The PERFECT Recumbent - Seats

Since we are having all this discussion about recumbent seats, I thought I would start a thread specifically on this topic.

So here is the questions

1. What recumbents seats have you used in the past?
2. What recumbent seat do you like the best?

There are so many, I am not going to put up a poll this time.

 

Bacchetta recurve mesh
Lots of give with power loss. Comfortable for the first 25 miles or and
then my back would start to ache. Good air flow and I could use the
seatback for extra storage.

Bacchetta Euromesh seat
Stiffer than the recurve, not as much airflow, VERY comfortable for long
rides. Sat higher than the regular recurve or M5

M5 Carbon
Very stiff with good transfer of power. With the ventist seat pad good
ventilation. Bottom outside edges will rub my inner thighs if I do lots
of stopping and starting.

hP Velotechnic
Incredibly adjustable. Seat pad is very thin, have had to supplement
some extra foam in the lumbar and seat area
Hotter

 

RANS seat (whatever's stock on the V3):
Not bad. It feels pretty good, plenty of support, padding isn't bad. I think leaning it back a little more would solve my only comfort gripe on this seat.

HP Velotechnic:
This thing is more comfortable than my recliner. If it isn't adjusted just right, it's terrible. Fortunately, there are a lot of adjustments, so it's quite easy to get it just right, once you know what you're looking for in an adjustment.

 

OK, in addition to all the seats you have used, which one do you like the best????

 

I have an EZ1 and a ActionBent Jetstream. My preferred seat between the 2 is the laidback seat on the Jetstream. I’ve ridden 30 miles on it with no problems, where I do get a sore bottom after about 20 miles or so on the EZ1 seat. My friend has a couple of homebuilt bents, and the seats on them are OK, but I prefer the seat from the Jetstream.

Curtis

 

Er, I gotta say, so far, I like the HP seat better.

 

yeah, the HP seat is great once you get it dialed in

 

I've only used 2 'bent seats: the RANS mesh-back that came on my VRex, and the large Volae fiberglass hardshell that I put on my RANS F5. It's fine for commuting and short road rides. I rode the hardshell on my first 1200k randonnee this past summer, and at the finish, my only complaint was sore legs (and a lack of sleep). That's enough to make me think I've found the seat I'm looking for.

SP

 

I am involved in a NEW recumbent model called EDGE. It is the old Burley model with a revised seat. The seat will fit on any Burley and Voloe. I have tried it twice and it is the best seat I have sat on. I currently ride a V Rex with a RANS seat which I LOVE. But the EDGE is better.

Hope others can try it and post what they think.

 

so thats what Bill has been up to....building a better Bent seat....cool

if you build it they will sit on it

 

I have the Rans Zephyr seat. It cost me $375 but the price has recently increased to $475. It is narrower than the stock seat and has a carbon fiber pan which makes it lighter.

 

I have the standard RANS mesh seat (post-2003, w/ Rad-Loc) on the V-Rex and the RANS Zephyr seat with CF seat pan and standard foam pad on the V2 Formula 26. I can ride the V-rex all day long, 75-100 mi, in absolute comfort. Have never had any of the "tailbone" issues some have had with this seat, and I've used both the modified version and the original version. This is the bike I go to for the long haul.

The Zephyr is definitely not as comfortable, my shoulder blades hit the seatback tubing, a common and known issue with this seat. Also, my backbone sometimes slightly hits the crossbar midway of the seat, when exerting a lot of pressure on the pedals and flexing the seatback mesh. Being so danged skinny doesn't help that issue. However, this seat saves a full 2 LBS over the previous standard mesh seat I had on the V2. And if I ever find a RANS thin pad to go on the seat, I'll shave off another 9 oz. Anybody got one they don't want?? Lotsa people can't stand the thin pad....

Don
Original RocketRiders Member #6, August 25, 2004

 

Listen to Don. I consider him the Godfather of Recumbents!!!!!

 

recumbent butt--mesh vs cushion.

I usually use seats that allow me to lay back as far as possible, because the upright seats have always given me recumbent butt. However, I now have a Lightning Phantom with a very upright seat. To my amazement, I can ride all day without recumbent butt. My hypothesis is that the mesh seats of the Lightning are better (for me) than are found on the cushioned Rans/EZ-racer style upright seats.