Monthly Archives: October 2006

Karl Calls Reply

accesories/equipment, cycling • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Today Karl Abbe, of Zzip Designs, returned my call. We spent near 1 1/2 hours on the phone discussing various aspects of the fairings he manufactures and sells. He was very patient, taking the time to ensure I had complete answers to my questions. I am comfortable that the Zzipper fairing will work well with my RANS Stratus XP. He took the time to visit this blog to see how my lighting is set up. We think we can make the setup work without having to relocate my front lighting.

My order has now been placed. I expect to receive the fairing on Friday.

My dialogue with Bill continues…

Hello Bill,

I took the big plunge today. After speaking with Karl for an hour and 24 minutes on 2 telephone calls, I purchased a Zzipper faring for my RANS. I expect to receive it Friday and hopefully install it over the weekend. I’ll soon know for myself what I think of the Zzipper on my RANS. Your input has been helpful. Again THANKS!

I do not know that I’ve presented my bent to any real challenging hills. I recently road my DF in the NC mountains and now know what hills are. I have ridden the Stratus over rollers and several bridges–Charleston, SC; Savannah and Brunswick, GA; and many intercoastal waterway bridges. I do OK. I’m able to keep fairly good RPM. I do not think I ride my bents frequently enough to keep peak bent legs though. I’ll see if a fairing makes a difference.

Do you have a photo from a distance of your Stratus with the fairing in place?

Jim

Jim –

Here are some shots.

The first three are from two years ago, the next is me riding in Bike Florida, and the next is me riding in the rain at Bike Virginia.

Bill rides his Stratus in the rain at Bike Virginia and bikes dry in Bike Florida

Photographs furnished by Bill

I assume you ordered the heavier Zipper. I will be interested in how it works out. I would think it will be a good unit.

Bill

Good Evening Bill,

The pictures are illustrative. Thanks! I see you have a light mounted both behind and at the top of your fairing. How did the light work through the fairing? Did the fairing keep you somewhat dry in the rain?

Yes, I ordered the thicker fairing. I will let you know how it works out. Hopefully, I’ll experience it this weekend.

I’ve posted our dialogue in my blog. Please review and let me know if you have a problem with any of my post. I’ve included two of your first batch of pictures in my blog.

May I include some of the pictures from this batch in my post of today?

Here is the BROL link to my post today:

Jim

Hi Jim –

I don’t have a problem with you posting whatever you like of all this. Re the light – a couple of years ago I was mounting my light behind the fairing as you could see. Having the light shine through the fairing was not too much of an issue glare wise, but having it mounted out front like that did not give the option of adjusting it on the go. That light was one of the Cateye LED models, maybe the EL-500. I have since gone to more powerful lights and the mount above the fairing. The light you could see in the Bike Virginia rainy day picture is a Light & Motion Vega LED that I use in blinking mode as a “see me” light. It is one of the more powerful LED light available. The light I use to see where I am going at night is a Light & Motion HID which is really bright. I have had cars flash their bright lights at me trying to get me to dim it. Both of these lights use the same bracket and I can adjust their aim while riding.

The fairing does do a good job of keeping your shoes somewhat dry in the rain. Of course it does not help with your shorts or other upper garments. You will want to have fenders installed if you are riding in the rain or even on wet roads. I will attach a picture of my bike about a week ago when I was on a ride in a very light sprinkle of a rain with wet roads and I did not have my fenders installed. You will note how the rear wheel threw mud through the seat back which then just covered the back of my jacket. [photo by Bill]

If you would like to see how my friend attached his fork attaching board to his Windstar van, I can have him take a picture and send it to you.

BK

Bill,

Noted on your permission. I must ask, rather than just do it. You are kind and thanks again. I understand your lighting decisions. I’ll have to see how my system works. I do not think I will need to make any changes. I just want to ensure my lights illuminate my path. I have rain gear and fenders. I should be fine. Please have your Windstar friend send me a picture of his setup. Have a good night. Until… –jim

Which Fairing To Buy??? 1

accesories/equipment, cycling • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Several days ago I posted a question on BROL asking for thoughts on the better fairing for a RANS Stratus XP, the Muller or Zzipper Fairing. I received two responses–one posted on BROL and one reply by e-mail from a non-BROL member [posted below]. His replies have been very helpful. Following is our dialogue over the last few days.

Jim –

I saw your question re fairings on a RANS Stratus on the BentRider Online. I am not signed up for the Forum so could not send a reply there. I have the Windwrap fairing on my Stratus. I also have friends who have the Zipper on their Tour Easy and Gold Rushes. The difference seems to be that the Windwrap is quieter as it is a little thicker; the Zipper is a little wider so you may get slightly less wind on the feet; and the Zipper may have a more secure mounting system. I was having trouble with keeping the rubber grommets in the cross tubes, but the last time I replaced my fairing a few months ago they sent me longer ones from their new design and I have not had the problem since. Bottom line – I prefer the Windwrap, mainly because of less vibration/noise.

Similar to you, I am retired with a keen interest in riding my bicycle. I am 63 and started riding four years ago when I retired and bought my Stratus. I am coming up on 4900 miles for the year so we ride a similar amount. However I am not as versatile as you as I have only one bike. I live in Royal Oak, MI (just north of Detroit) do most of my riding with club groups locally. This year, however, I did my first touring with Bike Florida, Bike Virginia and the Dalmac in Michigan.

Good luck on picking out your fairing. If you need opinions on other Stratus items let me know. I have opinions on many items. How good they are may be up for question, but they are available.

Bill

Hello Bill,

Thanks for your response. Your information is useful. I have read the very points you are making. Given the wider coverage of the Zzipper fairing, if it is mounted securely, it seems the noise problem would be taken care of. I understand they have a thicker fairing that produces less noise. It is difficult to make this selection. Can you send me pictures or a link to pictures of your Stratus with the fairing mounted? Do you ride with it all year? How does it affect handling & speed?

I’ll be 61 in December. You are ahead of me in miles. I’m just over 4,600 documented (GPS) miles since March. My goal is 5K for this year. Yet, I did not ride last week. How did you get your Stratus to Florida and Virginia? I hope to travel to other states to ride later. I operate a small computer company and will probably do so for the next couple of years. So, I’m not totally free to travel.

I’d like to post your reply to the forum for others to read. Is that OK with you? Why not join BROL? It just takes a few minutes.

Thanks again!!!

Jim

Jim -I have no problem with you posting my reply. Maybe I should sign up for BROL. I don’t typically read it, but was just killing time last week and your question caught my eye as I do have experience with the subject.

You mentioned that you thought a secure mounting would take care of the noise issue. I believe the noise is from the flexing of the fairing and not a function of the mounting. Were you saying that Zipper offers a thicker fairing? If so, I was not aware of that.

I hope the pictures come through. The first shows how I transport my Stratus in my Mazda MPV minivan.

Photographs below provided to this blog by BK–Thanks Bill!

I leave the bike in the van all the time as I drive to the start point of most of the club rides. It only takes 2 or 3 minutes to take the bike in or out.

I made the mounting board so that it attaches uniquely to the Mazda van’s rear seat latch. I have friends who have made a similar system for the Chrysler van and the Ford Windstar/Freestar. They of course have different attaching systems. The other pictures show the attaching system for the Windwrap fairing.

I leave my fairing on all the time. As for speed, I believe it starts making a difference at about 17 mph and higher. I really can’t say how much, but I need all the help I can get. I am not aware that it makes any difference in handling.

I looked at my mileage for the year after this morning’s ride and it is now 4905 miles. This would be undocumented miles in your terms as it is from my computer. For the fun of it I put my GPS on the bike for today’s ride to check the mileage difference with the bike computer. The computer was 1% igh compared to the GPS, even thought I had very carefully calibrated itinitially with three rotations of the wheel several times. So I guess mymileage total is about 50 miles lower relative to yours. My goal is not to attain a certain mileage, it is to go riding every time I have a good groupto join, which really means one with which I can keep up. I am good for about 20 mph for a fair distance in a pace line on flat road/no wind conditions. On hills the upright bikes just leave me right behind.

On your web site I noticed that you are also into photography and obviously computers as that is you business. I also fool around a bit with digital photography and simple manipulations with Photoshop.

Good luck with your evaluations.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Thank you for the photographs. I like your van setup. I’m currently using a Winstar cargo van. So, I can do something similar.

On the fairing, I have 2 links for you.

1) This forum has some discussion. The extreme bodyskin caught my eye.

2) This order form shows the various thicknesses.

Whether this makes any difference, I do not know. I’m waiting for a return call from Karl of Zzip Designs.

At least I now understand isolating the fairing from vibration apparently will not reduce unwanted noise. If I do not want this noise, buy a Mueller fairing.

I accept computer mileage a “documented” mileage. In my case, I did not record my mileage on my road bike and my VK2 before March. After that, I have a digest on Motion Based that is a journal of my rides, thus easily accessed for me to see

where I am. I just set 5K as a goal last year for this year. During the year, I just ride. Most of my DF rides are club and event rides.

Like you, I also need all the help I can get. I’ve not ridden my bents in my cycling club rides. There are no other bent riders in the club. In a pace line, we frequent ride at 25+ mph, averaging 19-20 mph over 30+ miles. Sometimes, I’m a “B-Group” rider. Other times, a C+ to B-. I just enjoy cycling.

Thanks for visiting my blog and thank for your comments.

Do you miss the wind in your face in warm/hot weather?

Again, thanks for your time in responding to my questions and for the pictures.

Jim

Jim –

Thanks for the additional info. That guy Perry Butler should know what he is talking about since he has used all the different fairings you have discussed. I was not aware there were so many different choices from Zipper. It sounds like both Zipper and Windwrap have excellent personalized customer support. That certainly is my experience with the Mueller folks.

Regarding your question about missing the wind in my face in warm/hot weather, I believe you get more wind in the face with a fairing. I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing.

I am usually the only recumbent rider on our club rides as you would be. You are a stronger rider than I as can not hold 25 mph for any time much longer than a sprint. Can you maintain that on your Stratus? How are you doing on your bent on hills?

Take care.

Bill