Remaining January I handled myself to a seventieth birthday provide of a brand new seat for my recumbent. Sadly because of supply-chain problems, it ended up back-ordered, and I simply were given it.

This seat is doubtlessly extra at ease as a result of it will probably recline extra. It additionally will have to be extra aerodynamic. The primary function of the brand new seat is consolation, no longer aerodynamics, so I’ll get just right use out of it. However being a retired engineer, my inside nerd used to be curious concerning the possible pace benefit.

The seat at the left used to be the unique seat, known as the “recurve”. The only at the proper is named the “Euromesh”. There’s a restrict to reclining at the recurve as it makes the entrance stick up too a long way and whack into the again of your legs. This isn’t a topic at the Euromesh as a result of its form. The 2 are proven aspect via aspect with the usual incline.

You’ll be able to see there may be so much extra space to decrease the Euromesh. I attempted out the brand new seat with it reclined a couple of extra inches than the recurve. I did a pace trial on certainly one of my same old Strava routes, the Coyote Creek path to Bailey Ave and again. Unusually, I used to be a couple of mins slower than my very best time. It felt like I may no longer put out as a lot energy. I will push in point of fact laborious at the seat again of the recurve when going rapid, however at the Euromesh it felt like I might waste some power sliding at the seat.

Skilled cyclists on standard motorcycles have additionally run right into a trade-off between being extra aero and the facility to position out energy. However I hadn’t heard of this on recumbents. I do know that all of the pace data on recumbents are set on very reclined seats.

I’m cussed and wasn’t able to surrender. It grew to become out that the period of the remains retaining up the seat within the again avoided reclining so far as I sought after to check out, even if telescoped to the shortest period. I didn’t wish to lower the remains as a result of that will lead them to incorrect for the opposite seat. So I kludged in combination transient remains the usage of dowels. If this had labored I may have made it extra legitimate via purchasing some tubing. The “prototype” is proven under.

This place is much more aerodynamic however would take some being used to comfort-wise. I attempted performing some brief sprints with it to check pace, and once more, unusually, it used to be no longer any sooner. However this additionally would possibly were as a result of pedaling felt extra awkward. This can be only a subject of having used to the brand new place and adjusting my pedaling taste.

Revealed via BionicOldGuy

I’m a Mechanical Engineer born in 1953, Ph. D, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been energetic within the mechanical CAE box for many years. I actually have a lifelong hobby in outside actions and health. I’ve had each hips changed and a middle valve alternative because of a genetic situation. This weblog chronicles my adventures in staying energetic regardless of those bumps within the highway.
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Revealed
September 12, 20239-11, 2023