Airseat or Foam? Problems with flat seats...

gerblefranklin said:

* This is all too common for me now. I'm using a KH seatcover, 12"
innertube, and cf seatbase. I can't decided if it's worth it to me to
continue using an airseat if it can pop so easily.*

Do you have any sort of a "pillow case" for the inner tube? That wasn't
listed above in your parts list. If you don't have the inner tube
protected inside some sort of a case, I'd imagine it would puncture
quite easily. Run a search on threads by John Childs and you'll find a
link to his air pillow gallery. Sew something like that...or buy the
pillowcase sold by unicycle.com...and you should be in business. I have
one, and have only had one leak in several hundred miles (although I
don't do your kind of riding and dropping).

If you have a pillowcase and are still getting punctures, look to other
sources. Do you have duct tape over all your bolt heads and other sharp
edges on the CF base? That could be another contributor.

Airseats are worth it...you just need to identify and fix the root cause
of your punctures.

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did you cover the tops of the bolts on the inside with duct tape so the
tube isnt sitting on top of medal....?

track down the hole in the tube, then match it up to the base to see the
general area it puntured.

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*Ressurrect*

I don't have a pillowcase. I did put ducttape over all of my boltheads.
It seems as if the puncture is in an odd place-the back of the seat,
near a hole in the seatcover. I guess I'll just have to take it apart
and patch it. So the verdict is go for the airseat and don't use the
foam from my KH seat? Just checking.

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gerblefranklin said:

[BI don't have a pillowcase. So the verdict is go for the airseat and
don't use the foam from my KH seat? Just checking. [/B]

Opinions will differ, but I'd say first go buy this:

http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=258

Then stuff (neatly) your inner tube inside of it, fold the airpillow in
half, stuff it inside your seat cover narrow end facing the front, and
slowly add air while gently manipulating things until it falls into
place and feels right. That may take you a couple of attempts, but it's
worth it and the pillow case will greatly extend your tube life.

Some folks do all that and then STILL use some foam from an old
seat--shaved thinner--to place on top of the pillow to help provide
additional shape to the seat. Go look at that john_childs gallery for
detailed shots on this process.

You can always sew your own pillow case, which I think John did
(purist), but to me it's a pretty easy justification to spend the $15.

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you could get a pillow, that'll help

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TheBadger587 - HSG/DH MUni (Represent?)

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gerblefranklin said:

* I don't have a pillowcase. I did put ducttape over all of my
boltheads. It seems as if the puncture is in an odd place-the back of
the seat, near a hole in the seatcover. I guess I'll just have to take
it apart and patch it. So the verdict is go for the airseat and don't
use the foam from my KH seat? Just checking. *

Check out my 'Airseat gallery' (http://gallery.unicyclist.com/Airseat)
for the details on how I make my muni seats. It makes for a very comfy
muni seat. Squishy enough to take away the bumps and jolts. Firm
enough so it doesn't feel like you're sitting on a bowl full of jello.

I really like the combo of an air pillow and the Miyata foam. The KH
foam is also very good. If I had the foam from a KH seat handy I'd
experiment with that too.

A comfy air seat requires some experimentation. Find what works for
you.

Putting the tube in some sort of pillow case should solve the puncture
problem. It's really easy to make one yourself. It will take an
evening and is a good home ec project. A couple of socks and some duct
tape might also make for a suitable pillow case.

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yeah, the next time i take my seat apart im going to stick my duct taped
shaped tube into a nice big wool sock.

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For off-road I use the Torker LX frame, GB4 stiffener, KH foam, leather
cover, Steve Howard handle and it works excellently.

I just stopped by unicycle.com on vacation and picked up a
pillow/innertube because riding my setup for 20 miles is not comfortable
enough.
I still get saddle sore for some reason.

It's like I need a 2nd unicycle:
145mm, 26" wheel, Hookworm, airseat (for distance on road)
and 170mm, seat as listed above, knobby tire for everything else.

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if you are using a tube 12" a think you can stay in that configuratin
and you don't wont to change to 20". when you make one lyre air pillow
it will separate the tube from the inside parts of your seat. try to see
how the tube looks and in what place it had been cut. maybe some part of
the seat was not isolated properly.

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I had trouble with my home made airseat going flat, but I couldn't find
the hole by putting the inflated tube under water. I've worked on
bicycles for 30 years, so I know how to fix a flat. I figured that the
hole only opens up when the tube is bent at an odd shape.

Anyone else experience this?

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ChangingLINKS.com said:

*riding my setup for 20 miles is not comfortable enough.
I still get saddle sore for some reason. *

oh, the mystery😕

😉

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kokomojuggler said:

*I had trouble with my home made airseat going flat, but I couldn't
find the hole by putting the inflated tube under water. I've worked on
bicycles for 30 years, so I know how to fix a flat. I figured that the
hole only opens up when the tube is bent at an odd shape.

Anyone else experience this? *

Could it be the valve core that is leaking?
The valve core in a schrader valve can loosen up and very slowly leak
air. There are special tools to tighten the schrader valves and you can
even buy a replacement valve core. Most auto parts stores will have the
schrader valve tool and the replacement valve cores.

I use an air pillow to help protect the tube. With regular riding I'm
finding that I can expect a tube to last a little over a year before the
chafing causes a leak in the tube.

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Hey John, I was just looking through your airseat gallery, and have two
questions on the foam work. First, did you do your carving to shape it
on the topside, or underside. I'm assuming underside, but not sure from
the pic. Second, the foam looks broken off in the front...is this
because the piece you had to work with was broken, or is there some
comfort reason to have it stop short like that?

My muni seat is still intolerable...I'm going to rip into it tomorrow or
Tuesday, and try to rearrange the airpillow, plus add a foam insert.
Now if I can only find my electric carving knife. I hear they're great
for carving foam 🙂

TB

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One of those squishy gel serfa inserts cut to shape works great too.
that's what i use.

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I cut the top side of the foam, but it really shouldn't matter. Top or
bottom, it shouldn't make a difference.

I cut an inch or so from the front of the pad to get it to fit in the
Roach/KH seat cover. The foam pad is about an inch shorter than a stock
Miyata foam pad. Try to stuff a stock Miyata pad in the top of a
Roach/KH seat cover and you'll see what I mean. There just ain't enough
room.

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tomblackwood said:

*I'm going to rip into it tomorrow or Tuesday, and try to rearrange
the airpillow, plus add a foam insert. *

Tuesday..? why Tuesday...just do on the ski lift at Northstar.

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jagur said:

*Tuesday..? why Tuesday...just do on the ski lift at Northstar. *

Yes...spliff first, then reconstruct using only stone tools. Chairlift
is the timer. If I lose, I ride the seatpost down a black diamond. If I
win, you're buying that muscatel previously discussed in our under the
bridge thread.

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i'll cheat because i always carry a Leatherman and i only drink
Tunderbird, but i'll share it.

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jagur said:

*i'll cheat because i always carry a Leatherman and i only drink
Thunderbird, but i'll share it. *

T-bird works, and is actually preferred. When engaging in serious
athletics, it's important to drink only Fortified beverages...

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