In this weeks blog I'm going to start by writing about other people who are having fun. The first person is Fred Larimer in his WAW. If you read
Bent Rider On Line you may have read "WAW does a 360". Fred hit some ice at a high speed and did a 360 in traffic and stayed upright and didn't hit anything. Really lucky!!! Here is a link to his video. I had to watch it a few times to really see everything around him.
WAW does a 360!
Needless to say I will be riding with the snow studs for a while longer.
The other person I want to mention this week is Lonnie Morse. He wrote an excellent blog on aerodynamics and recumbents. Lots of information on velomobiles. It's a longer blog but well worth the read. Here is the link for his blog:
Recumbent Aerodynamics Blog
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| New Bracket mounted and reinforced with carbon fiber. |
The other thing that happened was my friend who works with composites came over and he watched me put the reinforcing bracket in for the suspension. Yes I said he watched. The kit was sent to me as I am so far away from Bluevelo. The instructions from Velomobiel.nl were so good and detailed no help was needed. He did explain why the fiberglass cloth was used. I didn't know that the aluminum would react with the carbon fiber. The fiberglass keeps the two apart while still allowing a bond. It was a good experience for me.
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| The preparation |
So after that I did another project. I have been having trouble with my Garmin 500 finding the Satellites when mounted on the wheel well. I epoxied an aluminum mount with Velcro to "Da Hood" so it was more visible to me and the Satellites. The picture with the mounted Garmin will have to wait until the epoxy hardens.
The week finished up with more fresh snow last night and a clear cold morning temperature of -27 C. I think we still have a couple more weeks of winter yet. I hope where ever you are reading this from, it warmer than Winnipeg, Canada...
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| Wetting down the peel ply stripes |
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| The bracket with Velcro still hardening. |
Hi Kevin,
ReplyDeleteIt looks to me that you did a nice job!
Here it's about +4 now, much better then at your place..........
Greetings, Adri.
Hi Adri,
ReplyDeleteIt seems like winter is not ending this year. More snow is coming. It;s starting to look like we may have a spring flood this year if it melts too quick. I am glad your weather is better!
Greetings from the center of Canada.
Kevin
What a lucky guy doing a 360 in the middle of traffic without hitting anything!
ReplyDeleteI can't resist posting my reply to Lonnie on his droplet shaped aerodynamics also overhere:
Dear Lonnie, Nice post, beautiful pictures, but…The tear drop being the best example of aerodynamics is a bit of an urban legend, based on ideas from the twenties, like the picture you’ve included in your blog. The shape of a droplet is actually dictated more by surface tension than by airflow. Better aerodynamic shapes are more needle-like at…the front. See the Varna. See the Vector Trike for one of the best aerodynamics on a trike. Only recently, it has been described that the sail fish uses its needle-like nose for its exceptionally high swimming speeds of 110 kmph, faster than any current submarine. Check the shape of the sail fish – no teardrop. Luckily the field has progressed since the roaring twenties.
The reason the Quest has such a 3-1 droplet shape is twofold. Firstly, a needle shape at the front make it difficult to handle with corss winds, a notorious issue for bikers in Holland, like you describe. Secondly, having a bike of more than 75cm width makes that one is allowed to get onto main roads by law in the Netherlands instead of being restricted to biking lanes. As a result, the Quest has become more bulky in the front section than strictly necessary. It actually even made it possible to cover the front wheels.
So, the droplet shape is a compromise between aerodynamics and handling, and, in case of Dutch velomobiles, Dutch law.
Magic Bullet,
DeleteWow, I learned something. I never knew about the Dutch law about width. The subject of aerodynamics is always about compromises. Speed vs handling, Or speed vs Dutch law.
Kevin
why are you reinforcing the suspension bracket?
ReplyDeleteIt's a recall, sort of. The original bracket was bent when made and Velomobiel.nl thought it might fail. The kit was sent to me as I am very far from Bluevelo or Velomobiel.nl. Not all the Quest XS had the problem. We were sent pictures and instructions on how to identify the problem bracket. It was easier to add the extra bracket than to remove and replace the defective bracket. I have to say Bluevelo really looks after their product.
DeleteKevin
I see, thanks.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a picture of your Garmin mount yet? How do you feel it turned out?
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry.
DeleteI have been using it and it works great. It puts the Garmin right in sight and it picks up the satellites quicker. The Garmin didn't work as good inside the body.I'll take a picture and post it in my next blog. Also my garage door doesn't open until I hold it outside the body. It must be the carbon fiber.