well yes a headwind is the same as going faster.
but wind tunnel tests on fairings only showed a 10% improvement at 18 to 20 mph. but the faster the speed the bigger the improvement. arodynamics are a small factor at slower speeds.

I wasn't referring to any old 24 hour record, but a specific record at a specific event.
http://www.n24hc.org/
If Jim Kern wants the record for the N24HC, he'll have to attend. Sebring may be a RAAM qualifier, but it's not the N24HC. BTW, the recumbent record stands a bit short of the upright record.

I can hit 30km/h on my Trek without too much effort on flat road, and no wind. Max speed was 53km/h going downhill, I could have gone faster but there were cars and a stoplight ahead. The one big hill on my commute is a lethargic 15 to 17 km/h, but the rest of my ride is usually between 25 and 30. At 6:30 in the morning that's usually all I can muster.

I'd like to see a 7-10 km/h improvement, do you think this would be possible if I switched to a recumbent? If I got a Baron I suppose it might be, but what about a trike?

As usual the thread moves away from the question. I have experience in many diferent styles of recumbent. My favorite urban commuter machine would be a SWB 20/26. Second would be a CLWB like the defunct BikeE. The main concern for urban riders should be manueverability after that durability. My experience with urban riding consists of bad road conditions with lotsa potholes. Someone mentioned a Rocket. There are many urban commuters on Rockets and it is a choice. I currently do only rural commuting, but I use a fully commuterized/touring GIRO and often pull a BOB COZ. It is sppedy but also docile in traffic.

The advantages of 'bents show up on longer, faster rides on the open roads. Short-range urban utility riding is another thing altogether. If your "urban" riding is on wide, placid roads, then anything will do. For the cut and thrust of a big, bad urban jungle, then diamond frames are probably more useful.
They are easier to lock, store, carry up steps, bunnyhop over curbs and potholes, see inside car windows, cut across tracks and trails.
If your new sportier hybrid bike feels a bit skittish then it may just take some acclimatisation. Every bike feels a bit different and you soon get used to it. If the bike behaves poorly on a fast descent, then the fork does not match the frame. Ideally the steering should be pretty neutral, with "though control" cornering.

I'd consider taking a Bacchetta Giro 26 (2005) for a test ride. I bought one in April. Its main drawback is that I don't take it to commute everywhere since I fear it will attract too much attention. But some places I do take it where I won't be long, it's daylight, or I've used a bike garage.
The Bacchetta Giro has thicker tires which help a lot going over the many bumps on city streets. It's good for transporting stuff and fairly easy to manuever.
Andrea

My fastest, so far, downhill on my Baron was 31 miles per hour (into the wind). I normally keep up 15 to 17 mph on flats with moderate effort. I have not commuted on it yet. The speeds are higher but what you will notice most is the lower amount of effort expended to reach the same speeds. When I commuted on a df Surly CrossCheck I averaged 16 mph with a lot of effort. I realize that terms like "a lot" and "moderate" are not helpfull but I have not gotten my wind tunnell online yet.