Hi,
It is all flat where I am. I rode 3012 miles last year on my upright and with
the wind on my back I would get between 15 and 18 mph. My top speed was 24.7
mph. If I was riding into the wind, I would drop down to 12 mph or worse if it
was gusting. If I am at a right angle to the wind direction. I find I can hang
in the 14 to 16mph range.
On my SWB EZ Speedster SX, I am getting higher speeds across the board for
longer periods. I am going about 16 to 21 MPH with the wind at zero or on my
back. Into the wind is better then on an upright. I can get about 14 MPH into
the wind. Where I find the huge difference is on the overpasses which is a climb
for the bent. I slow down to maybe 8 or 9 MPH. The bike is heavier at 41 LBS for
the steel frame version that I own.
Tire pressure is everything, keep them maxed and watch for brake drag.
Brian Dampier

Phil Prosser <p.prosser@...> wrote: Hi there

I also commute (almost) every day, and usually on my USS SWB Bentech.

I'm not a particularly speedy cyclist, but according to my computer, I
average about 15 mph. On my upright, it comes to about 13 mph. This is
on a pretty flat, but mostly very exposed and often windy route.

For me, the main advantage of the 'bent is that it's hugely more
comfortable, rather than the speed. I suspect I could push the speed
faster if I really wanted to.

Incidentally, a few weeks ago I got stuck behind a tractor on my journey
home. Then I realised I was comfortably spinning along at about 20 mph,
which I would never normally do - I was drafting the tractor! When I
went to overtake it, I realised I couldn't: once I came out from the
shelter it was making, I didn't have the power to pass it.

This made me think about wind resistance and I ordered Azub's fairing
(because there's never a tractor about when you want one). I'm hoping
this will arrive this week, and I'll let you know whether it makes any
difference!

P



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