I strap a backpack on my rack in the summer. For convenience I do prefer a box of some kind or panniers.

I should be clear, this is a second generation project since I used the prototype all last winter, daily commute. I took last winter's setup down because a) it was way too hot in the summer for a fairing and b) I wanted to train and the reduced drag was making me lazy. Plus there's a minor issue in handling I need to resolve.

I've seen pictures of some of the setups you Canadians use. Bar mitts, layers on layers, chipping off the ice and so on. To be frank I'm not sure I'd want to ride your winters - I don't even change my tires out here. However I do know there's a difference in bundling up and braving the elements versus just hopping on in my street clothes (without a jacket or sweater for example) and riding to work in relative comfort and that's what I'm working toward.

Generally there isn't an issue about whether a fairing will keep you warmer (kind of obvious on the face of it) or more comfortable in the rain, protective of the clothing etc. In other words, conventional wisdom doesn't take to task with the objectives. The main objections to fairings on diamond frames generally run to: there is usually an aerodynamic penalty due to greater frontal area, a penalty and discomfort to the enclosure which is typically fabric, the excess weight involved with mounting and support, susceptibility to cross winds, and restricted handling and constricted turn radius. Many of which are resolved or else redundant if you started with a recumbent so the final objection is "get a recumbent." But I don't have a 'bent and don't particularly want one - I want it all on my road bike!

What he said...

wphamilton,

Since you've actually ridden with one, do you feel that a front fairing only (I'm not interested in a wrap around fairing or anything like that) makes a differnece in winter riding comfort? In my regular commuting, I find that the downhill that starts my ride & the few short downhills on the way in to work are the coldest times on my bike & the reason that I stop riding when it hits 28 degrees. I'm assuming (incorrectly perhaps) that since this appears to be completely realted to wind chill, that having the front fairing would bring the perceived temperature closer to what I feel when riding on flat ground.

Also, have you ever ridden with a fron tfiaring only & if so, have you had any problems with stability in sidewinds?

Thanks,

I have tried it, but haven't had much luck with front fairing or windscreen only. Keep in mind that this is only from my experience and what I've been able to cobble together. Someone else or a retail setup might have better designs than I tried. I think you're right that a windscreen will cut down a lot of the wind chill, without a wrap-around. I had a couple of problems with it.

First, mounting it almost has to be on the bars/forks unless you add some pretty elaborate and solid struts from the frame to get it way out front. (the handlebars would have to turn inside the windscreen). I don't see any way around it. My problem with that is on the handlebars you get extra weight and some wind pressure affecting your steering so it can be skittish. I could also never get it really solid mounting from the bars.

My second difficulty is that you have to make the wind-screen about half again larger without some enclosure, in order to effectively block. A smaller screen doesn't really help much (the wind just whips around and hits you anyway) but a larger front seriously impacts your drag. Also the larger you make it, the more unstable it becomes in side winds.

I think the windscreen ultimately comes down to a compromise between shielding and greater drag, with a hit on stability. Recumbents can get away with it because the rider is already less vertical - less frontal area - but I'm skeptical that it will be fully satisfactory on a diamond frame unless the speeds are usually in the 16mph or under range.

So this huge blue thing is a wind screen to protect items at the rear of your bicycle from wind?

DC winters aren't bad, but the're cold enough to warrant more layers of clothing. I do nothing special though, just regular stuff.

I've never seen had a need to do anything different to my bike. It stays exactly the same.

It is necessary for the next step. All it does currently is hold my commuting stuff and remove a trivial but measurable bit of drag. It's going to take a couple of weeks to completely finish my scheme.

You've never so much as upgraded a wheel? I have the same mentality as the weight weenies and guys with upgrade fever, always wanting to improve some portion of it although I have a different approach to it.

Tell me seriously, you've never ridden in freezing rain and thought wouldn't it be nice if I was warm and dry? You've never wanted to go three or four miles per hour faster with the same effort?

I don't want to rain on your project, even if the rain is something you are looking forward to, but I find rain wear pretty light in contrast to the additions on your winter bike.

That said, how about adding a propeller to generate some electricity that can power your lights?

Seems like the fairing thing should help.....if the kids don't tease you to death

You can take the fan OFF of your car......as long as you don't stop for too long.

My wind protection is a jacket w/zip vents to adjust airflow.

Do you have pictures of what you were using for the front, or are you finishing something different now and don't have pictures of what you had before?

I fit a Zzipper fairing to the front.. It helps a Lot. aerodynamics of air flow improves
and the wind goes around, rather than thru the front of your clothing.

this is what I had last year:

The kids love it - it's mostly just roadies who look askance at me. ... which they do anyway given my platform pedals & predilection for casual riding attire so that's no loss.

Sure - I meant that I don't change my bicycle between seasons. I change my clothing quite a bit!

3-4 mph faster by building a huge blue thing and mounting it on my bike somehow? Can't say I've thought about it . Actually, I took my fenders with the extra long mud flaps off -- I don't mind the rain and wetness that much, and I've ridden in tropical storms on 2 occasions. Fenders for me are just one more thing to bang around on the vertical bike rack and rub, vibrate, etc. They're annoying, and cause me to have to adjust things -- which sucks. I'm too lazy for that anymore.

Quite a bit more than the blue thing; that's just the beginning. I am hoping get more than the 3-4 mph if I build it right.

It's not rain that bothers me. In the summer I don't even bother with fenders, rain gear and so on. I just ride through the storm. It's the cold and rain - mostly the cold - that stops most people. I don't know about you, but around here morning cycling traffic dwindled down to one or two people every few days when it got below freezing and even those diehards appeared to be pretty miserable. I'm not trying to break records for extreme cycling - all I can say is it works and far better than fenders and cold-weather clothing.

Cold doesn't bother me.....much at all really, but I run about 10F hotter than most people it seems like .

Rain + cold does suck though, I can't argue with that.

Actually, I love when the trail clears out in November around DC. That's one of the benefits of winter cycling. I see some of the same people out in the winter mornings....so some folks do it, but not nearly as many as this time of year.

After a while you'd think you've seen it all here on BF, but this? This takes my breath away.

The OP has taken some heat over his mods but I applaud him for it. I suppose that winter commuting in Minneapolis will always be something left to fanatics no matter what, but I've thinking more and more that there needs to be a different kind of bike to make it less unappealing.

Something enclosed and on 3 wheels perhaps. I know that these things exist but they're very expensive. I also know that pushing 3 wheels through a few inches of snow is even worse than 2 so maybe the idea is a non-starter.

Anyway, as much as you can use clothing to protect yourself from the elements, a fairing/windscreen would be helpful. Even snowmobiles have windscreens and those guys are wearing full helmets and a lot more gear than cyclists.

how did you steer/shift/brake that sucker with the fairing behind the bars? And fact that there's no top doesn't seem like it'd do that much against freezing rain. I mean I know a lot of it comes from the front when you're moving fast forward, but the top looks like it'd let a lot in.

Had side cutouts for the steering, for full range. I'm trying something different this time, if it works.

In heavy rain your back is going to get wet; it's just a matter of degree. In fact even if you cover the top (too hot no matter what's outside) the spray from under can't be stopped.

Front and sides, almost ready to mount and ride test. I might chance it on tomorrow's rainy commute, if the paint dries enough.




edit: oops, I'll fix the attachments this evening.

As just a casual report, I did wind up commuting (approx 10 mi) with it this morning, just some drizzle and light rain but not much cold at 62 degrees. I finished bone dry except for the knees down. Unfortunately what with the storm debris and wet leaves I keep to low speeds and can't say much about handling or wind resistance. Hopefully I'll get a chance this weekend for some solid data with coast-down tests.

It needs some adjustments in the bar panels, as the rub on the handlebars is a bit twitchy. I also still have to construct the bottom front fairing comprised of leg shields and bridging the gap under the fairing dashboard.

Here is the fairing mounted on the bike, about 3/4 complete. After two commutes I'm pretty confident that it's going to be workable with some adjustments.

I cant help but like this.. I'm all for being the 'odd man out'. Just needs leg protection like a metropolitan scooter. Pretty sure the leg warmers will hinder aero performance though..

what are you going to do about lateral/rear vision?

Thanks dobbs. What does the leg protection look like on the metropolitan scooters?

himespau, it's not as big as it looks without a rider for perspective so the vision is not an issue. The top is about chest high riding on the hoods and I have to get really low on the drops to look through the windshield. I may move it all up 3-4 inches though.

Personally, I don't understand all the negativity. Do whatever you want with your bike, go for it. (obviously, you are!)

One thing I was wondering about though, and maybe it's been asked and I didn't see it, what about cross-winds?