My Very First Recumbent is a V20

[Frito Bandito]

It turns out that the Shimano Pro bag fits better.

 

[DavidCH]

It turns out that the Shimano Pro bag fits better.
View attachment 12370

You're a genius... never thought of putting a bag there.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thanks David. Every once in a while I get something right with all the crap I try. The Medium Topeak Aero Wedge Pack was a bit too big with my headrest at the previous position, and even the Shimano Pro bag just barely touched the base of my neck on today's ride. I believe I can move the headrest back a little more, which may be enough to fit the Topeak. If not, then I'll just have to live with the Shimano Pro The strap that would normally go around the seat post isn't long enough to reach around both head rest bars so keep that in mind that the bag will connect to only one side unless you sew a longer strap on it, or you can just leave that strap disconnected like I did.

 

[vosadrian]

Hey Frito,

I know this is not want you want to hear... but when I see the photo of you on your bike with the suspension head rest, I can't help but think that the primary purpose of that head rest is comfort and that it is a significant compromise to aero. If you google images of people riding V20s, you see most are using the stock head rest and the upper torso into neck area lays flat and they bend at the neck as the headrest goes vertical with the base of their skull just on top of the top curve in the stock headrest. In your photo, your upper torso start to bend bend upwards at the upper rib cage, and then you have no support until the suspension neck rest on your upper neck. If you picture removing the suspension neck rest, your upper torso would then lay back onto the stock headrest, taking you shoulders down with them. you head would drop a good 3-5 inches so the back of you helmet is just above the top of the headrest. In terms of frontal area, I think this would be a significant percentage reduction.

Now I am not saying it would be comfortable. It may not work for you at all in terms of visibility/comfort etc..... and you definately could not fit your new storage back there. But I do think that you are costing yourself a fair bit in aero with that neckrest arrangement. Of course it may not be worth the other compromises to get the aero for you... For me I find that position quite comfortable on smooth surfaces. I do lift my head of the rest on rough surfaces. For me the visibility is good since I have very low bars and hand/arms. At some point I will try the inflatable neck rest @jond preaches about!

 

[Don1]

Pix coming of my simple inner tube headrest. Yeah, you could drop that adjustable headrest so that it rests on the middle of the bend of the rest tubes and move the tubes so the head rest is supporting the base of the skull. I couldn't use the adjustable headset with the race case but am happy with the standard headrest height. Took me a while to get used to it but I expect it now.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I put the most recent pic back up so ya don't have to go back a page to look at it.
When I first got my V20 I didn't have the head rest bars so far in which got my shoulders lower like you mentioned. That position wasn't so bad really, but it had me looking directly down my cheekbones. I didn't wear a helmet when puttering around the block so it wasn't so bad despite me wobbling like a noob at low speed. Once I got my balance and started gaining speed I opened it up on the river which was going okay. Until a few small gnat-like bugs eventually hit me right in the eyes. I eventually got the lenses as low as possible, but still kept getting dinged in the eyes. Wearing various masks helped close that gap too but I pushed the bars in a little, and got the headrest where it is now, which is perfectly comfortable, and allows me to tilt my head so bugs won't get inside. Now that Winter is here and there are no bugs on the river I will let the bars out some to get my shoulders flatter, as well as adjust the head rest to something that isn't too annoying, painful or dangerous.
I have been looking at Icaro helmets as well as Casco helmets to see if there is one I can use their either has a full shield with UVA/UVB and polarization or simply 1 that the lense sits lower than my Frankenstein helmet that will allow me to get my shoulders and head down. There are some nice helmets that look good in the pics, but they might be a bit iffy on the bike. Also, I wouldn't mind the helmet resting on the head rest either if it got me down to 0.180ish.

Don, I wouldn't mind going to inner tube tied around the bars route if it meant getting rid of the head rest altogether.

 

[jond]

Vosadrian mate. Blurring vision is potentially dangerous. Especially since my vision is less than acute these days. The air stops the transmission of road noise to the noggin. Smooths out the big hits too. Touching your rest on the weekend I could see that it would blur my vision on rough roads. Mine though not as visually pleasing does not do that. A suspension rest without the bulk. Better than the Thor neckrest in my experience. That neckrest is pretty flexible.

 

[Don1]

that's a bit personal, Jond, touching another man's headrest.....

 

[Don1]

if I could buy a casco speed time I definitely would but its not compliant in Aus. it really looks really good. I've made a visor very similar for my bontrager ballista comes right down onto my cheeks, so good to not have my eyes buffered anymore. I'll be back with photos

 

[Don1]

my visor, needs a tidy up and a clean and the glue is still drying (hence the tape) it will have some black insulation tape to cover the the joins....

 

[Frito Bandito]

That looks great Don. You definitely caught the essence of it with that lense. It even covers the ears.

 

[Don1]

thanks, ikr! so buy the casco already, if its good enough for the german track team .........

 

[vosadrian]

@Frito Bandito I forgot about the bug issue you have! It makes sense why you have ended up in the position you are in... but I do think it is costing you in speed. But that is OK! I would not want bugs in my eyes!!

@jond I know... I know.... I'll get there... I even got you some free air time in this thread!! My vision is good enough that it is not really a safety concern that I can tell... but some added comfort would be nice!

@Don1 .... helmet looks great. As does the Casco. I am sure there are better options for us then the Giro air attack that has become the standard. I'm actually a bit unimpressed with the shield on my air attack. The surface seems to have been permanently damaged by sweat. I've never had that with any cycling glasses before? It is still usable but not as nice to look through as when new. And I do get some air in my eyes at high speed, so would be nice to better seal to the face.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I am not very impressed with the Air Attack's lense film. The film on my Loden Green lense is about 90% worn off, leaving it just a tinted color except for one sploch right in the middle. I love the magnets, but being an ex sportfisherman and competitive shooter I will spend money on good lenses if as long as they have UVA/UVB protection and are polarized. A plus is hydrophobic.

I just removed the whole headrest and will now see if I can get the headrest bars set up. My first attempt will be with a pair of slip-on foam handles because they slide on and off easily. The back of my Limar helmet isn't round so I don't have high hopes for that simple solution. The bars are likely too narrow so my head might flop too much. After that I will see what the inner tube solution is all about.

 

[jond]

that's a bit personal, Jond, touching another man's headrest.....

comment of the year. Lol.

I was respectfully gentle.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Okay, I may have gotten my head rest and bars sorted. I am not using a Perez clamp. Mine stripped out so it's gone. 1st, I slid some foam grips to the top. Then I slid two 6" pieces of innertube slid over the ends of the head rest bars to prevent rattling inside the frame. Then, there is electric tape wrapped around both bars where they enter the frame to prevent the bars from sliding in or out. A couple of taps with a rubber mallet and they fit snugly.

As you can see I have a very small underseat bag that fits perfectly.

Rear view: The helmet fitting straps fit just above the foam


I'll get another side pic but removing the Suspension Head Rest flattened me out as predicted. I have the helmet tilted as far forward as possible and I think this will be okay.

 

[ChaleJake]

Okay, I may have gotten my head rest and bars sorted. I am not using a Perez clamp. Mine stripped out so it's gone. 1st, I slid some foam grips to the top. Then I slid two 6" pieces of innertube slid over the ends of the head rest bars to prevent rattling inside the frame. Then, there is electric tape wrapped around both bars where they enter the frame to prevent the bars from sliding in or out. A couple of taps with a rubber mallet and they fit snugly.
View attachment 12396
As you can see I have a very small underseat bag that fits perfectly.

Rear view: The helmet fitting straps fit just above the foam
View attachment 12397

I'll get another side pic but removing the Suspension Head Rest flattened me out as predicted. I have the helmet tilted as far forward as possible and I think this will be okay.
View attachment 12398

That looks like a great fit. Well done.

 

[trplay]

Hard to really see with the image provided but it looks like the helmet tilt has become too extreme trying to get the neck/headrest comfortable. I would be concerned that the drag produced along the bottom side edges of the helmet will be enormous. Overall bike fit may need a relook? Perhaps drop the crank slightly??

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thanks guys, hopefully the CdA on the next ride will be better than 0.190. If it is then at least it is a step in the right direction. I have been a little mindful of that leading edge on the helmet trplay. When my head was tilted forward it didn't or look like too much of an issue, but now that it's tilted back it could be. The bottom edges of the helmet are pretty sharp, but you are right in thinking that air getting under through the ear holes could cause some bad results. I did buy a neoprene mask from a ski shop that when put on after putting on my helmet it does a pretty good job of filling in. Not the best pics but here are 2 close ups.


I like the Limar Speed King which covers the ears, but they are either too difficult to find or too expensive.

 

[trplay]

Thanks guys, hopefully the CdA on the next ride will be better than 0.190. If it is then at least it is a step in the right direction. I have been a little mindful of that leading edge on the helmet trplay. When my head was tilted forward it didn't or look like too much of an issue, but now that it's tilted back it could be. The bottom edges of the helmet are pretty sharp, but you are right in thinking that air getting under through the ear holes could cause some bad results. I did buy a neoprene mask from a ski shop that when put on after putting on my helmet it does a pretty good job of filling in. Not the best pics but here are 2 close ups.
View attachment 12399 View attachment 12401

I like the Limar Speed King which covers the ears, but they are either too difficult to find or too expensive.

Just a thought. Most competitive bike events are during times where heat is a major issue. I've seen some very interesting full-face plastic covid masks out there that might be modified to a Giro helmet very effectively.