What is the perfect trike to start with ? ... Yea that is the Million Dollar Question, I still have not found the answer, I think that because for you want to do, ( and I as well in the future ) there is no good non enclosed bicycle trike being made commercially at this time.
When visiting Florida some 7-8 years ago, I went to the Trike Mfg, there in the Middle of the State, forgot the name of the Mfg. , and I asked ... " Why do you make your trikes with such short wheel bases and such narrow width's "
His answer, because the way they / and the other Mfg's. make them , they can send them to the consumer for less than $ 75 for shipping ,
But
To make them more stable/usable / better as a velomobile they would be of a size that would require Freight Shipping, Several Hundred Dollars ... $$$ ,
A good Idea ( for a Tadpole Trike/velomobile ) would be to take a 250cc/500cc Quad that someone has blown the motor and is now not worth much, Cut off one of the rear wheels, widen the front end, ( you will now have to make a whole new center frame/ or just the rear if you want the front to be the same width )
Here are three examples of the concept of what I am talking about , only with thinner wheels / tires, lighter weight components all around , etc.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ATV-250CC-EEC-QUAD-Bike-3_60285648200.html
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/China-Zhejiang-atv-250cc-eec-quad_60102962834.html
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ATV-250CC-EEC-QUAD-BIKE-3_60361517778.html
Then
Take off Wheels/tires and find the Thinnest/Lightest Car Rims/Tires that will bolt onto the axles, or Small Light Weight Motorcycle Rims and Tires , and have an adapter plate machined for you to be able use such Wheels/Tires on the frame.,
Then build the body .
There are many pages to this thread, where is a link to the design you speak of that has flat sides ?
I am also of the Opinion that Flat Sides / with angles , will work and be easier to build, an example is the Facet V1 Velomobile .
http://www.instructables.com/id/Facet-V1-Velomobile/
Here is something interesting, can make a trike like this, without the Paragliding aspect.
http://inhabitat.com/zvezdan-nedeljkovics-paramoto-trike-is-the-worlds-first-paragliding-motorcycle/
orange streak said:
I love this design, becuase it looks so such easier to start building with flat sides, avoiding & struggling with aerodynamic cone shapes. I'd use aluminum composite sheeting comes in multiple colors. I'm obsessed with obtaining such a velomobile bike to use for eveyday, & travel long distance. On the edge at 35mph. Want to pick up my tools, revit gun & build it now! What's the perfect trike to start with?