[Bent] NYC - Snow!

[Sfriedlander2 at aol.com]

I'd like to put in a word for riding with a full body fairing, since like  
Shelly, I have a Darlex body sock on my bike, a Lightning F40. With a full  
fairing, cold weather is something I actually look forward to, rather than  
something to merely put up with. It puts winter in a whole new light.  
Temparatures in the 30s and 40s are ideal, high 20s are OK too. So I hope  it 
remains chilly throughout March and April. 
 
One thing I like about the body sock is that it makes riding a totally  
different experience than being unfaired. The combination of comfort, extra  
speed, and "coziness" is addictive and also provides a nice change of pace 
after  a full season of riding a more "normal" (unfaired) vehicle. The main 
downside is  being sensitive to cross-winds, so I avoid riding if the wind 
speed is much  above 10 mph. (In my experience, the heavy duty Darlex sock makes 
the bike more  sensitive to wind than the lighter Lycra sock.) Also, the 
extra speed makes my  face more sensitive to wind chill, since I don't use the 
little windshield that  came with the bike.(I used to wear ski goggles in 
addition to a  balaclava on really cold days.)
 
I have a Windrap front fairing on my other bike, but don't think it helps  
much in cold. I occasionally ride it when it's below 40 (like when its too 
windy  for the F40), and it's OK, but definitely not as nice as riding in 
warmer  weather. 
 
IMHO full fairings, with either a body sock or a velomobile, are the  
ultimate recumbent experience.
 
Steve
 
 
 
In a message dated 2/13/2010 8:37:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
dogzndrumz at aol.com writes:

Hi John,  


Not much would stop  you from havin so much fun!.
It hot in there!  Riding in the darlex sock is so warm ,I can't seem to get 
to work without  sweating!
Its amazing to have  a plowed bike way even for a superman. Maybe you'd 
like to come in  for a winter ride in the park!
Your the Heater and  Motor!






-----Original  Message-----
From: JOHN TETZ <jgtetz at msn.com>
To: NY/NJ/CT/PA  Metro Area Recumbent Society (MARS) 
<bent at list.marsride.org>
Sent:  Sat, Feb 13, 2010 4:40 pm
Subject: Re: [Bent] NYC - Snow!


 
Shelly wrote;
 
>That's why I have to laugh when my neighbors can't believe I still  ride 
to work in the snow!
.....I don’t necessary ride in the snow but I have  been riding just  about 
every day thru  the winter. 
The most often asked question is "Do you have a heater in  there?"  My 
answer ,Yes its me - I generate enough heat - the  vehicle does the rest. 
Bicycle equals seasonal riding - Velomobile equals  all year transportation. 19th 
century vs 21st century. 
 
John Tetz 



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