rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

Poor man's Freeride seat -- uni woodworking exercise

Chrashing · 2006-12-27T18:59:20+00:00

I instantly liked the KH Freeride seat, but didn't realize how great the seat is until I went back to an older KH style seat. The depth of the bend in the old seat is now so uncomfortable, I could not go back, I have been spoiled by the comfort of the Freeride. Having collected a lot of seats I didn't want to spend $55 replacing them. So I thought I'd try to fix an old KH style seat up like the new Freeride seat. A solution is to cut a wedge out of 3/4 inch thick piece of wood, and place it under the old seat cushion. Luckily I own a belt sander, and coping saw. Holding the wood in a vice, the sander made easy work of rounding out the one side of the wood. The holes in the wood are not needed, they were already in the piece of scrap I choose. After cutting the wood, I simply used duct tape to hold it in place, put the cushion over it, and replaced the cover. I say it's a success, it is very comfortable, comparable to the freeride. You may notice that the seat base is a carbon fiber base from Roger at UDC.uk, it's amazingly strong. Adding the wood wedge to the std plastic base seat would be the same. Luckily I already had a Fusion cover, so putting the seat cover back on was simply a matter of tying the strings. In the pictures below, you'll see the piece of wood I cut, top and side views, then the wood wedge on the seat base, and then the seat completed. Finally three seats; Blue is the official Freeride, Red my woodRide version, and Black and older KH style seat. 16936 16937 16938 16939 16940 16941 16942 +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Filename: three_seats.jpg | |Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/16942 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ -- Chrashing Regards, Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Started by Chrashing · 27 December 2006 · Last activity 24 January 2007 · 21 posts · 310 views

← Back to rec.sport.unicycling

This thread is locked and is currently read-only.

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postPoor man's Freeride seat -- uni woodworking exerciseChrashing · 27 Dec 2006 02 / This pagePosts 1–20Page 1 of 2 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #21Chrashing · 24 Jan 2007

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section: rec.sport.unicycling
Published: 27 December 2006
Last activity: 24 January 2007
Original author: Chrashing
Posts: 21
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 310
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Crank arm length

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Chrashing
Archived post

27 December 2006, 18:59 UTC #1

I instantly liked the KH Freeride seat, but didn't realize how great the
seat is until I went back to an older KH style seat. The depth of the
bend in the old seat is now so uncomfortable, I could not go back, I
have been spoiled by the comfort of the Freeride. Having collected a
lot of seats I didn't want to spend $55 replacing them. So I thought
I'd try to fix an old KH style seat up like the new Freeride seat.
A solution is to cut a wedge out of 3/4 inch thick piece of wood, and
place it under the old seat cushion. Luckily I own a belt sander, and
coping saw. Holding the wood in a vice, the sander made easy work of
rounding out the one side of the wood. The holes in the wood are not
needed, they were already in the piece of scrap I choose.
After cutting the wood, I simply used duct tape to hold it in place,
put the cushion over it, and replaced the cover.
I say it's a success, it is very comfortable, comparable to the
freeride.
You may notice that the seat base is a carbon fiber base from Roger at
UDC.uk, it's amazingly strong. Adding the wood wedge to the std plastic
base seat would be the same. Luckily I already had a Fusion cover, so
putting the seat cover back on was simply a matter of tying the
strings.
In the pictures below, you'll see the piece of wood I cut, top and side
views, then the wood wedge on the seat base, and then the seat
completed. Finally three seats; Blue is the official Freeride, Red my
woodRide version, and Black and older KH style seat.
16936
16937
16938
16939
16940
16941
16942
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: three_seats.jpg |
|Download: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/16942 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Monocyclist
Archived post

27 December 2006, 19:29 UTC #2

Wow, that's a great idea. I'll definitely have to try this.
--
Monocyclist
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monocyclist's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13114
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
maximus unius
Archived post

27 December 2006, 23:17 UTC #3

I notice that on your Nimbus 36" The seat tube looks way smaller than
the ones pictured on UDC. Did you have to cut the actual tube on the
frame?
--
maximus unius
Quoted message said:
Originally Posted by *Beener*
Is ISIS, ISIS, is ISIS not ISIS, is KOXX ISIS really ISIS, is Kris Holm
ISIS more ISIS than KOXX ISIS, ISISISISISIS!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
maximus unius's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13699
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

28 December 2006, 01:19 UTC #4

maximus unius said:
I notice that on your Nimbus 36" The seat tube looks way smaller than
the ones pictured on UDC. Did you have to cut the actual tube on the
frame?
Hello Maximus, Yeah, I cut the seat tube down. I sure am glad I'm able
to fit the big wheel beauty and handle bars.
An added note on the wood. Next one, I'll make slightly wider and sand
the top side edges round. Just to reduce any chance of the wood edge
cutting into the foam.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Radical Reed
Archived post

28 December 2006, 01:58 UTC #5

that is a really good idea, I think I'll try converting my seat over the
christmas brake. can you feel the wood at all while riding? and also,
is it any harder to fit the seat cover with the extra thickness?
--
Radical Reed
'sixsixone' (http://www.sixsixone.com/)
'LBS' (http://www.mbps.ca/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radical Reed's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10427
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

28 December 2006, 02:10 UTC #6

Radical Reed said:
that is a really good idea, I think I'll try converting my seat over the
christmas brake. can you feel the wood at all while riding? and also,
is it any harder to fit the seat cover with the extra thickness?
Hello Rad,
The foam is kept full thickness, you won't feel the wood at all, I
don't. I am using the Fusion seat cover, and that just fits fine. I
expect the standard stapled seat cover would come out short on the
sides. Good questions.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Radical Reed
Archived post

28 December 2006, 02:17 UTC #7

Chrashing said:
Hello Rad,
The foam is kept full thickness, you won't feel the wood at all, I
don't. I am using the Fusion seat cover, and that just fits fine. I
expect the standard stapled seat cover would come out short on the
sides. Good questions.
aah, most exelent. I have the fusion seat cover so I guess I know what
I'll be
doing tomorrow
Thanks
-Reed
--
Radical Reed
'sixsixone' (http://www.sixsixone.com/)
'LBS' (http://www.mbps.ca/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radical Reed's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10427
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

28 December 2006, 12:52 UTC #8

More notes,
The foam in the seat I converted is a KH style gel seat. That style
seat has the thinner thickness of foam, compared to some ( of what I
think of as older **) KH style seats. The point is that I'm not sure
if the fusion cover would fit over the thicker foam KH like seats with
the spacer. I don't think gel or non-gel would make any difference in
the results.
** Seats sure have evolved in the last 3 years. With every 8 months
they have improved substantially.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
john_childs
Archived post

28 December 2006, 21:20 UTC #9

I've been experimenting with a similar wedge in the seat with my Coker
seat. Except I made my wedge out of many layers of duct tape instead
of wood. It worked to flatten out the seat a bit more.
Pictures of my modded Coker seat are 'here' (http://tinyurl.com/ycazg7)
(scroll down to the bottom). The seat is built from a Miyata style CF
base, older KH Fusion foam, KH Fusion seat cover, and Kinport handle.
No pictures of the duct tape wedge mod, but it's in the same place and
doing the same function as your wooden wedge mod.
I'm going to buy a new KH Fusion for the foam and try the new Fusion
foam. The new KH Fusion foam shape should be better than my cut up
foam. We'll see.
--
john_childs
john_childs (att) hotmail (dott) com
Team Dirty Muni
Gallery: http://gallery.unicyclist.com/john_childs
'Unicycling Bookmark List' (http://backcountry.unicyclist.com/) ::
'World Clock' (http://tinyurl.com/a99y3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
john_childs's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/449
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

29 December 2006, 01:31 UTC #10

john_childs said:
I've been experimenting with a similar wedge in the seat with my Coker
seat. Except I made my wedge out of many layers of duct tape instead
of wood. It worked to flatten out the seat a bit more.
Pictures of my modded Coker seat are 'here' (http://tinyurl.com/ycazg7)
(scroll down to the bottom). The seat is built from a Miyata style CF
base, older KH Fusion foam, KH Fusion seat cover, and Kinport handle.
No pictures of the duct tape wedge mod, but it's in the same place and
doing the same function as your wooden wedge mod.
I'm going to buy a new KH Fusion for the foam and try the new Fusion
foam. The new KH Fusion foam shape should be better than my cut up
foam. We'll see.
Hello John,
I like your idea with the layers, seems like there should be a good
compromise between wood and duct tape. I'm thinking three layers of
that 1/4 inch thick closed cell poster board may work well, and not
require power tools.
I was actually about to cut the seat foam like you show in your gallery
(thanks for the great pictures), then noticed the fusion freeride seat
was built up in the center and realized a filler piece would do the
same.
I'm going to change another seat in a week. Probably won't try the
poster board myself since I have more wood and a belt sander.
You probably know better than me, but I'd expect cutting the foam or
adding a filler piece provides similar results.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
boo radley
Archived post

29 December 2006, 02:57 UTC #11

The only mod I've done to my old KH fusion is the duct tape layering
that JC has suggested. I use a rail adapter to add some tilt and it's
pretty comfortable as is. I think with a little more work it could be
even more comfortable than the KH Freeride I'm also using.
--
boo radley
"no really, are you sure you love me more than your unicycle?" -my gf
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx
------------------------------------------------------------------------
boo radley's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10484
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Calves
Archived post

29 December 2006, 04:59 UTC #12

I made a seat for Moab this year that is looks very similar but I used a
very very firm foam for the wedge and replaced all the KH foam with
memory foam. I don't have it perfected yet but it is much lighter and
more comfortable that the origional KH seat. The KH foam is heavy
compared to my memory foam. I still need to work on the exact shape and
foam firmness.
--
Calves
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calves's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13913
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Calves
Archived post

29 December 2006, 05:03 UTC #13

Here is a pic:
[image: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/325592007_47159d5ecc.jpg]
--
Calves
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calves's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13913
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

30 December 2006, 23:27 UTC #14

Did another seat conversion today using wood. This time to a standard
plastic base seat. The work was the same as for the carbon fiber base.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
mark williamson
Archived post

31 December 2006, 00:59 UTC #15

Had you thought about putting a centre cutout in the foam like the
Freeride has? Does the cutout on the Freeride provide a noticeable
benefit over you "poor man's" freeride?
I've also spent quite a bit on saddles in the past, but they're cheaper
than many other uni components and I do think a good saddle is
particularly important for the kind of distance riding I like: both in
terms of comfort and health reasons. I'm just trying to size up
whether you should move from a Nimbus Gel to a Freeride and then have a
spare seat sitting around...
I've also been pleasantly impressed by the difference that tilting the
front of the seat up makes - I'll be putting a tilt adjuster even on my
old cheap distance muni, despite the cost, simply because it is soooo
good.
Cheers muchly,
Mark
--
mark williamson
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mark williamson's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11301
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
mornish
Archived post

31 December 2006, 02:04 UTC #16

I much prefer my freeride seat to my old (untilted) nimbus gel.
It really is preferance though/
--
mornish
ivan said:
I believe in the Invisible Pink Unicorn.
mscalisi said:
wait...invisible AND pink?
'please... help save flightline'
(http://www.rideflightline.com/save_the_trails.html)
msn: mornish AT gmail DOT com
aim: kiloornish
email: mornish AT gmail DOT com
ace bandages rock my socks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mornish's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11658
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

31 December 2006, 02:34 UTC #17

mark williamson said:
Had you thought about putting a centre cutout in the foam like the
Freeride has? Does the cutout on the Freeride provide a noticeable
benefit over you "poor man's" freeride?
I've also spent quite a bit on saddles in the past, but they're cheaper
than many other uni components and I do think a good saddle is
particularly important for the kind of distance riding I like: both in
terms of comfort and health reasons. I'm just trying to size up
whether you should move from a Nimbus Gel to a Freeride and then have a
spare seat sitting around...
I've also been pleasantly impressed by the difference that tilting the
front of the seat up makes - I'll be putting a tilt adjuster even on my
old cheap distance muni, despite the cost, simply because it is soooo
good.
Cheers muchly,
Mark
Hello Mark,
Haven't tried cutting the cutout in the foam. I'm going spend more time
riding this woodride before I cut the foam. Maybe others have tried
adding a cutout to their seats and will comment.
I really like the Freeride, is a great seat. I'm keeping the true KH
freeride on the Nimbus 36 which I ride for the longest periods. The
wooden hack seems to me a big improvement to the seats like the gel,
reducing the depth of the seat cut, similar to the freeride, but the
Freeride must be better.
Yeah, I've always heard good things about tilting the seat. I need to
experiment more with tilting the seat. My problem is that I don't have
room for the full rail adapter setup, even after cutting the seat tube
down. I'll need to try putting additional washers on the front bolts
between the post and seat.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
mark williamson
Archived post

31 December 2006, 18:58 UTC #18

Hi Ken,
The tilt thing is definitely worth playing with somewhat. I know what
you mean about having trouble fitting things in there: my tilt adaptor
is *right* against the top of the seat tube on my UDC 36er frame...
One thing that might help you is to consider using shorter cranks so
you can put the seat higher... even 140s will give you a bit of extra
height, and 125s (though they'll be a bigger difference) would give you
even more - maybe enough to fit a true rail adaptor in.
Of course, 125s may be shorter than you want to go.
It's worth pointing out that many seem to consider the optimum saddle
tilt to be *way* further than what even looks comfortable! The front
on my seat sticks *way* up, so it seems like it'd be putting pressure
on sensitive areas. It works because the wide flat portion of the
seat is rougly horizontal so it's possible to put more weight on the
sit bones.
Although I made the upgrades some way apart, I'm tempted to say the
rail adaptor gave similar levels of improvement in comfort to upgrading
my seat to a Nimbus Gel in the first place...
Cheers,
Mark
--
mark williamson
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mark williamson's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11301
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Chrashing
Archived post

5 January 2007, 04:28 UTC #19

Calves said:
I made a seat for Moab this year that is looks very similar but I used a
very very firm foam for the wedge and replaced all the KH foam with
memory foam. I don't have it perfected yet but it is much lighter and
more comfortable that the origional KH seat. The KH foam is heavy
compared to my memory foam. I still need to work on the exact shape and
foam firmness.
Hello Calves,
That seat looks fine, I like your idea of us using very very firm foam
for the wedge (I missed that point of your the first time I read your
post). That sounds like a good way to go, since it would be easy to
cut.
--
Chrashing
Regards,
Ken ... a recreational unicyclist... Please wear a helmet!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrashing's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/7501
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report
Calves
Archived post

5 January 2007, 20:15 UTC #20

The foam cuts well with a serrated knife. Here is the foam bits left
over after making a new seat and rebuilding my Moab seat (revision
#2).
[image: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/346931311_2950e5a6c8.jpg]
This is a new saddle I build with a bit of a banana shape (revision #3)
versus my very flat revised moab saddle on the bottom.
[image: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/346931317_4e7c5a8fb4.jpg]
I am hoping to test ride both of these this weekend if the weather is
okay. My Moab seat had a few weird bumps in it and had way too firm
foam on the top. The revised one should be much better.
--
Calves
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calves's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13913
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/56113

Report

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.

Jump through the discussion

What we know about this thread

Continue through CyclingForums

Active in this thread