ruined my life

Jay writes:

>Also, set the steering wheel to
>keep your elbows bent quite a bit. The "sports car straight arm" posture
>will strain your neck, and this may be the source of the pinched nerve.

The best way to find seat position is to adjust the seat so that when your
shoulders are against the seat back and your arms extended, your wrist should
be resting on the top of the steering wheel. This technique is taught in many
performance driving schools. With most cars that have adjustable seats, I am
skeptical when I hear someone say they aren't comfortable. There are so many
different combinations of the eight ways to adjust, that there *has* to be a
comfortable one for just about anyone, regardless their size.
jmo

Dave
(comfort as good as it gets in an RS6)

Dave LaCourse wrote:

>Jay writes:
>
>>Also, set the steering wheel to
>>keep your elbows bent quite a bit. The "sports car straight arm" posture
>>will strain your neck, and this may be the source of the pinched nerve.
>
>The best way to find seat position is to adjust the seat so that when your
>shoulders are against the seat back and your arms extended, your wrist should
>be resting on the top of the steering wheel. This technique is taught in many
>performance driving schools.

Ack.

There's no sports car straight arm position anymore.

I got the sport seats in my A6 and unfortunately one cushion was
pressing on one nerve in my right hip.

I got it modified by a specialist car upholstery guy (the kind that
does luxury refurbishments on oldtimers). It took him only a bit and
cost me ~30 USD.

Since then the seat is bascially custom made for me, fits perfect and
lets me make 9 hour runs without any problems. And the best thing is:
You wouldn't notice that something was done, so well it was done.

Regards

Wolfgang

--
1999 Audi A6 Avant TDI

On 29 Jan 2005 17:53:25 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:

> Jay writes:
>
> >Also, set the steering wheel to
> >keep your elbows bent quite a bit. The "sports car straight arm" posture
> >will strain your neck, and this may be the source of the pinched nerve.
>
> The best way to find seat position is to adjust the seat so that when your
> shoulders are against the seat back and your arms extended, your wrist should
> be resting on the top of the steering wheel. This technique is taught in many
> performance driving schools.

This is exactly the problem! This used to be favored for "performance
driving" but not as much these days. However, the point is that we are
seeking a strain-free seat position, particularly for someone with lower
back/sciatic problems. The straight-arm posture is exceedingly hard on the
cervical and lumbar regions.

> With most cars that have adjustable seats, I am
> skeptical when I hear someone say they aren't comfortable. There are so many
> different combinations of the eight ways to adjust, that there *has* to be a
> comfortable one for just about anyone, regardless their size.
> jmo
>
> Dave
> (comfort as good as it gets in an RS6)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:21:24 -0000, "5potnoodle" >
wrote:

> I used to get back pain after a long drive until quite by coincidence I
> changed the mattress on my bed for one of those new foam type ones... can't
> remember what back pain is anymore.

Anything that reduces spinal trauma will help. But while in the car,
continue with a "healthy" posture. You will thak yourself several years
from now. :-)

>
> Ian
>
> "Dennis" > wrote in message
> newsDLKd.3893$g_3.3578@trndny08...
> >I had a similar issue with my A6 except it was my lower back. I'd been
> >driving A6's and 100's for 7 years putting on approximately 55-60K per year
> >due to my commute. I had a 91 100, 92 100s, and a 98 A6 Avant. The thing
> >is, they all had the same exact seats! I'm not a tall guy, only 5'9" but I
> >was experiencing pretty severe back pain every day. My remedy was to buy an
> >A8! It's like sitting in a recliner and since I bought it, I haven't had
> >any back pain at all!
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > Chas wrote:
> >> "JJ" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>
> >>>My A4 has ruined my life. I have extreme leg pain from this vehicle. My
> >>>leg is numb and aches...every time I drive...I guess....being
> >>>tall......is NOT a good thing. I had a passat....not problems...but I
> >>>think this vehicle is very close to the Jetta.......
> >>
> >>
> >> Odd thing, I'm only 6' and my right leg used to ache terribly after
> >> driving my A4 for more than an hour or so. Took me a while to notice the
> >> culprit - for a while I thought was just getting old!! Then I spent
> >> about 9 hours in my A4 over a couple of days and could hardly stand the
> >> next day!!!
> >>
> >> IMO, I think the main problem was there being very little 'spring' (or
> >> feedback) in the gas pedal, causing ny foot to be lightly balanced,
> >> causing tension especially down the lower leg.
> >>
> >> I now drive a Ford Galaxy, which apart from a completely different
> >> driving position also has an accelerator that has more positive feedback
> >> and you can 'rest' your foot on - but need to press hard to go faster. I
> >> haven't noticed *any* pain since.
> >>
> >> FWIW my brother-in-law, who is 6'5" does about 2,500 miles a month in his
> >> 03 Passat (basically an earlier A4) and I've never heard him say anything
> >> other than how comfortable it is.
>

--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)

Jay writes:

>On 29 Jan 2005 17:53:25 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:
>
>> Jay writes:
>>
>> >Also, set the steering wheel to
>> >keep your elbows bent quite a bit. The "sports car straight arm" posture
>> >will strain your neck, and this may be the source of the pinched nerve.
>>
>> The best way to find seat position is to adjust the seat so that when your
>> shoulders are against the seat back and your arms extended, your wrist
>should
>> be resting on the top of the steering wheel. This technique is taught in
>many
>> performance driving schools.

>
>This is exactly the problem! This used to be favored for "performance
>driving" but not as much these days. However, the point is that we are
>seeking a strain-free seat position, particularly for someone with lower
>back/sciatic problems. The straight-arm posture is exceedingly hard on the
>cervical and lumbar regions.

Uhhhh, where did I say "straight arm" in my advice? It isn't there. And, if
you adjust your seat so that you *are* comfortable *and* your wrists hang over
the top of the steering wheel, your arms will have a very comfortable position.
They will NOT be straight armed, but have a fairly good bend in them. *And*
they will be comfortable. Try it.

Dave
RS6

On 30 Jan 2005 18:03:56 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:

> Jay writes:
>
> >On 29 Jan 2005 17:53:25 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:
> >
> >> Jay writes:
> >>
> >> >Also, set the steering wheel to
> >> >keep your elbows bent quite a bit. The "sports car straight arm" posture
> >> >will strain your neck, and this may be the source of the pinched nerve.
> >>
> >> The best way to find seat position is to adjust the seat so that when your
> >> shoulders are against the seat back and your arms extended, your wrist
> >should
> >> be resting on the top of the steering wheel. This technique is taught in
> >many
> >> performance driving schools.
>
> >
> >This is exactly the problem! This used to be favored for "performance
> >driving" but not as much these days. However, the point is that we are
> >seeking a strain-free seat position, particularly for someone with lower
> >back/sciatic problems. The straight-arm posture is exceedingly hard on the
> >cervical and lumbar regions.
>
> Uhhhh, where did I say "straight arm" in my advice? It isn't there. And, if
> you adjust your seat so that you *are* comfortable *and* your wrists hang over
> the top of the steering wheel, your arms will have a very comfortable position.
> They will NOT be straight armed, but have a fairly good bend in them. *And*
> they will be comfortable. Try it.

What you quoted was close enough to "straight arm" to cause stress. Even
with wrists resting on top of the wheel, arms will still be extended too
much for many people. I stand by my advice.

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)

Jay Somerset writes:

>What you quoted was close enough to "straight arm" to cause stress. Even
>with wrists resting on top of the wheel, arms will still be extended too
>much for many people. I stand by my advice.

You're reading skills need help, Jay. Nowhere did I say that you should rest
your wrists on the top of the wheel while driving.

Let me try again, and I'll try to be more explicit for you.

To find the correct (racing or street driving) seating postion, get comfortable
in your seat. Then, extend your arms over the top of the wheel. Your wrists
should rest on top of the wheel. This is a *measurement only*!!! NOTE: *This
is NOT the driving position of the hands!* If your wrists can rest on the top
of the wheel from your *comfortable* seating position, your arms are ready to
drive the car. Now, comes the tricky part: remove your wrists from the top of
the wheel and place your hands at three and nine (Note: Three is for the
RIGHT hand, while nine is for the LEFT hand.) At this driving postion you are
not only comfortable but you can steer the car properly. In this *proper*
seating/steering position, it is possible to make a complete half turn of the
wheel without lifting your hands from the 3 and 9 position. If you need more
wheel than that, chances are you are already in a world of **** and no steering
will help! (Think brakes at this time, Jay! And screaming too!) Also, if you
like to shuffle steer, (I don't) this position is ideal.

I hope this has cleared up any misunderstanding. <sigh>

I've taught this measurement method to just about every police officer in
Vermont, The Vermont Police Academy, lots in Massachusetts State Troopers
(Troup E on the Mass Pike), some in Maryland, the RCMP in Regina, Saskatchawan,
The Marshall Service, any number of body guards (including Henry Kissenger's),
EMTs, fleet drivers, teens, and just plain old ordinary people.

It works!

Dave
RS6

"Dave LaCourse" > wrote in message
...
> Jay writes:

Test from Giganews, not AOL

Dave,
"Dave LaCourse" > wrote in message
I guess your almost there but you should have started with:
Sit in the chair and press the clutch (or brake i.c.o. automatic car).
Adjust the chair position in such way that if the clutch is fully pressed,
the knee is stil bend a little and not fully streched. Next contiue with
adjustment of the steeringwheel and or back of the chair with the
measurement you have described.
>
> To find the correct (racing or street driving) seating postion, get
comfortable
> in your seat. Then, extend your arms over the top of the wheel. Your
wrists
> should rest on top of the wheel. This is a *measurement only*!!! NOTE:
*This
> is NOT the driving position of the hands!* If your wrists can rest on the
top
> of the wheel from your *comfortable* seating position, your arms are ready
to
> drive the car. Now, comes the tricky part: remove your wrists from the
top of
> the wheel and place your hands at three and nine (Note: Three is for the
> RIGHT hand, while nine is for the LEFT hand.) At this driving postion you
are
> not only comfortable but you can steer the car properly. In this *proper*
> seating/steering position, it is possible to make a complete half turn of
the
> wheel without lifting your hands from the 3 and 9 position. If you need
more
> wheel than that, chances are you are already in a world of **** and no
steering
> will help! (Think brakes at this time, Jay! And screaming too!) Also,
if you
> like to shuffle steer, (I don't) this position is ideal.
>
> I hope this has cleared up any misunderstanding. <sigh>
>
> I've taught this measurement method to just about every police officer in
> Vermont, The Vermont Police Academy, lots in Massachusetts State Troopers
> (Troup E on the Mass Pike), some in Maryland, the RCMP in Regina,
Saskatchawan,
> The Marshall Service, any number of body guards (including Henry
Kissenger's),
> EMTs, fleet drivers, teens, and just plain old ordinary people.
>
> It works!
>
> Dave
> RS6
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

On 31 Jan 2005 02:29:35 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:

> Jay Somerset writes:
>
> >What you quoted was close enough to "straight arm" to cause stress. Even
> >with wrists resting on top of the wheel, arms will still be extended too
> >much for many people. I stand by my advice.
>
> You're reading skills need help, Jay. Nowhere did I say that you should rest
> your wrists on the top of the wheel while driving.

I'm not an idiot. Obviously, the "wrists on top of the wheel" was to set
distance -- no one drives that way.

You seem to have missed a very important point -- street driving and
performance driving positions have different objectives. Both strive to
maintain good car control, but the performance driving one doesn't care two
hoots for long-term comfort, nor cater to drivers with neck/leg/back
problems.

Of course the position you espouse works -- all I have said was that is not
necessarily optimal for all people.

Cut down a bit on the arrogance and sarcasm -- it might help.

>
> Let me try again, and I'll try to be more explicit for you.
>
> To find the correct (racing or street driving) seating postion, get comfortable
> in your seat. Then, extend your arms over the top of the wheel. Your wrists
> should rest on top of the wheel. This is a *measurement only*!!! NOTE: *This
> is NOT the driving position of the hands!* If your wrists can rest on the top
> of the wheel from your *comfortable* seating position, your arms are ready to
> drive the car. Now, comes the tricky part: remove your wrists from the top of
> the wheel and place your hands at three and nine (Note: Three is for the
> RIGHT hand, while nine is for the LEFT hand.) At this driving postion you are
> not only comfortable but you can steer the car properly. In this *proper*
> seating/steering position, it is possible to make a complete half turn of the
> wheel without lifting your hands from the 3 and 9 position. If you need more
> wheel than that, chances are you are already in a world of **** and no steering
> will help! (Think brakes at this time, Jay! And screaming too!) Also, if you
> like to shuffle steer, (I don't) this position is ideal.
>
> I hope this has cleared up any misunderstanding. <sigh>
>
> I've taught this measurement method to just about every police officer in
> Vermont, The Vermont Police Academy, lots in Massachusetts State Troopers
> (Troup E on the Mass Pike), some in Maryland, the RCMP in Regina, Saskatchawan,
> The Marshall Service, any number of body guards (including Henry Kissenger's),
> EMTs, fleet drivers, teens, and just plain old ordinary people.
>
> It works!
>
> Dave
> RS6
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)