Friday, 15 September 2023

Busyman Studio Art Collection

We have a small and growing collection of artworks by my dad, our friends and former students. Here are a few pieces, some of which we've had for quite a while and some newly acquired and recently hung. Featured Artists: Inci Bacaci, Zoe Brand, Meg Kolac, Malcolm Peel and Anke Kindle. Malcolm Peel's paintings framed by Sascha at Delord Studios and Meg Kolac's painting framed by Chris at Kastner Furniture. The final image is an incidental work created by me as a byproduct of Busyman leatherwork.

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Fizik Argo: Halftone Tickets

What a pleasure it is working with Black Magic Paint in Portland, Oregon. This striking paint design adapted beautifully to the perforated leather application. I named it Halftone Patchwork Tickets. Recently exhibited at Made frame builders show.

Repente Latus

Lulu's super lightweight Repente Latus saddle with perforated details in Baum Cycles' Champagne and Ruby Red.

Form Throne

Ismail's Prova came back Down Under for some accident repairs, so Above Category commissioned a customised Form saddle to send together with the fresh frame.

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

MR Power

Matt's initials (and logo) arranged in a repeat pattern of perforations on his S-Works Power saddle. Black leather with white dots to compliment his white and black Pinarello.

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

Power to 51 Bikes

Reworking Gary's Power saddle again after the leather started to peel off at the nose. Hopefully this time with the full cover treatment it will stay intact. If not, at least it will be easier to re-glue any edges. The first time it was a plain leather recover, this time we added the 51 Bikes logo and some gold perforations to coordinate with his bar tape and frame.

Brandy Whip Power

 For Adrian's Baum, S-Works Power saddle recovered in brandy colour kangaroo whip leather with arc shaped perforation detail on the seat section highlighted in metallic copper. The difference in colour between the saddle and bar tape is due to the extent of handling the saddle under in construction. Once the bar are wrapped and the the bike ridden the two will begin to match more closely.

Monday, 14 August 2023

Shiraz Crazy Horse Power

 For Gary's upcoming Bastion we recovered his Power saddle in fancy drum stuffed cow leather called Crazy Horse Shiraz. The perforated detailing is in a pearly rose gold pink to compliment the painted details on the frame. This one will definitely develop character as it patinas with use.


Saturday, 12 August 2023

Black on Black Selle SMPs

 For Hayley in the UK I recovered two SMP Dynamics with some simple perforated detail on the seat area. The main purpose was to have a black saddle without the embroidered logo, the outcome is minimal and stylish. The larger perforations are black and the smaller ones are cool grey.

Thursday, 10 August 2023

Berk Lupina Black Alcantara

 Minimal short Berk Lupina in black Alcantara synthetic suede.

Wednesday, 9 August 2023

Berk Lupina: Serk Gold Group Set

I made some bar tape for Joas' first Serk, this is for his next one. The saddle from Berk arrived with a fresh piece of padding ready for my leatherwork. I adapted the topographic linear design from the proposed Cerakote paint scheme. The bike will be titanium with white paint and Chris King gold components.

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

Berk Lupina: Brandy Whip Speedvagen

For Matthew's new Speedvagen I recovered this Berk Lupina in brandy colour kangaroo whip leather. The perforated design on both saddle and tape is a regular pattern but in irregular sizes. On the saddle the angled bands of colour beneath the perforations are from Speedvagen's palette; blossom, vanilla blue and milk chocolate. 

Monday, 7 August 2023

Fizik Antares: Simple Brandy Wondercross

Some minimal brandy kangaroo whip leather for this classic aesthetic Wondercross.

Friday, 4 August 2023

Selle San Marco Regal: Yellow Butterfly

 For Joe's Toronto built Mariposa Bicycles road bike I recovered this old Selle San Marco X Pirelli saddle. Different to the standard Regal, the side rivets were replaced with some special rivet plates which I needed to modify in order to reattach. The solution was to apply a matching yellow leather badge with the Busyman logo embossed. The original had a Selle San Marco rigid decal. Underneath, the saddle featured a Pirelli shock absorption system at the back where the rails insert. The butterfly motif is the Mariposa Bicycles logo.

Thursday, 3 August 2023

SLR Superflow: White with red perforations

White leather with dark red perforations. The leather cover on SLR Superflow has a centre back panel and gussets underneath to help achieve the correct form to fit the saddle. On this one the client requested to have the Busyman logo subtly embossed and the centre back panel seemed to be the best place. I am always hesitant to cover saddles in white leather because the inevitable wear will be very visible and it won't look so white for very long.

Wednesday, 2 August 2023

SLR: Nike Elephant Skin

 Mark's SLR Superflow Boost recovered in Nike elephant skin (bovine) embossed printed leather.

Tuesday, 1 August 2023

SLR s: Saddle Tan & Leh Grey

A couple (more) SMP Dynamics for Tim. The grey one is in a supple bovine leather supplied by Leh Cycling to match their handlebar tape. The padding on the tan one was too deteriorated so we decided to convert it to a Forma and apply the new cover in matte kangaroo leather directly onto the saddle shell. 

Monday, 31 July 2023

SMP F30c: Black on Black

 A third saddle I recently finished for Tara with some matching handlebar tape. SMP F30c with a flowing grid pattern of perforations which follow the contour of the centre cut out.

Sunday, 30 July 2023

Two Aliantes: Versus Evo Pull Up & Open Bison

 Tara sent a few saddles and some thick leathers to recover them. The first is a Fizik Versus Evo in waxed tan bovine leather which has a strong pull-up effect, my guess is that this leather should age very nicely. Through the centre channel panel is a fine perforated arrow. The second is a Fizik Aliante Open covered in a beautiful chocolate coloured shrunken bison leather. Both leathers were approximately 2.4mm thick, so the first step was to split them back to 1mm to be suitable for the purpose.

Friday, 28 July 2023

FiftyOne: Fizik Aliante: Signature Cycles

 For David's FiftyOne bike I custom recovered this Fizik Aliante saddle in black leather with a two colour perforated design picking up the two shades of orange on the frame. The saddle design features the outline of the FiftyOne Bikes logo in light orange perforations surrounded by concentric rows of darker orange perforations to fill the entire saddle surface. The grid perforated bar tape matches with the same colours. Thanks to David, Signature Cycles and FiftyOne Bikes.