Michael Fasher
Member
Has anyone used the Thor Tailbox Dolphin for ether commuting or bike packing. If so how did you like it.
Thor Tailbox Dolphin
- Thread starter Michael Fasher
- Start date
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
I bought one just to see how much faster the bike would go - I think about 2kph -
I think it would be great for long trips, but mostly racing
I don't want to use it in races though because it puts me into a "faired" class.
I am selling this set that includes the special CF "winged" seat.
Pics show it mounted on my V20
If interested email me at larryoslund@gmail.com
I think it would be great for long trips, but mostly racing
I don't want to use it in races though because it puts me into a "faired" class.
I am selling this set that includes the special CF "winged" seat.
Pics show it mounted on my V20
If interested email me at larryoslund@gmail.com
Why would it put you into the faired class? Did the rules change? How is it different than Kent Polk's tailbox, the Cruz tailbox or the M5 tailbox? These boxes are pretty small compared to a huge fairing, and mostly just carry water, tools, and a rain jacket. Is the Dolphin really big, is that why? 2 km/hr seems like a lot. I have only seen a picture. None of those three boxes I mentioned have ever been put into a faired class? None of them have the sole purpose of providing an aero advantage, which isn't that how the rule is or was written? I am curious because I have destroyed my tailbox so many times and patched it and was considering a Dolphin. Although I rarely race, I would like to do Sebring and Borrego again at some point. If the Dolphin is illegal, I would not buy it. Thanks for the clarification.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
The Dolphin is too large and it was designed to be an aerodynamic aid. Kent's box is probably 20% the size of this and is not pointed on the back to being the air back together. I was deigned to not be seen as an aerodynamic aid. Cruzbike tail box is even smaller and also does not come to a point. Both of these tailboxes do offer a slight aerodynamic aid but it is considered incidental. I am not sure about the M5 tailbox - I think it would not be allowed based on what I have seen about it
I saw an overhead view of the Dolphin, seems to makes sense.
I think we have both done enough aerodynamic testing to realize that it is complicated. For instance, my tailbox onto the Thor seat is no good aerodynamically because the upper edge is way above my shoulders like two bricks on either side. If my calibrated aero eyeballs were to guess at the ranking of each of the four aforementioned tailboxes, it would be thus.
1. Dolphin
2. Polk
3. Cruz
4. M5
Polk because the way the seat is faired into the tailbox, this area of the bike is very turbulent otherwise.
Cruz because it is not too big and does not extend beyond the shoulders and has a nice rearward shape
M5 is too big, too tall and too wide.
Only the Dolphin is shaped to a point. None of them have the sole purpose of an aerodynamic advantage. Both of those two requirements are what makes a tailbox against the rules. My M5 has been accepted in multiple races and it conforms to the letter of the rules.
Michael Fasher
Member
