Recumbent - sizing on recumbents

I'm fairly tall at 6'3" and want to make sure that I can get the proper knee bend on a recumbent...are there different sizes that I should look for or is it one size fits alll...I have a had two knee surgeries and must get the proper knee bend.

Every LBS I go to for uprights always try to fit to with a bike seat to low...I only want a slight bend at the bottom of the crank..

Thanks for your help

It depends on the bike. Some recumbents come in different sizes, with about 2-3 inches of adjustment. Others are more of a universal fit, with 8 or more inches of adjustment room. You will need to determine your "X-seam" length, which is basically the distance between your tailbone and your heel when you are sitting up straight with your legs outstretched. The easiest way to do this is to sit with your back against the wall, and your legs out straight in front of you. Then, just measure the distance between the wall and your heel. This is the distance you can use to approximate the frame size you will need.

Also, be careful when you are riding your new 'bent. It is very easy to over-stress your knees, by pushing into the back of the seat and "mashing" the pedals instead of spinning at a higher rpm. A recumbent allows you to push more than your body weight into the pedals, which can damage your knees. However, spinning the pedals will prevent this. Consult your doctor for the final word on this issue.

I'm fairly tall at 6'3" and want to make sure that I can get the proper knee bend on a recumbent...are there different sizes that I should look for or is it one size fits alll...I have a had two knee surgeries and must get the proper knee bend.

Every LBS I go to for uprights always try to fit to with a bike seat to low...I only want a slight bend at the bottom of the crank..

Thanks for your help


Well sure, there are different sizes, look at the spec sheet on each bike to see what the X-seam measurement says for the particular bike/trike you are looking at. I had the same problem. At 6' 9" and having had both knees replaced, I had to do a bit of looking and trying different brands. Then I found the Penninger trike has almost an unlimited amount of room to accommodate my long legs.

Hi shorty :-D

Being 6'6" I had my bent custom made by Denny LaDue in Nebraska. His "LaBent by LaDue" is a nice bike. Not the lightest but extremely comfortable and very stable. I also like the very low CG. And it's nearly 8' long.

If you want a LWB, then you should try out a Cycle Genius LWB, either Falcon or Raven. I have a Falcon (cost= ~$1100). Both of these models use the same frame and adjust for pretty-tall people, I am 6'2" and with it adjusted right for me, there's still about three inches left of rearward seat adjustment. With the seat all the way back, I can't even keep my feet on the pedals all-the-way-around.

You may need to put longer handlebars on it however; the OEM's are short, only around 13.5" tall and with them I couldn't reach them well while riding (could only get my fingertips around them). I bought the RANS adjustable chopper bars and have them set all the way in at around 19", though I do prefer the grips tilted outwards quite a bit. The RANS bars adjust for length (from 19" to about 23" or so) and grip angle, but cost a bit at $65. I don't know what they would cost, but other possibilities are the handlebars that Sun and Easy Racers use on their bikes, the Sun (bent trike) are about 21" with the grips flat and the Tour Easy's are about 19" with the grips tilted outwards.
~

I am 6' 2" and have a Volae swb dual 26" wheel "highracer" , which I ordered over the phone. They ask for a very comprehensive set of body measurements (their web site has very clear instructions on how to take the measurements) and a variety of frame, seat, and handlebar sizes they can mix and match with. Result was a bike that fit very well. They can take into account special requirements to fit the bike to your needs. Highly recommended.

Once you have that X-seam size, though it isn't the end all, use it to do your research on the manufacturer's websites. Even dealing with a recumbent shop, I found that doing my homework kept me a step ahead of them, which helped me make better decisions at what might work. Dont' assume that they will be up on what sizes (and the specs for each one) that a manufacturer offers. For instance, Easy Racers just recently added 2 new sizes, one at each end of the spectrum. (so they now have an XXS and an XXL). Also, the manufacturers were very open to me calling and asking questions - even comparing their bike's to their competition's (one of which, after listening to my requirements, didn't recommend his own bike!). Armed with that information, you can better shop at the dealers and get the best fit.