How is your desk set up?

Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted with a big engineering task - where will this go? I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk drawer used to be. My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my wheel, with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, but everything else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This just ain't gonna last. How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for the wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but there is a better approach, I'm sure. Dave

"David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

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> How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for the > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > Dave

I used to race at my desk but in the end, sim racing got the better of me and I bought a BRD Race Frame Pro. You can see my race setup at http://www.legendscentral.com/images/gf1.jpg When I raced at my desk I used to take the wheel off when I didn't need it. You should be able to remove your wheel in 30 seconds or so. I'd do that if I were you. To keep your pedals in place make yourself a pedal support that butts up to your wall. The pedal support only needs to be a flat piece of board (I used MDF) with some blocks screwed across it to butt against the wall and for your pedals to butt up against. Alternatively use self adhesive Velcro tape on the bottom of the pedal box. Cheers Phil Lee Legends Central Admin http://www.legendscentral.com

Build a cockpit!! There are examples all over the net. If you build it right, you can incorporate both the regular home use and the SimRacing use of the computer :-) -- Michael A. Barlow currently Acting as "Head of Marketing" FILSCA (www.filsca.com) "David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF > wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted with > a big engineering task - where will this go? > > I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk drawer > used to be. My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I > had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my wheel, > with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, but everything > else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This just ain't gonna last. > How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for the > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > Dave >

David Geesaman <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > there is a better approach, I'm sure. I've never seen this posted, so I'll share my solution. Go to your local home improvement store and get a roll of "gripper mat". This is made from a strong nylon mesh with heavy-duty sticky foam rubber molded around it. It is sold in one version for kitchen shelf liners and a heavier duty version is sold for lining tool boxes. Take a sheet of gripper mat and attach it to the flat bottom of your pedals with glue or double-sided tape. Now, set the pedals on the carpet. I think you'll be amazed at how difficult it is to get them to slide. Yet it's easy to pick up to reposition the pedals or to put them away. A further tip: wrap a sheet of gripper mat around the edge of your desk, from the top to the bottom, between your wheel unit and the desk. Then tighten the clamps. Even when I had a cheap Thrustmaster T2 with its marginal clamps, this made the setup rock-solid with no slipping. I haven't tried it with other wheels beside the T2 and my TSW, but I suspect it will help in many situations. Hope that helps. Scott Willingham

ahh, the old tried and true Enlight 7237 case. I got 3 of them myself. :-) "Phil Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:CO1w7.28731$[email hidden]... > "David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount forthe

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> > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from > > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > > > Dave > > > I used to race at my desk but in the end, sim racing got the better of me > and I bought a BRD Race Frame Pro. You can see my race setup at > http://www.legendscentral.com/images/gf1.jpg > > When I raced at my desk I used to take the wheel off when I didn't need

it. > You should be able to remove your wheel in 30 seconds or so. I'd do thatif > I were you. > > To keep your pedals in place make yourself a pedal support that butts upto > your wall. The pedal support only needs to be a flat piece of board (Iused > MDF) with some blocks screwed across it to butt against the wall and for > your pedals to butt up against. Alternatively use self adhesive Velcrotape

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> on the bottom of the pedal box. > > Cheers > > Phil Lee > > Legends Central Admin > http://www.legendscentral.com > > >

Not sure I can help much with the wheel mount. On my desk it's above the keyboard tray with the keyboard in place below the wheel. I basically don't unmount the wheel since all I do at the desk is race & check email. My pedals are also on carpet but a couple of pieces of Velcro hook on the corners of the pedals keep them in place just fine. Jeff -snipped-

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> How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for the > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > Dave >

"Jeff Hails" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Uy5w7.2939$[email hidden]... : I basically don't : unmount the wheel since all I do at the desk is race & check email. Cool. :-) A man with clearly defined priorities. Dale. ================================================== GPL Rank: +106.12 CP990 Panorama Gallery: http://members.home.net/digitallattice/pano.html

I have an old floor mat from a car under my pedals. The floor mat has grippers under it that keep it in place on the carpet, and the pedals won't slide past the rolled edge of the floor mat. The best part is that I did not have to permanently modify anything. "David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF > wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confrontedwith > a big engineering task - where will this go? > > I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk drawer > used to be. My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I > had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my wheel, > with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, buteverything > else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This just ain't gonna last. > How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount forthe > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedalsfrom > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > Dave >

Breeze blocks baby! Thats what i use to keep my thrusty's from sliding all over the floor..and I got three ... -I- :-) jv "Haqsau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:wH9w7.13616$[email hidden]...

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> I have an old floor mat from a car under my pedals. The floor mat has > grippers under it that keep it in place on the carpet, and the pedals > won't slide past the rolled edge of the floor mat. The best part is > that I did not have to permanently modify anything. > > > "David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF > > wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted > with > > a big engineering task - where will this go? > > > > I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk drawer > > used to be. My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I > > had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my wheel, > > with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, but > everything > > else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This just ain't gonna last. > > How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for > the > > wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot? > > > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals > from > > slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but > > there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > > > Dave > > >

"David Geesaman" wrote... > Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari > FF wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted > with a big engineering task - where will this go? > > I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk > drawer used to be. Yuk... I could never get used to such an arrangement myself. Didn't your forearms start to hurt from the lack of wrist support?

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> My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I > had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my > wheel, with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, > but everything else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This > just ain't gonna last. How do you guys have it set up? Extra > wide desk? Foldaway mount for the wheel? Do you just unmount/ > mount the wheel a lot?

I mount and unmount the wheel for simming as my computer is stil primarily a workplace. I need to be able to type and operate the mouse comfortably. Mine's a smallish desk (115x60cm). On the right is a stack of paper trays with my mouse/mousepad in front of it. In the center there's a wristpad followed by my keyboard (I remove the former and slide the latter further onto the desk when I drive) and a pen tray along with various other office bits and bobs (ruler, pair of scissors, etc...). To the left and angled towards me is my 14" monitor and speakers and a couple more office supplies (calculator, stapler, tape, etc..). > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals > from slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, > but there is a better approach, I'm sure. There is, but I got 'm propped up with an old pair of shoes too! ;-) Jan. =--- "Pay attention when I'm talking to you boy!" -Foghorn Leghorn.

Jan Verschueren wrote:

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> "David Geesaman" wrote... > >>Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari >>FF wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted >>with a big engineering task - where will this go? >> >>I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk >>drawer used to be. >> > > Yuk... I could never get used to such an arrangement myself. Didn't your > forearms start to hurt from the lack of wrist support? >

Actually, it's the height of the keyboard that affects my comfort, not wrist support. If your hands rest below the level of your elbows you won't need wrist support. If the keyboard is too high I get terrible pinching and discomfort in my shoulders and neck.

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>>My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I >>had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my >>wheel, with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, >>but everything else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This >>just ain't gonna last. How do you guys have it set up? Extra >>wide desk? Foldaway mount for the wheel? Do you just unmount/ >>mount the wheel a lot? >> > > I mount and unmount the wheel for simming as my computer is stil primarily a > workplace. I need to be able to type and operate the mouse comfortably.

I've been thinking of a way to mount the wheel to something that I can rapidly put into place. That way, I can remove it without pain and keep my keyboard and monitor where they need to be. Dave > >

"David Geesaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF > wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted with > a big engineering task - where will this go? I have my keyboard on the desk itself and use the keyboard tray just for the mouse and random paper/Pop Tart/etc storage. When I race I put the wheel on the keyboard tray, crank the chair down as far as it'll go and go racing. Best thing about this is that the keyboard is real easy to get to even while driving so I can type multi-sentence diatribes while racing N4 online pickup races. The pedal unit is on the carpet and with its little rubber feet (TSW2 stock) hasn't moved at all while driving, and occasionally won't move much at all even while trying to move it to vacuum. Visual aid: http://www.claff.net/pics/deskwheel.jpg

In my study at home I have two desks, with a pc on each desk. Connected to the two pc's I have an F1 Sim and an F1 Sim compact. The main pc has the full size F1 Sim wheel and pedal set-up. This has two quick release connectors on the desk for mounting the steering column to the desk. When the steering column is removed, all you see on the desk are two small round flush mounted brass ferrules, which the F1 Sim steering column bolts onto. It takes about 5 seconds to bolt it on, and about 5 seconds to remove it from the desk. My second desk and pc has the F1 Sim compact connected. This version has a large baseboard on which you place the pc monitor. The weight of the monitor stops the steering column from moving around. The steering column bolts to the baseboard via three quick release screws. It takes about 20 seconds to remove the steering column from this set-up, and once removed you still have the baseboard under the monitor. Sometimes its easier to just remove the steering column and the baseboard (whilst they are still connected) from under the monitor. For good pictures of both set-ups go to: http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/p26pics.htm 8-) *Peter* - http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html

Why no covers on your computers? That would drive me nuts :-) Here is my second desk, where I do all of my racing. http://mo-sbdc.org/slg/pod.html :-) [email hidden] wrote:

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>In my study at home I have two desks, with a pc on each desk. Connected >to the two pc's I have an F1 Sim and an F1 Sim compact. > >The main pc has the full size F1 Sim wheel and pedal set-up. This has >two quick release connectors on the desk for mounting the steering >column to the desk. When the steering column is removed, all you see on >the desk are two small round flush mounted brass ferrules, which the F1 >Sim steering column bolts onto. > >It takes about 5 seconds to bolt it on, and about 5 seconds to remove it >from the desk. > >My second desk and pc has the F1 Sim compact connected. This version has >a large baseboard on which you place the pc monitor. The weight of the >monitor stops the steering column from moving around. The steering >column bolts to the baseboard via three quick release screws. It takes >about 20 seconds to remove the steering column from this set-up, and >once removed you still have the baseboard under the monitor. > >Sometimes its easier to just remove the steering column and the >baseboard (whilst they are still connected) from under the monitor. > >For good pictures of both set-ups go to: > >http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/p26pics.htm > >8-) > >*Peter* - http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

On 7 Oct 2001 13:53:03 -0500, David Geesaman <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> Being a newbie to sims, I bought F1 2001 and a Thrustmaster Ferrari FF >wheel. As soon as I opened the box to the wheel, I was confronted with >a big engineering task - where will this go? > > I had my desk set up with a slider keyboard tray where the desk drawer >used to be. My chair was jacked up so that I barely fit under. Now I >had to remove the keyboard tray and set the kb alongside of my wheel, >with the mouse on the extreme right. The game is great, but everything >else (typing, reading screen, etc) sucks. This just ain't gonna last. > How do you guys have it set up? Extra wide desk? Foldaway mount for the >wheel? Do you just unmount/mount the wheel a lot?

After much trial and error, I finally have a good setup. I got an old office desk from work for $10us (the big, heavy, metal ones) when they bought new office furniture. 5 feet wide, 2 1/2 feet deep and 28 inches tall. It has 2 drawers on each side. the middle has an opening about 28 inches wide. This desk is perfect for racing. The wheel goes on with no problems. My keyboard is on the left of it and my mouse on the right. I dismount my wheel when not in use. (BTW, TSW2) > > And on that note: have any good suggestions for keeping the pedals from >slipping on the carpet? I've blocked it into place with sneakers, but >there is a better approach, I'm sure. > > Dave Yes, go to a store similar to Home Depot/Menards. Get some scrap wood. You will need 1 flat piece that's a little wider than your pedals (mine is 1 inch thick, 16 in by 24 in) for a base. Then get a few smaller flat pieces (1x4 inch). The base piece shoud butt right up against the wall (assuming your desk is up against a wall). Then just mount the pedal asy. to the base piece where it will be comfortable to use. Mount it with the smaller pieces of wood. I also have wood screws that go up through the base piece of wood into the bottom of my padal asy. I doesn't budge while racing! Hope this helps............ Todd

On Tue, 09 Oct 2001 13:11:00 GMT, [email hidden] (Steve Garrotto) wrote:

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>Why no covers on your computers? That would drive me nuts :-) > >Here is my second desk, where I do all of my racing. > >http://mo-sbdc.org/slg/pod.html > >:-)

Can I move in with you? =)

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Steve Garrotto) wrote: > Why no covers on your computers? That would drive me nuts :-) Cos I'm always fiddling with the inside of my pc's. Both current pc's were hand built by me (Well, I ordered all the parts from the maufacturers and assembled all the bits to form a working pc myself). Both are overclocked, (Celeron 300a running at 450Mhz, & an Athlon Duron 600 running at 900Mhz, & both 3D cards are also clocked, V3 2000 cards running at 175Mhz) and so both pc's get hot from time to time, and both have extra fans fitted to aid cooling. Leaving the case off means its easy to get access and it also aids colling of the PC internals. If I am working (highly unusual!) they are a bit noisy I have to admit, but most of the time I have music on or I am racing sims, so I cannot hear them. No-one else uses my study (She has her own spare room to play in) so I don't really care what it looks like. Occasionally some pals visit and we play (networked) driving games, but they know I'm a bit of a geek and they know nothing about PC's so they just think its cool and tend not to say much about it. 8-) *Peter* - http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html