Dear DIY enthusiasts! Here you can ask and answer questions about building and driving the agilo and ventec velomobiles. Find a suitable topic or start a new one for your post. Thank you, and good luck!
Liebe DIY-Freunde! Hier könnt Ihr Fragen stellen und Antworten geben zum Bauen und Fahren der Velomobile agilo und ventec. Finde ein passendes Thema oder beginne ein Neues für deinen Beitrag. Vielen Dank und viel Erfolg!
Themen / Topics
1. Komponenten / Components
2. Karosse / Body
3. Material / Material
4. Eigenschaften / Characteristics
5. Neues Thema / New topic
1. Komponenten / Components
2. Karosse / Body
-
#1
Laszlo (Thursday, 02 October 2025 13:49)
One practical question: when putting in the 1,7 x 16 mm screws. Without predrilling there was a 80% chance that wood broke. If I dipped the screw in WD40 it was a bit better (50%), but 1 out of 2 it broke. I experimented with predrilling, however it was very difficult to drill at right angle.Should I make a custom jig (to guide the drill or is there any one trick on that?
-
#2
Bodo (Thursday, 02 October 2025 13:50)
Normally, good, three-ply quality plywood doesn't break when screwing in the screws. You just need to screw exactly into the middle layer. The same applies to pre-drilling. If you position the 1 mm drill correctly, it will automatically follow and stay in the middle layer.
-
#3
Laszlo (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:31)
Does ventec has a flinstones hole on bottom? (cannot be seen on instructions) Or how is reverse done?
-
#4
Bodo (Monday, 06 October 2025 13:52)
The ventec doesn't have any cutouts for your feet. If you need them later while riding, you can simply insert them. But check that the whole thing is still sufficiently stable! The edges of the cutouts will probably need to be reinforced.
-
#5
Jeroen (Friday, 10 October 2025 09:30)
I have a different homebuild plywood velomobile. When flintstoning you need significant force to move the weight, when on an incline. Also there is little grip for your feet. If your feet slip, there is a significant chance to damage the edge.
Often you can find a small incline that gives enough gravity to reverse with. -
#6
Tony (Saturday, 11 October 2025 09:05)
With the Ventec you just lean forwards and grab the front tyres to roll backwards. Of course first you have to slide the roof open if it is closed.
-
#7
Andreas (Sunday, 26 April 2026 19:32)
Hallo,
zunächst vielen Dank für all die Arbeit, die in die Konstruktion dieser Velomobile geflossen sein muss, und, dass sie hier für alle zugänglich sind!
Mein Anwendungsfall würde vorsehen das Velomobil zum Pendeln in der Übergangs- und Winterzeit zu verwenden. Also dann, wenn es oft nass ist. Wie ist die Holzkonstruktion denn gegen Nässe geschützt? Wie gut eignen sich die Holzkonstruktionen für mein Einsatzszenario?
Zweite Frage: die Übergänge zwischen Radweg und querenden Straßen haben oft einen steileren Winkel statt eines flach auslaufenden Übergangs. Gibt es Erfahrungswerte, ob der vordere Überhang am Ventec in diesen Situationen hoch genug ist, oder ob es hier öfter mal zu Aufsetzern kommen kann? Schon klar, jeder Übergang ist anders, aber vllt. gibt es eben Erfahrungswerte ob das überhaupt schonmal ein Thema bei jemandem war. Wenn nicht, scheint es wohl auch kein kritischer Punkt zu sein :)
Vielen Dank für eine Rückmeldung - und nochmal, tolle Arbeit! -
#8
Tony (Monday, 27 April 2026 07:57)
For wood protection see #5 below
Ventec needs to be driven like a faster CF vélomobile - drive it like a Milan and not like a B4M ;) If you travel the same route in your commute every day you will know where the problem transitions are and how to avoid them. I have glued a small okoumé "crash pad" under the nose of my Ventec similar to the one I had on Agilo.
3. Material / Material
-
#1
Laszlo (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:28)
Does carbon fiber tubing worth it? I see they are available on aliexpress, but 6061 AL square tubes are even available in my hometown.
-
#2
Bodo (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:30)
Just compare the prices and weight and consider whether the weight savings from the carbon fiber on the finished velomobile are worth the extra cost.
-
#3
Tony (Tuesday, 07 October 2025 16:01)
If you are going to build a Ventec it is worth the money:
1. the weight difference is quite a lot and that weight is up high so you are improving cornering by keeping it to a minimum.
2. there is less noise from the bottom bracket transmitted to the body with CF (I have experience with both Al and CF)
3. it is easier to cut CF tube but be very careful and always wear a mask and gloves. I add a layer of sticky tape and cut through that which helps prevent splinters. -
#4
Christian (Thursday, 23 October 2025 20:17)
I'm about to start building the Agilo. One question about the wood: Does anyone have experience with buildind the Agilo out of poplar plywood (Pappelsperrholz)?
Is it stable enough? What did you do to make it waterproof?
Other woodtypes are quite difficult to get in 3 mm thickness, or will be more expensive to ship than the wood itself
-
#5
Tony (Saturday, 25 October 2025 15:47)
To make poplar waterproof you coat all of the exterior with epoxy. I also do the seat (sweat proof) and the floor inside. Then several coats of good quality boat varnish on all of the interior.
My Agilo was built in 100% okoumé which despite being plantation wood is on the red list in Germany I think? But today I would use a mix of okoumé and poplar to gain weight, about 15-20% depending on the density of the poplar.
4. Eigenschaften / Characteristics
-
#1
Suspension (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:58)
Do any off the models have all wheal suspension?
-
#2
Bodo (Monday, 06 October 2025 13:05)
All models have a modern suspension with spring-damper elements and independent wheel suspension on all wheels
-
#3
Matt (Sunday, 19 October 2025 13:15)
Hi Bodo! I just placed an order for the Agilo plans and I am quite excited to begin planning for this project. Velomobiles are very rare where I live in the USA, but your design looks like the perfect blend of velo efficiency and commuter practicality. Thanks for offering your plans for sale!
-
#4
Johannes (Wednesday, 29 October 2025 22:15)
What is the tallest body size, Agilo and Ventec are designed for? Will a rider over 1,95m height have enough space in them?
-
#5
Bodo (Thursday, 30 October 2025 19:41)
The limiting body height for both velomobiles is approximately 1.95 meters, assuming average proportions. Someone with particularly long legs or a long torso should take this into account. The Agilo is designed for wider shoulders up to 54 cm, while the Ventec is for slightly narrower shoulders up to approximately 50 cm.
Write a comment
Christian (Sunday, 28 September 2025 14:48)
ich interessiere mich für den Bauplan des Agilo velomobils. Sind denn die Komponenten die dazugekauft werden müssen noch erhältlich? Also die Fahrradkomponenten die im Bauplan gelistet sind.
Vielen Dank und mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Christian
Bodo (Thursday, 02 October 2025 14:42)
Die Komponenten für das Agilo und auch für das Ventec sind noch für viele Jahre verfügbar. Aufgrund einer Produktionsumstellung bei Velomobiel.nl kann es momentan zu einer Wartezeit bei den Komponenten kommen. Die Komponenten wurden von Velomobiel.nl bisher in über 2000 Fahrzeugen verbaut. Für die Wartung dieses Fahrzeugbestandes wird es auch immer einen Lagerbestand der Teile geben. Mit der Zusage von Velombiel.nl weiterhin aus diesem Lagerbestand die Selbstbauer von Agilo und Ventec zu beliefern, ist die Versorgung mit Komponenten auch in Zukunft gesichert!
Laszlo (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:26)
In the ventec will a 170 or a 175 mm crank fit? (there seems to be more space)?
What is the reccomended or maxium tire size that fits?
Bodo (Monday, 06 October 2025 12:27)
Most people use 165mm cranks; a larger one might fit if you have small feet.
I recommend 40-50mm thick tires for everyday use.
Alex Ungureanu (Tuesday, 07 October 2025 22:47)
I moved from 175 to 170 and than to 165mm and my performance and perception improved bit by bit. Now I've bet on the 155mm cranks and the performance is even better. I'm 177cm tall and I feel even better with shorter cranks because of the smaller displacement up and down of the feet. As soon as you have enough choice on the rear cassette shorter cranks will worth it in my opinion
Hermann (Friday, 21 November 2025 01:04)
I want to build a Ventec. I would like to add a lighting system with bright front light and turn signals as included with commercial velomobiles. Did anyone do that with their builds? Did you go with commercial products? Did you build it yourself?
Tony (Friday, 21 November 2025 08:49)
I used b+m headlight and tail light, 150 l headlight with high beam and tail light with automatic brake light.
The indicators are for a Yamaha Fazer and the front ones are behind the windscreen for aerodynamics. Today I would include the rear indicators in the bodywork and cover with polycarbonate. That might gain about 10th of a Watt ;)
Alex Ungureanu (Friday, 21 November 2025 10:02)
I built a DIY setup using a 12V 4Ah lithium battery, LEDs, and digital relays. You can see some photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dbiadi7mw62suim2mjfkn/ANY4DYZ1sj-SicKiNrBtwuQ?dl=0&e=1&rlkey=uzfa84w8zx1c09gakdrl64ak2&st=ikwek8iy
I haven’t installed the front turn signals yet (I still need to run the wires and mount the LEDs), nor the brake lights. I also installed 4 LEDs on the top of the flag pole. However, even though the system takes a bit of skill to install, the individual LEDs are quite visible and don’t affect aerodynamics at all.