Winterizing my Commuter
#76
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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#78
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From: Montreal Canada
this keeps you out of the poolhalls doesnt it?
Im with the crowd of "yes, this is kinda goofy, but must be fun mucking around with it"
and yes, as an old motorcycle rider, stopping the cold air hitting you makes a huge diff in your comfort. Personally I could see using a bar mounted front bubble as being more convienent, but hey, you are having fun and you arent throwing puppies into a river....
Im with the crowd of "yes, this is kinda goofy, but must be fun mucking around with it"
and yes, as an old motorcycle rider, stopping the cold air hitting you makes a huge diff in your comfort. Personally I could see using a bar mounted front bubble as being more convienent, but hey, you are having fun and you arent throwing puppies into a river....
#79
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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but hey, you are having fun and you arent throwing puppies into a river....
#81
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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#82
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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Updated
It's been awhile but if anyone's still curious I re-worked the front end since the other idea was problematic (and a little lopsided). The windshield is extended so that I'm fully sheltered and I've stretched some spandex across the handlebar gaps. The dashboard is rubberized with that ingenious Plastidip spray from home depot. Here's the new front:

There's a small 500 lumen headlight poking out under the windshield. It's going to get a top after all, ahead of the cold weather if we ever get any, more of the spandex with a treatment I'm experimenting with.
I've been commuting with this rig since I posted the first pics. You guys would not believe the difference it makes in going faster easier, and staying warm and dry! I'm easily 3-4 mph faster at my normal (pathetic) power level, more than that when I can conjure up more effort.
There's a small 500 lumen headlight poking out under the windshield. It's going to get a top after all, ahead of the cold weather if we ever get any, more of the spandex with a treatment I'm experimenting with.
I've been commuting with this rig since I posted the first pics. You guys would not believe the difference it makes in going faster easier, and staying warm and dry! I'm easily 3-4 mph faster at my normal (pathetic) power level, more than that when I can conjure up more effort.
#84
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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#86
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To tell the truth I'm a little concerned about this one and wind, since I've got it about a foot to 18 inches longer than before, and further forward, so it has more side area and the balance might be squirrely. I haven't had it in really high winds yet.
#87
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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Photos in Action
I finally got some photos - I was curious also since I'd never seen what it looks like with a rider either. We only had enough battery for a few pictures though.
A couple of pics of actual riding,


the last two after I had stopped and was standing up.

A couple of pics of actual riding,
the last two after I had stopped and was standing up.
Last edited by wphamilton; 11-14-11 at 09:01 AM.
#89
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From: Virginia/DC
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#91
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From: Montreal Canada
yup
Its a bird, its a plane!! No, wait, its that guy from BF with the armadillo-looking-sorta-Superman-coloured bike fairing!!!!
must be warm inside though, but boy it looks awkward now (getting in and out)
hey, you are entertaining us, thats for sure!
good fall riding.
Its a bird, its a plane!! No, wait, its that guy from BF with the armadillo-looking-sorta-Superman-coloured bike fairing!!!!
must be warm inside though, but boy it looks awkward now (getting in and out)
hey, you are entertaining us, thats for sure!
good fall riding.
#92
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From: Alpharetta, GA
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Too warm really for this fall weather, so I'm normally riding "with the top down". It was nice to have for a couple of mornings last week though, when we finally got a frost. I think it will be the low 20's before I'll want long sleeves for my commute.
#96
At first I thought those pictures were of you wearing a weird shaped poncho until I reallized that was your fairing. Cool.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
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