Seat Recovering
 

any books or web sites covering this for the DIY'er? I did a search, and I know i've seen SOMETHING about it, but I can't find anything here...probably searched the wrong wording (in too big of a hury this morning).

Any help is greatly appreaciated.

Thanks
New Dharma

Me too! I am getting a bike that had a mattress saddle of some sort and it is pretty unusual. Need to find out what was on it and how to recover it. Brooks leather I can handle...

Aaron:)

check out cycle art, I was looking at their website last night and the do saddle restoration...I assume good quality work but don't know if it is fairlt priced..
down near the middle

http://www.cyclart.com/
CyclArt, Bicycle painting, restoration, vintage bikes and classic parts

I looked at CyclArt's web site...if it comes down to it I may contact them, I was just hoping to do it myself.

I have done it, but I have access to various leathers and an industrial sewing machine, this is in reference to recovering leather or nylon covered plastic saddles, some with padding some without. graphics are a separate issue.

Note "gel" padded saddles are another issue, tried one once, and the "gel" had morphed into a scary gel and oily goo... weird science, that one I trashed instead of investing more time. There is more than one kind of "gel" so your situation may vary.

Having access to various adhesives helps, no one type fits all.

I recovered a vinyl seat with aprox 3/16 thick leather.
Used contact cement(plastic laminate type) to adhere over the old vinyl.I dry cut the leather with 1/2 in.overlap to roll under the seat.You really must pull tight with pliers to achieve a smooth surface.There is usually a block under the back of the seat to use a few brass screws,tacks.The front nose of the seat you will have to slit to overlap,splice and a few 1/8 screws or tacks.
A lot of Black Powder Gun shops seem to have an abundance of leather.Next we will discuss on covering your drops with the same color leather so buy extra,its not very expensive.