Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - DIY Top Tube Pad

Look what I made Mom! Nylon, velcro & yoga mat:)

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/48/bi7qf.jpg
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8326/bi24mb.jpg

i was thinking about doing something like that. did you sew that border on?

i was thinking about doing something like that. did you sew that border on?

the flag was an after though and was just ironed on. I am actually going to make a new one with double the yoga mat padding and with the flag sewn on aswell...it takes like 30 minutes to make it and worth it rather than spending $15 or more at bike shops....

Nice. The flag officially removes it from the McDonald's bike clan.

How much do Yoga mats cost?


Nice. The flag officially removes it from the McDonald's bike clan.


Also, since when has red and yellow been McDonalds? Thats what alot of people said about my new red and yellow bike... Stop consuming so damn much and look at a history book.

Nice! I'm receiving a nice Somec track bike later this week. Maybe we should form a club ;)

http://www.propagandaphoto.com/freddie/Somec10.jpg

http://www.propagandaphoto.com/freddie/Somec11.jpg

Nice. The flag officially removes it from the McDonald's bike clan.

How does the flag remove if from the McDonalds bike clan? McD's has over 600 restaurants in China...Including its largest(as of 1992), in Beijing.

Nice.

what's mcdonalds? Red and yellow..for China!!!

Nice! I'm receiving a nice Somec track bike later this week. Maybe we should form a club ;)

http://www.propagandaphoto.com/freddie/Somec10.jpg

http://www.propagandaphoto.com/freddie/Somec11.jpg

Too bad that pearl white somec on ebay isn't me size..****!

roll a tube in a pencil shape, lay it on the top tube and wrap another tube around it like bar tape and its alot easier version.

Also, since when has red and yellow been McDonalds? Thats what alot of people said about my new red and yellow bike... Stop consuming so damn much and look at a history book.
Chill dude. A while back comments were made about red and yellow bikes reminding folks of McDonald's. Like it or not, they're a big part of American (and now the world) culture.

Having the flag on there links the colors to a completely separate meme, at least in my mind.

i'd like to see directions for making a top tube pad. i think i'd **** it up if i just went for it. a bandana works okay, but i hate when it slides forward if i brush the top tube with my leg while stopping really hard. i have to keep readjusting that ****....

anyway, how would you make one of those? like...filling. what kind?

seriously...instructions would be sweet for those of us who are not needle savy

so how does the yoga pad feel in comparison to a foam insulation pad? i had always thought the yoga mat material would be easier to sew flat as well as allow for better fit on any given tt diameter.

yoga mat is perfect..although you need two layers of it...depending on your taste. I don't really have instructions...I just made it from scratch by using my bike as my guides of length and width.

but like...how to stack stuff? how do you stitch the edges? i can sew the ass of my pants, and that's about it.

How much do Yoga mats cost?




Also, since when has red and yellow been McDonalds? Thats what alot of people said about my new red and yellow bike... Stop consuming so damn much and look at a history book.

+1. Yoga mats don't seem like they would be any cheaper than a reload tube pad.

mine's sweatshirt material, which is nice and soft, but i take it off if there's going to be rain

+1. Yoga mats don't seem like they would be any cheaper than a reload tube pad.

Not that I condone defacing any decent bike with one of those things (unless you're Shants, then sky's the limit!), but foam pipe insulation from any hardware store would probably be a better option. It's already formed to fit around the tube, available in several sizes, and super cheap.

but like...how to stack stuff? how do you stitch the edges? i can sew the ass of my pants, and that's about it.

pretty straight forward-
Stack the layers flat on the floor. To secure, run a few basting stitch rows either width or lengthwise thru all layers.... a basting stitch will be a long running stitch about 3" or more in length. This will keep all layer togther better than stitching along the edge.
You can do this by hand w/ a sailing or leather needle (which is curved and has a sharp point) for cutting thru thick material (yoga mat = 1/4" thick). this can be done on a home sewing machine by changing settings, needle quality, foot pressure, and if the yoga mats stacked are thin..
See example below for ref.
Since this will secure all layers together you will be able to trim edge evenly and apply fabric shell/lining without too much pad slippage... set outershell and lining with straight stitch machine along edge 1/4" margin, set 1/2" width binding trim to edge with machine or iron-on adhesive (stitch witchery is your friend)

hope this sheds some lite, i can't turn off what i do for a living sometimes...

Not that I condone defacing any decent bike with one of those things (unless you're Shants, then sky's the limit!), but foam pipe insulation from any hardware store would probably be a better option. It's already formed to fit around the tube, available in several sizes, and super cheap.

in most cases yes. but given different tt circum, most pads will not be able to fit snugly give from one bike to another...Plus there is so much fun in looking for ways to improve on the existing design options.

Not that I condone defacing any decent bike with one of those things (unless you're Shants, then sky's the limit!), but foam pipe insulation from any hardware store would probably be a better option. It's already formed to fit around the tube, available in several sizes, and super cheap.


it's lighter too ;)

oh, so a basting stitch is like...in quilts and blankets and such. do that to hold it together, then sew the edges and add the velcro....

i might also be able to find a sewing machine to use.

oh, so a basting stitch is like...in quilts and blankets and such. do that to hold it together, then sew the edges and add the velcro....

i might also be able to find a sewing machine to use.

yup

Yoga pad material is a good choice, most are made from closed cell foam that has been dyed & textured during maufacture. It won't hold moisture and is extremely resistant to stank, will hold a shape if asked the right way but won't hold an impression forever. Some mass produced ttpads are made from crappy foams but all the ones that you'd be buying instead of making your own (reload, push, yours truly etc) are made using high quality closed cell foam.

Any foam will work but ccfoam means no stank, no moisture lingering and it'll last longer.

I have a push the envelope top tube pad made of balistic nylon and I stopped using it because it would sand off the insides of my knees when I wore shorts. Now what I do is I take a little piece of whatever handlebar tape I'm using, paste it with rubber cement and then set it where I want it. Then I tape down the ends using really thin strips of electrical tape, and then cover the whole thing up with a piece of clear packing tape. Small, waterproof, looks good, matches, free, lightweight.

if someone would make a top tupe pad with a mexico flag sewed on that would be sweet!

You could make some pretty cool top tube protectors out of old belts and some waxed thread. or pretty much anything you could possibly think of securing around a tube.

Yah any standardized ttpads will usually be too large, Reload has a low profile option that looks particularly good on steel. The design we finally settled on after a dozen diff go at its is pretty low profile & labour intensive for a simple thing like a ttpad but we'll only make it on request with tube diameter and pad length specified, plus you have to tell me twice if you have braze ons and where or I'll **** up and presume you don't have any.

I got the yoga mat for $10 and can make probably 20 more tube pads with it if I wanted...but I don't. It's cut now but still usable since I'm not super tall.

I'm planning to make ones with robots and/or monsters on them as soon as I find some more sturdy non-fraying material that is always waterproof/durable.

Yoga pad material is a good choice, most are made from closed cell foam that has been dyed & textured during maufacture. It won't hold moisture and is extremely resistant to stank, will hold a shape if asked the right way but won't hold an impression forever. Some mass produced ttpads are made from crappy foams but all the ones that you'd be buying instead of making your own (reload, push, yours truly etc) are made using high quality closed cell foam.

Any foam will work but ccfoam means no stank, no moisture lingering and it'll last longer.

Closed cell foam is GREAT stuff -- and, bonus, it's fun to squish between your fingers :)

Got damn, your bike is hot, Seadan.

if someone would make a top tupe pad with a mexico flag sewed on that would be sweet!

f that im throwin the Puerto Rican pride on mine....when i have the time to make one

f that im throwin the Puerto Rican pride on mine....when i have the time to make one

up the latinos/latinas!