Re: [CR] Brooks introduces the world's most fashionable rain cape (KOF candidate)

(Example: Framebuilding)

From: "Jeff Slotkin" <jeffslotkin@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <35ABF7BF50720C47BA9DF7AD1A6600C72794BE5A1E@PEMEXMBXVS02.jellyfishnet.co.uk.local>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:48:30 -0500
References: <97A13349-450A-4651-9425-2287751569E5@att.net>
To: Mark Lawrence <mark.lawrence@firstreadthis.com>
Cc: Dale Brown <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Brooks introduces the world's most fashionable rain cape (KOF candidate)


If no-one there wears them, from whence comes the opinion they are un-aerodynamic?

I've used my dark-green Duxback perhaps a dozen times over the years. It can get you killed at least two ways, including the aforementioned color issue but also when you perform the newbie trick of sitting up and yanking the handlebar with a thump loop.

However, I've been surprised by how sleek it seems to the wind. There is very little additional frontal area presented by the thing, and quite a bit of "fairing" effect. At times, I've thought I might be faster with it than without it. Perhaps I just don't think clearly in the rain, in the dark, in a cape on my bike.

Anybody for coast-down testing?

Jeff Slotkin Charleston, SC

On Jan 11, 2011, at 8:54 AM, Mark Lawrence wrote:
> Hi Jon and listers,
>
> just in case anyone is planning a trip to Oxford, and was about to drop $268 on a fancy Brooks Oxford Cape so that they look the part, I can tell you with utter confidence that no-one ever wears rain capes here.
>
> I'm sure you already know, rain capes are the aerodynamic equivalent of one of those drag parachutes they use to slow down speedway cars.

(snip)