Keeping the wind off your feet

[kitchenman]

I'm about to embark on some experiments relating to using a wind fairing to keep the wind off my feet. I'm looking around the house for things to try and wondered if anyone had any suggestions? I was going to start with something simple like a biscuit tin lid. If you have any links to resources that explain what happens to wind when you put something in its way then that would be useful. Thanks ..

 

[RoadieRoger]

If you can find an illustration of a Raleigh moped from the 1960`s or the NSU Quickly , that would give you an idea .

 

[Hurricane]

Maybe a couple of Tea Cosy's might help. Or was it Toe Cosy's!

 

[Scottyf]

I use gortex rain over shoes. Even in the dry as they kill off any wind chill to hit the feet.

 

[PhilYerBoots]

I use gortex rain over shoes. Even in the dry as they kill off any wind chill to hit the feet.

Likewise but some cheaper Lidl versions, not as waterproof as Goretex but ok for windchill..

 

[Scottyf]

Binliners may work. I used to use them on my feet on the motor bike to stop them getting wet

 

[steveindenmark]

This is what you need.

Cycling Overshoes | Waterproof Cycling Over Shoes | Evans Cycles

I use the Endura Luminite overshoes and they are great.

Steve

 

[RoadieRoger]

Kitchenman look at the EDZ site and in the Motorcycle and Outdoor accessories section they have Thermal Boot Socks for £10 .For trousers someone on here recommended the Karrimor Outdoor lined ones , I bought them in a sale from Sports Direct for about £14 and they are good .
If you want to experiment with lightweight plastic for simple legshields , acrylic plastic for double glazing or even the small profile roofing sheets would do .Think in term of child sized cricket pads for the final shape .You could experiment with heating the sheet to achieve the correct profile if you don`t want to look like a mobile roof .
A large picture frame , a former of wood , an oven , a sheet of rubber and a vacuum pump and you can mould any shape . I think I would got for the easy option first ie clothing ,as with shields your bike will have the aerodynamics of a brick and you could go backwards as fast as forwards !

 

[kitchenman]

Kitchenman look at the EDZ site and in the Motorcycle and Outdoor accessories section they have Thermal Boot Socks for £10 .For trousers someone on here recommended the Karrimor Outdoor lined ones , I bought them in a sale from Sports Direct for about £14 and they are good .
If you want to experiment with lightweight plastic for simple legshields , acrylic plastic for double glazing or even the small profile roofing sheets would do .Think in term of child sized cricket pads for the final shape .You could experiment with heating the sheet to achieve the correct profile if you don`t want to look like a mobile roof .
A large picture frame , a former of wood , an oven , a sheet of rubber and a vacuum pump and you can mould any shape . I think I would got for the easy option first ie clothing ,as with shields your bike will have the aerodynamics of a brick and you could go backwards as fast as forwards !

Thanks. Yes I am more interested in making a fairing. Sounds like I need to melt some plastic! ... I did an initial test this morning using an egg box:

It was minus 3 this morning with a 12 mph wind coming at me from the NE. My time to work was almost the same as a similar ride in a 5 mph wind. I know its not conclusive but it suggests that the egg box didn't hinder my progress and may have helped. Did it succeed in keeping the wind off my feet? ... well ... I suppose it must have. I guess when wind hits a surface it deflects away. I wonder who does this kind of testing? British Aerospace, Formula One development teams? ...

 

[flecc]

I guess when wind hits a surface it deflects away. I wonder who does this kind of testing? British Aerospace, Formula One development teams? ...

The motor industry wind tunnel tests cars and models to establish the drag coefficient figures.

 

[Eaglerider]

Aerodynamics is a rather esoteric subject.
At a rudimentary level its pretty much common sense. Very simplisticly, at the speed ranges involved on a bicycle two factors will come to play a part. Shape or frontal area, and thus the volume of air displaced. The biggest factor will be drag which can be mitigated a great deal by simple design. A rough edge that meets the airflow at an acute angle will produce enormous amounts of drag, whereas a smooth rounded shape will discourage the smooth airflow from seperating from the surface over which it is passing providing far less drag and turbulence. Some basics here, Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics

In this application, it is the drag induced by the passage of the foot shield through the air that will affect its drag and the level of turbulence. As speed increases these factors can increase dramatically. Quite often, if it looks smooth and 'Aerodynamic', then it probably is.

I would suggest the best clues will be found on motorcycle fairings as they need to deflect the air without generating turbulence that would try to remove the rider's head at speed.

A difficult subject to summarise in a few words but I've been interested in the science of aerodynamics for many years.

I think it might be easier to buy some warm socks and boots.

 

[kitchenman]

Aerodynamics is a rather esoteric subject.
At a rudimentary level its pretty much common sense. Very simplisticly, at the speed ranges involved on a bicycle two factors will come to play a part. Shape or frontal area, and thus the volume of air displaced. The biggest factor will be drag which can be mitigated a great deal by simple design. A rough edge that meets the airflow at an acute angle will produce enormous amounts of drag, whereas a smooth rounded shape will discourage the smooth airflow from seperating from the surface over which it is passing providing far less drag and turbulence. Some basics here, Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics

In this application, it is the drag induced by the passage of the foot shield through the air that will affect its drag and the level of turbulence. As speed increases these factors can increase dramatically. Quite often, if it looks smooth and 'Aerodynamic', then it probably is.

I would suggest the best clues will be found on motorcycle fairings as they need to deflect the air without generating turbulence that would try to remove the rider's head at speed.

A difficult subject to summarise in a few words but I've been interested in the science of aerodynamics for many years.

I think it might be easier to buy some warm socks and boots.

Excellent stuff Eaglerider. I didn't detect any drag or turbulence with my egg box. It'll be interesting to see what happens on the way home later as the wind will be behind me and is forecast to be 13 mph which means it has hardly dropped since this morning. Do you have anything you can think of that I could try? I like the sound of bending some plastic to make a curvy cricket pad shape shield. I do have some neoprene sheets which I should be able to staple together to make a cushion. I can shape it with some bubble wrap ..

 

[RoadieRoger]

Another thought Kitchenman .I notice that those plastic kids` snow sledges are reappearing in the shops for some reason . They are fairly light so saw them into three pieces down the longest dimension and each outer piece will be either a LH or RH legshield . Where the saw marks might be untidy , purchase some edging strip like they had on the bottom of the first Austin Mini bodywork in the 50`s and 60`s . The width of the outer strips cut would depend on the amount of protection you want . You will be able to select fluor green , purple or orange from the ones I`ve seen .
If it`s a success we can go into production just to spite Sarkozy ,who reckons Britain doesn`t do Manufacturing anymore !

 

[kitchenman]

Another thought Kitchenman .I notice that those plastic kids` snow sledges are reappearing in the shops for some reason .
If it`s a success we can go into production just to spite Sarkozy ,who reckons Britain doesn`t do Manufacturing anymore !

On my list! ... I could use a career break or just stop working! ... How can I do this and work? ... Its all too much. The job will have to go! ..

 

[flecc]

a smooth rounded shape will discourage the smooth airflow from seperating from the surface over which it is passing providing far less drag and turbulence.

Between 55 and 300 mph, a dimpled surface has less drag than a smooth one and travels much further for a given energy input.

How fast are you going to ride Kitchenman, I know recumbents can hit 75 mph?

 

[kitchenman]

Between 55 and 300 mph, a dimpled surface has less drag than a smooth one and travels much further for a given energy input.

How fast are you going to ride Kitchenman, I know recumbents can hit 75 mph?

I mainly interested in keeping my feet warm at the moment but am also interested in making it look nice! When the force of the wind hits my fairing does it generate heat? Is there a material that can absorb the force and turn it into energy? I know I need to go and do some reading but these questions have been on my mind ...

 

[flecc]

When the force of the wind hits my fairing does it generate heat? Is there a material that can absorb the force and turn it into energy?

The wind hitting a fairing will generate heat, as evidenced by the space shuttle needing ceramic tiled surfaces to avoid burning up on re-entry to the atmosphere. Unfortunately the heat generated is pro-rata to resistance, so minimising the wind resistance minimises any heat gain. At bike speeds the heat gain will be miniscule.

Piezo-electric materials generate electrical energy when mechanically stressed in any mode, but again the amounts are small and proportional to air resistance of course.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Here's how to do it with those tent poles and a few brackets. You could cut and sew the tent or make a new cover.
Method for making 3D shapes (used to make a bike fairing)
You could possibly use one of those umbrellas that come right down past your head.

 

[RoadieRoger]

Went for a walk this afternoon and in a small Ironmonger`s shop was a lovely pink sledge called the DELTA at £12.99 . Could have made some lovely shapely aerodynamic legshields from it . Saw another in Halfords , predictably more expensive at £14.99 in red . Not such good quality, but once again a nice pair of legshields would result .

 

[kitchenman]

Re: It'll be interesting to see what happens on the way home

After 8 miles it was starting to get dark and I had to remove the egg box as it was covering my lights
towards the end of the trip home my feet were beginning to feel cold ... mind you it was getting colder anyway .. so .. I'm not saying the egg box worked .. just that it may have made some difference....
Looking forward to the w/e so I can work on some of your suggestions. Thanks.