RJM

I'm just being curious, but what is the point of trying to get this level of efficiency for the purposes of going faster if you aren't racing or riding fast in groups with others? Is it some other competition you are going for? What I mean is that a fairing isn't really comparable to someone getting a lower weight groupset since that groupset is still allowed in racing, assuming your bike still holds to the minimum weight. Even though weight weenie bikes do get below that weight, they still have bragging rights. I don't think bragging rights count when you have a fairing strapped to your bike.

Bandera

tim has his mental Conversion to the Recumbent bike after the well deserved 10 page bashing of his absurd "Fit Theory" in the Road Cycling sub-forum:



https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...oo-long-5.html

A properly designed recumbent w/ all of the aero-doodads makes some sense in this scenario if that floats one's boat, or not.

-Bandera

RJM

Hmmm, that bike is too small for you, Tim.

redlude97

he's trying to win strava

fietsbob

I've used a Zzipper 'thriller' *, on my commuting bike when I had 12 miles to do to get to my apartment. River Road, Eugene to Junction City.

* top right picture in 16th post is the 'thriller' model .. but thats on a crank forward Rans, my set up was different.

timtak

I have never had a recumbent (or prone bike), and I might feel scared and want to go back to my upright if I had one. But if I went a gear or two faster, and if the cold wind did not require that I wear the three neck-warmers that I wearing now, or the ski-goggles that I wore a couple of times last season, that sounds good.

I often cycle in one direction rather than in loops and I enjoy cycling more when I have a tailwind than when I have a headwind. Five years ago I would not go cycling when I knew I would be cycling into the wind. If a fairing could make a headwind more like a windless day, and a still day more like a tailwind, I'd enjoy that I think.

I do competet a bit in Strava (even though most of the "competitors" are not competing - though some are) and I wonder whether my already non UCI bike, with its saddle above the crank is already cheating.

Why is that?

timtak

Thank you. How was the Zzipper Thriller?
Do you know if it is faster than the standard hemispherical original Zzipper fairing?
Did you use it in summer too?
I see that it was up to the late 90's Fahrenheit in Eugene this July.

timtak

I would still ride my upright pictured above (when I have mended it) because it fits me like a glove, but I have set my seat more level thanks to your advice.

No, it was great. When you are riding short distances on your own, small framed bikes with long low stems are better.

It would be better still with a fairing. I have written to the folks in China to ask them the widths of their motorcycle fairings. This one has the size on it, but I worry that it may be too flat.


But Debbie of Zzipper has just got back to me, and the postage is reasonable (only 75usd) so I may well go with that. I am still wondering whether to get the basic or the Zzipper thriller.

BlazingPedals

Don't need a fairing if you reduce frontal area enough.



If you're looking to go cheap, consider making your own out of Coroplast. Modeling it after a Zzipper handlebar fairing for an upright wouldn't be too hard.

timtak

I am also asking for a quote for an M5 Carbon High Racer using as much as possible of the mechanics (Ultegra) wheels and fork from my broken Azzurri (slandered above!:-) and Debbie for a quote on the Zzipper thriller. Zipper design claims a 3-7 percent speed increase for the smaller fairing and only 4-7 for the thriller.
https://issuu.com/encycleopedia/docs/enc01_opt/67?e=0
The about on the website is very interesting
Title
They had made 23,000 by 2002 and not one had been sent back under the "no-faster" guarantee.

From the net
Robert Clark recommends it
" It made a winter 12 mile commute on a rural valley floor route more reasonable (here, here, here, here)"
But others are not so sure
"Zzip Designs Zzipper clear Thriller fairing with mounting hardware. I bought this for my Zenetik Road. Only used for a couple of short rides.(here)"
"
I have a full sized ZZipper Thriller fairing for my Zen. But haven't left it on because it weighs down the steering. I've thought of using a smaller fairing.(here)"

This thread is interesting.

But before spending 300 on a Zzipper I decided to spend $10 (delivered) on a Kawasaki ZX6R screen from ebay.

fietsbob

1 it went on a touring bike, and the kit I built up used an aerobar set , Old Profile a single tube bent for the whole thing.

raised it up high and near since the fairing did its job, why suffer bent way over?

did cut down wind noise ,, the public library's 'books on tape' thru the ear buds could be heard better..

Behind the fairing I hung a Musette Bag for my Cassette Player..

RJM

Incorrect. If you want to get more aero for these short distances, get a properly sized time trial bike.

wphamilton

too wide if you want to go faster. IMO.

BlazingPedals

A motorcycle fairing is going to be engineered for constant 70 mph speeds. It'll be 1/4" thick instead of .040, and it'll have heavy-duty steel mounting hardware. Plus, as noted, it'll be the wrong shape and size. Of course, you can always cut it up and make your own mounts, but it'll still be thick and heavy.

sced

Interesting

John's Fairing Projects

indyfabz

He's trying to get a quote on one of these:

M5 Recumbents » Models » Carbon High Racer

while at the same saying "Ouch" at a $500 shipping charge? I smell something.

timtak

Thanks Bob. I will consider it. I have quite a lot of cross winds, living, at weekends, on a penisula. I will see how the Mcycle fairing goes and then gradually get bigger.

How many times have I got to say this. A time trial bike is completely inappropriate for roads with traffic. Perhaps a road bike aero position may also be inappropriate, but at least on a road bike you have the hoods, wider handlebars, less weight on the bars, elbows off the bars, and hands on the brakes!

Thanks. Yes, upon reflection I see you are right. I have gone with a Kawasaki ZX-6R fairing at $10 for starters.
Clear Racing Windscreen Windshield for kawasaki ZX-6R 03-04 CL | eBay
I may put more plastic around it in emumuation of your set up.
Most Chinese (cheapo) fairings are 3mm thick but by the look of it, the one I bought (a "race" fairing) may be even thinner (more cheapo).

My chances of purchasing the M5 are not great, I admit. But in any event, I did not want to spend $200 plus $75 on the Zipper basic before trying out a Kawasaki fairing at $10 shipped.

BlazingPedals

And you know this how??? Somehow I don't think it's personal experience.

rebel1916

That's not a fairing, it's a windshield. Fairings are the plasticky bits that wrap around the frame and engine.

timtak

Thank you yes, you are right and I was using the wrong term. I am going to use this, or another similar, windshield as a fairing.

anotherbrian

Well, as they relate to bikes, anything that reduces drag is commonly called a fairing. Here is my F-40 ... crazy crazy fast up to ~3% grade, then it's not much worse than riding an unloaded touring bike. Though you'll bake in it in anything but cold weather. And despite every effort to dig, I've had no luck.

Bob Dopolina 

All of them?

timtak

Only about 5 of the windshield vendors but none of them responded with the width a couple said "it will fit your motorbike," and the ones that I explained my proposed use to did not respond.

Digging is either just inflexibility or my attempt to ride prone. I am not sure, and don't recommend it.

I am wondering whether to get a 'bent (weird name that, it is upright riders that are bent when riding). The M5 looks a bit wobbly and I can't afford it. How fast is crazy, crazy fast?

Averaging 26mph without a fairing over long distances. According to the website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1kr5HJA69A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBSabUCqvUM

pdedes

two observations:

coprolite is fossilized feces
timtaks position, while somewhat acceptable, is on a bike so small that he compromises steering inputs with an over long stem and then wishes to further weight and dampen steering with a windshield.

sced

Thanks timtak for all the great comebacks and humor. I look forward to hearing about your adventures with fairings/windshields.

What I find most entertaining about this discussion is the background of how profoundly inefficient regular road bikes are drag-wise and the high ticket aero lengths people go to to make them the eensiest bit faster when almost any reasonable home made fairing will make a much bigger difference.