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As many of you know, I have been building a second plywood vélomobile since last year, the time has come to move it out of the shadows 
Having driven an Agilo to Spezi in 2023 and then to the French vélomobile meeting the same year it became clear to me that vélomobile touring is something that I enjoy a lot. My Agilo was of course a pedelec and the only vélomobile I had ever driven. On the way to Spezi 2023 I drove a considerable number of km every day with an empty battery and so that was when the idea was born of a pure HPV trip across the country. Something lighter and faster was needed, enter the Ventec, the second DIY vélomobile plan from Bodo Sitko.
Why did it take so long to build?
This is a very easy build, easier than the Agilo, I am retired so nobody is asking me to build faster. I took my time. I procrastinated.
And one had already been built and driven every day to work by a young guy in Germany since January so no "first builder" pressure on my shoulders this time.
How much does it weigh?
In that photo 26 kg, just like it says on the web page! Inside, out of sight, there is a Ventisit (330 grams) and on the seat the lights and wiring which are not mounted yet. It does not have the lighter GoCycle front tires which are on their way from NL nor the elastomers on the struts. It has a Shimano 105 crankset and not a Rotor 50-34 that is 400 grams lighter*. And I have a heavier 11-46 10 speed MTB cassette. The sliding 1 mm polycarbonate roof adds another 650 grams, I am planning on a 488 gram 0.75 mm polycarbonate roof.
It will be painted, in fact...
It is already primed, 200 grams of primer before sanding and the interior was of course varnished. I estimate that it will weigh less than 28.5 kg ready to drive (so with things that are often not included in the weights one reads here on the forum).
Have you driven it yet?
Yes I have, it is so far a dream come true! Remember that I have gained over 20 kg compared to my Agilo (which was overweight it must be said). It climbs the 3% gradient up to the apartment at 23-24 km/h!!!!
Who needs a motor? 
Because the centre of gravity is much lower and the track is still 70 cm wide it corners like on rails. The turning circle is 8 metres, measured on the parking lot. The wide CF tiller is fabulous in use, soooo comfortable! Because of similar weight, same 26" rear wheel, similar seat angle it reminded me of my Azub trike, very sporty, but the drive train is much more positive feeling (because of the 2 idlers?). During the test drives the windscreen was not mounted and yet it was already quite fast despite the huge air braking effect of the front roof. And me being in testing mode I was not exerting much force on the pedals.
So now that the principle questions have already been asked, and answered I will continue finishing then more testing, training etc. The hardest part of the route to Germany is the first few km and that is where I will be driving as soon as the paint is dry and we are back downstairs in the bicycle garage. So far my testing of the gearing has been positive, I can start from a stop on the 14% gradient just here in front of the apartment. Of course that also needs to be tested with all the camping equipment etc on board...
Still lots to do before April!
* the Rotor costs 1€ per gram saved with the Black Friday 60% discount, I was tempted...
Having driven an Agilo to Spezi in 2023 and then to the French vélomobile meeting the same year it became clear to me that vélomobile touring is something that I enjoy a lot. My Agilo was of course a pedelec and the only vélomobile I had ever driven. On the way to Spezi 2023 I drove a considerable number of km every day with an empty battery and so that was when the idea was born of a pure HPV trip across the country. Something lighter and faster was needed, enter the Ventec, the second DIY vélomobile plan from Bodo Sitko.
Why did it take so long to build?
This is a very easy build, easier than the Agilo, I am retired so nobody is asking me to build faster. I took my time. I procrastinated.
And one had already been built and driven every day to work by a young guy in Germany since January so no "first builder" pressure on my shoulders this time.How much does it weigh?
In that photo 26 kg, just like it says on the web page! Inside, out of sight, there is a Ventisit (330 grams) and on the seat the lights and wiring which are not mounted yet. It does not have the lighter GoCycle front tires which are on their way from NL nor the elastomers on the struts. It has a Shimano 105 crankset and not a Rotor 50-34 that is 400 grams lighter*. And I have a heavier 11-46 10 speed MTB cassette. The sliding 1 mm polycarbonate roof adds another 650 grams, I am planning on a 488 gram 0.75 mm polycarbonate roof.
It will be painted, in fact...
It is already primed, 200 grams of primer before sanding and the interior was of course varnished. I estimate that it will weigh less than 28.5 kg ready to drive (so with things that are often not included in the weights one reads here on the forum).
Have you driven it yet?
Yes I have, it is so far a dream come true! Remember that I have gained over 20 kg compared to my Agilo (which was overweight it must be said). It climbs the 3% gradient up to the apartment at 23-24 km/h!!!!
Who needs a motor? Because the centre of gravity is much lower and the track is still 70 cm wide it corners like on rails. The turning circle is 8 metres, measured on the parking lot. The wide CF tiller is fabulous in use, soooo comfortable! Because of similar weight, same 26" rear wheel, similar seat angle it reminded me of my Azub trike, very sporty, but the drive train is much more positive feeling (because of the 2 idlers?). During the test drives the windscreen was not mounted and yet it was already quite fast despite the huge air braking effect of the front roof. And me being in testing mode I was not exerting much force on the pedals.So now that the principle questions have already been asked, and answered
I will continue finishing then more testing, training etc. The hardest part of the route to Germany is the first few km and that is where I will be driving as soon as the paint is dry and we are back downstairs in the bicycle garage. So far my testing of the gearing has been positive, I can start from a stop on the 14% gradient just here in front of the apartment. Of course that also needs to be tested with all the camping equipment etc on board...Still lots to do before April!
* the Rotor costs 1€ per gram saved with the Black Friday 60% discount, I was tempted...
The weather is nice but a little too cold for painting on the terrasse, pictures in the very photogenic Basque Country will follow when real road testing begins.
Weight saving does a lot for speed and climbing abilities, as does a stiff construction. Perhaps that is improved a bit also in this newer model.
Of course BRouter calculates the average over 1 km and doesn't even mark that section in red... I could just ignore the sign and take the direct route over the bridge, without too much traffic I think I would be slowed to about 20 km/h at the top because the run down leading to it will be 70 km/h.
During my first short drives the weight was around 100 kg and despite no assistance and no aerodynamics the speed was the same or faster than the Agilo up 3% gradients so I am really looking forwards to real road testing with a windscreen and the bottom closed. Maybe even with wheel disks glued on now that I know I can take the tyres off 
