Don

I saw your note on the foam pad you have made. I might be interested in one for my recumbent a Streetmachine GTE. Have you made one for one of these?

Deane

Don,

My main concern with the foam pad that comes with the AB HiRacer is that it makes for wet t-shirts in the back in hot weather. How is the Zote in this respect ?

Cheers.

ZoteFoam Pad
 

Hi Deane,
I don`t have a template for a StreetMachine GTE seat, but I could make you a seatpad if you could make a tracing of your seat and send it to me. If your seat is normally used in a more upright position the Zotefoam seatpad might not be a good idea....its better to use a Zotefoam pad on a seat thats more laid back. Personally, I would only use a Zotefoam pad on a seat that was at an angle of 25 degrees or less.YMMV

Don

ZoteFoam
 

carcassonne,
I personally, have not had any issues with wetness with the Zotefoam seatpad. It does not absorb moisture like a sponge ...

Don

Don,

I don't mean the seat pad itself. The foam pad that's given with the AB HiRacer stays quite dry. I was more thinking along the lines of a seat pad that lets the air flowing somehow thus refreshing the back, preventing 'wet t-shirts'.

Cheers.

ZoteFoam
 

carcassonne,
airflow between the rider and the zotefoam pad is provided be the grooves that I cut into the seatpad with a router. I am planning on experimenting soon with cutting wider grooves into the pad to see how much of an effect it has compared to the narrower 1/4" grooves I currently use. Are you wearing a cycling jersey or a T-shirt while riding?

Carcassonne... I have one of the Zotefoam pads on my Actionbent trike and I do love the feel of the pad. Very comfortable on the buns for long rides and it does hold you in the seat suprisingly well.

As for sweat, it all depends... I sweat at 70-1/2 degrees F and get that sweat line on the front of my t-shirts so the back definitely gets wet. The chevrons that Don routers into the pad works well to wick away sweat, but everyone will have different experiences with this. Air certainly doesn't circulate around your back.

I have had the Zotafoam take on some sweat. It doesn't wick it from your body, but it will replace air with sweat where the pressure points are. It is very little, but I do need to figure out a way to keep it 'hygenic'.

If you have the FRP seat with the vent holes slotted into it from Actionbent, do include the slots in your template. That will help most of all for ventalation. I would also consider a built in neck rest in the pattern.

I can't say enough about the endurance this pad give you. It is extremely lightweight and super comfortable. I can't comment on Don's observation about seat angle, but my trike is at it's most extreme reclined position at maybe just more than 30 degrees from horizontal.

Oh, and it is comfortable without a shirt too :p

Don, how do I contact you to order one of your ZoteFoam pads? I purchased a XL Velokraft carbon seat and need the foam to fit. I think I'd like to try your's since you're getting so much praise. Website or email?

Chris

ZoteFoam
 

Hi Chris,
You can contact me at airxxxwolf@yahoo.com .........Also, since I already have a template for a VeloKraft X-large seat, I could make you a seatpad right away without the need to have you send me a tracing of your seat.

Don

Awsome Don. Look for my email shortly.

Chris

Don, I'm not at all happy with the seat pad.......... my back got soaking wet.

I see no reason why my back should sweat when it is only 98 degrees out on a hilly 112 mile course. I want a refund!

If you have the FRP seat with the vent holes slotted into it from Actionbent, do include the slots in your template. That will help most of all for ventalation. I would also consider a built in neck rest in the pattern.
Shaman,

I think there's an error. Here's a pic I took from the seat I got with the AB HiRacer. The HiRacer spec from AB's web site reads like:

"Seat: UltraLite FRP (Fiberglass-Reinforced-Plastic) w/ Headrest and velcro-detachable pad "

I got the HiRacer a little more than a month ago. If I then look at the AB web site in the Seats/Pads section, clearly the ultralight FRP seat had those vent holes you're mentionning.

So it seems I did not get the right seat. Hmmm...

You got the right seat, carcassonne. They don't put the holes in there anymore. That doesn't mean you can't cut your own. You just need the trim pieces to relieve the sharp edge. I would drill a hole or two in the base of the seat to avoid puddling of sweat in the seat pan.

Hmmm,
Since your seatpad was a freebie, I think I will triple the amount of your refund....:D

Don

I just got the pad and it is very well done. Perfectly cut and sculpted like it was done on a jig. The firmer foam seems more to my liking. Haven't ridden on it yet so we'll test the preasure point and fatigue factors tomorrow. To be honest Don, the quality is such that I think you could sell these for more money. Of course I'll say that after I've bought mine, not before. Nice work.

I have never seen Don's pad, but I recently acquired a Ventisit pad and tested it extensively on very hot and humid days. Even while wearing a regular cotton tshirt.

The ventilation is unbeatable.

bk,
where is that shop located? If it is close enough to me, I'd like to use it.
Thanks!

Shaman, strange thing that they let go of the seat with holes in it. I was told that was made to accomodate the new foam seat. I guess the previous arrangement was not so comfortable.

As to make holes in the seat... This would have to go with holes in the seat foam. The problem is not water puddling up in the seat, but the lack of ventilation that simply soaks up the back of a t-shirt on hot humid days. Not to mention the white 'salty' waves it leaves on the t-shirts (washable, though). I guess I'll look at a replacement seat pad instead of making holes.

Hostel Shoppe dual density pad & Volae seat 4 sizes
 

Hostel Shoppe sells a dual density open cell/closed cell seat pad. See:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/...ory=1082759829

If you decide to go the new seat route, their Volae seat comes in four sizes. See:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/...ory=1089843061