an imaginary (but maybe real) future where velomobiles are the norm, will we create seatbelts to keep the body from jamming forward in a front end collision?
Tillers could be dangerous like early steering columns, again, in a future situation where millions of velomobiles are going 40mph down every back road we've ever designed.
Not an expert in composite repair by any means, but my first guess was 'totalled'. Are you going to cut off the nose and remould one from scratch? So many visible cracks and who knows how many invisible cracks and delaminations; how much time and money do you want to put in, while risking it still not being any good?
My first thoughts were that it was totalled. I'll repair this after my velomobile creation is up and riding.... I'll rebuild the nose and address the cracks. The whole thing will have to be sanded down to remove the gel coat and painted afterward. That will point out any further delaminations that I may not see.
Best bet would be guys who deal with boats mabe car body men but ive seen boat builders are real good at fixing the materials any boat shop that repoweres boats
To inspect my tires for any suspicious cuts or bulges. The inflator valve wasn't fully and correctly seated, causing a slight bubble on the sidewall, which is what got abraded and blew out the tire.
@@DanKildea Yeah, you've got to watch that. When mounting your tire, always remember to push the valve stem up into the tire. Also, do not tighten the valve stem retainer ring until the tire is up to pressure.
Hello I'M NOTORUS IRBY IN NEWARK NEW JERSEY IM SORRY THAT YOU HAS LOST YOUR BALNCES BUT THIS IS WHY WVERY ONE WHO RIDE ESCOOTER SHOULD AT LEASE WHERE A HELMET AT ALL TIMES OK FOURTY MILE IS KIND OF FAST BUT THASS CRAZY BUT HE IS OK GOD IS AVERY. GOOD GOD IT COULD HAD BEN WORES BUT IM HAPPY THAT HE WALK AWAY FINE THANK U. FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO 🙏
I've never suffered a blow out like that on an upright bicycle, but I would assume it would end in a crash, broken collarbone or similar, lots of road rash.
Go to 12 minutes to get to the important bit ... Don't blame the tires guys ... Just listen to an honest explanation of how fallible we all are ... I'm off to check the ferrals on my Hase Pino valves
And for all those folks who say: "Don't you feel unsafe in that?" I can now SHOW them how safe one is. If you had been on a Diamond Frame machine you would have been all over that stump! Good that you are OK. I use a QV for going to work, now I am REALLY glad of that extra wheel!
Was it caused by a rear tire break? Oh yes, I should watch until the end before asking .. Oh yeah the single real wheel is really dangerous if it fails :(
A tree trunk? Of all the bad luck. Last crash I had (in a fast un-faired recumbent) was at 29 mph and I went off the road into a giant mud puddle. It was actually funny how muddy I got with absolutely no damage. I hit slippery road mud and was able to steer off-road for the crash instead of crashing on the pavement. You obviously did not have steerage.
Correct; steering input didn't matter, it decided it wanted to go that way. In my area it's either a tree/stump or a stone wall would be the most likely thing to run into (other than vehicles....)
