Headwind aerodynamics

We constantly hear that the recumbent aerodynamic advantage is at 20mph and above. I ride in a fairly windy area, so if I am riding at 10mph into a 10mph headwind does that not put me into that 20mph threshold? I seriously doubt I will ever get up to 20mph on the flat, but I notice an aero advantage at most speeds, most of the time. Even riding at 8mph into a 12mph+ headwind I can just gear down a bit and enjoy the ride. Not so on my wedgie bikes, which I have given up except for trail rides. Just hoping prospective recumbent riders will not discount the aero advantage for us average Joe's. Cheers, MAC

 

I ride on Santa Rosa island off the Florida coast a lot. It is VERY WINDY most of the time. 8 - 15 MPH. I grunt one way but when I turn around, I fly like Superman!

 

LOL, not sure there's anywhere near that "aero advantage" on a trike? Seems like unless you ride a VTX, Aero, 700, Spyder, etc. and are almost laying down, your body is a bike SAIL! One thing I have noticed is that "recumbent trikes", slow down the second, you start to go up an incline, even minor one's!! My recumbent and DF bicycles didn't seem to have this effect. I've now owed several different models of trikes (none of the so-called racing style trikes), and they all seem to do this. Since my wife Jo and I are the very definition of SLOW, aero don't mean much!

 

I think I have you beat on being slow, I haven't ridden my recumbent in a couple of years...of course I get to blame it on Covid...or truthfully just because my husband hasn't tuned it up.

 

Major Bummer!! Hope you get to ride very soon! LOL we get cabin fever if we can't get in a ride after a couple of days! We don't own a car so our trikes are both recreational and transportation/cargo by using a home built cargo trailer!

 

Even after years of riding a recumbent, (and most of my life riding uprights) I'm still surprised at how well my P-38 cuts the wind, especially into a headwind. I doubt there is any one "sweet spot" in speed for recumbents. There are too many factors that can differ, even in trying to evaluate a single type of recumbent. Now if someone has a wind tunnel, maybe we can get a grant to definitively answer the question.

 

Back when I rode wedgies exclusively I always based my rides on the prevailing wind direction. Living here on the Pacific coast it was usually a North wind, occasionally South, so I took advantage of the tailwind for the trip home. Now on the 'bent it matters not, I can ride wherever I want!

Cheers, MAC

 

10 mph ground speed into a 10 mph wind counts - it's a 20 mph apparent wind. However, not all recumbents are created equal. Your bike appears to have a pretty upright seat, so the aero advantage will likely be minimal. If you want that advantage, you gotta recline.

 

Point well taken! After rethinking my position I had to wonder why this 'average Joe' is not bothered by headwinds like I used to be riding uprights. I believe frontal area is the important factor. In my early upright years I used the drop racing bars as many older riders still do. After years of trail riding with flat bars I found a more upright position to be comfortable and way easier on the old body. Having many injuries I became an advocate and experimenter with all types of upright handlebars for my road bikes. Then at 67 years young I was blessed with my one and only recumbent, ye ha!
So, although the Haluzak is only moderately reclined, the Bottom Bracket is level with the seat. This layout reduces frontal area 30-50% over my upright position on the upright bike, depending on how much I lean forward into the wind. Is that 30-50% reduction similar to the difference between an upright rider using drop bars and a lowracer recumbent? I must admit, the faster, speedier looking recumbents are so tempting but the old Haluzak is just so comfortable.

Cheers, MAC

 

Aerodynamically, the 'Zak is about the same as my V-Rex, except for the aero hit you take for the USS. I think there's a small aero advantage, but as you write, the comfort is the big factor.

 

For us old guys, it ain't just the mileage, it's the years. I no longer have a skeletal system. I have a mass of more or less articulated arthritis.

 

This is a great capture! I notice his elbows are out there a bit. Is this normal for that type of bike? My USS has my hands out a bit, but elbows are tucked in. OSS v.s. USS, might be a wash for drag, in some cases anyway. JMHO

Cheers, Mac

 

I simply like the photo... really a neat pic.