Recumbent Sizing

When sizing recumbent bikes and trikes, in addition to your height and weight, we also need some additional measurements. X-seam is the most important measurement, along with your inseam, to help us in setting the length of the trike so you can reach the pedals with proper leg extension. 

If you are getting a recumbent bike or trike with a hardshell seat, seated shoulder height is important for determining seat size. 

For sizing of older models of recumbent bikes, like Volae, we also need arm length to determine stem length to reach the handlebars. 

It is helpful to have someone else measure you, to get the most accurate of measurements.

Image demonstrating how to measure your x-seam for recumbent sizing.

X-Seam Measurement

Your X-seam measurement is essential when sizing certain recumbents. Many manufacturers have slightly different methods for measuring your x-seam. When ordering your recumbent from the Hostel Shoppe, be sure to use the method below: Place a 24 inch long board against a wall with the bottom of the board 12 inches from the wall. Sit on the floor with your back and butt against the board. Your X-seam measurement is the distance from the front of the board to the heels of your bare feet.

Person standing next to a wooden board with an arrow labeled 'Inseam' pointing downwards.

Inseam Measurement

While standing against the wall, position a book or board snugly as shown. Make sure the top edge of the book or board is parallel to the floor. Measure your inseam as shown.

Person demonstrating arm length and seated shoulder height measurements against a white background

Seated Shoulder Height and Arm Length Measurements

For seated shoulder height, measure from the top of the shoulder bone to the floor, as shown. 

For arm length, sit with your back against the wall and shoulders in a neutral position (Extend your shoulders all the way forward, then push your shoulders tightly back against the wall - neutral is the comfortable position in between). Measure from the wall to your knuckles, as shown.

Recumbent Sizing: How to Measure X-Seam and Seated Shoulder Height

0:00Hi, My name is Scott. I'm the general manager  here at the Hostel Shoppe and in today's how-to  0:05video I'm going to be showing you how to  measure the X-seam and the seated shoulder  0:10height measurements. These two measurements  are crucial in rider comfort and rider fit,  0:17so let's go ahead and get started. [Music]0:32Today I'm going to show you how we measure  X-Seam here at the Hostel Shoppe. I'm going  0:36to have Neviah sit down and take her left shoe  off. Once she has her left shoe off I'm going to  0:45have her swing her legs up here with her bare foot  up against the board and her back all the way up  0:51against the bottom of the angled board here at her  back. I'm going to make sure this comes in so it's  0:58tight with her toes pointed straight up and down.  And now you can swing your leg off and get off and  1:05what we have for an X Seam for Neviah is 38 and a  quarter inches. And what we do with this number,  1:11is we take this number and transfer it over  to the trike that she's getting ready to test  1:16ride or she is purchasing in the store. The other  crucial measurement that we take here for in store  1:22purchases is the seated shoulder height. This  helps us when we're dealing with a hard shell  1:27seat on a recumbent, or when we've got customers  that have longer torsos or shorter torsos,  1:34we need to know what seat will fit them best  on the trike that they're purchasing. I'm  1:38going to have Neviah again sit down here on  the measuring device. I'm going to have her  1:43lean straight back against this with her feet  straight out, and what we're going to do is  1:50we're going to find the top of her shoulder  and we're going to line it up. And we're at  1:5424 and 3/4 for her seated shoulder height.  Again we'll transfer this over to the specs  2:00that we have on the different hard shell seats  that we sell or the mesh seats that we sell to  2:05figure out which is the best for the best fit and  comfort when she rides a recumbent trike or bike.2:13When you purchase a trike from the Hostel Shoppe  there's one important measurement that we ask when  2:17purchasing the trike we ask for your X-Seam  measurement and there's a way you can do this  2:22at home with the help of one other person. The  first thing that you're going to need at home  2:27is a board that you can lean up against a wall or  a solid object. That board needs to be at least 2  2:36ft tall and it needs to be at least a foot out  from the base of the wall. What we're going to  2:44do is we're going to have our demonstrator  come over here and sit down on the ground,  2:49lean back against the the base of the board.  I'm going to have you take off your left shoe,  3:00lean all the way back, legs straight out, toes  pointed straight up and I'm going to measure  3:06from the base of the board out to the bottom of  her shoeless foot. And we get 39 and 1/4 inch so  3:18that's our X-Seam measurement ,and once we get  this X-seam measurement we can then transfer it  3:24over to your trike that you're purchasing from  us online or over the phone. And we can get your  3:30trike completely set up so when you get that at  home you can unpackage it and go for a ride. Once  3:38we get your confirmed X-seam measurement for the  trike you're purchasing I'm going to show you how  3:43we transfer the X-seam measurement over to your  new trike. I take my tape measure here and we run  3:50it to the back of the seat and then we run it all  the way to the crank arm in its furthest outward  3:57position to the pedal spindle, and we get your  X-seam set up. That way when you get your trike  4:05it's all ready to ride. Thanks for watching. If  you like this video please give us a thumbs up  4:10and subscribe. For more how to videos click here.  Be sure to visit our website for all your cycling  4:18needs by clicking the link in the description  below. Thanks and have a great day. [Music]

Hostel Shoppe manager Scott will show you two methods for sizing yourself when purchasing or adjusting a trike. First, Scott breaks down what these measurements are and how we measure in-store customers, then we'll show you an easy way to do this at home!