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Air saddle conversion (on the cheap)

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01 / Original postAir saddle conversion (on the cheap)Krashin'Kenny · 2 Apr 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–20Page 1 of 2 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #31Robbie · 2 Apr 2004

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rec.sport.unicycling archive
Published
2 April 2004
Last activity
2 April 2004
Original author
Krashin'Kenny
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31
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Inner tubes

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  1. Original post
    Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #1

    After riding my Muni with the saddle from my Coker today, I
    decided it was time to do something about the saddle. I
    figured I'd like to try an air saddle, so I did this quick
    conversion: I used a 12" tube and inflated it slightly then
    positioned it on the saddle and started wrapping duct tape
    around the tube and saddle to hold it in place. Next, I took
    a thick "over the calf sock" and pulled it over the front of
    the saddle until it reached the seat post. At this point, I
    split the sock and (using a curved needle) sewed the sock
    back together and where it would not stretch far enough to
    be sewn together, I simply sewed it to the duct tape.

    +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+
    | Attachment filename: air saddle.jpg |
    |Download attachment:
    unicyclist.com182664| +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+

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  2. Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #2

    At the rear, I made a small hole to access the valve stem,
    then folded the sock forward and cut a hole in it to slip
    over the seat post

    +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+
    | Attachment filename: air saddle rear.jpg |
    |Download attachment:
    unicyclist.com182665| +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+

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  3. Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #3

    To complete the task, I sewed the front of the sock to the
    bottom in front of the seatpost. I rode the completed
    project around the block and it was much more comfortable

    +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+
    | Attachment filename: air saddle bottom front.jpg
    | |
    |Download attachment:
    unicyclist.com182666| +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+

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  4. Jester2000
    Archived post
    #4

    VERY CREATIVE!!

    Great idea, it looks comfy!

    -Jess

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  5. John_childs
    Archived post
    #5

    What saddle did you start with on the muni and convert to an
    air seat? What saddle do you have on your Coker?

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  6. Harper
    Archived post
    #6

    Excellent color choice. Very cool conversion. I like the way
    you presented the steps with a sequence of photos. This
    would be a good gallery entry.

    --
    harper - Old dog, no tricks

    -Greg Harper

    B L U E S H I F T

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    whiskey and condoms." -J.D. Miller

    "Old people give me money, because I deliver their paper!" -
    James_Potter

    "Who needs fancy words and poetic prose to describe a ride when you have
    photos?"- JC

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  7. Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #7
    john_childs said:

    *What saddle did you start with on the muni and convert to
    an air seat? What saddle do you have on your Coker? *

    The Muni came with a Miyata, the saddle that came on the
    Coker resembles a Viscount (it is narrower in the middle and
    at the front). I converted the Coker saddle. I guess my next
    project will be fabricating a handle for the front of it.
    I'll probably build an extension directly off of the seat
    tube and fit a "stubby" bar end onto it so that the saddle
    itself won't take any stress

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  8. Uni Guy
    Archived post
    #8

    good job, whatever works right !! Always getting ideas from
    you guys, thanks.

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  9. Elmer
    Archived post
    #9

    Seat looks great. I'm lazier than you, though. I stopped
    after the part about duct taping the tube in place. Me and
    my five kids all have this cheap and easy air seat
    conversion. Duct tape comes in many attractive colors and is
    easy to replace. My favorite has a 20" tube folded to make
    four rows of rubber. Secure the tape under your edges
    (rather than winding it all the way around) so that you keep
    access to your hand-holds. Even my KH seats seem
    uncomfortable after riding these guys.

    --
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  10. Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #10

    I took the MUni out for about a 1 1/2 mile ride after work
    today before the Sun disappeared, air saddles are definately
    the way to go. Elmer, I agree with you on the problem with
    losing the handles. I'm going to disassemble the cover
    tonight and try something different

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  11. ) ----
    Archived post
    #11

    thanks ken!

    i was looking into getting a custom made cover, but i saw
    this and made it right away. another good idea would be to
    put a shower cap on it or something so it dosn't get
    completely soaked while riding in the rain

    thanks a lot, Ev, Mevs, Brownie, Evan

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  12. Robbie
    Archived post
    #12

    I'm off to the local cycle shop tomorrow (hopefully) to get
    myself a nice inner tube. Anyone got preferences on how they
    like to fold the inner tubes (I've seen 2 version can only
    remember the unicycling.org one and I wouldnt mind trying
    different ones.

    Anyway, wish me luck, lol. Ima need it I'm not great at this
    soughta stuff.

    --
    Robbie

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  13. Johnhimsworth
    Archived post
    #13

    I just tried a version of this with 2 normal socks instead
    of a football sock. It works, but you have to stretch the
    sock a bit much, so I put 2 layers on (what are you gonna
    do with the other sock anyway?) This also uses a fake
    viscount, and it's got a 12" tube which basically does a
    lap of the seat. It leaves a gap in the middle at the back,
    but that hasn't been a problem so far. I found to hold it
    on that a normal shoe lace could be pushed through the
    sock, like sewing but with no needle needed. I did that
    around the sides of the slit needed to get the sock past
    the seat tube, and along the top of the sock (back of the
    seat, and it works like a draw string. Seem's comfy so far,
    cheers for the idea. Also got the handle problems, coz it's
    on my trials uni at the moment, but I think I'll get a
    kinport handle and try and sort it that way. Need a drill
    too though...

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  14. John_childs
    Archived post
    #14
    Robbie said:

    *I'm off to the local cycle shop tomorrow (hopefully) to
    get myself a nice inner tube. Anyone got preferences on
    how they like to fold the inner tubes (I've seen 2 version
    can only remember the unicycling.org one and I wouldnt
    mind trying different ones.

    Anyway, wish me luck, lol. Ima need it I'm not great at
    this soughta stuff. *

    There is a picture of my inner tube folding pattern in my
    'air seat gallery'
    (unicyclist.comAirseat). I don't know
    how well my inner tube folding pattern will work for the air
    seat design you're working on. There's more than one way to
    do these sorts of things so use what works for you.

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  15. ) ----
    Archived post
    #15
    Quoted message said:

    but you have to stretch the sock a bit much

    hey John, What i did was cut the socks into a V-shape at the
    opening this way was a lot easier. I put 2 layers, one sock
    i slipped on the other i cut both ends of the sock so it's
    like a tube. I put it on and stiched it up.

    ssssssooooooooooooo comphy😄

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  16. Robbie
    Archived post
    #16

    Thanks john, yours looks more comfortable personally to me
    than unicycle.org's but I'd still like to see some others :P
    . I tell you though, if I get a 16" Inner Tube I'll use
    yours. My local bike shop isn't big and I'm not sure they'll
    have 12", seems kinda small...

    --
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  17. Krashin'Kenny
    Archived post
    #17

    I'm glad to see so many people trying my simple approach. I designed a
    more stable and even MORE comfortable version of this design that looks
    much better. It is a little more labor-intensive though. You can find it
    here:

    tinyurl.com3248f

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  18. Thinuniking
    Archived post
    #18

    i think my air seat is way better and much better looking
    with out obstructing the handle!

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  19. Robbie
    Archived post
    #19

    I don't think I did mine fantastically and the sock is
    stretching a bit in some places and pulling the valve
    upwards (and into my [censored]). Oh yeah also, 16" didn't work
    the way I hoped and my friend bought a 12" and that still
    seems to be quite big. I'm gonna enquire about a 10". Could
    someone tell me if there are any companies that have made a
    10" or is it just something that hasn't been made.

    Anyway, I'm looking into some better options and I might
    post on this again later.

    --
    Robbie

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  20. Thinuniking
    Archived post
    #20

    i forgot the pic

    +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+
    | Attachment filename: 2airseat.jpg |
    |Download attachment:
    unicyclist.com185793| +-------------------------------------------------------
    ---------+

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