Getting Ready for Ol' Man Winter

A few brisk mornings had me layered up and still trying to peddle my butt and/or belly off. Been contemplating electric assist for the hills, distances and backroads.The leading candidate is a Bafang BBS02 because of its reliability, price, and North America support. I don't need or want to go 40 mph, half will be more than sufficient and the BBSO2 unit w a 52 v battery looks like it will be a good choice for my Rover.

However before I do that those brisk winds I've been encountering with the promise of more to come strongly suggest a fairing will be a necessary winter investment if I don't want to flash freeze my bod's tender parts. I ordered a Windwrap XG  blem (I'm cheap) c/w rubber mounting rubber screws from Terra Cycle and then took a quick spin up to my LBS (AKA the dump) to pick up a few recycle pieces.

Initial completed installation Fine tuning needed

 A front stem handlebar mount from a BMX and a selection of bolts from a plant stand were mated up with my stock of scrap aluminum. The old drapery tracks matched up with the supports from clothes drying line provided the main mounting hardware. Three hose clamps, some stainless steel bolts, and a piece of inner tube, a lawnmower handle, some water pipe foam insulation, and my trusty DeWalt drill and I set off on an engineering experience.

Watching Terra Cycle's installation video showed me how this was going to work, but like every good cook I was going to have to add my own twists to the recipe.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
tools & supplies of the complete backyard amateur engineer

First the main upright was an aluminum paddle. I won't need that on the pontoon boat until next summer and I have lots of wooden paddles anyways. I thought it might need a little more beef in the bottom end where it pivots and the wooden rake handle was a nice snug fit... besides raking leaves is a highly over rated activity. The BMX handle bar mount fit the other end beautifully and after nipping off the tub with my trusty pipe cutter I still have lots of vertical adjustment if needed... might have to nip another inch or two off the paddle handle... we'll see. Oh let's not forget the obligatory tad of duct tape.

Mount for the main post. Attached with clamps (blue tape covers ends)
Rubber inner tube protects bike frame

The crowning touch, was the lawn mower handle. I had to bend it a bit ( by sticking it in the trailer hitch receiver) and drill holes for the TC  mounting rubbers. This piece was a tad unsightly so I covered it with the pipe foam insulation. A piece of inner tube provides the tension to hold the fairing back in the travel position and aluminum stops limit back and forward tilting

Handlebar head from LBS (aka the dump) provides attachment for top
crossbar plus vertical and rotational adjustment. Foam pipe insulation
is cosmetic to cover up ugly pipe bending

Had to take off the peddle extensions for my big clod hopper feet to fit under the fairing. Still have a bit of adjustment to fine tune, but the end result is it looks okay.

Had to remove the 3/4 in peddle extentions. Particularly on
right side as 3 ring sprocket moves peddle to right too far

Spent 10 minutes in private practicing my mount and dismount. Getting on is no problem. Getting off I have to remember to lift my foot high enough to miss kicking the top of the drive chain and not falling down.

Been for several spins up my 600 Bike route and around the town. No laughing and just a couple "What the heck is that?" queries. Never tried a fairing before, but it seems to work great. Very solid and quiet. It very noticeably reduces head wind resistance and heat loss. Doesn't take long to start dropping layers and undoing zippers.

Mount/dismount position. Lift your foot and
don't kick the chain tube

Thanks to Terra Cycle for the great service and videos and apologies for my seat-of-the-pants engineering.

Now onto that Bafang BBS02.