Sim Racing Ergonomics ...

... wherein an aging boomer finds a way to decrease lower back pain AND lap 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

Nice of you to share that with us, Kurt! Something for all of us aging boomers/GPL ***s to think about! Jack Rambo

Well Kurt I too am 51 yrs young but I can barely use my legs and feet. A serious condition I will not bore the newsgroup with... Anyway using my feet or legs for sim racin' is out. Cause I can't! I use a TM Sprint Wheel & my gas/brake-clutch are all on the wheel. One question Kurt; If your back is/was so bad how did you manage to do all the chopping. cutting & re-arranging of blocks, chairs etc? Just curious. Good luck in your new faster lap-times.... Cheers Thom j aka ^Fretts.. "O" P.S. My times aren't bad at all either!! ;0) Consistent 1:29-30s at Monza

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> ... wherein an aging boomer finds a way to decrease lower back pain AND lap > 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

n2rif1.vcf < 1K Download

I used one of those plastic chairs , for about a month , then the back began hurting again , so I went to a Auto's salvage yard , I found a 97 Chrysler with perfect bucket seats , even with lumbar support , mounted it on a couple of 2x4's , full range of motion , it's more comfortable than my recliner , well just as comfortable , ten bucks for the seat and I had 2x4's laying round , minimal mechanical skills required , the thing is we all use what is available to us , improvise , adapt , overcome!! Happy Motoring !! Jeff "^Fretts

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> Well Kurt I too am 51 yrs young but I can barely use my legs and feet. A serious > condition I will not bore the newsgroup with... Anyway using my feet or legs for > sim racin' is out. Cause I can't! I use a TM Sprint Wheel & my gas/brake-clutch > are all on the wheel. > One question Kurt; If your back is/was so bad how did you manage to do all the > chopping. cutting & re-arranging of blocks, chairs etc? Just curious. Good luck > in your new faster lap-times.... Cheers Thom j aka ^Fretts.. > "O" P.S. My times aren't bad at all either!! ;0) Consistent 1:29-30s at Monza > > ... wherein an aging boomer finds a way to decrease lower back pain AND lap > > 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

Does a metal poker chair with minimal cushion and a computer desk count as ergonomic ??? ROFL. Im 6ft 3in tall and 260+ lbs. All I know is that my ***is numb after those long 50% plus races on TEN or a nice long race at Monza. I use the NPro from TM and find the pedals to be a very good angle for myself. I suppose it has to do with my height and sitting fairly upright at a computer desk. I used velcro tape to keep my pedals in place. I have a anti-static pad and rug protector under my desk/chair and the velcro tape sticks to it very well. It also gives me the convenience of just "tearing" up the wheels if I need to do a spring change, etc. I wanted to build a "race" seat system... but my wife threatened me with bodily harm I will not describe to my fellow racers ;) (althought the word Bobbitt does come to mind). <VBG> Scott PA-Scott G.T.S. Racing - http://www.GTS-Racing.com/~sbhusted/GTS/gts.html -- Scott B. Husted ICQ# 4395450

It is interesting the lengths that we go to for our chosen sport ... i too was having significant back pain from extended periods of sitting in a swivel/ reclining chair ... and a desk that was none too stable ... so i ended up splurging on a ferraro design***pit/ game console ... i had to do some modifying of the wheel base ... to raise it and allow me to mount my microsoft wheel ... and a heap of 100 mph tape to get the pedals to stay put ... but with a constant driving postion my lap times have dropped and after racing i am much more comfortable vive le race regards shane