Getting up to my first 100K on an S40

[JimmyOlsonSuperman]

So I've done 600Ks and attempted a 1200K the Paris Brest Paris in France. But that was all on an upright. Do to butt issues I've moved to an S40 and I've been on it for about 9 months.

My main challenge right now is two small spots in my butt that get sore. I think they're small muscles that get used more on S40 than on an up right. Has anythone else run into this? Also, when I stop peddling the sore spots quickly go away. But the come back again after pedaling for a little while. Note: I'm 6'8" and I'm used to putting out a lof of power, but I'm not sure that matters for this issue. Does anyone have any idea what is going on here?

My other challenge is going up hill. The street in front of my house is 10% to 12% and I'm not that stable going up the hill. Sometimes the front wheel slips and I'm burning through my legs faster than I'd like. I'm not sure I could manage that on a Rando ride. But I'm using the gearing it came with. I'm guessing I need to get something different? I usually ride around 15mph for 200K+ rides, but that's on an upright. I haven't put a bike calculator on the S40 yet, so I don't know how fast I'm going on it. Do I need different gearing? And if so, what should I be looking for?

 

[IyhelM]

Welcome Jimmy!

Regarding the seating issue, you have a couple of options: what padding are you using? If it is the basic foam one, you may want to try a ventisit (mesh) one ; you can also try and add pieces of gym matt here and there in the lumbar and butt area of the seat to make it fit better to your body - no rule here, ever’s butt is unique. Eventually it looks like a lot of people feeling ‘recumbutt’ on a S40 switch to a Thor seat with a better anatomic shape.
But actually before changing anything, for how many miles have you been riding the S40? Maybe your muscles still need a bit of adaptation?

Same with climbing, it goes better with mileage. What is your minimum ratio, 1:1? Also, what is your crank length, compared to what you were used to on an upright?
Due to steering-pedalling interaction it is usually better on a direct forward wheel drive like Cruzbikes to spin fast rather than to grind hard so maybe upgrading to a double chainring is a good idea if 10%+ grades are not uncommon for you. A 46-30 subcompact chainring with a 11-34 or 36 cassette will get you up almost anything with the right tires - and you’d even gain in the high speed end.
By the way, a curved seat like the thor or the new CB carbon one (or simply additional padding ) will give you better lumbar and dorsal support to get power through in climbs. For short bursts you can pull on the bars for additional power (and better balance as it moves your weight closer to the steering axis) but it is not sustainable for long climbs.

One last thing: you are rather tall, what is the chainstay length on your bike? If it is the standard one, note that Cruzbike only recommend it up to 6’5’’, maybe you’d benefit from a longer one p, as it is your feet must be quite low and it won’t help with both steering and hip angle and thus sore butt. Give Cruzbike a call to see what the options are.

 

[orind]

Going one size smaller on the front chainring will take the edge off the climbs, but will also reduce your top peddling speed. I use a 40 tooth ring and my max peddling speed for me is 28mph--plenty fast. At 12% I find I need to sit up a bit to help with weight over the front wheel.

 

[JimmyOlsonSuperman]

Welcome Jimmy!

Regarding the seating issue, you have a couple of options: what padding are you using? If it is the basic foam one, you may want to try a ventisit (mesh) one ; you can also try and add pieces of gym matt here and there in the lumbar and butt area of the seat to make it fit better to your body - no rule here, ever’s butt is unique. Eventually it looks like a lot of people feeling ‘recumbutt’ on a S40 switch to a Thor seat with a better anatomic shape.
But actually before changing anything, for how many miles have you been riding the S40? Maybe your muscles still need a bit of adaptation?

Same with climbing, it goes better with mileage. What is your minimum ratio, 1:1? Also, what is your crank length, compared to what you were used to on an upright?
Due to steering-pedalling interaction it is usually better on a direct forward wheel drive like Cruzbikes to spin fast rather than to grind hard so maybe upgrading to a double chainring is a good idea if 10%+ grades are not uncommon for you. A 46-30 subcompact chainring with a 11-34 or 36 cassette will get you up almost anything with the right tires - and you’d even gain in the high speed end.
By the way, a curved seat like the thor or the new CB carbon one (or simply additional padding ) will give you better lumbar and dorsal support to get power through in climbs. For short bursts you can pull on the bars for additional power (and better balance as it moves your weight closer to the steering axis) but it is not sustainable for long climbs.

One last thing: you are rather tall, what is the chainstay length on your bike? If it is the standard one, note that Cruzbike only recommend it up to 6’5’’, maybe you’d benefit from a longer one p, as it is your feet must be quite low and it won’t help with both steering and hip angle and thus sore butt. Give Cruzbike a call to see what the options are.

I've added extra what I call solid foam to the seat that I purchased from Cruzebike. And I added a softer wide foam by stealing from the original cruzbike seat. I have and extended seat. And I've pretty much solved the butt comfort issue. At least for short distances. I've done 40 mile rides no problem, but I'm planning to extend my range soon. The butt soreness I'm getting is all muscle fatigue, it seems to be a smaller group of muscles in the rear. It seems to be aligning with the Gluteos Medius or at least the excercises that cause burn in the gluteos medius seem to match what I'm getting on the S40. I also don't seem to get the soreness when going up hill, which is strange because that's when I doing a lot more work.

The gearing ratio I have is the same as the S40 stock bike, meaning I haven't changed any of the original gearing from when I got the S40 from cruzbike. Though I did have Rose City Recumbant do chain extension. That was kind of a must at 6'8".

I like the idea of calling Cruzbike, that should have a lot of knowledge by now. I can do the 10 to 12% climbs, but not a lot of it as would be neede for a Rando ride covering 100K, 200K, 300K, 400K, 600K and 1200K. And I also don't feel comfortable going up hill on the side of the road, say on the shoulder or in the bike lane. This is why I've generally been sticking to the trails. I can't do that when I do a Rando ride.

 

[JimmyOlsonSuperman]

Going one size smaller on the front chainring will take the edge off the climbs, but will also reduce your top peddling speed. I use a 40 tooth ring and my max peddling speed for me is 28mph--plenty fast. At 12% I find I need to sit up a bit to help with weight over the front wheel.

I'm going to try calling cruzbike. But it might be worth putting on a larger chain ring on the back as a lower gear option for steeper hills. I live in the Northwest with the coast, cascades and olympics putting hill at me constantly. I definitely concerned when I'm going to have to take on the 15% and 20% grade hills, I might just jump to gear 0 at that point, which is walking.