HandsomeRyan

I sew. i know it isn't a "macho" hobby but it is fun and i highly recomend everyone try it at least once.

i wrecked my shiny new Felt Q720 and rashed up the side of the seat pretty bad; as well as rashing myself up, but I'll heal, the seat won't. I decided to sew a seat cover so i wouldn't have to buy a new seat. not to interesting except the fabric i chose to use.

It takes a secure man to not only admit to sewing as a hobby, but to ride a bike with a pink seat cover. anyone who has a problem with it can ... well, you know.

Questions, comments, snark, all welcome.

(and i'm getting married next month, my soon-to-be-wife thinks i'm crazy)


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kjmillig

Just tell critics to do as your seat does and kiss your a**.

wrafl

Anyone with a problem, just tell to them kiss your saddle. That's a neat cover. You'll probably get a lot of attention.

Wil Davis

Nice though as the cover is, I would have thought its looseness would make for a somewhat uncomfortable ride. I wouldn't worry too much about "rashing up" the saddle; think of it as battle scars. Here are some pics of one of my favourite Brooks, ranging from when it was brand new, to after a slight "rashing' about a month ago. I just fill the scuff marks with Proofide (or Kiwi polish) and then buff to a shine! The saddle is developing a nice patina, which I wouldn't want to cover, even with one so pretty as one of yours

- Wil (who is a closet knitter BTW…)

HandsomeRyan

I have not ridden with it yet, but i agree, it might be. This was a prototype, i made it @ 11PM after drinking 4 beers so the quality of the work is not my finest. i think if i tweak the design a bit i can get it to fit snugger.

zippered

yay for do-it-yourself!

i'd want one in day-glo or some sort of high-vis material, however. something other than cotton that would wear longer, dry faster, but still washable.

i have no machine; i wonder if i could hand-sew a simple pattern like that?

edit: anyone who doesn't appreciate such skill and thriftyness may be the crazy one imho

edbikebabe

I like it. Who doesn't want a bunch of lips on your butt when you ride???

HandsomeRyan

I highly recomend getting a machine. you can pick one up new for ~$100 @ walmart and you'll figure out tons of things to make or repair/alter with it. (camping gear, bags/stuffsacks for things, clothing alterations and fixes, etc.)

I just eyeballed the patterns but it is sewn from 3 pieces of fabric- I'll try to describe it in case anyone wants to try to make somethign similar.

the first piece i traced the outline of the saddle onto the back of the fabric. i added about 1/2" for seams, and cut it out. this piece is the top of the seat cover.

the second piece is the bottom of the saddle 'horn'. also traced from the saddle with seam allowance added in.

the third piece is the retaining band that holds the drawstring. it is a strip of fabric that is folded over and hemmed with space for a drawstring. (don't forget to turn down the ends first!)

i sewed the retaining band first, then sewed the bottom horn piece to the middle of the band. (you want the ends of the band to be in the back of the saddle)

then i sewed the horn closed, test fit, had another beer to build confidence and sewed the retaining band to the seat top.

It isn't perfect, but its closer than i expected for a first shot. My choice of fabric was more for novelty and entertainment than for function. I may redo the cover with lycra or other suitable material.

Next project i want to attempt is a custom frame bag. then i'm hoping to make fleece helmet strap mounted ear warmers for fall riding. and maybe wind resistant, fleece lined pants with a cycling-specific cut.

chevy42083

Something that was "laced", allowing you to cinch of the area under the nose would be a nice improvement for V. 1.2. Getting it tighter fitting in that area is important, and the fabric itself would last much longer. A

I like it overall.

Oh yeah, silk would be nice.... maybe not functional, but to say you had it. High quality silk might actually last though.

kjmillig

HandsomeRyan, do you have a buttonholer on your machine? You could try a series of round holes along both edges and lace a shoestring through it.
My mom, who used to sew for people, taught me how to sew on a machine a long time ago when I kept asking her to sew stuff for my GI Joe. My wife is jealous.

zippered

yeah, i really would like a machine (but not from walmart). the sad thing was that i had one, but it never worked, so i got rid of it instead of fixing it.

i hadn't thought of making one before, but now i'm curious, and i've been meaning to learn more stuff about sewing properly.

anyway, that's great work, especially for a first-first-try-while-drinking!

HandsomeRyan

you can sometimes find used units @ places that sell and service sewing machines.

Doug5150

For a while John Howard (152mph Bonneville record, 1985) was selling a premium bike called the Pink Turbo.
~

Siu Blue Wind

That's a pretty cool cover. I bet you can make money with that. Seriously. Like at a bike swap meet or something like that.

But in regards to the pink, I say Jon (Pheard) has ya beat.

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folder fanatic

Hello Hansome Ryan,

I am suprised that you get any flake about your hobby. It saddens me that sewing-and shop classes too-is falling on the wayside to teaching about computers, computers and more computers. The young ones cannot really have any skill to call their own when they graduate from school. I too sew (I am female) and proud of it. I like the approuch that you taken to covering your saddle. I have design and will show my photos of drawstring bags very soon. See below for details.

ttopaz

Girly Man!

AEO

it's a good skill to have.

now where is the pink paint to match the seat cover?

ollo_ollo

Mrs. ollo is quite the seamstress so I picked up a bit of knowledge over the years. If you do much sewing, you will eventually want a Serger as well as a sewing machine. After all, guys need tools! Right? https://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa071798.htm

Brianwh

What a great idea! Thanks for the tip!

Can you post a picture?

piwonka

folder fanatic

I have the drawstring bags I promised last month uploaded on Flickr and ready to see and enjoy! It is a new set entitled "Creative Projects For You And Your Folding Bicycle" which has 12 photos detailing the actual selection of fabrics and the construction of one of the featured bags. I give detailed instructions and a peek inside my own cluttered sewing center, where I have constructed many samples for myself and the fashion industry for years. This pattern is also good for the nonfolding bike user. So do not be put off by the emphasis on these types of bikes. I do use the backpack bag for off the bike activities, too. And I also greatly expanded my tour of Hollywood with more new photos for the wanna be visitors to my birthplace.

I just finished the notes I wanted to add for more clarity and ease of constructing the projects. Just slide the mouse over most of the photos in that set (a really neat feature of Flickr's) and a short note pops up on the screen. I am anxiously crossing my fingers and hope people really like to create their own bags, rather than just dragging around a couple of garbage bags. So do drop on by my Flickr Web site and afterward let me know what you think. I will do more projects if this one proves to be a success-but I do need your feedback in order to proceed.

Patriot

Yes indeed, real men can ride PINK!!!

..... and purple..... and green....

Bionic Pammy

In the late 80's spandex seat covers were quite the rage. I had a few different ones which I'd use to match my mood. They were really fun and allowed more personal expression than just the bike.

They were a simple design - spandex with elastic around the bottom of the seat. They slipped around slightly, but for the most part stayed on. I kind of miss them.

MeMyth

I need a seat cover like that, it would my my boxers

Frankenbiker

Hmmm... Great idea. Maybe I could make something like that with an elastic gather that would cover my trunk. The problem is that my trunk, being black, gets very hot inside in the summer. A cloth covering (with kisses) might be just the thing to help keep the trunk cooler.