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Wheel disc cover effectiveness?

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Woolly Hat View Drop Down
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    Posted: 07 April 2020 at 3:55pm
I've been thinking of making some new wheel disc covers for my low racer and I wondered what effect these would have on aero efficiency when combined with fairings or enclosed wheel wells. 

Has anyone here done any back to back testing of covers in a velo or streamliner? I'd hope that any improvement would multiply by the number of wheels so that something like a Quattrovelo would have a noticeable reduction of power for a given speed with the wheel discs on. 

Anyone got any experiences on this subject they'd like to share?
Ross Low Racer 77 and WozzaMarauder
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Balor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Balor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 April 2020 at 9:58pm
Given that only a small fraction of wheel is showing and it is going with the air flow... likely not much.
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RoyMacdonald View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote RoyMacdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 April 2020 at 11:50pm
Gives the Kingcycle about 2 kph average speed increase. 
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Yanto View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Yanto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2020 at 11:44am
I've run with and without in all my velomobiles, I can't say I've noticed any difference in real world usage, of course if I were to carry out roll down testing there may be a difference.

I still have covers on the front wheels of my Df velomobile, but not on the rear, having them on the front makes me think I'm going faster which is good enough for me.

There are many other aspects that would definitely make me faster, e.g being lighter and fitter. 
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Woolly Hat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Woolly Hat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 April 2020 at 2:28pm
Yeah, the younger, fitter and thinner aspect would certainly help my speed too, it was more an interest in incremental improvements that can be applied to our steeds. Maybe we should be considering psychological upgrades for more speed - red ones go faster perhaps? LOL
Ross Low Racer 77 and WozzaMarauder
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