Aerodynamic Fairings
06-06-18, 10:53 AM
#26
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Thread Starter
I also carry tools, notepads, a camera, and the bike is more set up to carry cargo (including books and groceries) than to be a racer.
The situation right now is , I've got a Campagnolo chainring/crankset, on a Japanese Bottom Bracket, so I can't shift into the large ring. So I've got no way of testing it , really.
I will say this, the front fairing is more aerodynamic than a plain , square, 90° right angle box.
The front edges may be flat facing the wind, but that can be remedied with a strip of styrofoam , half-round, or "bull nose" , applied with glue and or tape.
06-06-18, 12:01 PM
#28
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UCI banned Fairings , calling them "Cheating". What more proof do you need that they work?
Model 318 Aerodynamic Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Model 318 Aerodynamic Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Model 318 Aerodynamic Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Model 318 Aerodynamic Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
06-06-18, 12:06 PM
#29
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... And the lack of *other* people building fairings for upright bikes leaves a large burden on me, I have to try things to see if they work ...
... There are dozens of Recumbent Streamliners. If another builder comes up with a better design , what will I do ? Give up my design and copy theirs? or stick to my design and keep promoting the advantages over the disadvantages ? I really can't tell you , because everyone else is building Recumbent Bikes ...
... There are dozens of Recumbent Streamliners. If another builder comes up with a better design , what will I do ? Give up my design and copy theirs? or stick to my design and keep promoting the advantages over the disadvantages ? I really can't tell you , because everyone else is building Recumbent Bikes ...
Here's a thread about building one, in 2011 Winterizing my Commuter A couple of early models on Etiquette questions (Newbie) with coast-down test results.
video
06-07-18, 09:33 AM
#30
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Thread Starter
Now that hurts my feelings.
Here's a thread about building one, in 2011 Winterizing my Commuter A couple of early models on Etiquette questions (Newbie) with coast-down test results.
video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akTv5ZwTBSM
Here's a thread about building one, in 2011 Winterizing my Commuter A couple of early models on Etiquette questions (Newbie) with coast-down test results.
video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akTv5ZwTBSM
The 318 represents the first time I've used all new coroplast™ , without resorting to "recycling" (official coroplast™ recycling season starts the second week of November)...
The 318 has the drawback of the huge rear panniers. They are great panniers, but they are Not the tapered tail-box that the 317 has.
Do you have a facebook page ? Have you compiled any more photos of your fairings?
06-07-18, 12:01 PM
#34
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Sorry, didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I didn't know you built fairings (for upright bikes) . Great thread btw.
The 318 represents the first time I've used all new coroplast™ , without resorting to "recycling" (official coroplast™ recycling season starts the second week of November)...
The 318 has the drawback of the huge rear panniers. They are great panniers, but they are Not the tapered tail-box that the 317 has.
Do you have a facebook page ? Have you compiled any more photos of your fairings?
The 318 represents the first time I've used all new coroplast™ , without resorting to "recycling" (official coroplast™ recycling season starts the second week of November)...
The 318 has the drawback of the huge rear panniers. They are great panniers, but they are Not the tapered tail-box that the 317 has.
Do you have a facebook page ? Have you compiled any more photos of your fairings?
If you're willing to spend a little extra you can find colored coroplast which looks a whole lot better than the default white or painted, which doesn't hold up very well.
06-07-18, 04:00 PM
#35
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06-07-18, 08:14 PM
#36
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The big question is, how's the faired bike do on a downhill compared to a bare bike with ballast to equalized weights? That front fairing has lots of sharp angles = not very aerodynamic, punches a pretty big hole in the air and does nothing to smooth the turbulence coming off the back of it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually *slower* than unfaired.
06-07-18, 08:32 PM
#37
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GCN would like to see this.
You and Timtak are kindred spirits.
I rode an event where there was a guy w/ a faired bike- it seemed to be a wire frame w/ scrim fabric.
Had nice fair curves.
You and Timtak are kindred spirits.
I rode an event where there was a guy w/ a faired bike- it seemed to be a wire frame w/ scrim fabric.
Had nice fair curves.
06-08-18, 10:24 AM
#38
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Thread Starter
Since it looks like you might not have tried this, you can shape that coroplast to simple curves using a heat gun and gentle pressure, and then it will hold the shape pretty well. Especially if you add some sort of skeleton interior. So you can have a "wing" shape in front, both the over-wheel skirt and the handle-bar windscreen section, which would look really cool as well as improving the aerodynamics.
If you're willing to spend a little extra you can find colored coroplast which looks a whole lot better than the default white or painted, which doesn't hold up very well.
If you're willing to spend a little extra you can find colored coroplast which looks a whole lot better than the default white or painted, which doesn't hold up very well.
06-08-18, 10:27 AM
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
318_Bike_Coroplast_Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Now I've added some color.
318_Bike_Coroplast_Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
318_Bike_Coroplast_Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
06-08-18, 10:32 AM
#40
Banned
Cute, maybe comedic.. you must be proud .. how heavy?
(It's always a first question of bike shoppers)
(It's always a first question of bike shoppers)
06-09-18, 09:37 AM
#42
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Thread Starter
I'm afraid it's a cargo bike first, with some attempt at streamlining the front fairing, but only to minimize the drag that would necessarily be coming from the cargo boxes anyway...
It's Not exactly like a deko chari either:
"Decochari" customized bicycles, near Tokyo, Japan. 16 August 2008 | Tony McNicol Photography
But it is... sort-of...
It's Not exactly like a deko chari either:
"Decochari" customized bicycles, near Tokyo, Japan. 16 August 2008 | Tony McNicol Photography
But it is... sort-of...
06-09-18, 10:43 AM
#43
Banned
Next step in fabrication , Vacuum Forming and Thermoplastics..
look for a used Pizza oven and a Vacuum pump...
look for a used Pizza oven and a Vacuum pump...
06-09-18, 11:28 AM
#44
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Those opaque fairings create terrible blind spots, right in front of the rider.
06-09-18, 12:23 PM
#45
moving target
06-09-18, 01:17 PM
#46
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It's Not exactly like a deko chari either:
"Decochari" customized bicycles, near Tokyo, Japan. 16 August 2008 Tony McNicol Photography
But it is... sort-of...
"Decochari" customized bicycles, near Tokyo, Japan. 16 August 2008 Tony McNicol Photography
But it is... sort-of...
06-10-18, 04:18 PM
#48
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I was thinking of doing this for a winter bike where sustained headwinds can be fairly substantial. Also help protect the eyes and hands. I would be concerned about cross winds though, how do full fairings ride in hard cross winds? I would think the most critical aero parts of the bike are the wheels and pedals area...Neither of those @wphamilton links are working for me.
Why coroplast instead of ABS plastic or some other thermo-formable plastic? A heat gun is roughly $20. ABS plastic sheets are fairly inexpensive. Would give you a better looking prototype I would think.
Why coroplast instead of ABS plastic or some other thermo-formable plastic? A heat gun is roughly $20. ABS plastic sheets are fairly inexpensive. Would give you a better looking prototype I would think.
06-10-18, 05:26 PM
#49
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Craig Vetter has some solutions for modeling compound curves in coroplast if you check out his site. He prototyped his “last fairing” in coroplast or some other kind of plastic siding before making his fiberglass buck. Also look at stick and tissue model airplanes or WW1 vintage stuff to see how to make 3D shapes with 2D materials. I had one model airplane that was made from carved EPP foam covered with packing tape. It wasn’t pretty but it was very easy.
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 06-10-18 at 05:31 PM.
06-10-18, 08:19 PM
#50
Senior Member
The more, smaller facets you make, the more closely it approximates a true compound curve. Coroplast has the advantage of being light, stiff enough, resistant to damage, and panels are easily replaced if they are damaged. And you can rough out your concepts from less durable but really cheap, plain corrugated cardboard.
As you can see, not all Coroplast constructions need to be boxy. The biggest problem with Coroplast is to find a supplier.
As you can see, not all Coroplast constructions need to be boxy. The biggest problem with Coroplast is to find a supplier.