The other day I crossed the bridge (flat as a pancake) into a stiff westerly and was topping out at 20 km/h in assistance level 5 of 5! At the moment I am working very hard at dividing my frontal area by 2

I wonder if one of those see through umbrellas might help?

http://lp2.hm.com/hmprod?set=source%5B/model/2016/D00%200318035%20003%2080%207483.jpg%5D,type%5BsTILLLIFE_FRONT%5D&hmver=1&call=url%5Bfile:/product/main%5D

 

Worryingly my search for plastic see through u Returned "plastic see through underwear" !!!

Edited July 19, 20178 yr by Kinninvie

Why don't people use handlebar fairings? It's not like there's a big obvious drawback is there?

Why don't people use handlebar fairings? It's not like there's a big obvious drawback is there?

Sidewinds . One is not always going against the wind.

Sidewinds . One is not always going against the wind.

Oh.

Sidewinds . One is not always going against the wind.

 

Well actually... You are. Even when the wind is coming from behind you create your own headwind. A tail fairing is probably more efficient in reducing drag tucked down on aero bars you are about as aerodynamic as you can get. Sidewinds have a role on an upright bike too.

 

Check out streamliner bikes [mention=17001]topographer[/mention]

Perfecto.

 

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/06/solar-cycle-fairing-no-cells.jpg

Well actually... You are. Even when the wind is coming from behind you create your own headwind. A tail fairing is probably more efficient in reducing drag tucked down on aero bars you are about as aerodynamic as you can get. Sidewinds have a role on an upright bike too.

 

Check out streamliner bikes [mention=17001]topographer[/mention]

 

I don't know where you cycle, but in my coastal location, the wind can gust quite badly and change direction at a whim. Bikes with fairings are just as lightly to have the wind coming at any odd angle as either a headwind or a tailwind. A side wind would catch the fairing as a sail could easily move the bike and cyclist into either a ditch or ongoing car traffic.

The BMW roofed motorcycle and other similar designs work because it is much more massive (heavier) than a bike

I think there's some merit in fairings for e-bikes. A few years back, some guys knocked up fairings out of that corrugated plastic sheet, and reported good results.

 

I reckon that it's more the weight penalty that puts people off because the main problem on a bicycle is going up hills. I think a lot of people would be happy to sacrifice a couple of mph on top speed if they could have easier climbing. It might be different, though, for people living in North Holland, where it's flat and you get a lot of wind.

 

When you wear a cape/poncho in the rain, the gusting side-winds would have much more effect than a on a fairing. They're a nuisance at first, but you soon get used to it and learn to deal with it. I don't see it as a major problem.

 

I think the reaction to crosswinds has more to do with steering geometry than mass. I've had very light motorcycles like Suzuki RGV that were rock steady in all conditions, while as much heavier ones Yamaha FZ600 would struggle to stay in their lane on a motorway. Unfortunately, it's not easy to change a bicycle's geometry to adapt it for a fairing. Like motorbikes, there's probably some that would be a lot less affected than others.

I think there's some merit in fairings for e-bikes. A few years back, some guys knocked up fairings out of that corrugated plastic sheet, and reported good results.

 

I reckon that it's more the weight penalty that puts people off because the main problem on a bicycle is going up hills. I think a lot of people would be happy to sacrifice a couple of mph on top speed if they could have easier climbing. It might be different, though, for people living in North Holland, where it's flat and you get a lot of wind.

 

When you wear a cape/poncho in the rain, the gusting side-winds would have much more effect than a on a fairing. They're a nuisance at first, but you soon get used to it and learn to deal with it. I don't see it as a major problem.

 

I think the reaction to crosswinds has more to do with steering geometry than mass. I've had very light motorcycles like Suzuki RGV that were rock steady in all conditions, while as much heavier ones Yamaha FZ600 would struggle to stay in their lane on a motorway. Unfortunately, it's not easy to change a bicycle's geometry to adapt it for a fairing. Like motorbikes, there's probably some that would be a lot less affected than others.

I was thinking about distance more than speed. I'd like to see proper experimentation and research done into motorbike style body panels on ebikes. Maybe it's not worth it but I'd like to see proof either way.

There is a guy in the US who has a weird aerodynamic kit for bikes. Read his theory and he lost me... So no bookmark sorry.

 

I agree with [mention=15283]Danidl[/mention] about side winds being a problem on a bike that is why I am going bent... if you Google for pedelec and aerodynamics you may stumble upon a prototype with the Panasonic logo on it which is the kind of thing you have described above.

 

The problem with bents is you become invisible to drivers at certain angles.