Why don't those of you who race and time trial your recumbents use front fairing? The websites toting these products claim that you will be 2 or 3 mph faster with them. Also, I have seen pictures of bents with front fairing and they have painted the outside.... sould you be able to see?

I have gained 3.9 MPH on my average with mine, but I haven't seen any that has been painted, even though you can see over them very well.


Curt

I just picked up my first 'bent - Sun EZ-Rider. Yeah!!! The LBS threw in the front fairing on the deal.

I commute on my Sun EZ Sport CX along a river and mostly bike path. The killer is wind. I put an edge Fairing on and noticed a better ride with head wind. When the wind is going my way it is even better with it. I need to see through it so no paint here. The only problem is do not let your bike fall. I can't see myself without one now.

Do you go with the fairing on year round then?

I am still wondering if I can get over the "looking through the fairing" thing vs. the wide open feel that there is without it......

The fairing depends mostly on the bent. The ez rider type bent has the rider in a more upright position. Highracers put the rider in a more laid back position, 20-25 degrees in some cases. Some of the Bacchetta guys with Aeros and the faster bikes who are laid back claim a speed loss with a fairing. Of course, ymmv. I went with a Strada, and find it easy to cruise at 22-23 where I used to do 19-20 on my wedgie.

I'd love to get front fairing for my Burley Taiko as it is more upright, but they want $500 just for the fairing.

Ride without it first so you will notice the difference.

I just finished fiddling with my fairing..... the thing seems to have a bazillion possible adjustments!!

I wound up reversing the upper bars, and moving it lower, moving the bottom bracket to its lowest it can go. Inverting the upper bars took out the massive "U" shape it had before and made it a bit flatter - it actually sits at its more "natural" bend now, whereas before it was very rounded at the top.

This took out a few inches - at least - of the fairing at the top of the "U" shape. I am thinking this will be less distracting visually. It looks good (not "unusually low" or anything) Well, off for a test ride!

You probably should have your fairing adjusted so that you are looking over the top. That's how I have positioned mine on my EZ Sport. Looking through the curved fairing gives a slightly distorted effect which could be hazardous. It does assist slightly with aerodynamics, especially at higher speeds (18+ mph) & helps deflect bugs, bees & branches hanging down over the bike path...also a great attention getter...lots of 2nd looks & turned heads.

Theres alot of grasshoppers this time of year around here on the bikeways, and when one thinks you're going to run it over it will jump and bounce right off of the fairing. Just seems funny you get em one way or the other when you have a fairing.

A good ReBike bike is very fast indeed. Some unfaired recumbent bikes might be faster but the ReBike is top of the line. The ReBike is king. And a ReBike is what fast people ride right now. So the recumbent world is going to all be riding ReBikes someday

I see lots of fat old guys on Trek Lance machines that cost big bucks. I will of course pass them on my cool ReBike. ReBikes on good ole American roads. It's happening all over America.

God Bless

Mooky

Geez, do you work for ReBike or something?? If not, you should be getting commission from them for mentioning the name "ReBike" so many times.

Fairings work best on 451 or smaller front wheeled bikes as it is easier for the fairing to drop below the front axle level and sweep up to cover more of the rider's body.
On mine the fairing added a bit over 2# weight, had problems with the cutout for the frontwheel splitting at the top with failure of the fairing. As it is rather hilly in central Alabama, the benefit for me was not worth the weight. FWIW when I had the fairing on I noticed no difference in the wind resistance riding beside or behind DF riders. With the fairing off there is a distinct difference in the two position in perceived wind resistance. Finally I had to put car polish on the top of the fairing and leave it in the white, dried state as sunglare off the top of the fairing was really obnoxious. The polish made a relatively matte surface that stopped the glare and was easily replaced
Steve

Hostel Shoppe sells a Windrap fairing for the BurleyTaiko for $189.

Bob