My Very First Recumbent is a V20

[Frito Bandito]

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.

It is just getting Winter here in Tokyo, so we are hovering around 15C-18C on Sunny days now. In Summer I use a lighter mask and douse it and my skull cap with water. I have also seen some plastic and CF masks though that look really nice, but I haven't tried any yet.

 

[vosadrian]

I think I have my headrest in a little further so the base is closer to the base of my neck and my neck is a little more vertical so my head is not leaning back as far. Not sure if that works better for you or not? I have no space for a pack behind my neck, and my neck is supported from the base by the standard CB sock cushion. I doubt the drag from the edges of the helmet will be enormous.... much less that the extra area from the head being high before. I would say there would be some minor losses in the edges but not much and probably not measurable with CdA analysis.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I think I have my headrest in a little further so the base is closer to the base of my neck and my neck is a little more vertical so my head is not leaning back as far. Not sure if that works better for you or not? I have no space for a pack behind my neck, and my neck is supported from the base by the standard CB sock cushion. I doubt the drag from the edges of the helmet will be enormous.... much less that the extra area from the head being high before. I would say there would be some minor losses in the edges but not much and probably not measurable with CdA analysis.

I have the sock cushion also, and might give that a go in combination with the foam pads. I can move the headrest a couple of cm after today's shortish test ride but we'll see if the CdA is lower than .190 and how much air gets under the lense. It sits pretty close to my cheekbones so I think It'll be okay, especially with any kind of mask. I am sure a compromise of speed and comfort will be in order though. The foam neck rests felt comfortable during the test fit, but I am hoping the foam grips offer enough cushion on the road. The roads here are excellent, but the foam pads might not be enough for long rides or on some of the sections with degraded asphalt.

 

[jond]

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

hard to tell from photos. But if you are looking at the sky or having to look down your nose you need to let the neckrest further out again. I know it seems wrong counter intuitive but it’s correct. Letting the rest out further will bend your neck. We are talking some serious double chinning here. Your rest needs to be secured. You will need the clamp. Fix it.

 

[Don1]

pics of my headrest. uses 10"x2" inner tube. i will prolly do a how to if people want me to

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thanks for the advice Jon and the pics Don. Pics give a good idea on what to do, but I bet a how-to video would be much appreciated by plenty, including me. I worked on a sportfishing boat and know a few knots specific to big big fish, but not the ones you guys are using.

The foam pads felt good for my usual bike path except where the asphalt has been patched numerous times or where it is starting to buckle in a few spots. I am sure they wouldn't be comfortable enough in most road conditions unless it was a new road. If I had to ride anywhere else I would surely not use them.

Jon, after dinner I will see what I can do about fine tuning the head rest bars for a perfect fit. During my ride today I had to arch my back and stretch to get the buckle of my helmet past the rear end of the head rest so my neck could lay against it comfortably.

 

[jond]

Thanks for the advice Jon and the pics Don. Pics give a good idea on what to do, but I bet a how-to video would be much appreciated by plenty, including me. I worked on a sportfishing boat and know a few knots specific to big big fish, but not the ones you guys are using.

The foam pads felt good for my usual bike path except where the asphalt has been patched numerous times or where it is starting to buckle in a few spots. I am sure they wouldn't be comfortable enough in most road conditions unless it was a new road. If I had to ride anywhere else I would surely not use them.

Jon, after dinner I will see what I can do about fine tuning the head rest bars for a perfect fit. During my ride today I had to arch my back and stretch to get the buckle of my helmet past the rear end of the head rest so my neck could lay against it comfortably.

yep helmet clearance is an oft discussed topic. I use the ballista like Don most of the time. It’s an effort to find your fit and everyone’s journey is a variation usually a very slight variation for good reason.

Ratz has covered this in his pinned post. Once fit is found well it’s comfortable.

And comfort is fast.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I am sure all of the top helmets are very close in speed with each other, and would edge others out more so with tilt instead of design. I am not a fan of the long tails, and would rather stay away from rounded tails unless that part was what was resting on the pad or head rest bars. The Limar 007 or Speed King fit right in the middle for me. The lack of large vents make it a hot helmet in Summer that I can resolve with just soaking my skull cap in water every hour or so, but the vents also make it a warm helmet in Winter. The Speed King has the ear flaps and the lense sits flush (like all modern fast helmets). They are just difficult to find, and when found the cost is still a bit too much. Not a fan of some of the paint jobs on them though

 

[Don1]

I thoughr the kask Bambino looked good or the Oakley... But expensive is an understatement

 

[Frito Bandito]

When I saw the Oakley 7 I thought it was 1 of the best looking helmets I've ever seen. When I looked for the cheapest price I could find I excluded it. When the price came down I searched for reviews and started considering buying it. In the end I just discarded it. The Bambino would be much higher on the list than the Oakley for me.

 

[DavidCH]

It felt cold today so it's the funny duck helmet. I might chop the top of the headrest as each time I hit a bump the helmet reverberates. But at the moment it's the most comfy.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I never thought of chopping the head rest. Brilliant!

 

[Frito Bandito]

That is a really good looking V20 David. The eTap, curved slider and minimalist controls make it look so clean. I think I finally have my head rest where I need it. I took the foam out of the OEM headrest pad, and it seems to work well with the foam pads. I also connected an under seat bag (backwards) in place of the water bottles behind the head. From the side it looks great, but since the seat bag isn't tapered on that side I don't think it will be very aero. Other than a Brain Bag type bag I just can't seem to find something that fits and is smooth and aero (tapered).

 

[Don1]

a comparison

 

[Frito Bandito]

a comparison

That looks fast and comfortable Don. Seems like a nice view if you were Zwifting as well

 

[DavidCH]

a comparison

The visor of visors... what is it? A welding protector of sorts? It looks brilliant but I have never seen it on the sites????

 

[Don1]

Lol. It's polycarbonate sheet cut to suit my face covered in mirror house window tint and siliconed in place.

 

[DavidCH]

Nobel prize to Don. Guess it's not one size for all. LOL

 

[Frito Bandito]

It is not the best fit, but with a bit of grinding on the base plate screw holes you can get it to fit on the head rest bars. It is the X Lab Torpedo Kompact. The original bottle was 600ml I think, which was too small for me but I bought a 900ml bottle of Pocari Sweat and it seems to fit perfectly.


Good for winter, but it won't be cold for summer.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I enjoyed the speed of the 50mm front and Monokote disc rear wheels with fast tires for a while, but now they have been swapped for 35mm Sciroccos and Marathons for a bit of training during Winter. That combo is heavier, less aero and has a higher rolling resistance. Combined with the added clothes I should be getting a pretty good workout.

Over the past month or so I have been caught up on shorter rides at higher speeds, particularly 50kms, but it is time to put that away and get back to +150km rides and build endurance.