Some days ago, I read a post on the velomobilforum.de in which an Austrian guy roughly reported how he drove his new Mango (Number 211) from Groningen to his home. I asked him for more information and received lots of photos and a report in form of a log-book. This report reads so good that I did not edit it at all, I only translated it to english (and used google-translate the first time, becuase it was so much text…
Gerd wrote:
Hello Chris!
I prepared a little report and want to tell the following about this voyage:
First Day: Start around 12:45, some sunshine and wind from south-west, through the city of Groningen heading north-west. For the first time I am following bike-paths only. I want to see the sea and I want to stand on the closing dam (Afsluitijk in Dutch, the one separating North Sea from Ijsselmeer). The route goes via Noordhorn, Grijpskerk, Buitenpost, Noardburgum, Leeuwarden, Franeker and Harlingen approaching the dam. I am cruising without cover and without rain-top, and at the beginning it is going very well, wind from behind and from the side, it is going well forward, I am surprised that I am not allowed to drive on the most roads (there are traffic signs everywhere: no biking!) I always have to take the bike-path beneath, they are mostly named with a number only and especially in towns they are sometimes hard to find. I lose my way frequently. I had not prepared a precise route and so I navigate with my Garmin Oregon 400t. Unfortunately, no routable maps were installed, so I roughly head into the right direction.
I ordered this Garmin a week prior to the start and received it the day before I left for the trip – lucky me… Traffic lights: when cars in the same direction have green light, bikes don’t automatically have too. They will not receive permission to go unless they press a button (hard to reach from the Mango). Pedestrians going in the same direction also do not have green lights. Quite confusing in the beginning when I accelerated with green bike-signs, then seeing red pedestrian lights. But there were also automatic bike traffic lights which were triggered by a sensor indicating an approaching cycle! After half of the ride, wind speed increased significantly, coming for side and front, becomes very strong after a while. It starts to rain and I have lots to do to protect my face of water and coldness (I could have mounted the roof, which is in my sister’s car). Again and again I lose my baseball cap when I bend my head slightly farther backwards. Due to the frequent boarding getting in and out works much better than it was in the shop, where I had was very clumsy. If I carelessly get in, the seat also slides from the rear, where it will usually hook. I would like the very low seat position resulting from this, but a guide roller makes noise at the seat. I escape from the horrendous weather in Franeker or Harlingen into a McDonald’s restaurant. After eating there, it stopped raining, it’s dark and I drive across the dam towards Dan Oever, it is at least 19:00, I would have liked to cross the dam in daylight. I take a room at the hotel just across the dam. My sister is waiting for me, she is leaving tomorrow to Amsterdam and then in the direction of Heerlen in the south of Holland to my aunt and her family, and there waiting for me. My uncle told me on the phone, it had wind force 8 on the coast.
Distance: 155km;
Second day: It is overcast and raining. I put on my Versatile roof and have my first flat tire at 166km (right front tire). Quickly replace the hose, and pump with the pump which was included by Sinner, does not work as easy as I had imagined. The bike paths are pretty dirty, often full of stones and mud. The wind is still very strong. So strong that it – if I’m not exactly going against the wind – rips the Versatile roof from its mounts with the Velcro connection and I have to fix the roof with my head. I start heading west, don’t find the cycling path which runs along the A7, and initially loose my way heading to the southwest then southeast through Schagen, Alkmaar, and where else I go, until at last I am back to the A7. The mango is quite bulky when turning around. When I want to return, I need to put my legs through the foot opening and make very small steps backwards. This is tedious, since the crank also rotates back and then eventually collides with the legs. Reversing certainly looks very awkward. I take the direction to Edam, and finally on better cycle paths in the direction of Amsterdam. Now, signs tell me the direction to Utrecht or Eindhoven. Clouds are becoming less and I have some sunshine. In Amsterdam, in the Eersten Oosterpark Straat I go into a Southern fast food, eat spaghetti and drink Coke. Subsequently, everything goes way easier. I am driving through Utrecht, Houten, Culemborg heading to Waardenburg, where – in the dark – I see a blue or black (perhaps red?) Mango, also with Versatile roof. We salute each other with (equal), a double-horn, we are apparently both in a hurry.
Somewhere I check air pressure in the tires at a Shell gas station, and must see that I had less than three bar on the right tire the last 70 km – and leave, as I later realize, my right rear wheel cover there. I have the feeling that quite some power is lost in the drivetrain of the mango. It runs easiest (and quietest) with the middle chain ring. In Waardenburg I enter (again) a McDonald’s restaurant – I think I have a burger withdrawal. It’s already 20:00, when I start looking for an accommodation. I cannot find the guest house in Tuil displayed on the Garmin, so I’m crossing the Maas to Zaltpommel where I stay overnight at the Hotel Tivoli. There is a Chinese restaurant with rooms and I already regret the McDonald’s visit, since it would have given a very tasty buffet here. I can leave my mango in a winter garden which is used as a smoker’s room for the guests. The heater in the room works very badly, the clothes I wash after each day are dry in the morning though. There’s W-LAN in the restaurant and I can use my i-phone to surf the web.
Distance: 350km
Third Day: The mango smells of cigarettes. The weather is overcast, but no precipitation. The wind is still quite strong and is exactly from the direction into which I want. The bike paths are built better than in the north of the country, though especially crossing the towns is confusing at times. There are an unbelievable number of bicycle paths construction sites. I start to understand the system and recognize the signs also display “dorchgangsverkehr” that I must choose to go through the towns. I ride through S`Hertogenbosch continue to Eindhoven, where I’m losing my way again, and go countless kilometers wrong. It goes towards Heze, Sterksel, Maarheeze, Budel to the Belgian border. I think it is Bocholt where I visit the “Fietsencafe,” where dozens of elderly women take coffee with ice, cream and Toblerone and something alcoholic. I drink two-Cola and pay 2.20 euros – it’s all surprisingly cheap – much cheaper than in Austria. Via Bree, Opiter to Maaseijk where I re-enter the Netherlands over the Maas. The whether is more beautiful, but the wind is still strong. Shortly before the finish (Heerlen), I now navigate with my car navi which leads me quite a long way round. I’m going through Susteren, Sittard leaving Holland again, I go via Germany and Kerkrade to Heerlen, where I overcame the first difference in altitude. I am surprised how hard it is to move uphill with the Mango. And am surprised how bad the brakes drag on the slopes. I’m expected at around 17:30 clock by my uncle, aunt, sister, cousin and his daughter. I’m glad to be finally here and I’m surprised about the route of the Garmin Nüvi 360; I’ve been traveling quite a detour.
Distance: 506km
My right Achilles’ tendon hurts, I need a day off. The next day we’re off to Aachen to visit the cathedral and Christmas market. In a huge bookstore I buy a cycle tours book of Germany. It has a very practical bike path map in a scale of 1:100,000 which will help me in the choice of route through Germany. With Voltaren from the pharmacy I help myself in the evening, the tendon is much better, I’m back in good spirits and always feel fitter and feel more and more confirmed in my decision to drive on the next day. My sister still is not working until Tuesday and accompanies me one more day – I set myself a target for the next day: Koblenz on the Rhine. With my uncle, I find the route towards the Rhine and write me a note on the localities to have some orientation.
Fourth Day: Overcast, wind is not as strong. I’m going through Kerkrade to Germany: Düren, Frauwüllesheim, Euskirchen – where I do rounds for at least half an hour – construction site madness – then Wormersdorf, the Ahrtal-valley towards Sinzig and Bad Breisig. I realize that I almost always go through larger towns, when groups of pupils are waiting for their buses. The responses to the Mango are usually tedious. In Heimersheim I see the sign saying “Grazer Stuben” and stop. I want to drink something and quickly see what is meant with the “Graz” on that sign. In the restaurant I meet the landlord, his wife and two other persons. It tells me that they are closed, but I am invited on a very very delicious “Frittatensuppe” (an Austrian soup with pancake-pieces) and a (Austrian) Almdudler lemonade. Thanks again to the family Teuschler. Just before Bad Breisig I miss a “Cycling Prohibited Sign” and ride a short stretch on a two-lane highway, which I leave at the next exit quickly. During this short episode I get honked at for the first time. I come to the Rhine the first time, the cycle path is almost continuously paved, as well as almost everywhere in Holland, by the way. But it is going well, in Koblenz it is already dark and difficult to find my way. From the mouth of the Mosel the cycle path is signposted rarely and very confusing. I can ask some bikers and go to Boppard, where I take a hotel right at the Rhine promenade. It is low priced, despite of the great location. The mango is parked in a small courtyard. It’s loud on the Rhine, on the opposite bank a freight train passes by at least every five minutes. Boppard is very beautiful, like many towns through which I come, but I have unfortunately not enough time to enjoy everything accordingly, a pity really.
Distance: 710k
Fifth Day: I ride along the Rhine pass by the Loreley, a pity that the weather is not better, the area is really worth seeing. My sister makes a few photos and then drives in her car to Austria. I’m going towards Mainz, where I lose my way significantly and come to a dirt road with huge puddles. I fall into one of these with my front wheel and water pours through the foot-opening on my trousers and into the interior. It’s quite a mess. Two bikers who are very interested in the Mango then show me the way through the city and across the great bridge across the Rhine. I drive along the main, again construction madness at the height of the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim. Subsequently I find the cycle path and then I am surprised how well it goes on. Some days I think that I will not even make 150 km, it is often such difficult. Everything goes great through Frankfurt, the cycle path always goes along the Main promenade, no detours into the city, no traffic lights, no stops. In Klein Auhein I buy food and get angry that the supermarkets are often so far away from the rivers and bike paths in the “hinterland”. And then these markets are so big that you have to go through the entire store just for a few rolls and a drink. In Seeligenstadt (it was, I think), I pass by a huge bike shop and buy some oil for the chain. The 1000 km service is due soon … 
I pass by Aschaffenburg, where I switch on the right bank of the Main, it is already dark and it runs better and better. I want to ride non-stop and do not look for accommodation prior to Großheubach. About 200 km, I really do not have any physical problems, I barely feel the Achilles tendon. It runs better than I expected. The Mango parks again in a yard that is not locked. I do not have a bad feeling about it. I have no idea how long the B&M 4.1 Ah battery deliver energy for the two IQ Speed headlights, taillights, turn signals and horn. In the yard I leave all the lights on for another two hours. Only then I see that the headlights now show with red diodes the end of the battery capacity. I’ve already noticed the fact that the horn is the largest electricity consumer. It is also a good indication of a battery running low, if it only squawks.
Distance: 926km
Sixth Day: It’s raining lightly and I’m going the Main – again along the left bank of the Main, Wertheim, where I decide to follow the Tauber-valley in southwest direction. The Main is now making quite a detour, and thus I arrive home faster. Now I stay mainly on the major roads, they have very little traffic. Only in Tauberbischofsheim the traffic is much more intense and I’m using bike paths along the roads again. I drive through Bad Mergentheim, where I exceed the 1000 km threshold, heading to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, whether is improving, the wind is not as strong anymore, however all the way from Holland I continually had headwind. The bike makes it tolerable. Somewhere in an Intersport sports shop I buy a couple of thin cross-country gloves, because until now I’ve driven without gloves and it is becoming a bit cold! I take some pictures in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in this beautiful old town. Many people come to ask about the mango and about where I come from and where I drive. Over very rough cobblestone, I drive through the pedestrian zone, I hardly proceed. I’m glad I’m finally out of the city. I wanted to buy me something to drink and eat, but postponed it to less busy towns. Then I’m going through Leutershausen, also buy nothing there, then only through many small villages where there are no shops, not even restaurants. I’ve have not drunk or eaten anything for almost 2 hours, I’m pretty empty. Moreover, there is a fairly steep hill into Altmühltal. In Herrieden I walk into the first bakery and have an apple juice drink and a cake and “fill up” again. In a supermarket I buy some victuals for the Road. I once met a recumbent rider, this time a Scorpion driver who is equipped with BionX drive and streamer. We chat a bit. I am going to Altmühlsee until after Muhr am See, where I get a room – this time in a Greek restaurant. The room is rather sub-optimal, but the heating works. I am the only guest – both in the hotel and the restaurant. Again, over 200 km, I feel better again. I can leave the mango in a shed again. I save the tracks on my Garmin the first time – I fear the old tracks have been overwritten (were not, luckily) and gone. Stupid, so I can reconstruct the exact route of the first day probably do not remember exactly.
Distance: 1135km
Seventh day: From Altmühlsee I drive further along the valley to the south, now seldomly on bike paths, but always slightly uphill and downhill. I still aim at the next goal – Eichstadt – on the national road. I’m going through Weißenburg in Bavaria, Laubenthal, Siebenkreuzhof and Wegscheid down the road to Eichstadt and thus have to overcome a few hundred meters of altitude. Racing down a good 200m of altitude to Eichstadt on wet roads, I am chased by a truck, which became smaller and smaller in my mirror. But at times, I notice that the rear wheel starts to slide a little in the fast corners. I feel a bit uncomfortable with the weak brakes and I still have to drive very cautiously. But adrenaline enhances attention . After Eichstadt cycle paths turn to gravel roads, I prefer to navigate the country roads again. It begins to rain again and I have a flat tire. Again right front tire. During changing it, it is pretty cold and I put the fleece jacket on. The tour continues to Kehlheim, where I finally come to the Donau, then Regensburg, where I start to seek an accommodation. But I am on the right bank of the Donau, and so I had to switch sides and found a guest house in Wörth an der Donau, where I parked the mango beside an old tractor in a barn. A typical country inn in which there was a lot going on, Christmas tree auction. Though, quiet and very low-priced rooms. Again, more than 200 km
Distance: 1350km
Eighth day: before Straubing I change to the right bank of the Donau, again I only drive on country’s roads initially, heading towards Deggendorf. There I change to the left bank of the Donau again, passing by Vilshofen going to Passau. There, because of the many estuaries a round through the village and then driving on well signed and wide, nicely built bike trails. I finally come to Austria, in “Kramesau” I see the first Austrian town sign. I go to a small restaurant and eat a sandwich and drink something. Some race bikers who also have a few beers there, almost do not believe, where I come from in these days. After that following the left bank of the Donau River to Schlögen, where the river makes a large loop. Suddenly the bike trail ends, the road becomes a path and I almost sink in the mud and dirt. The panels show a ferry to the other shore, which at this season is not operated of course. It is almost dark and I’m pretty pissed off. So back, 12 km move to the next bridge and then back on the right bank. That takes time. I am already looking for a room, but can not find open hotels or guesthouses. In Aschach on the Donau or Hartkirchen a restaurant – which according to the Garmin Navi should have rooms – looks for me for a cheap accommodation and finds one only in the second attempt. The owners are very nice and they are very interested in the Mango. The night before St. Nicholas is loud and many people are on the streets. I stand out pretty much compared to very many young people in the city on the move. Today I have again – for the fifth time in a row – driven more than 200 km.
Distance: 1557km
Ninth day: Christoph WAAS, an Upper Austrian recumbent rider and Hans give me instructions on how to route through the “Hunchback world” in Upper Austria. I’m going through Eferding, on the (very) steep notches where I have my first police check. I am surprised when a police car overtakes me. At the next corner they already stand and wave me aside. They are, however, curious, and I out myself as a colleague from Vienna. We take pictures and exchange business cards. I drive towards Wels, and on the Phyrnpass federal road to Dornleiten, where I already expect an announcement of Christopher “beautiful” decline. I did not expect what I find there. It is about 150m altitude down with about 12 percent slope. Little-used very broad and straight road – clearly arranged. First I am pedaling heavily, then suddenly it starts – and how! The speedometer stops at 84 and shows only some error. The speedometer is evidently capable of only a certain number of pulses per second and with 20-inch wheels, no more speed is displayable. The Garmin was set to profile, I could not change the menu to see my speed. The Mango further accelerates and I’m fast – really fast. I would have needed half a km to stop. But there is no car and so I let it run. The Versatile roof is put down by the wind, I have to use my joystick steering with the left hand and hold the roof up with my right. I let the mango run out, I almost do not slow down. It takes an estimated two km for the speedometer to show the speed again. At home, I was able to evaluate the Garmin, and finally realized that I drove at 104 km/h. Right after this I need a brake and have it with Christoph in Micheldorf, where I eat and drink a little and report a little bit of the journey. After an hour for lunch we went on, I still wanted to conquer the Phyrnpass. Even before Windischgarsten we are going pretty much uphill and downhill. From Spittal / Phyrn then the slope becomes so steep that I could hardly pedal, and at least two gears are missing to come easy and round up that hill. The back wheel was close to losing traction, slipped away every here and then. Two – Three times I have to stop, then I am finally on top of the pass summit, 945m above sea level, some snow and I position for a photo on the side lane, fast a photo and then the descent to Liezen, before it is getting completely dark. The road is slippery, I let it roll anyway. But I did not reach the 84 km/h the bike computer can show anymore. The brake pulls significantly to the left, but I don’t find time to change this until home. In Liezen I go to McDonald’s, where – it is Sunday – lots of guests sit. I am standing out a little. I eat something and then I go to the forest on Schoberpass, I want to shorten the last leg up to Riegersburg something. Hans indeed will meet me tomorrow and I shall Be in Bruck by noon. I take a last room in a guest house and spend the last night on my trip. Nearly 200km
Distance: 1743km
Tenth day: Hans comes to meet me today with his Milan and we will meet in Bruck / Mur. I’m going off at half past 10 in the direction of the Murtal. The first 10 kilometers it is going slightly downhill and it runs very well. It has a few degrees Celsius below zero, although the temperature in the Mango is bearable. In Leoben, I am stopped by a non-uniformed patrol. The officials appear less interested but more hostile to the unknown vehicle: “With wos is’ the antriebn?” (how is this powered) the officials ask. “With me,” I reply. ” Wos is´n des überhaupt?” (What is it actually). “A bike!” Comes back from me. ” Des miass´ma überprüfen ob des rechtlich deckt is!” (We have to check whether the law covers this) is replied. Well, this is something with the Austrian national character: “Nothing can be, which an Austrian not knows”, or something like that. In NL or D, the uniformed men rather cheered and did not stop me. After the short break we go along to the Liesingtal Murtal and continue to Bruck, where Hans is waiting in front of the famous Kornmesserhaus on me. Thus, the Brucker also have something from my long journey home. Many interested people inquire about the unusual vehicles. In Bruck I de-mount the versatile roof and stowe it sideways in the Mango. I’m going for the first time only with the foam cover. After a brief strengthening in the bakery we leave. Hans drives fairly fast and I follow in the (nonexistent) slipstream of the Milan through the Mur-valley through Frohnleiten and Gratkorn until just before Graz, where we have a steep decline to Weinitzen, Niederschöckl and Fasslberg hard on the traction boundary. Under the foam cover, it is quite hot up the hill and I drive open. Going down the serpentines, we are driving pretty fast with slight drifts in the corners through Hoffeld, Volkersdorf and Eggersdorf. My brother wanted to meet me in Graz, but we were so fast that he almost did not come after me and we wait in Brodersdorf for him. He and his girlfriend take some photos, then we go Gleisdorf into the Raabtal-valley to Hofstätten and then on the Sommerberg and via Markt Hartmannsdorf through Ritscheintal-valley to Walkersdorf and finally the last ridge over Neustift and we finally arrive at 17:23 clock in Riegersburg. On the last day almost 160 km. Hans has now done over 220 km and more than 1600meters of altitude We are welcomed by my family at home. Everyone stands in front of the house without knowing when exactly we will arrive. A welcome message and a poster hanging in front of our house facade. My (other) sister is there, her two boys and my parents. There’s spaghetti, donuts and plenty to drink. Hans eats well – he has recently been pretty empty. He then travels home to Feldbach. I can feel no fatigue and I really feel like when I’d gone just a little turn with the bike. I’ve not lost more than 3-4 pounds.
Distance: 1900.7km
I did not note anything during the tour. No diary. The distances should be right though. The Mango does urgently have to be cleaned, which I am going to do the next day. I have to optimize the transmission. I want to have a 28t Chain ring at front to better cope with the slopes. I adjusted the seat a little to the back and more flat.
Thank you, Gerd. Great report!!! If you want to see more photos, have a look here:
This is the tour-track according to Gerd’s Garmin device
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