Wanting information on Dutch Velosolex Tour

Now joining the ranks of those indefatigable road-trippers are 19 men and one woman from the Netherlands, who recently followed historic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., aboard Velosolex mopeds.

The group, which had a host of Dutch and American sponsors, left from the Art Institute in Chicago on September 27 and arrived in California on Wednesday (October 23). Along the way, the riders seem to have encountered the usual bits of road-trip Americana: the world’s largest rocking chair, a teepee motel and a suspect meal at Taco Bell. A diary of the tour, which also raised funds for three different charities, is here.

Essentially a single-gear bicycle with a motor mounted on the front wheel, the original Velosolex was a popular and cheap form of transportation in the mid-20th century. Part of the appeal, of course, is the machine’s simplicity — the 49cc two-cycle engine assists the rider up to a speed of about 20 miles an hour, and the engine is engaged via a hand lever in front of the handlebars.

Click to expand...

For René Moritz the name Pontiac stands for the sound of a big V8-engine from this American car. A history of carraces goes to his head.

After the slaughter of the new Velosolexes, is the new challenge for René not to peddle to much today. Yesterday he destroyed a engine within 100 yards! But today he wouldn't be Lance Armstrong, and stay off of the peddles. Just tjop away really relaxed.

After a proper American breakfast with just sweet stuff, some repairs had to be done.

We planned to drive at 08:45, so were on our way a 10:15.

Click to expand...