Registered: Feb 2012
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 24

I have been riding my GR now for a few months, and recently glued the velcro onto the fairing, and received a bodysock from Melanie. So far, I have ridden with a tailsok.

I am in training with a Leukemia & Lymphoma Team for a metric century next month. We have a fantastic coach, who is new to recumbents. We just rode a very hilly 45-mile ride yesterday. Heading downhill I hit 40 mph for the first time....fast enough for now!

At any rate, he is a GREAT coach with excellent advice. I told him that I am planning to become familiar with my bodysock.....and although unlikely....may end up using it on our rides. He expressed real concern about our recent ride where 20mph gusts hit us as we were going downhill at top speeds.

So, I ask you folks with experience with a TE or GR and bodysock under these conditions. How does the bike handle in gusts at these speeds? I know I can always tuck it under the fairing if getting windy....however not while the gust shows up unexpectedly.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts/experiences....
Many thanks!!!
Bob

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 273

Everything is a trade-off. A full bodysock will improve your aerodynamic efficiency in low or no wind conditions, but it will obviously be more affected in a cross wind. So much so that I must echo your coach's advice in urging caution. As you know many of the roads in Connecticut have no or very narrow shoulders so you should realize that a gust of wind could put you in jeopardy faster than you could react. Frankly, unless you are time-trialing on a closed course, the advantages of a bodysock are more than off-set by their disadvantages, in my opinion.

Bill

Last edited by Bill Stevenson on 04-26-2012 at 07:57 PM

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 24

Bill,
Yes, there are surely trade-offs. Given that I continue to learn more about how this bike functions with every ride....I suspect it is worthwhile to take the bodysock route slowly and surely with caution as to where I ride.
I appreciate your reply Bill.
Bob

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Registered: Nov 2009
Location: boise idaho
Posts: 153

My top speed downhill with the fairing but unskinned is more than 60mph. Sideways buffeting at that speed is a real sphincter puckering experience; a superb blast of adrenaline followed by deep introspection.

My top speed downhill faired and skinned is somewhat less, maybe 50.

My experience riding Idaho's and Oregon's mountains and wide open deserts indicates the fairing offers equal amounts of wind complication and protection. You get used to it. You love it.

Adding the skin requires prudence and you quickly learn to pay careful attention to the movement of grasses and trees.

It is easy to remove the skin's rear hooks and hoist it to your shoulders for short runs through high winds from any direction. You must get comfrtable with the idea that stopping and removing the skin is more improtant than keeping up with the rest of the squad.

I must add that my main use of the skin these days is sun protection. I stopped caring about performance a couple years ago. I run the skin as much in 90-100 degrees as 50-80. There is plenty of airflow through the Lycra and the shade is unspeakably delightful. In the hottest conditions I squirt water on the skin for some delightful evaporative cooling.

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I play go.
I use Macintosh.
Of course I ride a recumbent.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 24

I definitely appreciate both of your perspectives.....VERY helpful. Yesterday, we had a hilly ride with some gusts at higher elevations (at least for CT).

I have decided that at this point, I need to learn even more about the bike prior to going with a bodysock. I suspect that in a few months I will be ready to check it out.

I am getting accustomed to how the wind gusts impact a faired GR while on a long descent.....and/or.....when on a narrow shoulder with traffic. Learning more and more about this amazing bike each week.

Thanks for your experiences/suggestions!
Bob

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 273

It is getting warm here in South Florida now and 2 days ago I removed my Zipper fairing for the summer. I really prefer riding my GRR without the fairing installed.

Bill

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Registered: Nov 2009
Location: boise idaho
Posts: 153

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Stevenson
It is getting warm here in South Florida now and 2 days ago I removed my Zipper fairing for the summer. I really prefer riding my GRR without the fairing installed.
Bill

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I play go.
I use Macintosh.
Of course I ride a recumbent.

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Huntsville, AL USA
Posts: 222

Agreed Bogiesan, I leave fairing on all year round, in N Alabama. Works for me.

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Red Zippered Tour Easy EX
'96 VW Passat TDI
2000, & 2004 Jetta TDI

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Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Detroit suburbs
Posts: 629

quote:

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Originally posted by hamilgs
Agreed Bogiesan, I leave fairing on all year round, in N Alabama. Works for me.

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Registered: Apr 2008
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 77

year round in MS

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Keith M.

Two Tour Easys
Two Hase Ketts
Two EZ Sports
Two Hobie Kayaks
and a WW Tour trike

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 21

quote:

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Originally posted by bogiesan
My top speed downhill with the fairing but unskinned is more than 60mph. Sideways buffeting at that speed is a real sphincter puckering experience; a superb blast of adrenaline followed by deep introspection.

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