Recumbent - Semi-Recumbent: would benefit from a recumbent seat?

The Worksman Y3K Semi-recumbent that my wife just bought has one of those wide cushy uncomfortable saddles on it, that make yer bum numb after about 20 min. When she rented/test drove the same model before buying, it had a saddle which more closely resembled a recumbent seat on it. I've been trying to decide what to get her; either a Brooks Touring seat, or a recumbent seat.

I understand that on an upright you want to get the sits bones to take as much weight as possible, but I don't know that I fully understand "recumbent seat theory" which seems to have no concern for the sits bones. Presumably the back rest takes some of the weight, but if the reclining angle of the back rest is only around 70 degrees, maybe I still need the "upright" type seat to take the pressure of the sits bones? The EZ recumbent seats have a higher angle back, so maybe the owners of these bikes are the ones who most complain of "recumbent butt"? Why don't recumbent seats concern themselves with sits bones? I've ridden recumbent with a a recumbent seat set to 45-50 degree of recline for hours without a numb bum. If we went with the recumbent seat option does anyone have a suggestion for just the seat without the back?

Thanks!

The Worksman Y3K Semi-recumbent that my wife just bought has one of those wide cushy uncomfortable saddles on it, that make yer bum numb after about 20 min.

I had a similar problem with my Evox. I changed the seat for another, larger "saddle style" seat and adjusted seat angle and position until the discomfort went away. I would still like to put a standard recumbent "sling" seat on, but the saddle mounts onto a little 3" seat post and I am not aware of any traditional bent seats with that particular configuration. I am thinking of designing my own and taking the design to a machine shop to get it fabricated. If you or anyone else knows of a seat that would fit, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Charles

Charles,

What saddle did you switch to? I've read a lot of good things about the Brooks saddles, and how it best transfers load to the sits bones due to the firm support, which is why I'm considering it as a solution. I've seen recumbent seats for sale, and they're very expensive. I don't mind the money as much as I would mind having to make the multiple purchases to find the right solution. I guess that's why I'm trying to understand it conceptually. It does seem that those who complain of "recumbent butt" are those who have the more upright (higher angle) position, so maybe the cause is the poor transfer of load.

Anyone in recumbentland who gets "recumbent butt" from a seated recline position of 50 degrees or less?

Charles,

What saddle did you switch to? I've read a lot of good things about the Brooks saddles, and how it best transfers load to the sits bones due to the firm support, which is why I'm considering it as a solution. I've seen recumbent seats for sale, and they're very expensive. I don't mind the money as much as I would mind having to make the multiple purchases to find the right solution. I guess that's why I'm trying to understand it conceptually. It does seem that those who complain of "recumbent butt" are those who have the more upright (higher angle) position, so maybe the cause is the poor transfer of load.

Anyone in recumbentland who gets "recumbent butt" from a seated recline position of 50 degrees or less?

Hi Redrom

It was a cheap "no-name" saddle. I paid $35.00 cdn at the lbs. I got it because it was a bit larger than the one that came with the bike. The stock seat was ok but a bit too narrow for my liking. I mounted it with the leading part tilted slightly up. I positioned the seat boom to obtain optimum leg extention. I am inclined to keep the seat, but would like a better back. The lumbar support on the Evox is not ideal. I would like to have the existing back sawn off the seat boom and a sling style seat back mounted in its place. I am thinking of fabricating a frame out of aluminum and having a machine shop do up a custom mounting system for it. I would have a local tent-maker do me up a cover to go over the back.

My problem will be mounting it. The seat I currently have may need to be replaced. It lacks conventional seat rails and is in a fixed position relative to the seat post. My thinking is to attach the seat back to the seat rails. Alternatively, I could mount the seat back onto the seat boom. That would require a large clamp to go around the boom and two smaller clamps to take the frame. I don't have the equipment to do this at home, but I daresay a machinist would have no trouble with this design.

It is too bad the saddle is mounted onto a short "seat post" which is welded directly to the seat boom. Maybe removal of the post would make room for a more conventional recumbent seat. Again, the bike is comfortable enough for the moment. I would just like a bit more back support than I currently have.

Cheers

Charles

Before you do all that, maybe you should check this out...http://www.cruzbike.com/
They sell the seat separately, and maybe it would work for your situation.

Before you do all that, maybe you should check this out...http://www.cruzbike.com/
They sell the seat separately, and maybe it would work for your situation.

Thx fr the tip. I have looked at the Cruzbike seat in the past, but don't think it will work with the Evox. My bike has a stubby little "seat pillar" welded to the seat boom. I would need to make an adapter to fit a standard seat pillar to the stub. The hole that the seat mounting stub goes into prior to being welded is too small to accommodate a standard seat pillar. Even if I were to do this, the seat would be too far forward. I would have to pull the seat boom way back and I don't think it has adequate length to do so. Finally, the seat boom is really oversized tubing (2.5 to 3 inches in diameter). This would not be accommodated by the seat mount that comes with the seat. So, it's a custom build seat back, I'm afraid. :)

Thanks again,

Charles

You might look into a RANS seat, like they have on their Cruz (http://www.ransbikes.com/cruz.htm) model. They look more like a cut-down version of their recumbent seat pans than a saddle.

I have no idea what those things cost, or even if they sell the seats separately, but just looking at it might give you ideas...

You might look into a RANS seat, like they have on their Cruz (http://www.ransbikes.com/cruz.htm) model. They look more like a cut-down version of their recumbent seat pans than a saddle.

I have no idea what those things cost, or even if they sell the seats separately, but just looking at it might give you ideas...

Thanks, B.P.

That's not much different than what's on there now.

Cheers

Just an update, we switched to "The Seat" (Endurance model) made by Ergo. While I can't imagine riding an upright with this as a saddle since there's no nose to help with steering, it seems to really have helped her on the semi-recumbent where she isn't using her body to steer.

She reports that while after 30 miles (@ ~6 mph), there was no point where she felt the numbness that she got from the "comfort" seat which came with her bike. Her butt was still somewhat sore half-way through the ride (and for some time after the ride as well), but she conceeds that this might go away or be minimalized if she rides more and builds up her butt. We are mostly thinking of this bike as a training bike for her to eventually make her way onto a true recumbent, but if she wants to stay with it, we may try a Brooks touring saddle later on. Since we picked this up on eBay, the Brooks seat would cost about half what we bought the whole bike for...

Despite the sore butt, we would still recommend the bike for anyone who fears the pain associated with an upright and the initially perceived instability of a recumbent. Though rumor has it they are stopping production on this model. She is extremely happy with the bike, and with her newfound ability to join the family bike rides.