Silvio with fairing and/or tailsok?

[BobD]

I am really curious about the effect of a fairing and/or tailsok on the Silvio.

Does anyone have any ongoing experience riding a faired Silvio?
How about a Silvio with tailsok?
And....the combo as well?

I have ridden a bunch of bents.....some faired. I rode a RANS Stratus years ago with fairing. This past year I have ridden an ER LWB with fairing, and at times with tailsok and also bodysock.

My experiences riding with any or all of the above dramatically enhanced aerodynamic flow.....and resulted in an increased average speed (at same effort) of 2-5 mph.

Equally important to me, was the winter protection offered by a fairing.....and the significantly increased visibility riding with a tailsok.

I definitely understand that there is a huge difference between the frame structure and aerodynamic flow between an Easy Racer Gold Rush and a Silvio. However, am REALLY curious as to what folks have discovered riding a Silvio with any of the following and/or combos: fairing, tailsok, bodysock?

Plan to get on the VK/2 I am building by Sunday.....and hoping that leads to purchase of a Silvio.....a very impressive bike.
Many thanks all!
Bob

 

[Charles.Plager]

HI Bob,
For what it's worth,

HI Bob,

For what it's worth, the Silvio still has the rider fairly upright (at least compared to the Vendetta). To me, this suggests that a fairing (and socking) make sense. I know people have put fairings on Sofriders and Quests (and they basically have the same seat angle as the Silvio).

So, I've never seen anybody put a fairing on a Silvio, or a sock on any Cruzbike, but hopefully this changes soon!

Cheers,
Charles

 

[Andrew 1973]

Faired Silvio

Funny you mention it, I saw this one just last week. alt="Silvio with Fairing"

 

[billyk]

Here's a fairing on my Quest

See my post "Fairing on a Quest" in the Quest thread from Mar 24 2012. Here's the link to photos. This is an early test version but it gives you the idea. Probably something similar would work on the Silvio.

I now have hundreds of miles experience riding with the fairing. There is no problem with wind (and I live in a windy place and commute in all weather).

It's warmer and drier behind the fairing. The reason I have it is because I commute year-round in Seattle. If it is pouring rain I get wet, but in our typical drizzly rains, and my 25-minute commute, I'm pretty dry. And it definitely helps the speed, above about 10mph. Maybe 2mph at 10, 3 at 15, 4 at 20. Something like that. It's very noticeable. And it gains speed frighteningly fast rolling downhill. Even though I have fairly fat, low-pressure tires, I gain speed downhill (no pedalling) faster than a DF roadracer bent as low as he can. Of course, climbing a hill at 5mph it's just dead weight (3-4lb).

https://plus.google.com/photos/108555949105733959248/albums/5682457357720796257?banner=pwa&authkey=CPzHn5Dr09y3cQ

Billy K

 

[BobD]

Ahhh....the same pic!

Andrew....
That is the pic I just saw this week. Given my very positive experiences with fairings similar to Billy, I was hoping to see what other Silvio riders have experienced using fairings and/or tailsoks....or even bodysocks.

Really nice pics Billy! Are your fairing supports of your own design? Very creative. Does the material you use absorb road shock?
Bob

 

[billyk]

Fairing supports

Bob - Yes the fairing supports are my own design and construction. The ones available from the fairing manufacturers are expensive, heavy, ugly, and overkill. Mine are super-light, cheap, unobtrusive and perfectly stable in high winds. I commonly commute on an exposed bike trail in 20mph crosswinds and have no problem. I wondered about road shock, but it doesn't seem to be a problem (since the fairing is light, it feels wind more than road bumps).

I use high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which are the white plastic pieces in the photos. This is the stuff you find in those white plastic cutting boards; it's easy to find. It's tough and weatherproof and has the advantage of being easy to cut and drill very precisely, with smooth edges that fit exactly and grip the front tube without scraping the paint. For example, the front tube of the Quest is 35mm. I drilled that hole, then sawed the piece across the hole which made a pair that fit the tube exactly but with a small gap that allows the bolts to compress them around the tube.

The hardest part is finding a fairing that is long enough. In my experience, most commercial fairings are too short. For my use (cold/rainy weather riding) the fairing should come up to the handlebars to shield your hands from cold winds. My fairing was made for a Bike-E and is 54-inches long, but most are only 48 inches (like the HP Screamer in Andrew's pic above). It makes a big difference in the rain, probably less so for wind resistance. The manufacturers are going for the market of people who want to go fast, not for weather protection, unfortunately, but I'd bet that there are a lot of people who'd be more willing to commute if they had a fairing that meant they didn't need sweaty, bulky raingear.

The other great thing about a fairing in the rain is that your gears and chain stay pretty dry and much cleaner!

BK

 

[Lief]

Used a Mueller Windwrap

I had a Mueller Windwrap GX (?) on my Silvio for about 500 miles (during miles 1000-2000 somewhere).
At first I really liked it but then the following minor negatives began to build up until I removed it and never put it back on.

1) It felt heavy/sloppy on the MBB - I was still getting accustomed to the MBBFWD and this extra weight just didn't feel right. I might be okay with it now (11,000+ miles on Silvio) but...
2) I primarily wanted it for hand warmth (2ndary body warmth). I commute on my Silvio and my hands/fingers get cold in 45F after only about 20 min and never recover. The Mueller Windwrap didn't extend far enough out to protect my hands. I even constructed little winglets on the sides to try and help...meh - not worth the wrestle.
3) Water beads - I commute to Seattle - and rain in the winter is a problem because it mostly mists - beads up on the fairing and then whenever you hit a bump - rainshower in your face. Especially at speed.
4) Visibility - again, water and then lighting shining through the fairing contribute to reduced visibility (more potholes, more face-showers, more sticks, more leaves - back to that heavy feeling.
5) Weight - I'm not a huge weight weanie - but all told it was like ~4 lbs additional? Didn't like to suffer that penalty (on top of all my gear) for 1000Ft elevation gain every single commute.
6) Maintenance - made things a little harder to reach - dissemble the thing each time.

7) there was NO interference with handlebars - technically speaking it all fit fairly well.
8) I was riding in shorts with that fairing on - all the way down to 25F.

So, I didn't like the slop up top, didn't like the visibility, didn't like the lighting options, and it didn't make my hands warmer.
I have since fixed the hand warmth problem - another post.

On balance I wouldn't recommend it but only *just* so.
It works, even fairly well, especially on long flat rides.
Different strokes, different folks.

Lief

 

[BobD]

BillyK & Lief....

I appreciate your sharing your faired Cruzbike experiences. I am accustomed to riding my ER LWB which really is enhanced by a fairing....and tailsok and occasional use of a bodysock.

My fairing experiences with my LWB result in significant improvement on the flats.....but surely not helpful on extended climbs. I should complete my V2/K by the weekend. My guess is that the V2/K may be more receptive to a fairing given the places and type of riding I plan with it. Assuming I move onto a Silvio in the not too distant future, I suspect that I would now choose to ride it w/o fairing for the reasons noted by Lief.

I am looking for a lighter, less encumbered, more responsive bent that is friendlier on inclines....especially some of the long ones here in New England.

This is an AMAZING Forum.....
Thanks again guys!
Bob

 

[ak-tux]

@Bob, If it helps you,

@Bob, If it helps you, someone in this forum has put some faring on a softrider which is very much identical to a V2/K. Cant remember his name but found the photos on flickr:

And more details upfront:

 

[Charles.Plager]

@Lief: HI!
Do you have

@Lief: HI!

Do you have pictures of your Silvio wrapped? And what do we need to do to get you to try again now that you're much more experienced? (just askin'... ).

Thanks!
Charles

 

[BobD]

Cruzbike and "tabula rasa".....

I appreciate your posting these pics Ak-tuk!

Having ridden bents with fairings.....tailsoks, bodysocks....I think I need to step back and better understand the Cruzbike with a "tabula rasa" approach.

There really is so much about the Cruzbike that is so new....innovative....exciting. I hope to finish up with the component installation today on my V2/K. In CT we have had snow/freezing temps.....however Saturday looks like a 55 degree day with sun!

JUST the kind of weather I am looking for to get onto my new Cruzbike.

Plan to watch a bunch of suggested "How to ride a Cruzbike" videos before then.....am psyched!

Have a good weekend all...
Bob