Conference noted::bicycle

    Tell us more about bicycle fairings.
    
    Is it just like a windshield, or does it enclose the rider in a
    teardrop shape.
    
    If it encloses the rider, it probably presents a large cross-section to
    a cross-wind. 
    
    Does it keep feet, legs and head warm and dry?
    
    How is it installed?
    
    Sounds like it must be simple if you can just keep one ready. 

    
    Glen

> I wonder why there is so much resistance by recreational cyclists
> to using farings?  ...the main difference in riding with a fairing 
> is COMFORT!  Your hands and torso are not blasted with an icy wind.  
> It's the Best $50 I ever spent on a bike.

	Most cyclists don't ride in icy winds.  In the summer (when
	most cyclists do most of their riding) a fairing would
	reduce the cooling breeze that we rely on for keeping us
	from melting.

	I imagine a fairing would have trouble moving 60mph sideways,
	backward or even foreward when the bike is carried on an
	external car rack.

    I'd like to know more about your recumbent.  Is it just a "fun"
    vehicle or really a serious touring machine?  
    
    A couple of years ago I wrote to a lot of builders whose names were 
    given to me by the IHPVA.  Everyone was building either some form 
    of "toy" for riding around the immediate neighborhood or a fully 
    enclosed machine for racing in time trials on a track.  Has the
    situation changed?
    
    Bob

    	O.K.  More info:  The Zzipper fairing is a 10 oz. or so bubble
    of lexan with aluminum and velcro clips that can be removed/installed
    in about 30 seconds. (Ie. no transportation problems.) It is a bit
    wider than your handlebars and about 18" high. The top is at about
    the level of your nose (you look over it, not through it, normally,
    but you can see through it). It protects you from about your shoulders
    down to your hips. In warm weather, unless you were going for speed,
    most people would leave it off.  As I said, it's primarily a poor
    weather (and speed) device.  You clip the thing onto the brake lever
    housings [whatever you call those things that space the levers out
    from the handlebars, and you can put hoods on 'em...] with velcro
    straps.  (You can still use the hand position on the brake hoods.)
    	Recumbents are recommended for people who are not comfortable
    sitting on standard bicycle seats. Comfort is their main virtue.
    They are also about 20% better aerodynamically than a standard bike.
    They are also much safer [no over the handlebars flips, drivers
    NOTICE you and don't forget you are there (and turn into you)].
    They are more efficient on level roads at moderate speeds - say
    16 mph and under, but are less efficient at speeds where you have
    to put out significant effort or have to climb hills. They just
    do not use your leg muscles as efficiently. An earlier note gives
    addresses of current recumbent mfgrs.  Contact me for more info.
    	- Chris

I've seen Zzzzzipppperrrs in use and while comfort may be a pro,
durability is a con.  They get cracked and scratched and yucky looking
after a bit of use.  It does not seem to bother me to have some of the
things on my bike have some dents, nicks, gouges, scrapes, cuts, or
abrasions, etc, on my cranks(*), pedals, brakes, but to have a scratches
on a fairing would bother me.  I would not buy something that I knew
would look like hell even if I took good care of it.

ed
----------
(*) Please note that the extent of each dent, nick, etc., would be
evaluated before deciding to not let it bother me.

< Note 505.4 by EUCLID::PAULHUS "Chris @ MLO 8-3/T13 dtn 223-6871" >
                               -< more info... >-

>    	O.K.  More info:  

    More info...does anyone local to Boston carry these things?  I'm willing 
    to try anything that will help me get out on the road during the winter.

Kevin

    I've wondered if one of those fairings would be worth a try.

    However, the biggest problems I have with winter riding have to do with
    sand, salt, and ice on the roads, and short daylight hours.  If there's
    a real wind chill then my face freezes; although my hands can get
    a little cold, I have gloves which work pretty well.  Cold feet is
    also a bit of a problem.

    I use fenders during the bad months.  I have not found a light which
    makes it worth trying to ride in the dark.

    So the main reason I've never used a fairing is because it doesn't
    solve the most pressing problems.

    - Jim

    	On keeping warm:  If you keep your torso warm, your hands and
    feet are much easier to keep warm!  This is due to the body's con-
    servation of warm blood : if your torso's temp. goes down, blood
    flow to your extremities gets shut down [the old 'if you want warm
    feet, wear a warm hat' idea].  So, a fairing's keeping cold air
    from blasting your torso is exactly what you need to start (warm
    gloves and booties are also needed).
    	Any good bike shop should be able to order one (I think few
    stock fairings), but I'd just mail order it.
    	Yes, it gets scratched, even if you are careful.  If you are
    that finnicky, avoid them.  But as I said, you don't normally look
    thru it, so function is not impaired.  I like my bikes to look good,
    but I'll never compromise function for appearance sake.  - Chris
    

    
    	re .0	Well, I've left this note alone long enough....
    
    	I guess my bias/prejudice against fairings comes from motorcycling.
    Its always seemed too much like a sail on the handlebars and the
    frame mounted ones fix the headlight to straight ahead.  On a bicycle
    I have to believe that the sail effect would be considerably worse
    due to ~1/10 the weight and ~1/4 the speed.  The other thing about
    having one on a motorcycle is that they really get in the way when
    you finally do go over the bars (doesn't everyone; EVENTUALLY ?).
    Aero ?, Nah, you just have to go faster to get the same workout,
    we're in this for exercise, right ?   Comfort ?, Nah, that's what
    cars are for, I can keep warm enough.
    
    	Reg	[the Exotherm]
    

    	Well, Reg, I rode a motorcycle for quite a while and
    	never went over the handlebars.
    
    	Of course, I did lay it down a couple of times. It's also
    	quite interesting to be flying (80+ MPH) down a country
    	road at night and have the headlight go out (now if I
    	could just remember whether the next curve is to the right
    	or the left...)
    
    	Scott

    
    	re .10   Ya WHAT ?  Never went over the bars ?  Wow !

    	I s'pose you never ran over your own foot either ?
    
    	Or came to a stop light, tried to put down your right foot,
    found the bike 30 degrees off vertical before you realized that the
    leg couldn't leave the bike because the kick starter was up your
    pant leg, either ?  That's much worse that forgetting how LOOK pedals
    release.
    
    	Or had to run 200 yds behind it the first time you got a 90
    degree wheelie started ?
    
    	Anyway, back to bicycles.  Yes, I agree that a thin lexan fairing
    wouldn't exactly tear you to peices if you went over it.  I've no
    idea how many times I've been over the bars on a bike, but its *MANY*
    and I didn't really get hurt that way until last year.  I'd still
    feel uncomfortable about something being there, just in case I ever
    have another "tuck in the elbows, look at the belt buckle, roll,
    here we go again" situation.
    
    	Reg
    

    
    
>        idea how many times I've been over the bars on a bike, but its *MANY*
>    and I didn't really get hurt that way until last year.  I'd still

 Folks, I saw it. Every other time he flew, he landed on his head. No
    injury, of course. 
    Last year he had his kick stand up his pant leg....and......
    owwwww it was awful.......
                      
    Poor Reg.
    
    

    
    	Welcome back Gary.
    

    These Zzipper fairings sound interesting. Anybody know where I could
    get hold of one in the UK .... or the address & phone no. of the US
    manufacturer ... (so maybe I could order using a credit card). But
    first I'd have to see a picture.