Does every WA & OR 'bent have a fairing?

Looking at the pix of various group rides, I get the impression that
every recumbent bike in those states is faired, and many are also
body-socked. Is it because of the rain, or are there fierce winds?
OT, what do upright cyclists do, use partial fairings? or just suffer?

C.C., need to know

wrote:
Looking at the pix of various group rides, I get the impression that
every recumbent bike in those states is faired, and many are also
body-socked. Is it because of the rain, or are there fierce winds?
OT, what do upright cyclists do, use partial fairings? or just
suffer?

C.C., need to know

Ride STP some time. I've done it the last two years and with the
exception of Easy Racers riders who generally have a front fairing and
are often body-socked, the majority of the riders I saw were riding
unfaired. When I lived in WA in the early 1990's I only had a front
fairing and body sock for a couple months before I returned them due to
numerous design problems with that particular fairing package.

Zach

wrote:
Looking at the pix of various group rides, I get the impression that
every recumbent bike in those states is faired, and many are also
body-socked. Is it because of the rain, or are there fierce winds?
OT, what do upright cyclists do, use partial fairings? or just
suffer?

C.C., need to know

Hmmm... I don't know *every* recumbent rider in Washington and Oregon,
but it sure seems that way at times. :-) There's a better
representation at the Recumbent Retreat website:
http://www.recumbentretreat.org/

I think the popularity of Easy Racer products with Zzipper fairings has
a lot to do with their widespread appearance. Combine that with the
ease of making body socks, and they do appear to take over.

The wind can be fierce at times. Here in the Portland area, the mouth
of the Columbia Gorge tends to concentrate the flow through the
Cascades. Consistent winds of 15 to 25 mph are not uncommon. Also, the
floor of the Willamette Valley is pretty flat, so climbing prowess is
not neccessarily an advantage. Take a look at the elevation profiles of
this year's Cycle Oregon and you'll see what I mean:
http://www.cycleoregon.com/week/route.htm

Yes, upright riders suffer.

Jeff

I am in Portland Oregon and I don't have anything extra. though I saw a fellow
with a body sock for the fist time. sorry but I don't want to look like that (G)

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

Steve Knight wrote:
I am in Portland Oregon and I don't have anything extra. though I saw
a fellow
with a body sock for the fist time. sorry but I don't want to look
like that (G)


Yeah, well... the first time you get passed by a grey-haired guy on a
socked Tour Easy who's going 5 mph faster than you, you'll say "I gotta
get me one of them!"

:-O

Jeff

P.S. going to join us for the Rites of Spring?
http://www.ohpv.org/ride_details/rites2005.htm

wrote in message
oups.com...

Steve Knight wrote:
I am in Portland Oregon and I don't have anything extra. though I saw
a fellow
with a body sock for the fist time. sorry but I don't want to look
like that (G)


Yeah, well... the first time you get passed by a grey-haired guy on a
socked Tour Easy who's going 5 mph faster than you, you'll say "I gotta
get me one of them!"

:-O

Jeff

That or a low racer Optima Baron

"Steve Knight" wrote

[...] I saw a fellow with a body sock for the fist time.
sorry but I don't want to look like that (G)

Same sentiment of many regarding bicycle racers and of
some conventional cyclists regarding any recumbent rider...
Maybe they/we don't know what we're missing along the
Pollen Path.

Jon Meinecke
net.subtle-apteryx

--

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for
the future of the human race."
- H.G. Wells

Yeah, well... the first time you get passed by a grey-haired guy on a
socked Tour Easy who's going 5 mph faster than you, you'll say "I gotta
get me one of them!"


I have been so sick for the last three years I got passed by girls on single
speed boon tire bikes. well I am filling far better this week and got passed far
less.
but I mostly commute so it would be pointless. if I want to go fast I need to
invest in a racer (G)

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

Quoth :
| Looking at the pix of various group rides, I get the impression that
| every recumbent bike in those states is faired, and many are also
| body-socked. Is it because of the rain, or are there fierce winds?
| OT, what do upright cyclists do, use partial fairings? or just suffer?

I used a Zzipper for a couple decades before recumbency, and sometimes
use one on my Vanguard. Actually rarely these days, partly because of
problems with the fairing but I suppose mostly because I have turned
into kind of a fair-weather cyclist, now that I live within walking
distance of places I might have ridden to. The other recumbents I see
rarely if ever have fairings, but I suspect they're not daily riders
either.

Weather varies around Washington and Oregon, but here in Seattle the
wind is fairly light. The rain isn't all that much in volume either,
it just stays too long at times.

Of course there's the Joe Kochanowski influence, too.

Donn

What!!! Does The Kochanowski live near Seattle or Portland? Exactly
where? When I visit the area I'd love to Worship at the Shrine. Maybe
visit the back alley with the trashcans. I'm going to the gym right
now to practice my dead lifts. I'm serious.

C.C.