times.
Hello, y'all --
I'm 51, and have pretty-near-chronic sciatic (sp?) nerve problems on the
left side. For the past year, symptoms have been worse than usual.
So I'm at the doctor one day, getting manipulated, and griping about how the
pain doesn't seem to be relieved much, though it had been before. Hmmm, the
doc says. Do you drive a car with a clutch? Yes, I said, but I'm
self-employed, often drive less than 50 miles a week and sometimes don't
move the car for days at a time. Can't be driving that's irritating it.
(Readers smarter than me will see where this is going, though it took me
months for the light to go on.)
I work and race at the same computer. Since I give a damn about my back, my
workstation is PERFECTLY set up for ergonomic comfort and efficiency. But
one day, finally, I noticed how atrocious the configuration is for sim
driving.
In my case, the biggest problem was in the combination of seat height and
pedal angle. (I use a Thrustmaster Super Sport.) I discovered that I was
pushing DOWN on the pedal more than I was pushing FORWARD. Worse, since I
brake with my left foot, that foot was almost always held poised above the
brake pedal, aggravating my condition.
Eureka!
Last week, I grabbed one of the cheap plastic resin patio chairs I had
around the house, and hack-sawed five inches off all four legs, which
changed the angle that my feet meet the pedals. I immediately noticed a
difference. Next, I noticed that because of the pedal throw of the SS and
the angle of its base, my right foot was pointed uncomfortably (like a
ballet dancer) when I have the pedal floored. Solution was to take an empty
two-inch three-ring binder I had laying around (a handy, cheap wedge shape)
and to put it under the pedal unit. Voila! Comfortable angle!
Most importantly, I found a block around the house that happened to be about
the same height off the floor that the brake pedal now was, and I placed the
block to the left of the brake, so I have a place to rest my foot, but that
still allows me to get on the brake fast. What a difference! I drove my
Eagle an unconscionable amount this weeked without pain.
As a happy sidelight, since my ***is lower than it had been, the wheel of
the SS is now angled very comfortably at chest level, where it had been kind
of down by my belly before. I now have to look slightly UP at my monitor,
but that's helping, too, since I have a tendency to slouch.
AND, I managed to set a couple of new personal best lap times after making
these adjustments.
I was going to submit my findings to the New England Journal of Medicine,
but thought I would share them with y'all first. Happy (and comfortable!)
driving.
Kurt Steinbock