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theo22 · 12-10-2011, 01:53 PM

"On cars, putting a vertical fin on the back can stabilize it in crosswinds. Maybe this would help?"

I have seen this done on fully faired recumbents. This can help to stop the effect of the vehicle wanting to steer away from the wind, but it creates more sidearea resulting in having to hang into the wind at an angle more and more chance of having the vehicle simply blown off its wheels. I have seen it happen.
Making the vehicle heavier helps a lot, but not for fuel efficiency. :-(

What PeterS says is sadly true. A very smooth aerodynamic shape will allways be more sensitive to x-winds. So I will go for reducing frontal area.

Greets, Theo

12-10-2011, 01:53 PM	#37 (permalink)
theo22 efficiencyguy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Netherlands Posts: 17 Thanks: 8 Thanked 23 Times in 5 Posts	"On cars, putting a vertical fin on the back can stabilize it in crosswinds. Maybe this would help?" I have seen this done on fully faired recumbents. This can help to stop the effect of the vehicle wanting to steer away from the wind, but it creates more sidearea resulting in having to hang into the wind at an angle more and more chance of having the vehicle simply blown off its wheels. I have seen it happen. Making the vehicle heavier helps a lot, but not for fuel efficiency. :-( What PeterS says is sadly true. A very smooth aerodynamic shape will allways be more sensitive to x-winds. So I will go for reducing frontal area. Greets, Theo __________________ Think twice, be nice..