It’s probably one of the most unlikely scientific research programmes that we’ve seen at BDN. But the maker of ComfortAir bike seat air cushions has commissioned a specialist laboratory to work out what causes long-distance pain and discomfort to riders.
The lab used special ‘rear-end’ pressure mapping equipment to compare a rider on a standard bike seat with the same rider on the same bike with a ComfortAir seat cushion. And the results are actually pretty interesting. According to the researchers, many bikes put riders in unnatural sitting positions, putting too much pressure on the lower torso and buttocks. That reduces blood flow and compresses nerves, causing muscles to become fatigued and sore. The higher pressures also means more heat and sweat, further increasing muscle pain and cramp.
The pressure mapping obtained from the experiments showed that the ComfortAir cushion does help to counteract these three issues: it evenly distributes the rider’s weight, eliminating painful pressure points on the pelvis and spine, protects against shocks and dampens vibration while helping blood circulation. Space between the air cells is also shaped to encourage airflow under the rider’s behind, reducing the risk of ‘hot-spots’.
ComfortAir’s Wayne Harrison said, “We’re really encouraged by the results, which reinforced just how effective our seat cushions can be in reducing serious discomfort on longer rides. We definitely won’t be sitting on these results, we’ll be using the data to inform the development of the next generation of ComfortAir.”