Mirror and Light Upgrade for my Bülk Urban

[@coolstuffbydwightstreet]

Very Cool Sir!

[@andreashenzler7124]

Rearmirrors raise the airresistance up to 200%.

[@mnveloguy]

@@andreashenzler7124 on what research do you base this number? I tested the mirror cones sold by Velomobile World Last Summer. The test was done at 50km/h which is a speed most velomobile riders don’t sustain. The difference in watts between riding with and without mirrors? Less than 3 watts. 120 compared to 117 watts. That’s a small enough difference that it is within the margin of error of variance between each testing run. These mirrors are even more aerodynamic than the mirror cones I tested, so I would expect it to cost even fewer watts. You can view my video of this testing here on my channel. It is the video about testing the race hood and how to make your velomobile faster. Please show me a study supporting your claim of 200% for these types of mirrors as installed on a velomobile.

[@mnveloguy]

@@andreashenzler7124 here is the link to the video where I did the testing of the mirrors kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHa7go2hZtKkbtUfeature=shared

[@andreashenzler7124]

@@mnveloguy Frankly said, I heard something like this, but if you had done the testing right, it will be, like you say.

[@andreashenzler7124]

@@mnveloguy I think, it would be better to make the rearmirrors foldable, whithin high speed integrated in the body of the velomobile.

[@mnveloguy]

@@andreashenzler7124 this would be quite a challenge. First, why do something complex for an item that costs at most 3 watts? Second, the area where the mirrors are typically attached is a major structural area. To add a hole for the mirrors to fold into would compromise the structure or require adding extra material which adds more weight. Then there is also the issue with it being in the vicinity of the front wheels and of your legs, so you have to have enough room to fold the mirrors into the body which means making the body wider. This will negatively impact aerodynamics and cost much more than the 3 watts you are worried about. If you remove the mirrors in this way, then how will you see traffic behind you? A camera system adds more weight, the cameras will cost some watts, you have to run them off a battery which adds more weight, and there can be some delay between what the camera sees and when you see it on the screen which is also not very safe. For racing if you want to play with a camera system, go for it, but I would not want to do this is real traffic, especially because if your battery runs out you have no view behind you!. Then there is also the issue of seeing at night. You would need quite an expensive camera system with a very high quality sensor to prevent being blinded by car headlights in the dark. So then to save 3 watts at most, you have to spend quite a lot more money. To me it is not worth it for less than 3 watts. There are so many other places you can save the 3 watts that do not compromise safety, add weight, increase complexity, and increase costs. I will stick with my mirrors. Safety is very important to me.