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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 1 May 2008
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Cheap air hawk alternative
Ive copied this from another forum i use just to show some people how i made my own air hawk seat but for alot less money. Drop me a message if you want anymore information about it. Cheers

Its been long over due my we write up about my homemade inflating seat that is alot cheaper than an air hawk.

First of all i didnt want to pay the mega price for an air hawk seat so though i would make my own. I went into a hiking shop in the UK called Tiso and bought a small inflating seat for £20.

http://www.tiso.com/shop/therm-a-rest/lite_seat

I got my mum to bodge up a very close fitting cover with 2 straps that go under it so i can fit it onto the bike. Ive been told the blue material used by my mum is waterproof type material which she got cheap from some lining shop.


The first picture shows the blue bag that opens at the end. This has a flap made on the end with a velcro strip along it so it can be closed over to stop the seat from popping out when my but behind gets at it.



Second photo shows a plain view of the seat.The 2 bits sticking out at the right hand end are the 2 loops to be tied on under the seat. The corners on the left hand side have been cut off a bit just to make it fit close around the inflating seat once its put into the cover. There is also another strap on the left hand side but is tied together to form a loop so to go over the front of the seat.


3rd photos jus shows the wee loops made on the ends that some string attached to so i can tied down to my seat. The 2 loops go over the raiser blocks on the underside of your seat at the back end. (have a look you will understand when you see them)



4th photos shows the inflating mat being placed into the cover and also showing the extra flap of material that is used. The inflating nozzle on the left is left poking out when the flap is placed over so it can be inflated/deflated with out taking the seat out of the cover.



5th shows the underside or bit that sits on the seat of your bike. My far left finger is on the velcro strip that is sowed to the material bag, and right finger shows a large length of materail that has the 2 loops at the end. Please notice the front or right hand side length of material is attached together with a loop of string this is so you can just loop it over the front of your seat(less hassle than tieing it on)

The seat does its job and stops any pressure points of your bum on the seat. It doesnt move around as the straps hold it all in position (if they stay attached!!) Best results are got if the seat if only slightly inflated as you still feel the bike under you but have a small/tiny cushion of air holding you off it.
Once inflated it does raise you slightly off the seat but only by around 1/2inch or so depending on how much you inflate it.

Hope this explains my homemade seat a bit better. I know a few of you's are like me and dont want to pay for the air hawk so heres your other choice. Sorry no piccies of it on the bike took it off before i could get any.
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Old 1 May 2008
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Old 1 May 2008
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Nice one, I cant get the photos up at work.

I tried this aswell but my seat pad was only £6 but when it came it was too big for a motorcycle seat so I use it in my backpack now.

Just out of interest what are the inflated dimensions of your pad ?
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Old 1 May 2008
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Nice job maxwell, but if you paid your Mum the going rate as a seamstress, it might end up costing about the same as an Airhawk!

Aren't Mums great!
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Old 1 May 2008
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Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
Nice job maxwell, but if you paid your Mum the going rate as a seamstress, it might end up costing about the same as an Airhawk!

Aren't Mums great!
Im sure its wouldnt have cost that much for a proffesional to bodge up really. The most time she spent was cutting the material into sizes the rest was just over killing on the stiching so it wouldnt break as im a heavy bugger.

The inflated dimensions are Breadth 27.5cm, Length 37.5cm, Depth 3.5cm. But as i said before when fully inflated doesnt seem to work as well as if raisers you too far off the bike and you loss the feeling of being on a bike at all so corners are a bit more scary.

I also understand you can buy many other cheaper inflating seats like this but most all have square corners which cause problems as these mean square corners in covers. And squares corners cause problems by poking people, being pulled easily etc etc (cant really explain this one but i know what i mean) Also the other ones i looked at are really just big air pockets where as this has a proper internal structure with some sort of material inner which means its more stable once you sit on it. Very like the big sleeping mats they make.
Last edited by maxwell123455; 1 May 2008 at 18:30.
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Old 2 May 2008
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do any of you have one of those vacuum foodsealer things? you can heatseal a bag to any shape you want, blow it up a bit from one corner and seal it. they are very strong, easily survive being sat on and cost pennies.
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Old 12 May 2008
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This got me thinking and in this high cost life any cheap fix is a good fix.

Use the inside of your next wine box gaffa tape the bladder to your seat and voila instant seat pad. Leave the wine in for your end of day tipple.

Also helps with river crossings



Cheers for the dimensions ditto your comment on the cheaper pads the square edges are a pain. I also looked at wheel chair pads but they seem too bulky.
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Old 15 May 2008
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Originally Posted by stuxtttr View Post
This got me thinking and in this high cost life any cheap fix is a good fix.

Use the inside of your next wine box gaffa tape the bladder to your seat and voila instant seat pad. Leave the wine in for your end of day tipple.

Also helps with river crossings



Cheers for the dimensions ditto your comment on the cheaper pads the square edges are a pain. I also looked at wheel chair pads but they seem too bulky.
Nice idea on the wine bag thingy. Im sure a few to many people would try and drink the wine first before placing it on the seat and become very . I looked at a few different options for pads but wanted something that was like a cushion (when not inflated) that i could inflat as well. Also i could sit on it (when deflated) when i wanted to have full feeling of the seat for when i get a shimmy on.
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Old 18 May 2008
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wine box inners make good pillows too
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