Tail boxes

[ElyDave]

Anyone running with a hard tailbox, either plastic or CF?

I'm thinking about it for the M5, having something of an unexpected bonus due in the next few months. It would give me more space than the Alpkit bag and be more aero.

Also if anyone has a second hand one they may be looking to sell, let me know.

[Mr Larrington]

I have a fibreglass one on the Speedmachine.  A bit heavy but dead useful, as it's lockable, waterproof and holds more than enough tqt for most rides short of a camping tour.  Mine contains home-bodged fittings to hold a D-lock and a hook for a water bladder to hang off - the tube for the latter comes out under the lid.  Stick some self-adhesive foam stripe around the underside of the lid and top of the body to stop annoying rattles.

Carbon is, of course, lighter and much much Shinier.


IMG_0849 by Mr Larrington, on Flickr.  Posing next to a Breton bus shelter, 2007.

[ElyDave]

That's sort of the idea I have, with LEL in mind next year, same idea for the water bladder

Where did yours come from, and do you find it gives an aero benefit over the weight?

Novosport seem to be the only European supplier from a quick interweb search, but have a multitude of the things. Their "lowrider" model would seem the right one.

[The French Tandem]

I have a fibreglass one on the Speedmachine.  A bit heavy but dead useful, as it's lockable, waterproof and holds more than enough tqt for most rides short of a camping tour.  Mine contains home-bodged fittings to hold a D-lock and a hook for a water bladder to hang off - the tube for the latter comes out under the lid.  Stick some self-adhesive foam stripe around the underside of the lid and top of the body to stop annoying rattles.

Carbon is, of course, lighter and much much Shinier.


IMG_0849 by Mr Larrington, on Flickr.  Posing next to a Breton bus shelter, 2007.

I'm absolutely not a specialist of the dark side, but from an engineering point of view, building a steel frame, and then adding a big CF tailbox is a very poor design. No use is made of the stiffness of the box itself, it's just a dead weight. I think it would be possible to build a very light recumbent bike by integrating the box into the structural design. Maybe some recumbent builders have already thought about that?

[ElyDave]

They may have done, but that doesn't help with my question in hand?

It's almost akin to the
"how do I get to XXXX?"
"well, I wouldn't be starting from here if I were you"
conversation.

I'm sure it could be done better with modern production techniques, CAD/CAM etc

[Mr Larrington]

That's sort of the idea I have, with LEL in mind next year, same idea for the water bladder

Where did yours come from, and do you find it gives an aero benefit over the weight?

Novosport seem to be the only European supplier from a quick interweb search, but have a multitude of the things. Their "lowrider" model would seem the right one.

I got mine via HP-Velotechnik/Bikefix but I think it's a Novosport Lowrider Large really.  I wasn't so bothered about the aero benefits as the practicality - previously the bike was fitted with a carbon seat-cum-tail built as a single unit which sacrificed practicality for aero and as a result your Stuffs had to go through a letterbox-like slot for stowage.

I'm absolutely not a specialist of the dark side, but from an engineering point of view, building a steel frame, and then adding a big CF tailbox is a very poor design. No use is made of the stiffness of the box itself, it's just a dead weight. I think it would be possible to build a very light recumbent bike by integrating the box into the structural design. Maybe some recumbent builders have already thought about that?

I'd be surprised if someone hasn't done it but for a machine that's road-going/sold to the public/both some measure of seat adjustment is a Good Thing.  Also if you want fully-integrated luggage capacity you should be buying a velomobile

[ElyDave]

That's sort of the idea I have, with LEL in mind next year, same idea for the water bladder

Where did yours come from, and do you find it gives an aero benefit over the weight?

Novosport seem to be the only European supplier from a quick interweb search, but have a multitude of the things. Their "lowrider" model would seem the right one.

I got mine via HP-Velotechnik/Bikefix but I think it's a Novosport Lowrider Large really.  I wasn't so bothered about the aero benefits as the practicality - previously the bike was fitted with a carbon seat-cum-tail built as a single unit which sacrificed practicality for aero and as a result your Stuffs had to go through a letterbox-like slot for stowage.

I'm absolutely not a specialist of the dark side, but from an engineering point of view, building a steel frame, and then adding a big CF tailbox is a very poor design. No use is made of the stiffness of the box itself, it's just a dead weight. I think it would be possible to build a very light recumbent bike by integrating the box into the structural design. Maybe some recumbent builders have already thought about that?

I'd be surprised if someone hasn't done it but for a machine that's road-going/sold to the public/both some measure of seat adjustment is a Good Thing.  Also if you want fully-integrated luggage capacity you should be buying a velomobile

Bikefix being the Camden mob?  I reckon I could swing past them on my way into the office if I slope in late and detour from KC.

[The French Tandem]

I'd be surprised if someone hasn't done it but for a machine that's road-going/sold to the public/both some measure of seat adjustment is a Good Thing.  Also if you want fully-integrated luggage capacity you should be buying a velomobile

I think you should be able to get all the adjustment you need by moving back and forth the handlebar and the chainset. A moveable seat is probably not a requirement.

[Mr Larrington]

It's quite handy to be able to adjust the seat angle too, though many machines seem to do perfectly well without such a luxury.  Even Cosimo the Stealth Baron has this, though natch I immediately bunged it as reclined as possible for aero reasons as he was only ever used for racing and thus the ability to see over hand/knees/toes was secondary.

[Kim]

Even Cosimo the Stealth Baron has this, though natch I immediately bunged it as reclined as possible for aero reasons as he was only ever used for racing and thus the ability to see over hand/knees/toes was secondary.

I'd wondered about this, as I did the same thing on the Red Baron and immediately discovered levels of visibility akin to reversing a Renault Megane^[1].  I've compromised on somewhere roughly in the middle of the seat adjustment range which puts the bottom edge of my glasses below the view of the road, and most of the twiddly bits below that.

But yes, the tailbox idea intrigues me, not least because it would keep hair out of the wheel in a slightly more elegant way than the skirt guard I've bodged out of foam board.  I get the general impression that it's de rigueur to molish such things in your shedde, thobut.


_{[1] Vehicle with the least excusable^[2] poor visibility that I've so far encountered.
[2] As opposed to, for example, can-I-have-a-go-mate-ing in velomobiles, which are invariably configured for someone taller, and require steering in the style of Kamarov in Hunt For Red October.}

[ElyDave]

No seat adjustment on the M5, it is what it is.

Only fits in a few locations I suspect, all requiring different hole patterns.  My solution to lack of forward vision is a 26" dyno wheel

[Mr Larrington]

Such things may easily, if inelegantly, molished from corriboard in one's Sheds and as an experiment to see whether you get on with such a device may well be worth the expenditure of a wet Saturday afternoon surrounded by duct tape, cable ties and hot glue guns.

[Phil W]

Is that a PBP 2007 number I see on your street machine and how did you get on riding it during the event?

[Kim]

*gets the popcorn*

[Mr Larrington]

Is that a PBP 2007 number I see on your street machine and how did you get on riding it during the event?

It is, and any issues were mostly in the head of the rider (see .sig). 2 Fairy visitations and one mysterious loss of functionality in the front brake (Hope M4) after ~400 km (having already done the Cheddar Gorge 300 and the ride to the start) which went away when it was re-bled on returning home

[andytheflyer]

IMG_0849 by Mr Larrington, on Flickr.  Posing next to a Breton bus shelter, 2007.

Hmmmm. That looks like this winter's project.  I have a Performer 20/26 which would benefit, not for the SAKI 700c though!  Simple plug made from blue foam, then a polyester/glass mould, then a GRP component.  Three parts (2 sides, lid).  (Goes off to have  think....)

[Wobbly John]

Can you still get blue foam at a reasonable price?

[andytheflyer]

Can you still get blue foam at a reasonable price?

Dunno, but the polyester resin for the mould, and the resin for the layup ain't cheap anyway!  I suspect that materials alone would be getting on for £100.  Made some cowlings recently for an r/c twin engine model aeroplane and I was surprised at how expensive they were in the end.  (But worth it for the weight saving, stiffness and a few other attributes)

A sheet of 8x4 foam should do it.  Leftovers from a building job would be ideal.

[Tigerrr]

I got a VK2 box for the fujin. I regret that I painted it in dayglo stripes as a safety feature.
It not only provides a handy storage but also put my speed up, as long as I was going fast to start with.
Downside - in wet conditions it drips muddy water straight into the rear disc, which wore it out in a single 200, and contributed to a DNF of misery. Plus it makes a good deal noise.

[fd3]

Compared with the very beefy rear rack you get on speed machines I would not be surprised if the switch to a tailbox would be at least mass-neutral.