[Bent] NYC - Snow!

[Old Pokey]

I got rid of my full fairing on my Gold Rush for the following reasons:

1-Cross winds can cause lift off.  Your bike becomes an airplane wing.  Even
if average winds are low, you can get a gust anywhere, anytime that will
make staying upright and safe impossible.

2-More importantly, I did not enjoy the biking experience.  Sure I was going
faster downhill, but I am sure I was going slower uphill because of the
extra weight.  But what really made me  ebay my sock was that I missed the
outdoor feeling.  Somehow even though my head was out of the sock, I felt
like I was in a car and not on a bike.
 Boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I just ride indoors or put on extra clothes outside.

OP

On Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 11:53 AM, <Sfriedlander2 at aol.com> wrote:

>  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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>
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