The Earthglider - a Very Special Recumbent Bike

Описание: Die deutschsprachige Version des Videos finden Sie hier:
   • Der Earthglider - das etwas andere Liegerad  

This year Ulrich Sommer from Munich has built this special recumbent bicycle for me. The bike has been developed and tested by himself. It is one of only three existing models by now. His deliberate concept explained in his own videos (German language only) has convinced me.
Introduction of the Earthglider:    • Vorstellung des Earthglider  
Earthglider - 2 Introduction:    • Earthglider - 2  Vorstellung  

Judge by yourself after having viewed this video if I 've could have made a better choice and tell me in the comments. Any helpful tips will be much appreciated by myself and probably by Ulrich Sommer also so that he can better decide how to preceed with the next Earthgliders to be built and delivered in the future.

But you have to view the whole video because this recumbent bike has got a very special feature besides many other excellent design solutions which as far as I know no other recumbent bike in the world can offer.

In this video I have asked myself,
What can you expect of a recumbent bike and how does the Earthglider measures up to these expectations the way I have experienced it.

Content
00:00 - 01:23 Intro: The Earthglider - a very special recumbent bike with unique features delveloped and built by Ulrich Sommer
01:23 - 03:23 What can you expect of a recumbent bike? 1. It should be comfortable. There is a suspension in the back and in the front. The seating position can be adapted numerously.
03:23 - 06:12 2. The handling characteristics of the recumbent bike should be by all means of a high and secure quality. High directional stability, no suspension diving during front braking, disc brakes 200 mm in the front and 160 mm in the back, excellent braking characteristics, no lift of the back wheel at hard braking but nevertheless high braking loads on the front wheel
06:12 - 09:04 3. The recumbent bike should have good aerodynamic properties. A low seating position alone is not enough for that because the air resistance does not only depend on a low projected frontal area but  also on the cd-value (air drag coefficient). The shapes of the front fairing and the back case compromise about aerodynamic and functional properties. The back case is also designed as a crash protection for the driver. Small practical details increase the suitability for daily use.
09:04 - 09:51 4. A recumbent bike for long distances should be capable of touring. The Earthglider has a very variable capacity to carry luggage.
09:51 - 10:53 5. What is NOT to be expected from a recumbent bike? That you stay as dry in heavy rains on a recumbent bike as in a velomobile.
10:53 - 13:17 6. What should be improved? The changing of gears in the front and the reduction of weight by using lighter materials for the frame and the back case and by changing the wheels to carbon rims.
13:17 - 14:21 7. Why a recumbent bike when I already own a velomobile? To crank deep in the bends with a seating postion of a Low-Rider bicycle is so cool. And you don't overheat on a recumbent bike in the summer as easily as you do in the chassis of a velomobile.

Origin of videos and pictures which I haven't made myself:
Different gear changing with high gear transmission ratio:
http://www.schlumpfdrive.com
https://classified-cycling.cc/de/powe...
Website and introduction videos of the Earthglider of Ulrich Sommer
www.earthglider.de
www.aurilion.de/earthglider.htm

Music:
"Down The Street Blues - Unicorn Heads" from the Youtube Audio-Bibliothek
"Down with Paradise - Norma Rockwell" from the Youtube Audio-Bibliothek