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Wind turbulence and fairings

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01 / Original postWind turbulence and fairingsSteve Christens · 7 Oct 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–7Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #7Steve Christens · 7 Oct 2003

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Recumbent bicycles
Published
7 October 2003
Last activity
7 October 2003
Original author
Steve Christens
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7
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  1. Original post
    Steve Christens
    Archived post
    #1

    I’ve been trying out a new Mueller Windwrap fairing on my V2. I have a very laid back set up, so the
    fairing probably doesn’t do nearly as much as it might on a Gold Rush, but it does seem to help a
    bit, and it sure is warmer. I have it set up with the top of the fairing about chin level.

    But one thing that bothers me is the wind turbulence in my face. I suppose it makes sense that the
    wind which hits the front of the bike is compressed as it flows over the fairing, and speeds up in
    the process. But the force of the wind in my face seems like what I feel without the fairing on a
    downhill at 40, even when I’m going just 22 or so. This might not be such a big deal, except that I
    have the worlds most active dear ducts, and I am at the point of needing ski goggles just to ride
    the thing.

    Anybody else notice this? Is this common to all fairings?

    Steve Christensen Midland, MI

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  2. Robert Milligan
    Archived post
    #2

    I I have ridden my V2 with and without the Windwrap fairing. I prefer the fairing. The wind in my
    face does not bother me. Maybe I don't go as fast as you do, I hope you have better luck with the
    hardware on your fairing than I did. The upper brackets kept breaking until I modified them. I put a
    horizontal bar between the upper brackets and have now ridden 1500 miles without any breakage.. Bob
    Milligan V2

    Report
  3. Steve Christens
    Archived post
    #3

    In article <[email hidden]>, Robert Milligan says...

    Quoted message said:


    I I have ridden my V2 with and without the Windwrap fairing. I prefer the fairing. The wind in
    my face does not bother me. Maybe I don't go as fast as you do, I hope you have better luck
    with the hardware on your fairing than I did. The upper brackets kept breaking until I
    modified them. I put a horizontal bar between the upper brackets and have now ridden 1500
    miles without any breakage.. Bob Milligan V2

    Sounds like you mean the original V2 fairing mounts (the kind that are still sold on the RANS
    website). Mark Mueller mentioned over the phone that a lot of people have had problems with
    that system. My wife's V2 has that mount, which worked OK, till she crashed one day and broke
    one of the bars.

    The newer "moustache" bar mount that Mark sells now looks a bit more robust, and is separate from
    the riser, so that it can twist out of the way if you lay the bike down. Time will tell.

    Steve Christensen

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  4. Carol Cohen
    Archived post
    #4

    [email hidden] (Robert Milligan) wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    I I have ridden my V2 with and without the Windwrap fairing. I prefer the fairing. The wind in my
    face does not bother me. Maybe I don't go as fast as you do, I hope you have better luck with the
    hardware on your fairing than I did. The upper brackets kept breaking until I modified them. I put
    a horizontal bar between the upper brackets and have now ridden 1500 miles without any breakage..
    Bob Milligan V2

    In summer the facial blast of air at higher speeds is cooling. But in winter or side seasons, I
    agree, it can give one ice-cream headaches and grit-filled eyes. So when it gets cooler I simply
    raise the fairing higher. This means I have to look through the 3-year-old scratched Lexan in order
    to see the potholes on the road, but it does divert the wind.

    Others have found a compromise position for the fairing that diverts that wind when they sort of
    hunker down, but allows them to sit way up and look over the fairing top when necessary.

    C.C.,Rider 2000 Toureasy <carolcohen.comcarolcohen.com

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  5. Mikael Seierup
    Archived post
    #5

    "Steve Christensen" skrev

    Quoted message said:

    But one thing that bothers me is the wind turbulence in my face. I suppose it makes sense that the
    wind which hits the front of the bike is compressed as it flows over the fairing, and speeds up in
    the process. But the force of the wind in my face seems like what I feel without the fairing on a
    downhill at 40, even when I'm going just 22 or so. This might not be such a big deal, except that
    I have the worlds most active dear ducts, and I am at the point of needing ski goggles just to
    ride the thing.

    Anybody else notice this? Is this common to all fairings?

    My polish fairing on my TE-clone does a nice job of sending the air up over my head. Pics here in
    "Recumbents"-folder if you didn't see them already. uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.combriangoebbels

    Mikael

    Report
  6. Steve Christens
    Archived post
    #6

    In article <[email hidden]>, Carol Cohen says...

    Quoted message said:


    [email hidden] (Robert Milligan) wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    I I have ridden my V2 with and without the Windwrap fairing. I prefer the fairing. The wind in my
    face does not bother me. Maybe I don't go as fast as you do, I hope you have better luck with the
    hardware on your fairing than I did. The upper brackets kept breaking until I modified them. I
    put a horizontal bar between the upper brackets and have now ridden 1500 miles without any
    breakage.. Bob Milligan V2

    In summer the facial blast of air at higher speeds is cooling. But in winter or side seasons, I
    agree, it can give one ice-cream headaches and grit-filled eyes. So when it gets cooler I simply
    raise the fairing higher. This means I have to look through the 3-year-old scratched Lexan in order
    to see the potholes on the road, but it does divert the wind.

    Thanks. That's a great tip that I might not have thought of. I hate looking through the fairing, but
    in cold weather it sure could be worth it.

    Steve Christensen

    Report
  7. Steve Christens
    Archived post
    #7

    In article <[email hidden]>, Mikael Seierup says...

    Quoted message said:

    My polish fairing on my TE-clone does a nice job of sending the air up over my head. Pics here in
    "Recumbents"-folder if you didn't see them already. uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.combriangoebbels

    Mikael

    Interesting. I can see how a fairing could be custom designed so that it had the right curve leading
    up to the trailing edge that it would tend to direct wind over your head, rather than into your
    face. With mine, in my very laid back position, if I have the fairing down far enough to look over
    it, I get a face full. I can imagine though that somone using the same fairing on a V2 with the new
    open cockpit riser, and sitting more upright, might have more of the effect you have. It does at
    least give me ideas to experiment with. Thanks.

    Steve Christensen

    Report

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