6/21/08

Wildfire HPV is now a Catrike dealer! Catrike has a full range of trikes, including their new economically priced Villager - check 'em out .

The Steintrikes full Suspension Mad Max trike has arrived and is now available for test rides!

The Mad Max and the now available Thunderstorm velomobile kit have been designed to work together as a system.

I have a number of specials on trikes in stock , including two that have served as floor models:

2007 ICE QNT floor model which in addition to mirror and flag includes:

• hardshell seat
• mesh seat
• additional long wheelbase hardware (short wheelbase hardware also included)
• Cateye MITY 8 computer and computer mount kit
• light/accessory mount
• Front fenders and standard rear fender
• bell (no whistle, though)
• 55 T oversize large chainring (27 spd)
• Optional Quick Release kit for quick folding
• Compatible with the soon-to-be released Borealis velomobile kit (see the ICE website for more information)

2006 Steintrikes Nomad with rear suspension and includes:

• Cherry red in color
• Rear luggage rack (which can accommodate 4 panniers)
• Front and rear Fenders
• Mesh seat
• 24 spd with bar end shifters

$2600.00 (Reg $2925.00)

2007 Steintrikes Roadshark

• Cobalt blue in color
• unridden (0 miles!)
• 26" rear wheel
• 24 speed drivetrain

$2150.00 (Reg $2750.00)

6/3/08

I've been unable to update my website for some time now, but as of today I was finally able to focus on getting the issue with my provider sorted out and it appears that I can again make updates!!!

Back on May 18, we held ElectroVelo, and although turnout for the HPV portion was down from last year, there was a greater contingent of Electrathoners and we also held the inaugeral Practical Vehicle Competition called "Race to the Grocery Store." It was a fun event, and we look forward to doing it again next year. Pictures and a writeup will be posted on this website shortly.

Some interesting developments on the velomobile front since my last posting - the Mad Max based Thunderstorm velomobile has been released and the first one has been delivered.

The Borealis full fairing which has been designed around the ICE QNT is nearing production. There are great pictures of both the Thunderstorm, the Borealis and several other velomobiles from SPEZI 2008 that can be seen HERE

1/11/08

I've posted an update to the 2007 NE HPV Rally page HERE

8/8/07

Information on the 2007 NE HPV Rally can be found HERE

7/24/07

I just posted an update to my philosophizing page. If you are interested in taking a read, please click on the earth icon at the top of the table of contents at the left of the page.

6/27/07

At long last I have posted an MP3 file of the keynote speech that David Wilson gave at the 2006 New England Human Powered Vehicle Rally that took place at Pioneer Valley Cohousing. To listen, please visit my writeup of the event and scroll down to the David Gordon Wilson Section, about 2/3 of the way down.

In other news, I will be returning to school this Fall to obtain my teaching certificate (I plan to teach 7-12th grade life sciences). Although I might attend, I won't be available to organize this year's rally, so Josh Kerson, of Runabout Cycles in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts has agreed that it would be a shame to lose the momentum that has been built up over the last three years around the NE HPV Rally and will be taking the lead on pulling things together for this year's rally (although I'm sure he could use help). If you are interested in finding out more, please email Josh.

In the Spring, we are again planning to hold the joint Human Powered Vehicle/Electrathon Rally at Beechridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough ME. There is a possibility of some HPV racing at that event!

Other odds and ends: I am offering my BionX (P-250) assisted Steintrike Nomad (with rear suspension) that I've been using for a floor model for $3200. I also have a mostly completed coroplast fairing that I built around the Steintrike that the purchaser could have.(Click Here for pics (note that the fairing is a homebuilt one-off project, and the purchaser would need to take full responsibility for determining that it is safe, functions properly, etc.) Please Email me for more information.

Wildfire HPV is now equipped to take Visa credit cards.

4/20/07

Please note: The May 5 ElectroVelo ultra efficient vehicle rally has been postponed to May 13.

The Seacoast Time Trial is still on for May 5, in Kennebunkport, ME at the Goose Rocks firehouse. For directions, please visit the Wildfire HPV events page by visiting the link below.

Just updated the 2007 Wildfire HPV Events page - a list of local Human Powered Vehicle related events with additional information on the May 13 Joint Electrathon/HPV Rally at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME.

My writeup of the 2006 New England Human Powered Vehicle Rally. is now up - take a look at how it went (from my point of view)

2/22/07

It appears that the Aurora velomobile, produced by Nimbus Kayaks is now in production, and the owner of the first one has set up a blog at http://theyellowvelo.blogspot.com.

1/31/07

For the month of February, if you order any Wizwheelz, Greenspeed, Steintrike, or ICE trike, get a Sportcrafter Trike model Mini-Roller ($150 value) FREE!

This is a great way to get your trike, and have your 'bent legs in shape and ready for the '07 riding season!

A few news items: In addition to the current manufacturers, For 2007, Wildfire HPV will be offering the Wizwheelz line of trikes, , including their very economical Cruiser trike and BionX electric assisted Power Cruiser, the economical and well built line of Cycle Genius recumbent cycles, and will represent our first velomobile manufacturer, Leitra Canada.

Also, effective immediately, the phone number for Wildfire HPV has changed and the new number is (207) 423-7360. Unfortunately, the old number was one digit off from that of a local medical group, and most of the calls I was getting weren't even for me.

10/30/06

I just started a yahoo group for Human Powered Vehicles Of New England (HPV ONE) so that New England HPV enthusiasts can find each other. The Yahoo group is located at: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/hpv_one/.

10/17/06

The Third New England HPV Rally took place under beautiful blue skies amidst the blazing New England fall foliage. In the next couple weeks I will try to get my writeup and pictures up on the website, but in the meantime, here are some pictures taken by other attendees:

• By Merrill Gay,
  
• by Dave Shank,
  
• and by Karl Stewart

I've just launched the Wildfire HPV Online Store with T-shirts that I had printed up for the Rally and in the coming weeks will be adding the rest of the items I'm stocking in the shop.

9/7/06

David Gordon Wilson has agreed to make the Keynote Speech at the Rally. Additionally, another notable in the HPV world, John Tetz, will present information on one of his HPV related specialities, making fairings out of plastazote (he is also bringing his plastazote velomobile). Nick Hein has offered to make a presentation on the Aerodynamics of HPV's and velomobile design, and among others, we also have Dave Shank from western NY with his kit built Velomobile USA FAW+ and Versatile velomobile, KRASH with his Velo-kit (which is reported to be under $1K), and Steve Mosca, with his BionX assisted Go-One.

For additional information on the Rally, registration info, etc. please visit the Rally page

On September 22, and 23, Dave Atwood, of Stillwater Recumbents and I will be at Common Ground Fair, making presentations on recumbent bikes and other hpv's (actually, I will likely only be there on Saturday the 23rd).

8/29/06

Only about 5 weeks left to go until the New England HPV Rally! Registration to date has been well short of the 30 person minimum and I would really hate to cancel, so I am pushing the target date off to Sept 15. For a description of what will be going on at the Rally, registration info, etc. please visit the Rally page

8/10/06

More than half of the Summer is already gone, and the Third New England HPV Rally is not too far off! If you plan to come, please get your registration in as soon as possible - I'd like to get 30 people registered by Sept 1 to be sure that the costs associated with the event will be covered. If you regiser by the end of the month, not only will you save a bit of money, but you'll also be entered in a drawing for a $25 Wildfire HPV gift certificate.

The Maine Bike Rally and Atmosphair were both held according to schedule, and both were a good time. Please visit the New England HPV Events page for a brief account of these events.

7/12/06 The 3rd New England HPV Rally webpage has been posted, and registrations for the event are now being accepted!

7/3/06

Well, Wildfire HPV Grand Opening weekend has come and gone - all in all it went pretty well, I think. For a brief account of the weekend, Click Here.

July promises to be the most active month with respect to HPV related goings on in Northern New England. - next weekend is the Maine Bike Rally, and at the end of the month is the Atmosphair at Owl's head, Maine. I have been told that recumbent riders who are willing to exhibit their rides at the Atmosphair can get in free. For more information and links for these events, visit the New England HPV Events page or Click Here

6/23/06

Rain is looking pretty likely for both Saturday and Sunday, with seemingly slightly less liklihood on Saturday. For those who still would like to try out the bikes and trikes, two of the upper floors in the mill are not being used, and if it is pouring, we can haul the cycles up there for some riding. That should give test riders some sense of the machines, anyway. I'll play it by ear with respect to the ride Sunday. If the weather is terrible, but people show up determined to ride, I will go.

The Steintrike Nomad arrived today, and looks pretty good! It is unlikely that I will have it ready for test rides at the Grand Opening this weekend, but I will do as much as I can and have it at the shop, in any case. I'm looking forward to getting it rolling!

I've got a couple of additional recumbents available for demo - an EZ-1 and I will also have my Toureasy clone on hand.

Things are quite festive in Biddeford as the La Kermesse Franco Americaine Festival gets under way - fireworks tonight launched from the bridge right in front of the North Dam Mill!

Hope some of you can make it to the shop this weekend.

6/11/06

I have been speaking with David Eggleston of Velomobile USA about the possibility of my leading an Alleweder building workshop here, in which each participant would build their own VM USA Alleweder over the course of a week or so. Let me know if you'd like to participate (I'd probably want to limit it to 2 participants) - price would probably be right in between the cost of a bare kit and a completed machine. If there is sufficient interest in such a workshop, I will pursue it further for this Fall.

Please see the previous news update below for information on the Wildfire HPV Grand opening weekend, June 24 and 25.

5/25/06

Wildfire HPV is ready for business!

In addition to Greenspeed (GT3 on hand), ICE (Trice T on hand ) and Steintrikes (Nomad expected in a few weeks), I will be able to order Easy Racers and Bacchetta bikes for those who want them. I will also be offering the BionX power assist systems and Mueller Windwrap fairings.

The Wildfire HPV Grand Opening will take place on the weekend of June 24 and 25, from 10:00 AM -3:00 PM both days. On Saturday the 24th, all are invited for hors d'oeuvres (including some wicked fresh strawberries from our strawberry patch), a chance to check out the new digs and to chat about HPV's (and anything else) as well as to take test rides in the large Wildfire HPV/North Dam Mill parking lot. On the morning of Sunday the 25th (not the 24th as previously written) I will be taking a leisurely ride out to Camp Ellis and back (about 10 miles round trip), and all are invited to join me. I plan to leave at 10:00 AM from the Wildfire HPV/North Dam Mill parking lot . Test rides in the parking lot, more hors d'oeuvres, socializing, and depending on turnout, a show and tell/Expo event will comprise the rest of the day. Potential test riders, and those who plan to come along on the ride to the beach, please bring your helmet with you.

Unfortunately, Dave Atwood of Stillwater Recumbents will be out of the country for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Bike Rally and so he won't be available to do much in the way of organizing the HPV portion of the Rally. Although I still plan to attend the Expo portion of the BCM Rally, I will be focussing on the Grand Opening Weekend.

For more information on other HPV related events in New England, visit the events page at The North American Velomobilist Website.

Alan Weiss of the NYC area is selling his Leitra. More information is available on the classified section of Bentrideronline

Wildfire HPV is just about ready to open for business - I've got the shop all painted and have the workbench set up. Just a few more things to do to get it ready, such as put the signs up, finish building the counter, etc.

In fact, anyone who would like to set up a time to come by is quite welcome! I have a Trice T and a Greenspeed GT3 onhand. A Steintrike Nomad should be here in 3 or 4 weeks, and orders for any of these trikes are being accepted. I plan to also offer several different two wheel 'bents and BionX power assist systems this season. More on these other product offerings in the next couple of weeks. A local "Grand Opening 'Bent Event" with an HPV ride is likely.

Ray Mickevicius has started a velomobile dealership in Toronto, Canada - visit his website at www.bluevelo.com.

It is starting to look like the next couple of years will be big with respect to advancement of velomobile usage in North America!

3-26-06

Some significant developments are afoot with respect to Greenspeed full fairings for their trikes. Click here for the full story.

Theo van den Broek of the Netherlands sent me a link to an account of his recent exploits assembling his Alligt Alleweder V14 - nice work on his part(and that of Alligt)! Visit his website

3-17-06

Big News!! Wildfire HPV will be opening as a retail recumbent/HPV shop located in Biddeford, Maine, in mid-April. We will be carrying trikes by Greenspeed, Inspired Cycle Engineering, and Steintrikes and will have these available for test rides. I'm working on updates to the Wildfire Pages to reflect what is going on which will be launched on or before April 1.

I will be selling a power assisted Alligt Alleweder velomobile on-line for another fellow - details and auction page to be launched in the coming weeks.

The prototype for a Steintrike based velomobile is slated to be released at SPEZI at the end of April.

Quest #145 has safely arrived at its new home in San Jose, CA where it is now being driven by David Ruigh, who also has been working on a Go-One based assisted HPV.

David Shank is building the first Velomobile USA Flevobike kit to be shipped and assembled away from the factory in Midland Texas. Click Here to read a blog of his velomobile construction experiences.

Click Here to find out about the Quest Manufacturing feasibility Study carried out in the Spring and Summer of 2005.

I am leaving the Quest No. 145 for Sale page up since the pictures and testimonial might be of interest to someone.

1-23-06

The Quest has been sold and will be traveling to its new home in California shortly.

The preliminary 2006 New England HPV Events Webpage is up - to view it, Click here.

In order to finance my continuing activities with Wildfire HPV, I've decided to sell the Quest. Click Here to find out more.

I've posted an update on the Wildfire HPV page, which gives a brief description of what I've been up to with respect to that project.

10-28-05

I've finally gotten around to writing up my experiences at the 2005 NE HPV Rally

I have also started selling a couple of new items: the Eternalight Ergo an ultra-bright 4 LED light which can be used as a very effective rear light for cycling, and the British Human Power Club's Booklet "So You Want to build an HPV" for homebuilders and those interested in knowing more about HPV's.

Finally, I've wrapped up the Quest Manufacturing feasibility study and will be posting an update on the Wildfire page soon.

It looks like we will be getting rain this Friday night and into Saturday for the New England HPV Rally. Please make sure you have gear suitable for the conditions. For the velomobilists, it'll be a chance to put your vehicles through their paces. For unfaired riders, please bring warm weatherproof gear. An extra change of dry clothing is also a good idea

The Expo event in the afternoon will take place at the Hatfield Lions Club Pavillion, which is a large, metal roofed structure - so we should be well sheltered for that portion of the day.

I just got in addtional copies of "So You Want To Build and HPV", which I will have available at the Rally for $17.00. Afterwards, they'll be $17.00 plus shipping.

Yesterday I headed up to the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine to give a presentation on Velomobiles. As usual lots of good stuff there (and the people watching opportunities were great!). While there I introduced myself to John Howe, Author of "The End of Fossil Energy" who had been one of the Keynote Speakers at the fair.

'05 CGF Photos courtesy Karl Stewart

This past week I learned of a Swedish velomobile that I hadn't heard of before built by Rolf Kerberg in Tollarp for which the fairing is made of some type of laminated wood - I hope to find out more.

John Tetz is on the verge of publishing his new method for working with Zotefoam for making fairings - I think it'll be on the MARS website. I'm trying to talk John into coming to the New England Rally in a couple of weeks, and bringing the beautifully Zotefoam faired velomobile he built using his new technique, but we'll see...

Tom Bunch of Ohio, recumbent tricyclist since 1998 and owner of a Dragonflyer trike was the lucky winner of the "So You Want to Build an HPV" booklet for completing the 2005 Wildfire HPV Velomobile Survey and providing his email address. The Survey closed on Sept 13 at 9:00 AM with 323 respondents, 83 of whom currently owned velomobiles, and 233 who did not. Thanks to Tom and everyone else who took the time to complete the survey!

I've just updated the Velomobilists in North America portion of the webpage, and changed the format to make it a whole lot easier to update. So it shouldn't take me nearly as long to add addtional people interested in participating in the Velomobile Homebuilders Network (VHN), or to add new commercial velomobile owners.

I've also added a couple of details describing the Hatfield Lions Club pavilion on the NE HPV Rally page so participants will have a better idea what to expect, amenities-wise.

Only 18 days left until the 2nd New England Human Powered Vehicle Rally!

The Flevobike Alleweder sold today, a few days after the Ebay auction ended (without bidders). As I write this, it is on the roof its new owners car on the way to its new home up in Canada!

I've just posted a Yahoo Map with directions to the location of the Rally at the Hatfield Lions Club (Oct 8 is coming up fast!) on the 2005 New England HPV Rally page

I've finally got my Flevobike Alleweder velomobile listed on ebay at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7179828611&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1

Next week I am planning to put the Flevobike Alleweder up for auction on Ebay. Once it is up, I'll post the link.

Well, it's ready!

Click here to take the 2005 Wildfire HPV Velomobile survey. Thanks for your input!

The 2005 New England HPV Rally is only 8 weeks off. If you register between now and Sept 1 you can save $10.00 per person. After September 1 - only 2 and a half weeks off- the registration goes up to $35. For additional registration information, Click Here.

Within the next week or two I will be posting a link to the Wildfire HPV 2005 velomobile survey, the purpose of which is to help us gauge the market for velomobiles here in North America.

I've got the replacement top deck back on the Flevo Alleweder, so it shouldn't be too long before I am ready to put it on the block as part of the Wildfire HPV fund raising effort.

Also as part of the Wildfire HPV fund raising effort, I am renting advertising space on the side of the Quest. For more information, please click here.

Finally, Elrey Stevens is about to set off on his US transect in his brand new FlevobikeVersatile Velomobile. He has set up a webpage Here.

Added in Jeff Kline (Aerorider driver) to the velomobile drivers list. Added a link to Mary Arneson's comprehensive velomobile website on the Velomobile Drivers list. My apologies to those of you who have submitted your names to be added to the homebuilders list and have yet to see them up...I'll get there - too much to do and too little time.

The 2005 New England HPV Rally will be held at the Hatfield Lions Club Paviliion in Hatfield, Massachusetts. For more information, Click Here.

Total mileage on the Quest to date: 502 Mi.

I've put a couple of new items up on the auctions page, including a Toureasy Clone tubeset. See The auctions page

Today I was scheduled to lead a ride before the annual meeting of the Eastern Trail Alliance. It has been raining continuously for the better part of a week around here, and today was no exception so no one showed up. I decided to take a quick loop ride in the Quest out to West Kennebunk and back anyway. I guess it was a little too quick. I was pedaling up Main St. in Kennebunk when I saw the flashing blue lights in my rear view mirror...The officer told me that a court officer on one of the roads into town had called in a complaint that a "yellow cigar shaped vehicle was proceeding at a high rate of speed down Cat Mousam Rd." It's funny, because my Mother-In-Law lives on that road and has complained to the cops on several occasions about cars and trucks proceeding at high rates of speed down her street, with little seeming effect. The cop asked me what the vehicle was and then asked if I had a license to operate this vehicle. I told him I didn't need one because it was a bike, and pulled off the cover to show him that it was pedal powered - quite funny (and enjoyable to see the expression on his face) ! He asked me to sit tight while he checked in at the station and when he came back from the patrol car gave me a verbal warning that as a bike I need to obey the same laws as motorist and let me go saying "have a good day and stay safe" . Certainly can't argue with that - I think I may have been doing better than 40 in a 30 mph zone. The moral of the story: With speed comes responsibility :-)

Pix added to the Netherlands trip page.

Frederik van de Walle has started testing an electric assist in his WAW velomobile. Take a look at his WAW -BionX Blog.

5-22-05

Please visit the updated Wildfire HPV auction page for the current items up for bid.

A couple new items of interest:

I've put together a write-up of my trip to the the Velomobiel.nl factory in the Netherlands - to view the write-up, as well as some impressions of the Quest click here.

A few days ago I took a ride up to Freeport, ME in my Quest to visit Lincoln Canoe as part of this project - it was my first century. Actually if I had gone straight home it would have been a few miles short of a century, so I went past my house and did an extra loop, pulling into my driveway at sligtly over 100 miles. Total mileage on the Quest so far is 395, including todays commute to work.

4-17-05

Although it is hard to believe, I've been back from the Netherlands for two weeks! Much of that time has been spent working, so I haven't had time to do much in the way of writing up an account of how things went. Probably the best word to describe the trip is 'intense'! In any event, I returned safely and was able to ship a Quest back, which also arrived intact. I'll be writing up a more detailed description of the trip as soon as I can.

I've launched some more auctions on Ebay - to find out more, please click here.

For a comprehensive review of 5 velomobiles by Tony Eastwood, click here

I've added a few important links to the introduction page. Also, supporters of the Wildfire HPV velomobile project have been added to the Wildfire HPV page.

Wednesday, I leave for the Netherlands on a velomobile research trip - part of the Wildfire HPV velomobile project.

Added a link to Tom and Chris Spollens page. These guys are part of MARS and have built the Wizzer - a fuelless buggy which is a zote-foam faired delta trike.

3-2-05 I've just launched the Wildfire HPV webpage

2-26-05 As you might have noticed, the look and arrangement of the website has changed a bit. In the coming days I'll be adding and changing more. Various intra-page links may not work, but I'll be working on getting that sorted out as well. I'm trying to get set up on a new server - hopefully that won't seriously mess things up.

At the end of March I will be heading over to the Netherlands and will be returning with a Quest - part of a larger and much more interesting project. More on that in the next couple of days. While I'm over there I will be participating in Paastreffen which sounds like a great time. It involves traveling a given route to the end point and all along the way, more and more HPV'ers join the group so that 80 to 100 of them from all over the Netherlands arrive at the overnight location. Can't wait!