Well, I wasn't. My new BMW F800GS has a seat that gets really uncomfortable after an hour or so in the saddle. I'd got used to spending many hours sat on a bike during the Trans Am, so knew it wasn't a case of my backside being too sensitive. Rather than ride over to Oxford and grab the Airhawk seat pad off El Monstro I decided to try and find a more permanent fix. The Airhawk works exceptionally well, but it does make the bike feel a bit "remote" as you are effectively sitting on a small cushion of air rather than on the bike's seat. So it was time to try an alternative. I searched my favourite web forum (ukgser.com) and discovered there was a guy in Huddersfield who has a great reputation for modifying motorcycle seats. A quick look on his website www.tonyarcher.co.uk and I had his phone number, and after a quick chat I was sold - his recommended approach was to fit a "gel pad" into the seat - it wouldn't be quite as comfy as the Airhawk, but should at least reduce the pain of a long journey...

I arranged to go over and see him on Saturday and so rolled up outside his little workshop, where there was a beautiful old Triumph parked up. The walls of the workshop were covered in old posters of Triumphs and BSAs, and even old Ace Cafe posters. There was an old car waiting to have its interior refurbished, and Tony was stood at his workbench surrounded by motorcycle seats. Looking every inch the cross between classic British craftsman and old-school biker, complete with home-grown tattoos... Before long he had cleared space and was ready to work on mine. The process is shown in the photos below...

First, remove the staples holding on the original seat cover:



Then position and measure round the gel pad...



Then, cut out the foam from where the gel pad will go...



Then, cut down and reshape the block of foam removed, to leave room for the gel pad...



Then refit the foam, with the gel pad on the top and cover the entire seat with a thin layer of new foam to leave it smooth...



Finally, reattach the original seat covering and staple back into place...



The end result looks exactly the same as before, and the very slight increase in seat height from the extra thin foam layer isn't noticable. What is, though, is the extra comfort from the gel pad. Gone is the sensation of sitting on a wooden bench. Now the seat is softer and more compliant, and transmits a lot less vibration through to my aging backside. I've only ridden a relatively short distance so far, but already I'm pleased with the result. Hopefully I'll get chance to go on a longer ride soon to put it to the test, but for just £60 (as opposed to a replacement "comfort seat" costing way over £200) it's a bargain...

Also this last week I've had the first of my leaving work celebrations. A fairly quiet affair in Halifax, as most of my Halifax-based colleagues are attending my London leaving do on Tuesday (so they can stay overnight at the company's expense!) there were one or two faces I was really glad to see. Especially Sue and Christine, the two unfortunate souls who had the onorous task of trying to keep me organised when they were my PA a few years back (Sue was my first ever PA and her patience was often called into play!). They bought me a lovely leaving present to remind me of them...



Isn't it cute?

Next week is my last week at work, then Tracy and I are off to Kefalonia for a short break, assuming that the volcano doesn't erupt again...