In a message dated 5/24/2005 5:07:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, daflory_at_speakeasy.net writes: The problem is that anything on a roof rack increases the drag of the vehicle due to increased frontal area and also increases the effect of side winds on vehicle stability. Wind resistance (drag) increases as the square of the speed increase. At 60 wind resistance is 9 times what it is at 20 mph. On a long trip on freeways the drag is really, really significant in the effect it has on gas mileage. Most of us have noticed the effect of a 20 mph headwind on our paddling energy expenditure. :-) There is a lot of truth to this. As someone who has sold emergency vehicle warning systems for 10 years, drag is a major component the authoritah's factor into the equation. At least the smart ones do. A paddler may sacrifice a mile or a few miles per gallon with bars and boats up top. Large fleets sacrifice that times x0's, x00's, or x000's of vehicles, with added rooftop drag. In years past I have had many large agencies tell me they do not care. Gas was a buck and a half a gallon then, and they did not pay taxes on that. Tis a bit different these days. Economical paddling to you all, Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue May 24 2005 - 17:58:07 PDT
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