Recumbent - Swanson Fiberglass/carbon seat for Barcroft Virginia?

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Bearach
08-23-04, 01:02 PM
Has anyone adapted one of the Swanson fiberglass or carbon shells to their Barcroft? These seats are available at Power-On cycling at reasonable price. Power-On also sells a foam that fits this seat. It appears that I maybe able to adapt the RANS seat angles to the bottom of the Swanson shell, but might have to fabricate 2 brackets to be attached to the seat back to adapt to the current RANS seat rear braces (2).

What are your experiences and thoughts?

This would give me an approximate 3# weight savings (i.e.: RANS seat = 5.15#, Fiberglass shell = 2 lbs + foam and rear bracket weights.

Thanks,

Barry

jehargis
07-31-09, 12:16 PM
Barry:

I'm wondering if you ever did the swap. I have a Virginia Ti and want to do the same thing. I don't like the Euromesh seat, but before I buy the Swanson, I want to make sure it works.

thanks,

Janet
CHAS
08-01-09, 07:30 PM
Would like a carbon seat on my TiRex. Let me know how it works.
Hostel Shoppe offers a carbon seat also.

jehargis
08-25-09, 10:04 AM
Chas:

I ordered a Swanson seat/cushion from Power On Cycling in Florida. A few months ago we had a local HPV fest and I was able to try a number of different carbon and fiberglass seats. I tried the Swanson, Optima and M5 and the Swanson was the most comfortable for me.

I had to also order a new RadLoc for an M5 seat, and the only place that still had any in stock was Texbent cycles in Austin.

It took me a day to figure out the perfect attachment point on the seat for the RadLoc, seat angle etc, but I've been riding and smiling ever since. This seat is extremely comfortable, has great lumbar support and is light. Perfect.

Good luck, Janet
Bearach
11-22-09, 10:31 PM
Janet--I did make the swap in 2009, but to a Euromesh. I found one for sale at hostel shoppe classifieds, and couldn't pass up the price. With a drill, accurate measuring and drilling, I adapted it by using the existing RANS seat brackets. I was also able to use the existing RANS seat braces on the Virginia. I had to bend both of them inward a bit, but no problem doing it. The conversion only took me a couple to hours to complete. The seat is very comfortable with the foam. At this point I have no need to go to anything else. It is also lightweight. I think the Euromesh weighs in at 2.5 lbs. This modification along with switching to Thracian wheelset (Also a bargain found at Hostel Shoppe Classifieds) make my bike about 3 lbs lighter than the stock Chrome moly framed Virginia GT:thumb:

Good luck




Barry:

I'm wondering if you ever did the swap. I have a Virginia Ti and want to do the same thing. I don't like the Euromesh seat, but before I buy the Swanson, I want to make sure it works.

thanks,

Janet