Hot Rod Rocket

"Ergozum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just curious if anyone here's done the Hot Rod Rocket mods as described on
RANs pages. Especially the velocity wheels. seems interesting.

Here's the URL:

http://www.ransbikes.com/ITRRocket.htm

That's a great looking Rocket. I'd do it differently, though:

M5 hard-shell seat
Cropped seat braces (for more laid-back angle)
Stock wheels with wheel covers
Schwalbe high-pressure tires
12-25 cassette
B-37 "Superman" handlebars
Coroplast tailbox
Mueller fairing
http://www.mueller-hp.com/rocket01/rocketside01.jpg

The M-5 seat offers minimal leg interference at extremely laid-back angles.
The hard-shell design delivers noticeably more power to the pedals,
producing greater speed. The stock Rocket wheels are not light; but wheel
covers would be more effective than heavier deep-aero rims, if speed is what
you desire. The Mueller Windwrap fairing and a Coroplast or fiberglass
tailbox would be the biggest speed upgrades, also offering some storage
space in the bargain.

Or, you could go with a full Coroplast fairing, like this:

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/pauljones/

So many possibilities...

R-is-for-Rocket

® said:

"Ergozum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just curious if anyone here's done the Hot Rod Rocket mods as described on
RANs pages. Especially the velocity wheels. seems interesting.

Here's the URL:

http://www.ransbikes.com/ITRRocket.htm

That's a great looking Rocket. I'd do it differently, though:

M5 hard-shell seat
Cropped seat braces (for more laid-back angle)
Stock wheels with wheel covers
Schwalbe high-pressure tires
12-25 cassette
B-37 "Superman" handlebars
Coroplast tailbox
Mueller fairing
http://www.mueller-hp.com/rocket01/rocketside01.jpg

The M-5 seat offers minimal leg interference at extremely laid-back angles.
The hard-shell design delivers noticeably more power to the pedals,
producing greater speed. The stock Rocket wheels are not light; but wheel
covers would be more effective than heavier deep-aero rims, if speed is what
you desire. The Mueller Windwrap fairing and a Coroplast or fiberglass
tailbox would be the biggest speed upgrades, also offering some storage
space in the bargain.

Or, you could go with a full Coroplast fairing, like this:

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/pauljones/

So many possibilities...

R-is-for-Rocket

Wow! I guess thare are a lot of things you can do with Rans bikes. I've heard that the Tailwind can be modified also. A faired 'bent. That is something. Betcha it's quick!

'bent Brian

"bentbrian" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

® said:

"Ergozum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just curious if anyone here's done the Hot Rod Rocket mods as

described on

Quoted message said:

RANs pages. Especially the velocity wheels. seems interesting.

Here's the URL:

http://www.ransbikes.com/ITRRocket.htm

That's a great looking Rocket. I'd do it differently, though:

M5 hard-shell seat
Cropped seat braces (for more laid-back angle)
Stock wheels with wheel covers
Schwalbe high-pressure tires
12-25 cassette
B-37 "Superman" handlebars
Coroplast tailbox
Mueller fairing
http://www.mueller-hp.com/rocket01/rocketside01.jpg

The M-5 seat offers minimal leg interference at extremely laid-back
angles.
The hard-shell design delivers noticeably more power to the pedals,
producing greater speed. The stock Rocket wheels are not light; but
wheel
covers would be more effective than heavier deep-aero rims, if speed is
what
you desire. The Mueller Windwrap fairing and a Coroplast or
fiberglass
tailbox would be the biggest speed upgrades, also offering some
storage
space in the bargain.

Or, you could go with a full Coroplast fairing, like this:

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/pauljones/

So many possibilities...

R-is-for-Rocket

Wow! I guess thare are a lot of things you can do with Rans bikes. I've
heard that the Tailwind can be modified also. A faired 'bent. That is
something. Betcha it's quick!

'bent Brian

Yessir. Very quick. Faired bikes are by far the fastest bikes on the road.
With a rider in decent shape, and a tail or nose fairing, any recumbent can
go very fast.

The popular RANS Rocket (like any recumbent), can gain significant speed
(for the same rider power output) by adding fairings. The separate nose
fairing and tail fairing is an effective combination, and a bit more
practical for most applications. This includes commuting, since the tailbox
offers covered storage, and doubles as a fairing.

Basically, reducing the aerodynamic profile (size of bike and rider when
viewed along the axis of motion) is the most important factor. Fairings go
further, by smoothing out turbulence, thus reducing drag. It turns out that
a tailcone/tailbox fairing is the most effective single upgrade for
increasing speed, while also providing storage (as I mentioned above).
Handy AND fast.

Are you getting any ideas yet?

R-is-for-Rocket

I built a fastRocket back in 2001. It was as follows:

Seat: stock with slightly modified seat foam
Wheels: SRAM 9.0 seal cartridge hubs, 15g spokes - radial front, 32
hole Bontrager maveric rims, Japanese made Comp Pool tires
Crank: 170mm XTR with 60,50,34 rings (7075 aluminum)
BB: Dura Ace
Deraileurs: XTR front and rear
Shifter: SRAM Rocket 9spd
Cassette: XT 11x34
Head set: Cane Creek C2
Brakes: Avid DP7
Pedals: Time ATAC MTB

I had the seat laid back more than average, but not all the way. It
was very fast. On 35 mile group ride, I was the first one to the 1/2
way point. This group included a large number of "faster" and
expensice bents, and some very experienced and well known riders. I
was still in the top 3 at the end of the ride.

Yes the Rocket can be made to go fast. Adding a front and rear
fairing to it would allow you to go faster, but you might run out of
gears. With a stock 62x11 combo, you have a lower than average high
gear. It might be OK if you spin at very high RPM like I do. But the
thing I like best about the Rocket is it's light weight and small
size. Adding all the fairings would increase the weight and overall
size.

Ergozum <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Just curious if anyone here's done the Hot Rod Rocket mods as described on
RANs pages. Especially the velocity wheels. seems interesting.

.... Wow! I guess thare are a lot of things you can do with Rans bikes.
I've

Quoted message said:

heard that the Tailwind can be modified also. A faired 'bent. That is
something. Betcha it's quick!

'bent Brian

The Tailwind can be setup with a front fairing and a body sock.
Again, with the stock gearing, you may run out of gears. You could
use a SRAM 3x8 rear hub. This in addition to the 3 rings up front
would give you a bucket load of gears, and a larger range as well.

I personally like the setup of the Rotators.

[email hidden] (rocketman58) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I built a fastRocket back in 2001. It was as follows:

....

Quoted message said:

It was very fast.

That's what we want to hear.

Seems probable that a lightweight Rocket with either some good tires or
nice wheels ought to climb comparatively well too.

H

bentbrian said:

...
Wow! I guess thare are a lot of things you can do with Rans bikes. I've
heard that the Tailwind can be modified also. A faired 'bent. That is
something. Betcha it's quick!

Who would want to modify a RANS [1] Tailwind?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

[1] Note proper use of all capital letters.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

rocketman58 said:

The Tailwind can be setup with a front fairing and a body sock.
Again, with the stock gearing, you may run out of gears. You could
use a SRAM 3x8 rear hub. This in addition to the 3 rings up front
would give you a bucket load of gears, and a larger range as well.

Who would have thought of doing this?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

bentbrian said:

...
Wow! I guess thare are a lot of things you can do with Rans bikes. I've
heard that the Tailwind can be modified also. A faired 'bent. That is
something. Betcha it's quick!

Who would want to modify a RANS [1] Tailwind?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

[1] Note proper use of all capital letters.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

Nice rans

mark leuck said:

Nice rans

Very funny.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

In article <[email hidden]>, Tom Sherman

Quoted message said:

<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>

Nice touch with the blue sox Tom!
They match the Rans quite nicely.
:cD

quote='Tom Sherman'rocketman58 said:

The Tailwind can be setup with a front fairing and a body sock.
Again, with the stock gearing, you may run out of gears. You could
use a SRAM 3x8 rear hub. This in addition to the 3 rings up front
would give you a bucket load of gears, and a larger range as well.

Who would have thought of doing this?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area[/QUOTE]
I realize the Tailwind is at the bottom of the heap (entry level) as far as RANS bikes are concerned. Alas it was all I could afford at the time but it serves my commuting needs well. I've heard there are some things you can do to get some improvements.

'bent Brian

bentbrian said:

Tom Sherman said:

rocketman58 said:

The Tailwind can be setup with a front fairing and a body sock.
Again, with the stock gearing, you may run out of gears. You could
use a SRAM 3x8 rear hub. This in addition to the 3 rings up front
would give you a bucket load of gears, and a larger range as well.

Who would have thought of doing this?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

--
Tom Sherman ?Quad City Area

I realize the Tailwind is at the bottom of the heap (entry level) as
far as RANS bikes are concerned. Alas it was all I could afford at the
time but it serves my commuting needs well. I've heard there are some
things you can do to get some improvements.

'bent Brian,

Hint No. 1: I used to live in Champaign, Illinois.
Hint No. 2. Look at the link I posted. 😉

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

quote='Tom Sherman'bentbrian said:

Tom Sherman said:

rocketman58 said:

The Tailwind can be setup with a front fairing and a body sock.
Again, with the stock gearing, you may run out of gears. You could
use a SRAM 3x8 rear hub. This in addition to the 3 rings up front
would give you a bucket load of gears, and a larger range as well.

Who would have thought of doing this?
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm>.

--
Tom Sherman ?Quad City Area

I realize the Tailwind is at the bottom of the heap (entry level) as
far as RANS bikes are concerned. Alas it was all I could afford at the
time but it serves my commuting needs well. I've heard there are some
things you can do to get some improvements.

'bent Brian,

Hint No. 1: I used to live in Champaign, Illinois.
Hint No. 2. Look at the link I posted. 😉

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area[/QUOTE]
AAAHHH! I missed the link! Sorry 'bout that. I check it out! (Computer was down the last few days).

'bent Brian