T50 seat advice needed
- Thread starter Brad R
- Start date
super slim
Zen MBB Master
http://www.wiggle.com.au/bbb-bhs-29-highsix-oversize-adjustable-stem/
You could use an adjustable stem to give you an effective 30 to 90 mm horizontal stem
Frank Costantini
Active Member
Is a chainstay extension available for the T50? I would like to try one, if it is.
Doug Burton
Zen MBB Master
The chainstay extensions where designed for the older Silvios, which use a different chainstay attachment (the cha1nstays are flat and don't rotate around the bottom bracket - they bend as part of the suspension - the CarboYoke system.) It would be hard to create a reliable bolt-on for the T50 since it uses a real hinge that rotates.
Frank Costantini
Active Member
Thanks for the clarification.
Frank Costantini
Active Member
Adding to the seat thread (should I be starting a new thread for this?), I'm going to describe the modifications I made to improve seat comfort on the T50.
Initially I found the seat bottom fairly uncomfortable after riding more than about 30 min (using the stock T50 seat cushion, and the seat angle as shipped). Also, after riding on a bike path with lots of bumps, I was really feeling beat up, and missed having a suspension (my other bike is a fully-suspended HPV StreetMachine).
First, I drilled new holes and moved the seat back bracket up, as described above in this thread, to reduce the seat back angle. This helped a bit with the butt discomfort, but not with the lack of suspension - and I actually prefer a slightly higher seat angle on this bike).
Next, I added a 1/2 inch layer of minicell foam under the seat cushion, with Velcro tape strips to mate it to the seat bottom and seat cushion. The photos also show a lumber cushion cut out of minicell foam, to add lumbar support.
This provided some extra cushioning, but I wanted more cushioning , and also wanted the seat tilted back further, as I was tending to slide forward. When I lowered the seat bottom to provide tilt, I was sitting so low that my legs hit the fork when I pedaled.
So I raised the seat a bit by removing the mounting brackets from the seat bottom, installing longer bolts, and adding some rubber washers and a 1/4" layer of neoprene (wetsuit material) between the seat bottom and the mounting brackets. I put four 1/8" rubber washers on the back bracket and six of them on the front bracket (plus the neoprene layer) to tilt the seat bottom a bit more.
The wetsuit material isn't ideal - it is a bit too compressible - and I intend to replace it with something a bit stiffer. But for now the seat seems pretty comfortable.
Initially I found the seat bottom fairly uncomfortable after riding more than about 30 min (using the stock T50 seat cushion, and the seat angle as shipped). Also, after riding on a bike path with lots of bumps, I was really feeling beat up, and missed having a suspension (my other bike is a fully-suspended HPV StreetMachine).
First, I drilled new holes and moved the seat back bracket up, as described above in this thread, to reduce the seat back angle. This helped a bit with the butt discomfort, but not with the lack of suspension - and I actually prefer a slightly higher seat angle on this bike).
Next, I added a 1/2 inch layer of minicell foam under the seat cushion, with Velcro tape strips to mate it to the seat bottom and seat cushion. The photos also show a lumber cushion cut out of minicell foam, to add lumbar support.
This provided some extra cushioning, but I wanted more cushioning , and also wanted the seat tilted back further, as I was tending to slide forward. When I lowered the seat bottom to provide tilt, I was sitting so low that my legs hit the fork when I pedaled.
So I raised the seat a bit by removing the mounting brackets from the seat bottom, installing longer bolts, and adding some rubber washers and a 1/4" layer of neoprene (wetsuit material) between the seat bottom and the mounting brackets. I put four 1/8" rubber washers on the back bracket and six of them on the front bracket (plus the neoprene layer) to tilt the seat bottom a bit more.
The wetsuit material isn't ideal - it is a bit too compressible - and I intend to replace it with something a bit stiffer. But for now the seat seems pretty comfortable.
1happyreader
zen/child method
@Rick Youngblood has used rubber blocks like these on E-bay to great effect. they are cutable and drillable.
Thanks for posting in this thread.
I like your ideas. Where can I buy the mini cell foam that you mentioned?
Vicki C.
T50 Trailblazer and Silvio newbie
I will butt in here with a response on the foam: https://www.amazon.com/NorthShore-NSI-Minicell-Foam/dp/B00T3KKA3K I found it here, although I ended up buying a cheap Walmart foam stadium seat when I was trying to add foam to give a little more cushion.
Frank Costantini
Active Member
Yes, its at Northshore, NRS or anywhere that sells kayak supplies.
PeteClark
Active Member
I have a Kickstarter Complete, so the standard T50 accessories. I'm 6'4" and am able to extend the boom to fit, but it does make the bottom bracket pretty low. I moved the top seat bracket up to lean the seat back a bit, and reversed the stem. Now the bars are back far enough so they don't interfere with my thighs, whereas before the bars had to be above my knees.
Vicki C.
T50 Trailblazer and Silvio newbie
I thought about reversing the handlebars to bring them closer and put my knees behind them as they are on some other models. I don't need to, but wondered how that would look and feel.
super slim
Zen MBB Master
Can you move the seat base back any further and shorten the seat stays, as looking at the photo, you thighs must be pressing into the seat front on every pedal stroke!
Wouldn't it be great if the QX100 and T50 had options for longer chainstays, like the S40 and V20!
super slim
Zen MBB Master
https://www.empind.com.au/shop/item/recumbent-bicycle-seat-pad-mesh---acs10
$100 for this that can do 3 layers for two seat bases and 4 layers for two seat backs, which gives excellent ventilation AND slight compression when sitting on it, and GREAT vibration isolation, AND it does not compress flat after 6 months of use, like an exercise mat I tried first!
$100 for this that can do 3 layers for two seat bases and 4 layers for two seat backs, which gives excellent ventilation AND slight compression when sitting on it, and GREAT vibration isolation, AND it does not compress flat after 6 months of use, like an exercise mat I tried first!
Vicki C.
T50 Trailblazer and Silvio newbie
That is neat that you can buy the material. It obviously has uses for more than just Cruzbike seat pads, although it works great for that.
I recommend this mod: I did it too, worked great. Not that hard and, at least for me, solves the "recumbent butt" problem.
Not totally, but I've had it to some degree on every recumbent I've ever ridden. But I don't think I've even reclined more than, say, 35 degrees. At the V20 angle maybe it goes away, I don't know. I'm too scared/poor to find out.
bhave
Member
I'm six foot three and 220 pounds. I ride my T-50 for commuting, grocery runs, and loaded tours. I previously had a V2/k conversion that I used for similar purposes with close to 9000 miles on it. For my riding style, I find that I've had to recline the seat by drilling mounting holes higher up on the seat back, shorten the seat posts, add a gel pad to the seat pad, and remove the quick release that secures the rear of the base to the frame so that the base of the seat is flush with the frame and is angled slightly upwards. My focus has been comfort. Once I'm comfortable, the speed is inherent. My previous V2/K was much heavier, and even while loaded down, I gave those Cervelo and Le Monde roadies a heart attack as they tried to keep pace with me. They were convinced I had an e bike.
Attachments
Frank Costantini
Active Member
I moved the seat stay attachment point higher up, by drilling new holes in the seat back. This resulted in more recline without cutting the seat stays.
rx7mark
Guru
Another option is to install a Thor GS Easy seat, modify the existing seat bracket to move the seat back, and end up with something like this picture attached. For reference I'm 6' 2", and have a 45inch X-seam. The Thor seat puts the stock one to shame and is only $200 shipped for the fiberglass version. Look at my BB location.
Mark
