Can we talk about fairings?

I talked to a man who confided in me that he had 3 different fairings for
his recumbent. He said, matter of factly, that he switches them out
according to weather conditions. And here I am, fairing-less, trying to
decide if I want or need to spend the money to get one! I would appreciate
some comments on fairings for my Cycle Genius RDX long wheel base recumbent.
I live in Texas where it is frequently (!) windy (year 'round) and usually
pretty darned hot during the summer.

Pat

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And here I am, fairing-less, trying to decide if I want
or need to spend the money to get one! I would appreciate
some comments on fairings for my Cycle Genius RDX long
wheel base recumbent. I live in Texas where it is frequently
(!) windy (year 'round) and usually pretty darned hot during
the summer.

I ride a TourEasy with front fairing in often windy, and
seasonably hot 'n humid N. Texas. I think it does help
against the wind and for me is worth the cost and
potential trade-offs.

In 6500 miles, I probably ridden less than 25 miles
without the fairing, so I cannot really quantify how
much difference it makes in speed or effort. An internet
or Usenet search may come up with primary sources, but
if I recall correctly, the conventional wisdom is that a
fairing becomes truly useful at 18-20 mph and above.
Note that making 10 mph into a 10 mph headwind
counts as 20 mph for the fairing.

With respect to heat, I've ridden many miles in 100+
degree moderately humid weather. I don't think the
fairing makes such riding much hotter. My shoulders
and head are above the fairing and I get plenty
of air movement over the fairing. I find the fairing
does keep my feet and legs a bit warmer in cold
weather, so I presume they may also be warmer in
hot weather. But for me, the impact seems minimal.

There are a few of other issues often mentioned
concerning fairings: weight, side-wind handling,
noise, and transportability.

A front fairing adds probably a couple of pounds
or so to the weight of the bike. For a very light bike
and/or a well trimmed rider on hilly routes that might
be significant. Fairing weight is not an issue for me. %^P
(I wish it were!)

Gusty side winds may affect handling. I've ridden a
couple of times with 20-30 mph gusty side winds. I
didn't find the handle bars being jerked, but suspect
the larger side profile did make handling slightly more
difficult. It seemed minimal, but once again, I cannot
quantify the difference.

Some people have commented that a fairing makes
or reflects noise. I find the fairing does seem to focus
road noise as a low rumble. On bumps, the fairing
may also flex and make a mild popping noise.

Loading the bike on a roof or trunk rack does mean
removing the fairing. It takes a minute or so to
mount or unmount the fairing (four wing nuts).
Not a big issue, but still a bit or a hassle.

Jon Meinecke

Jon Meinecke said:

...
Gusty side winds may affect handling. I've ridden a
couple of times with 20-30 mph gusty side winds. I
didn't find the handle bars being jerked, but suspect
the larger side profile did make handling slightly more
difficult. It seemed minimal, but once again, I cannot
quantify the difference....

This may sound counter-intuitive, but a bodysock on a LWB bike actually
improves handling in windy conditions over having just a front fairing.

I have ridden this bike in approximately 30-mph (~50 kph) winds that
were gusting to about 45-mph (~75 kph) without handling problems.
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm >.

Now someone who has never ridden a LWB bicycle with a bodysock will
disagree with me. 😉

--
Tom Sherman - Curmudgeon and Pedant

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

Quoted message said:

Jon Meinecke said:

...
Gusty side winds may affect handling. I've ridden a
couple of times with 20-30 mph gusty side winds. I
didn't find the handle bars being jerked, but suspect
the larger side profile did make handling slightly more
difficult. It seemed minimal, but once again, I cannot
quantify the difference....

This may sound counter-intuitive, but a bodysock on a LWB bike actually
improves handling in windy conditions over having just a front fairing.

I have ridden this bike in approximately 30-mph (~50 kph) winds that were
gusting to about 45-mph (~75 kph) without handling problems.
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm >.

Now someone who has never ridden a LWB bicycle with a bodysock will
disagree with me. 😉

On a week long bike tour through Wyoming (Tour de Wyoming) the winds were
gusting in the mountain pass and those with fairings on their bikes had to
remove them for fear of being blown off the highway or into oncoming
traffic. I have found fairings to be a major complication in STRONG side
winds. I have a Tour Easy (home built) which I ride with the Zzipper and a
RANS V2 with the Meuller and they both really kick in speed-wise above 15
mph, but beware of those side winds!

--
Regards,

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I have ridden this bike in approximately 30-mph (~50 kph) winds that
were gusting to about 45-mph (~75 kph) without handling problems.
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm >.

Do you credit a damping effect on steering for socked bike
side-wind handling improvement?

Quoted message said:

Now someone who has never ridden a LWB bicycle with a bodysock will
disagree with me. 😉

Even in B.D. days, such was par for ARBR! %^P

Jon Meinecke

Totally agree with Ed about the crosswinds. My worst experiences this
summer were at the summit of White Bird Pass in Idaho and approaching
Shoshoni, Wyoming, with thunderstorms battering me from all directions.
Scary stuff!

I ride a TE with the latest Mueller fairing.

Steve

Edward Dolan said:

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

Quoted message said:

Jon Meinecke said:

...
Gusty side winds may affect handling. I've ridden a
couple of times with 20-30 mph gusty side winds. I
didn't find the handle bars being jerked, but suspect
the larger side profile did make handling slightly more
difficult. It seemed minimal, but once again, I cannot
quantify the difference....

This may sound counter-intuitive, but a bodysock on a LWB bike actually
improves handling in windy conditions over having just a front fairing.

I have ridden this bike in approximately 30-mph (~50 kph) winds that were
gusting to about 45-mph (~75 kph) without handling problems.
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm >.

Now someone who has never ridden a LWB bicycle with a bodysock will
disagree with me. 😉

On a week long bike tour through Wyoming (Tour de Wyoming) the winds were
gusting in the mountain pass and those with fairings on their bikes had to
remove them for fear of being blown off the highway or into oncoming
traffic. I have found fairings to be a major complication in STRONG side
winds. I have a Tour Easy (home built) which I ride with the Zzipper and a
RANS V2 with the Meuller and they both really kick in speed-wise above 15
mph, but beware of those side winds!

--
Steve Fox
McKinleyville, CA

Jon Meinecke said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I have ridden this bike in approximately 30-mph (~50 kph) winds that
were gusting to about 45-mph (~75 kph) without handling problems.
<http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/Sherman.htm >.

Do you credit a damping effect on steering for socked bike
side-wind handling improvement?

The sock does work as a steering damper, but I believe the main effect
is to change the center of pressure from the side winds.

Note that a LWB bicycle with just a front fairing handles worse in the
wind than a completely unfaired LWB bicycle.

Note that all faired bikes do not do so well - the Lightning F-40 can be
a real handful, especially for a lightweight rider.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now someone who has never ridden a LWB bicycle with a bodysock will
disagree with me. 😉

Even in B.D. days, such was par for ARBR! %^P

There was a particular person who claimed I was lying and had never
ridden a LWB bike in windy conditions - rather a ridiculous claim to
make since I can produce witnesses who have seen my riding my socked
"Wavewind".

--
Tom Sherman - Curmudgeon and Pedant

Steve Fox <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<%dB8d.26467$Hz.16812@fed1read04>...

Quoted message said:

Totally agree with Ed about the crosswinds. My worst experiences this
summer were at the summit of White Bird Pass in Idaho and approaching
Shoshoni, Wyoming, with thunderstorms battering me from all directions.
Scary stuff!

I ride a TE with the latest Mueller fairing.

Steve

It may be that gusty winds are a handful, but I've been out in steady
20-30 mph winds and I found it to be quite manageable with my front
Zzipper fairing. The people with body socks needed to lean into the
wind some, but no one complained too much since we finished that ride
with that wind at our backs.

Jeff