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I've been wanting to address this issue for a long time now. Obviously there has been a trend to lean seats way back. A trend that for the most part comes from other bent makers. My take on this is the farther you lean the seat back the worse your bikes handling becomes. You are essentially taking even more weight off the front wheel (not good). Also, the further back you go robs your body of the position it needs to develope more power. I understand the reasoning behind the reclined seats as it does provide a more aero position, but it's not worth it for the disadvantage it causes. ER bikes are perhaps the best handling bikes out there and that is one of the major advantages so don't compromise it by recling to much. I'm going to address this in more detail shortly because this is an area that has people all over the place.

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Registered: Oct 2005
Location: St. Joseph, MI
Posts: 45

I agree, don't recline. The ER bike uses the fairing for aero issues.

I have noticed some complaining about recumbent butt and using the recline to alleviate that issue. I also noticed recumbent butt until I raised the nose of the seat up with a block of wood. I did not recline the seat back though.

I have also read of some folks that are encouraging a different seat that does away with the hose clamps. I want to express my vote to keep the hose clamps. An advantage to the Kool Back seat for me is the ability to loosen the 4 hose clamps and take the seat back off. I haul my TE on a trailer and to lessen wind resistance and to keep the bugs and road grime off, I take the back off.

Thanks for allowing my 2 cents.

Gary

1997 Medium Red TE (wife's)
2002 Large Yellow TE (mine)

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Registered: May 2004
Location: New York City Metro
Posts: 209

Here's a classic photo from recumbent history (thank's to bicycleman.com).



A little too reclined?

I have changed my seat back angle and I notice a big difference.

Thanks.

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Mr. Pumpkinhead

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Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Detroit suburbs
Posts: 543

quote:

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Originally posted by Fast Freddy
I've been wanting to address this issue for a long time now. Obviously there has been a trend to lean seats way back. A trend that for the most part comes from other bent makers. My take on this is the farther you lean the seat back the worse your bikes handling becomes. You are essentially taking even more weight off the front wheel (not good). Also, the further back you go robs your body of the position it needs to develope more power. I understand the reasoning behind the reclined seats as it does provide a more aero position, but it's not worth it for the disadvantage it causes. ER bikes are perhaps the best handling bikes out there and that is one of the major advantages so don't compromise it by recling to much. I'm going to address this in more detail shortly because this is an area that has people all over the place.

---

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Registered: May 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 208

I am so glad to hear this!!! To date I still struggle with lower lumbar pain due to L4-L5 degeneration. After many (many, many) adjustments to the seat back I am most comfortable and can get the most power out of this bike with the seat in the most upright position.

I am now waiting for a new, lighter-weight version that has more lumbar support! ;-)

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Debbie
Rockin' and Rollin' TE
Richmond, VA

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quote:

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Originally posted by siesfeldj
Here's a classic photo from recumbent history (thank's to bicycleman.com).



A little too reclined?

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For what Francis Faure was trying to do he had it right. Even though he's on a velodrome, he's basically racing in a straight line during an hour time trial. But I can tell you out in the real world that bike would corner very poorly to say the least. (don't any of you try this at home!)
Freddy

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Registered: May 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 208

Upright seat back is the ONLY way to get power on this bike!

CycleFitness has attached this image:

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Debbie
Rockin' and Rollin' TE
Richmond, VA

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 138

is there a angle we can try and obtain?

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mike

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Registered: Jun 2006
Location: Northwest Oregon
Posts: 83

After reading the posts on this thread I have made an adjustment ot my GRR seat back to return it to the "as deliverd" condition when it was purchased.

I have only a little over 5000 miles on the bike and during that time I have met other "recumbenties" (riding that RANS stuff) with more "layed back" seats than mine was.... so not being afraid to try something I have been experimenting with advanced reclining... with no apparent measureable difference.

But since reading the posts, I returned the back to the more upright condition and I have to say, the whole bike "sits" better. I guess I had done the lay back increments over such a period of time to just not notice the degradation of comfort.

My judgement of "upright" has the following criteria:

If you look at the seat back from the side you see it has two straight vertical sections, one just above the seat bottom and extending up about 6 inches (lumbar section) and the other, bent slightly aft, going from there on up to the top of the seat. I used the lower section (lumbar section) as my guide and set that section perpendicular to the fore and aft top frame pipes ( the pipes that the seat bottom is bolted to).


This is pretty easy to do by eye and I think it pretty much constitutes "upright".

Does anyone have umbrage with this?


PS: There is no better riding bike I have yet found, even when I had it "layed" back!!

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CL

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Registered: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 35

I am fairly new to recumbents so my perspective may not be best,but wouldn't it make the most sense to ride in whatever angle is most comfortable to each individual,rather than stating one certain angle is best for all?
TO me it doesn't really seem like the angle would be as important as the distance the seat is set so your not pedaling with your knees in your face or stretching to reach the pedals,but what do I know.Just my thoughts I guess.

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First off you want to be comfortable and you should whatever it is you have to do to accomplish that. But having said that you can lean back to far and what happens is two things, first you're unloading the front wheel and that can effect the steering and secondly the farther you recline the less power you body is able to produce. So try not to go back to far

Freddy

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 222

I read this thread and then gave it a lot of thought. Since I am just starting out everything is so new that it is hard to know what works. I noticed, though, that whenever I needed a bit more power, such as to go up a grassy slope at the park to avoid the water sprinklers that I was leaning forward and pulling on the bars. On a three hour ride last week, I also noticed that my tail bone got sore. So, this morning I changed the angle up slightly. Maybe one inch different as measured at the backrest stays. I am still leaning back, but a little less so.

Then I went for an almost 3 hour tempo ride. Much better.

Thanks Freddy,

Bill

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Registered: May 2004
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 71

I have about 11000 km. on my bike and have been very comfortable on it. In the name of more power and speed last week I took some of the recline out of my seat back. I went from 2 1/8" exposed seat back stay below bottom clamp where it attaches to the frame near the rear axle to 1 5/8". I did a short ride of 25 km. and all seemed ok. Yesterday I rode 60 km. and I could hardly get off the bike. Even worse I was so sore I could hardly get back on the bike to ride the 8 km. home from where I was at. I will still pull myself forward off the seat back when I am trying to climb a short hill but my butt can take the sustained forward postion. I am going to ride today but feel it may have to be short one until I recover.

Norm

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Registered: Mar 2003
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 95

Norm,

Moving the seat that results in a half inch change on the seat stays is quite a jump for an adjustment change. I have found I can tell a difference in an eighth of an inch change. Maybe make smaller changes to help find that sweet spot.

Paul
TE

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