make sure you take a ton of photos:) That is cool Tom, great opportunity and cool that Ford is making the time.
I used to be envious, now I’m just plain furious.
Awesome, shoot some pics if Ford will let you. I was just wondering where you had got to. I will stop in after the PATT this month. My bike is making that damn noise again. I want to have Mike show me how to adjust it myself. Good job getting to be part of the group at the wind tunnel.
You lucky, lucky man. I know Bryce would be out in a shot if he heard you were doing that as a package to the public. Any thoughts toward that in the future?
I guess the Ford sponsorship isn’t so bad afterall…
Wow, great to hear Ford stepping up to the plate in a more involved manner than merely sponsorship dollars ( not that that isn’t good enough in itself) I will be waiting to see the photos will interest.
As for the Escape, what is that? Some Big Ass SUV? Hold out for a station wagon like you really want. IF the Escape were that good he wouldn’t be able to do a deal on it.
.If they want to redesign your helmet to look like a Taurus grill, don’t do it.
Hmm. Are you looking to go offroad a lot Tom? Could be useful for an Xterra with a remote startline. I am not the guy to advise you as I have very fixed views at odds with the American culture of SUVs and big trucks. To me these vehicles should be driven off road and by people that require them for their jobs, not to carry 2.4 children to school or in urban locations.
I would personally go for a Subaru Legacy wagon and get two fully assembled bikes and two riders in comfort, but this has been debated before. The bad news for you is that the Ford page shows a bike on a rack atop an escape and we both have the same view on that!
The Escape is a mini-me SUV, probably not much bigger, if at all, from the Legacy.
Actually the Escape is not a big SUV and in fact is built on a car frame, not a truck frame like something like the Expedition. The escape is a light version SUV that Ford and others designed to give the utility and 4wd capability in a smaller car like package. Although they can be purchased with 4WD they are not designed for heavy off road use but more for getting through the snow in the city. Ford is now also making a vehicle comprable to the Subaru outback
Would a 4wd station wagon not be able to get through the city in the snow? And they wouldn’t be so prone to rolling over in an accident either.
'Nuff said on the matter, is it just me that thinks getting into a wind tunnel for testing would be an incredible experience? And one that I would like to get the report and photos from?
Way to go, Tom!
The Escape is a great vehicle. I had Escapes for two years and was impressed with their overall ride as well as their off-road ride and handling. You’d be suprised how far you can push those off road.
I think they are very solid and comfortable. I got 20 MPG with my last one— A V6 automatic.
Did you look at the Freestyle? They get a little better MPG and have more room, but don’t look quite as cool.
-Marc
Tom, what bikes do you plan on bring to the wind tunnel?
Dave in VA
I got the new Ford Freestyle which is more like a traditional “station wagon” but still built on a car base. I got it in January and am loving it. More room than an Escape, but not like a mini-van or SUV. I got a great deal from Manhattan Ford thru their sponsorship of the NYC tri - they said I was the only person who took them up on the deal they offered! Has AWD and was good in the snow last winter.
Hey Tom,
Sweet opportunity. Dont know if you will be able to do much experimenting but heres my suggestion. I would love to see a rider on a full on TT bike with deep front and disk rear, aero helment, etc. Then take an old school road bike and put the rider in the same position (use clip on bars) and look at the difference. Basically how much speed can you buy?
PS are you doing Waterloo.
Shawn Tyrrell
What about a Focus Kona with MTB treads on the door trim:
They haven’t been made in a couple years but are pretty cool. They used to come with a mountain bike.
-Marc
I assume that due to limited time you will be just tweaking, or can you try different components like aerobars? I would be interested in different hand/ elbow widths. Sounds like fun, make sure they test you at the TdF speeds!
a classic.
Does this mean you’re dropping the idea of buying that butt ugly Honda?