My RIBS r KILLING ME :(

marc walsh · Joined: 11 May 2011 Posts: 132

After every fun weekend my ribs feel like they just went through an MMA fight. My seat fits pretty good Below Im using a older Rib Tech Style thats actually pretty comfortable

Any suggestions?

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Patrick Roth · Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:29 am Post subject:

Marc,

I feel your pain... literally, I have felt the same pain... Wink

I started out "economical" with a typical seat, seat mounting bolts, and inxpensive rib vest. While my single best purchase was a Ribtect 3 vest, I have followed up with the Ribtect mounting bolts, and a Ribtect wrap around seat. The bolts keep your suit from tearing as well as it virtually eliminates the single pressure point from typical mounting bolts (which destroyed my initial "inexpensive" ribvest). The seat really keeps me in place as when I would hit large bumps it was hard to stay seated (this also broke various things on me and the kart) whereas the wrap around style seat holds me in better so I focus more on driving than keeping myself in the seat. I have had absolutely zero rib pain since I have started using these 3 Ribtect products. There may be other products out there similar to Ribtect but I chose to go with Ribtect as the brand has a good reputation/history.

Patrick

Walt Gifford · Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:48 am Post subject:

I almost quit karting because typical style euro seat put pressure on only 2 ribs. I still have slight back problems to this day. Switched to a Deep Seat and all is well.

Also, if your kart is hopping at all it will kill your ribs really quick.

Gif Cool

_________________
FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001
Yamaha KT100 Service Center
40 years karting experience

John Matthews · Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 12:20 pm Post subject:

Ribtect is some good stuff, highly recommend their products. Also widen that rear track and don't hop around the corners.

But there's another solution that hardly ever gets mentioned, low power and hard tires. Today's race kart is a pretty crazy machine. Guys are starting out with the same power that experts used to have and the modern sticky tires are serious punishment on your equipment and your body.

I realize this isn't the solution for everyone but if you're trying to get up to speed in a TaG kart and your track offers 100cc or 4 cycle you might want to swap your engine out for a season and work on driving smooth. You'll be faster in the long run and it'll give your ribs a chance to heal Wink

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

Jeff DeMello · Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:44 pm Post subject:

Chris Parks · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:01 am Post subject:

The only true way to cure the problem is buy a seat that is way to big and pour an insert while you sit in it.
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understeer happens on road courses and usually is pronounced with a British accent. Push happens on ovals and usually is pronounced through a wad of chew. Other than that, I don't think there's a difference - Jim Derrig

Chris

John Matthews · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:23 am Post subject:

Chris Parks · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:12 pm Post subject:

Walt Gifford · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:16 pm Post subject:

Back in the day we didn't have any sides on the seats, you just lean into the turn.

marc walsh · Joined: 11 May 2011 Posts: 132

Hey Chris , what kind of kart is that??

Chris Parks · Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:39 pm Post subject:

It's a home grown Ozzie Superkart. The principles could be just as easily applied to a sprint kart.

Back to the subject, the larger seat may not alter the handling or if it does it might finish up better, who is to know. Pouring a seat....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQCBpbVt_zI
_________________
understeer happens on road courses and usually is pronounced with a British accent. Push happens on ovals and usually is pronounced through a wad of chew. Other than that, I don't think there's a difference - Jim Derrig

Chris