Trike fairing. Wooden?

D

Dale Rider

In progress, trike back fairing for anyone who might be interested or take inspiration from it.
It's made from wood, destined to be covered in model aircraft shrink plastic.
Wood is used as it's light for the given strength plus I've got a shed load of 8x6 feet 1/16" plywood. I also used 3mm liteply.
It may get an internal wet guard from the rain, but I may not bother as a carbon fiber version may ensue if it's deemed a worthwhile avenue.
I hope to gain +0.5mph or else it will be removed.

Enjoy the pictures. Ask questions...
The weight was 470 grams for all the wood. There are some aluminium struts with bolts, but I'd expect the finished weight to be 550grams
I do have a carbon fiber rear 'shop bought' fairing for a M5 low racer and that weighs 2kg.
452644111_3555559027924052_774549428239499188_n.jpg
452583784_3555559824590639_5616499590146120069_n.jpg
452344107_3555559984590623_3024117826447840965_n.jpg
IJL1162.jpg

IJL1292.jpg

IJL1368.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very nice Martin, that's a lot of effort for 0.5MPH but then all the tweaks do add up.
What's the percentage of time spent on the trainer compared to actual "seat" time on the racer? :)
 
I don't know what the gain will be, that's why I've used wood, not exotic composites. Some say the speed increase is between 1 & 2 mph. I noticed about a 2mph gain with a front fairing, but with a 2 kg plastic lump onboard, it compromised my cornering ability.
The fairing is a fleeting look-see as I will move on to the next all-carbon low trike racer that will look like a stealth fighter and incorporate all the features I'm looking for in a trike.
The trainer has only been completed after the welder went pop. So this month, (not too soon either as I got sick of the original upright trainer (in the fourth bedroom) being a pita, literally!), so only used it 3 times so far which works out at once per week, but I aim for twice per week.
I can now do longer training sessions easily too.
I'm finding my off-site training has diminished due to other commitments, I have made inquiries to a local velodrome but I think they want club members, not individuals. That means I will be back at Harvey Hadden race track 30~40 mins away.
 
Dale Rider said:
I don't know what the gain will be, that's why I've used wood, not exotic composites. Some say the speed increase is between 1 & 2 mph. I noticed about a 2mph gain with a front fairing, but with a 2 kg plastic lump onboard, it compromised my cornering ability.
The fairing is a fleeting look-see as I will move on to the next all-carbon low trike racer that will look like a stealth fighter and incorporate all the features I'm looking for in a trike.
The trainer has only been completed after the welder went pop. So this month, (not too soon either as I got sick of the original upright trainer (in the fourth bedroom) being a pita, literally!), so only used it 3 times so far which works out at once per week, but I aim for twice per week.
I can now do longer training sessions easily too.
I'm finding my off-site training has diminished due to other commitments, I have made inquiries to a local velodrome but I think they want club members, not individuals. That means I will be back at Harvey Hadden race track 30~40 mins away.
Click to expand...
A man's gotta do...... etc. :)
Good Luck! I hope all goes well.
 
Well, how did I do at the HPV World Champs 2024?
Very well for an old geezer. Things didn't go well in some races though.
I miss-geared while doing the 100 metre Standing Start Sprint, but tried to recover by stamping on the pedals (a no-no)! I did 16.4 mph.
This would have put me 15th out of 26 or 28, if I was classed as unfaired as the closest class rather than being classed as a velomobile with 100% fairing. My fairing was less than a tenth of a fully faired machine, and no one else entered as partly faired even though I saw 2 others, (not declared).
The 100-metre flying start went perfectly. I incrementally got up to (ramming) top speed in the 400-metre run up, then cruised the 100-metre.
I recorded a Personal best time of 30.26mph. !!!
The other races were one-hour race, cruising at 19.8 mph. PB.
One lap TT cruised at 20.63 mph, personal best again.
The mega endurance race was 3 hours long. It is known to sort out the men from the boys, (PC correct for yourselves).
This went ok for me, the (my) fuel stores had enough in but my in-flight refueling system went pants. I managed 1 or 2 gulps of juice mounted inside my seat. It had blocked up as I used an energy drink with coconut and mango fibers, which was a big mistake. The mouthpiece blocked up. I didn't blow down it as I was suffering from a nasty mouth ulcer. So, in the last 2 laps, I was winding down in strength, with nothing in the tank. This meant I did the 3-hour race with practically no drinks in the hot weather.
Good result though managed 18.13 mph placed me 81st out of 124 racers.
Checking myself against the pedal cars as they are faired but heavier than my Carbontrike, so a close match.
wc-2024.png

wc2024-n1.png


Check results here:-

Results – WC2024

wc2024.bhpc.org.uk wc2024.bhpc.org.uk

Regards
Martin
 
Looks great, and congrats on doing so well!
That monster to your left.... is that a quad? It does not seem to taper at the rear.

Cheers,
Brad
 
Radical Brad said:
Looks great, and congrats on doing so well!
That monster to your left.... is that a quad? It does not seem to taper at the rear.

Cheers,
Brad
Click to expand...
Number 556, that's a TUNA 3-wheeled velomobile, made in Holland, based on the DF-XL, but improved. First time I've seen one. It finished 3rd in the 3-hour race. The blue and white one is a DF-XL, 592, and came in at 30th in the race. The other TUNA positioned 9th, so they are fast machines. Do you fancy one Brad?
 
Dale Rider said:
Number 556, that's a TUNA 3-wheeled velomobile, made in Holland, based on the DF-XL, but improved. First time I've seen one. It finished 3rd in the 3-hour race. The blue and white one is a DF-XL, 592, and came in at 30th in the race. The other TUNA positioned 9th, so they are fast machines. Do you fancy one Brad?
Click to expand...
Sounds a bit "fishy" to me. ;)
 
Dale Rider said:
Number 556, that's a TUNA 3-wheeled velomobile, made in Holland, based on the DF-XL, but improved. First time I've seen one. It finished 3rd in the 3-hour race. The blue and white one is a DF-XL, 592, and came in at 30th in the race. The other TUNA positioned 9th, so they are fast machines. Do you fancy one Brad?
Click to expand...

If I didn't live on hilly gravel roads with beat up pickup trucks doing 50Mph around corners, I would totally want one!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Click for DIY Plans!
Back
Top