Last January I handled myself to a seventieth birthday current of a brand new seat for my recumbent. Unfortunately because of supply-chain points, it ended up back-ordered, and I simply received it.
This seat is probably extra snug as a result of it could actually recline extra. It additionally must be extra aerodynamic. The principal function of the brand new seat is consolation, not aerodynamics, so I’ll get good use out of it. But being a retired engineer, my internal nerd was curious in regards to the potential velocity benefit.
The seat on the left was the unique seat, referred to as the “recurve”. The one on the proper is known as the “Euromesh”. There is a restrict to reclining on the recurve as a result of it makes the entrance stick up too far and whack into the again of your legs. This will not be a problem on the Euromesh due to its form. The two are proven aspect by aspect with the usual incline.
You can see there may be heaps extra room to decrease the Euromesh. I attempted out the brand new seat with it reclined a number of extra inches than the recurve. I did a velocity trial on one in all my commonplace Strava routes, the Coyote Creek path to Bailey Ave and again. Surprisingly, I used to be a couple of minutes slower than my greatest time. It felt like I couldn’t put out as a lot energy. I can push actually onerous on the seat again of the recurve when going quick, however on the Euromesh it felt like I’d waste some vitality sliding on the seat.
Professional cyclists on typical bikes have additionally run right into a trade-off between being extra aero and the power to place out energy. But I hadn’t heard of this on recumbents. I do know that each one the velocity information on recumbents are set on very reclined seats.
I’m cussed and wasn’t prepared to surrender. It turned out that the size of the stays holding up the seat within the again prevented reclining so far as I needed to attempt, even when telescoped to the shortest size. I didn’t need to lower the stays as a result of that may make them unsuitable for the opposite seat. So I kludged collectively momentary stays utilizing dowels. If this had labored I may have made it extra official by shopping for some tubing. The “prototype” is proven under.
This place is much more aerodynamic however would take some getting used to comfort-wise. I attempted doing a little quick sprints with it to check velocity, and once more, surprisingly, it was not any sooner. But this additionally might need been as a result of pedaling felt extra awkward. This could also be only a matter of getting used to the brand new place and adjusting my pedaling type.
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