The least conspicuous way to race

[sesselpupser]

Hi.

So I've just moved into a pretty small flat and my girlfriend is quite unrelenting on what is considered acceptable floor space for my PC desk - a proper sim rig is right out of the question. As such I need a compact-ish and fairly anonymous racing setup - basically a desk - but perhaps with certain considerations to make it comfortable for use with a wheel.

I mean, she's a creative professional so she's very much a form over function person when it comes to interior design and a standard desk is seriously as far as I can push it, anything unattractive shall not pass even if it serves a purpose. So I've been thinking about what I can do to keep her happy (which is important) whilst also being able to get back into racing again, and the best I can come up with is some sort of mount to raise the wheel up slightly (having it invariably at gut level is why I haven't used my G27 since September) and a pedal mount to raise them up off the floor because sitting closer to the floor isn't an option any more. Basically, two concessions to two facts: One, it primarily has to be a good desk which means it has to be roughly elbow-height and two, the chair has to look like a normal chair so it can't be 4 inches off the floor like my last rig's seat (which came out of an MX-5) was.

Does anyone know if these things already exist, or do you have a decent setup with similar constraints? Clamping the wheel to the desk with the pedals on the floor is too much like driving a van!

 

[PureAlpha1206]

I can think of no way to make it look appealing given the setup idea you have and your girlfriend's taste in design. I google searched race ready desks and they all look terrible and simply thrown together. This is why I don't use a wheel at all, Looks tacky (most the time), takes up space and my wife is similar to your girlfriend.

 

[SilverSE102]

What about something like this? https://www.gtomegaracing.com/gt-omega-steering-wheel-stand
When not in use you can fold it up and put somewhere out of sight.

 

[sesselpupser]

What about something like this? https://www.gtomegaracing.com/gt-omega-steering-wheel-stand
When not in use you can fold it up and put somewhere out of sight.

Something like that makes sense when you're using your TV, but because I'd be using my PC monitor I'd have to put that in front of the desk which wouldn't really work because then I'd presumably be sitting much further back. To be honest I don't really know what I want, I just know that a desk isn't ideal...

 

[Carbonox]

May I suggest letting the GF know that you aren't to be bossed around like that?

I mean, in all fairness, a desk being "unattractive" sounds like a weak excuse not to be able to have it. What kinda equal relationship is it anyway where one person gets the final say on decoration issues?

 

[Outspacer]

This can be set up / broken down in a few minutes, thanks to wingnuts. However, my screen is the TV, at lower height than a desk.

Poang chair + Frosta stool (legs) + Haganas drawer front

 

[sesselpupser]

What kinda equal relationship is it anyway where one person gets the final say on decoration issues?

There's two sides to that coin, though! It wouldn't be equal if I got my way, either, because this isn't a very big flat. Besides, when we get somewhere bigger I'm going to use the goodwill I'm saving while such things are definitely impractical to build something awesome. "Ugly" is also a very broad spectrum and your comment leads me to suspect you didn't see my last DIY sim rig - it looked like a pile of scaffolding with an anorexic car seat stuck in front of it!

@Outspacer that looks great! Maybe I could make something to bolt onto the chair rather than the desk. Hmm...

 

[shoemaker]

the wheel stand pro folds up small, i kept mine under my bed when not in use and its very sturdy,good reviews and affordable http://www.wheelstandpro.com/products/wheel-stand-pro-for-thrustmaster-tx-racing-wheel-deluxe-v2

 

[SilverSE102]

Something like that makes sense when you're using your TV, but because I'd be using my PC monitor I'd have to put that in front of the desk which wouldn't really work because then I'd presumably be sitting much further back. To be honest I don't really know what I want, I just know that a desk isn't ideal...

What I was thinking is you could put the front of the wheel stand under the part where you sit at the desk, so it is not too far and move the monitor as close as you can.

 

[Gunstar]

Man up bro.

 

[insert coin]

An idea perhaps: my 'invisible rig'.

 

[fatkrakr]

Besides, when we get somewhere bigger I'm going to use the goodwill I'm saving while such things are definitely impractical to build something awesome.

Smart man, pick your battles. Sometimes you gotta lose the fight to win the war and trust me living with a women who wants a "beautiful home" is war.

 

[sesselpupser]

An idea perhaps: my 'invisible rig'.

Not bad! There's a cupboard (built into the wall) in the corner where the desk is most likely to go, a setup like this could work really nicely in there. Tonight will be spent with a tape measure and Sketchup, I think!

 

[insert coin]

Two other ideas:
Rig built into cupboard
And another one

 

[sesselpupser]

After some thought along the lines of both @insert coin and @Outspacer 's posts, here's what I've come up with: to avoid modifying the walls of the flat (which would be an issue when it comes to the deposit), I could build a frame out of my favourite construction toy - 20mm aluminium profile - to support the huge bearings I bought ages ago for my G27 mod project which would in turn support a length of 25mm pipe, then I could mount a board to that (which would be the desk top) which could be further reinforced with more aluminium if need be.

To facilitate the G27 part I could make a small "quick detach" mount for that (out of, yes, aluminium profile) which would screw into some more aluminium on the front edge of the desk with thumbscrews. Furthermore, I could support a board of MDF inside another frame made of aluminium to mount the monitor on, and then all I'd need to work out is how to brace this frame against the walls of the cupboard to reduce vibration and improve stability, but that would probably just be a case of getting the stuff cut to the right length in the first place, by someone who isn't me.

Somewhat dangerously this isn't very expensive and you can order custom lengths from aluminium-profile.co.uk, though I have no idea if they'll ship to a non-business person like me. That's not a particularly big deal, though, there are ways around that.

Now it just depends on the space inside the cupboard... I seem to recall there being a shelf at an inconvenient height that's practically structural to the building...

 

[sesselpupser]

Well my plan has changed because we got a TV, so now I want to be able to play using that or my monitor, as such I'm going to buy a GT Omega wheel stand and a few shifter mounts (one for the G27 shifter, two for my X52 Pro because I figure it's easier to keep them permanently mounted and switch the mounts around than to constantly mount/unmount, etc.) soon. I still won't have a desk for my PC, though...

 

[Seanspeed]

How 'nice' do you need things to look? I've got a very comfortable and decent setup using a very basic desk that I think looks 'ok', but obviously not luxury or anything. Definitely not any sort of DIY sort of eyesore either, though. I can show pictures if you need.

 

[sesselpupser]

How 'nice' do you need things to look?

Somewhere between 'nonexistent' and 'invisible', I think. Pictures would be great though, but I'll probably just do the wheel stand thing for the foreseeable future because it's not that expensive, purpose-made and quite good by most accounts. And I can put it in the cupboard to make it disappear.

 

[Seanspeed]

Somewhere between 'nonexistent' and 'invisible', I think. Pictures would be great though, but I'll probably just do the wheel stand thing for the foreseeable future because it's not that expensive, purpose-made and quite good by most accounts. And I can put it in the cupboard to make it disappear.

Ok yea, a wheelstand is definitely ideal if you need something to tuck away.

My setup is this:

What you cant see in the pic is that I have a little shelf to the left that I can put the wheel and shifter when not in use and it mostly makes it out-of-sight. And obviously the tacky back wall cloth and small room shape wont apply your situation, so kinda edit those out in your mind if you can. But in general, I do think it shows that a small, basic desk(Ikea - £30) with good hardware can work fine and doesn't exactly *need* some extra wheel stand.

Also my chair is an Ikea Markus(£120) which gives me a great position for sim racing and is incredibly comfortable for the price(best value office chair there is).

This may not help you if you really need an ultra-clean solution, but I figured I'd throw out some ideas for ya anyways.

 

[Carlos69]

Have you considered the Playseat Challenge? http://www.playseatstore.com/challenge.html

 

[HAL20XX]

Seconded about the Playseat Challenge. It's about as inconspicuous as it gets because the entire rig is collapsible. I have a Buttkicker Gamer 2 hooked up to it now and I'm working on adding mounts for an iPhone and iPad. When I'm done with it, the whole thing goes downstairs, but it should easily fit into a closet if that's your only option.

 

[eran0004]

Somewhere between 'nonexistent' and 'invisible', I think. Pictures would be great though, but I'll probably just do the wheel stand thing for the foreseeable future because it's not that expensive, purpose-made and quite good by most accounts. And I can put it in the cupboard to make it disappear.

If you want nonexistent, how about the rig that I'm using? It's basically just an armchair (POÄNG, by IKEA, same as @Outspacer) and I'm holding the wheel between my knees

It actually works great, it's even better than when I had the wheel attached to a table, because I don't have to worry about tightening the clamps every now and then (or the wheel coming off because of untightened clamps - if I had a dime for every time the wheel came off mid-race in GT5...). And as you're sitting pretty low in the POÄNG armchair the knees are pretty high up, so the wheel is actually in a good position, it doesn't differ too much from the position of a playseat. It's also extremely quick and easy to stow it - just put the wheel away and you've successfully converted the rig back to an armchair.

I've got the DFGT wheel though, where the shifter is attached to the wheel. With a separate shifter unit you'll probably need some kind of mount for it. Maybe it's possible to attach it to the armrests?

In summary:
+ Extremely cheap (you may have to buy a suitable armchair though)
+ Invisible / nonexistent; double-acts as a perfectly normal living room armchair
+ Easy to handle and quick to stow away; doesn't occupy a lot of space
- You may get bruises on your knees; I recommend wearing jeans
- Might not be compatible with all wheels (need to get a good grip between your knees)
- Not tested with a separate shifter

Selling point: "If less is more, then nothing must be infinitely good!"

 

[insert coin]

Points for taking the simplistic route, but... ouch

 

[sesselpupser]

Almost a week after I ordered it (thanks UPS) I finally received my GT Omega stand today and I've just given it a quick go on GT6. It's pretty solid and definitely good enough for the money, but the shifter mount isn't great - it limits how close the pedals can be to the sofa, it rubs against the wheel support arms, the shifter itself rubs against the flat part that the wheel attaches to and I have to remove it to fold the stand up. In addition, the G27 doesn't sit flush against the edge (as in there's a gap between the edge of the surface it bolts to and the overhang where the clamps are), but that's not a big deal. Apparently there's another type of shifter mount so I might try that instead, since it attaches to the top rather than the bottom.

All in all it seems like a great product with a few flaws, fortunately none of the ones I've noticed so far are particularly big.