How to measure your X-seam for a recumbent trike

The Xseam is different than your inseam. The inseam measures from your crotch down to your ankle, and the Xseam measures from the back of your butt to your heel when you're sitting on the ground. And so, the Xseam is determined by how small or big your butt is. When you're sitting in a recumbent seat, the Xseam measures from the back of the seat where the back of your butt is to the heel of your foot. So that's where the pedal would be. And when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal, it gives you a little bit of bend in the knee, allowing for a good pedal stroke.

Sit on the ground, go ahead and place a board about 60 degrees up against the wall, measure from the bottom of the board to your heel, and that will give you your Xseam. Wear your riding shoes and have someone help so the number is clean. We show it in Illustration A on this page.

You don't guess from height. You take your X-seam. That number tells us which models fit your legs and how long to set the boom. If the boom is right, your knee has a little bend at the bottom of the stroke. That's how you know it fits.

Height doesn't size a trike. Two people at 5'10" can need different boom lengths because their legs and seat position aren't the same. Measure your X-seam, send it over, and we'll match you to models that fit that number.

Too small and your knees over-bend at the top of the stroke. Too big and your legs lock out at the bottom. Either one wears on you fast. Get the X-seam right and we set the boom so neither happens.

No. Bike shops talk inseam. That's crotch to ankle standing up. X-seam is measured sitting, from the back of your butt to your heel. Beginners often ask with bike words first. That's fine. Once you have your X-seam, we can talk real fit.

Height sizes a shirt. It does not size a trike. Two riders can be the same height with different leg length. One ends up cramped. The other locks out at the bottom of the stroke. If you're asking what size trike for your height, the real answer is your X-seam.

That's why I like an assistant on the measure, and why we still talk it through on the Dream Trike call. A bad number shows up as knees that over-bend or lock out. Never be satisfied with okay. We'll catch it before we build.

No. Most riders I work with live far from Sacramento. We fit you from home with your X-seam, build the trike to match, and ship it ready to ride. The trike ships fully assembled and ready to ride. All you have to do is take it out of the box and go for a ride. Grab a free Build Your Dream Trike session if you want help picking the right one.

On the free call we talk about your body and where you want to ride. Then you measure X-seam at home and send it over. We narrow 30+ models down to 1 to 3 that fit, with a real quote on each before you hang up.

Yeah. Wrong boom length is one of the fastest ways to aggravate a sore knee or back on a trike. Get the X-seam right so the knee doesn't over-bend at the top or lock out at the bottom. I'm a trike guy, not a doctor, so check with yours if you're coming off an injury.

The shoes you plan to ride in. That way the number matches real riding, not bare feet on the kitchen floor.