Memory Foam for seat...Bad idea

I've got a Venom with the aluminum seat, plastic seat pan, and was trying to find something with a little more cushioning. I have a piece of mattress topper memory foam, expensive and feels nice on the bed, but I tried it on the trike yesterday and it didn't work as well as the foam that came with it. Took my longest ride yet, 32 miles, with some really nice long pulls but had to reposition myself several times. Even though its thick foam, it compresses flat when I'm on it and it felt comfortable at first, just seemed to move around a little.
Would a more closed cell foam work better?
As far as the ride, I found something that I'm not a big fan of. Head wind!!! Yesterday was terrible, only averaged 10 MPH and on two of the long downhill runs I had to pedal to get into the mid 20's. Anyway, thought it was an accomplishment for the distance.

 

Goo job on the total distance. True, head winds suck and so does memory foam on a trike seat. One of our customers here locally who has a customized KMX tried it on his seat. Did the same thing. He doubled up the layers and put a non slip mesh cover on it with a foam ring around the frame. Holds up like a dream.

Closed cell foam does work better for comfort if you get the ride durometer. We use it on all our EDGE seats.

 

There is a foam store right across my office. I asked the owner what type of foam to use to augment my European mesh, foam seat. He brought out an inch think super dense closed foam sheet. With scissors I cut to taylor fit it and it works perfectly. The right foam will work!

If no foam store, get a sleeping foam mat at a camping store.

 

When my son had his KMX, he complained about the seat getting uncomfortable after just a few miles. I bought him a gel pad to help cushion the seat for longer rides. Didn't work. I rode it once and it felt like concrete after about 15 minutes. Foam is a good choice, once you get the right kind. Some, like the gel pad, compress too much and you loose the cushioned feel. Fabric stores and upholstery shops often have a variety of foam densities.

 

I don't know for sure, but if it's a shell-type seat, then there's a good chance that Don Smith (airxxxwolf) could make you a zotefoam pad. He's made these for many, many 'bent riders over on bentrideronline. I've got several of the thinner models on my bents. Zotefoam is firm - it doesn't compress much at all - but has just enough give to keep you from being bruised. Here's one he made for a Fujin:



The pad shown is 3/4" thick, with 1/2" deep grooves. The color strips can be customized and/or replaced.

Don can be contacted at bbmracing*yahoo.com

 

How does the pad attach to the seat body?

 

Velcro, loops glued to seat and hooks glued to the back of the pad. IIRC, the velcro and glue is included.

 

Troy, I am with you buddy. The KMX seat needs revamping. I found the shape to be not good for me as well as the poor padding. Another seat pad that works very well is the Ventisit. It's made out of small dense plastic coils.

Now I have had air filter foam pads, dense closed cell foam, Zotefoam (which I currently have on my Venom, and the Ventisit. The Ventisit is hands down the best. Not only does it provide good padding but it also allows for great air flow underneath you which is very important down here. The Zotefoam does have the air channels but I still sweat pretty badly with it. Also, after riding a century on rough roads on the Venom with that pad my back was pretty bruised.

I will be replacing the Zotefoam pad when I can with a Ventisit.

 

You have to have the right density for any of this to work. The memory foam we keep here for customers is some left over stuff that is used in airline seats. It is surprisingly stiff....but incredibly comfortable even compressed.

We use a very dense one inch thick foam in our websling seats. We obtain it from the very same place Jon is talking about here in Knoxville.

We have found it is pretty much the same material that RANS uses in their molded cushions for their seats.

Seat cushioning truly is a science.

 

closed cell foam

I think that closed cell foam would be a much better choice as it compresses much less.

 

Inexpensive gel pad

I often use my kayak gel seat pad on my bent. I fits well and adds a nice cushion. I use it on a rowing machine also.

It was about $35 and made by Yakpads.

You can search "Yakpad gel seat" and fine them for sale at a couple of places.