Recumbent - Low Racers vs Highracers

Which would be best for fast centuries and double centuries and the odd time trial ?

Are unfaired low racers significantly faster than high racers for time trialling ?

The difference can't be very significant.

But if you want you can look at race results:
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/hpra.htm

There's a reason all the speed records are set by lowracers - the difference IS significant and a lowracer is without doubt significantly faster than a highracer.

HOWEVER. Take the course into consideration. rough roads with lots of turns and stops often go in the favor of the highracer. I usually take my highracer instead of the lowracer if the above conditions exist or if I'm doing a ride longer than a century, but that's personal preference.

However at a controlled time trial the lowracer will win. Period.

...Are unfaired low racers significantly faster than high racers for time trialling ?

Smaller frontal area = faster, i.e., lowracer

Smoother airflow = faster, i.e., fairing

HOWEVER. Take the course into consideration.

OP said "centuries and double centuries".

OP said "centuries and double centuries".


I didn't say take the distance into consideration. I said take the course into consideration.

I like being low to the ground like on my 700 trike but its too much hard work on hilly Centuries which I like to ride fast. Where I live is also very windy. A carbent or perhaps A Bacchetta SS seems the obvious choice but I am also tempted by such creatures as the Fujin SL2 or VK2.
Has anyone here ever ridden a hilly double on a Fujin SL2 ?

I like being low to the ground like on my 700 trike but its too much hard work on hilly Centuries which I like to ride fast. Where I live is also very windy. A carbent or perhaps A Bacchetta SS seems the obvious choice but I am also tempted by such creatures as the Fujin SL2 or VK2.
Has anyone here ever ridden a hilly double on a Fujin SL2 ?

The Ultra Cycling forum over at Bentrideronline.com would be a good place to ask this question, too. deanzimmer over there just did the Rocky Mtn 1200 on a Fujin SL, and pretty quickly too - 71 hours, IIRC. A good bit faster than my 79:50 on a highracer.

Scott P
Bend, OR

That's a sweet time for 30k feet of climbing! I've a mind to see what my carbent will do on it next year!