Shiny Red Italian

Basic re-cover, complex shape,hand stitched, retained badge, simple, organic... For Louise...

Black Cherry Cross

Some black leather bar tape for Frank's new Parlee z5, it's a slow project build but he's promised to show me the bike when it's done. The plan is to lay the tape over some gel pads for added cushion cumfort. Fancy cross stitch tripple perforated, the fanciest bar tape I've done, and each piece measures in at around 95", that's a lot of individually punched holes. Single layer of bag nappa cow hide, 1 join on each piece but potentially the bar will be fully wrapped before reaching the join.

I ought to do some nice tape for my Hillman.

Frank found me in Bicycle Victoria's Ride On Magazine.

Arena Bikes

All different but all the same - soon to be revealed at Arena, Melbourne Park.

Thanks Thuy Vy for the amazing photos.

Folksy Tape

Inspired by my Master Sports/Motor Spares bike, I recently completed this fancy stitched and perforated tape. The leather is quite soft and fairly thin so no need to skive the edges on this one, they will just mould and blen with use. The underside has an added layer through the centre for extra cusion, so at any point there will be three layers of leather once wound onto the bar.

First Bike

I remodelled the former Shibori Animal bike for my father inlaw. At 60+ it's his first bike and he couldn't be happier. Complete with monogram saddle and thumb shifter for rear derailleur. I hope you like it Baba.

Honey Doubles

These hand stitched double toe straps were custom made for a De Rosa fixed conversion coming out of Saint Cloud later this week. Copper rivets to match the rails and rivets on the Brooks B17 Special. Hand stitching - sometimes I think I might be a little crazy. It's a little more distinct than machine stitching though.

Customised SMP 209s

I recently recovered this pair of SMP 209s for Peter at The Cycling Edge. Both were recovered because the customers wanted a sleek saddle without embroidered graphic embellishments.

The 209 has more padding and therefore more dimension which made it quite a challenge to recover. It took a couple of iterations to get the pattern right, to achieve a smooth finish over the saddle shape I added an arched dart hand stitched across the back section. Another pattern for my library.

A Friend Pays a Visit

Nice sleek basket

New natural kangaroo Rolls

Aged patina on the natural leather grips

Alison dropped by this afternoon to take a few photos for the blog. I finished this bike for her a year ago, originally it was powder coated 'Onga' green. Since then it's been recoloured this subtle misty mint, had a back rack and chrome basket attached and just last week we replaced the old mattress saddle with this kangaroo covered Rolls. She's looking great, aging beautifully and looking more and more refined each time I see her.

Today Alison came with a basket full of offerings: Fresh eggs from her hens and blackberries from the garden.

Kangaroo, Concor, Casino, Banana

For Stephen in LA, inspired by the recent yellow Regal in kangaroo and and the Casino Concor Crossstitch.

Saint Cloud

Recently completed this San Marco recover for Nick at Saint Cloud. Complete with corporate Id.

SMP Vegan Leather

A first for Busyman: This special edition 60th anniversary Selle SMP has a basic recover in 'Lorica', aka Vegan Leather. It handles in a similar way to some leathers but is slightly less supple than I would prefer. Nonetheless I managed to recover this SMP which is the most complex form of saddle I've tackled. So, very happy with the outcome. Any vegan folks out there who might like their saddle recovered just email me.

E for Engin

White on white perforations

Custom recover for Steve in Connecticut, USA, to sit atop his currently being built custom Engin. The base saddle is a Bassano made in Italy, stamped "Orbea", presumably from his previous bike. A really neat shape and nice to work with.

Emma's Purple 20's

The Saddle

The artwork - by Emma and me

The fancy stitched and perforated bar tape

Purple powder coat, swapmeet wheels, new long reach brake callipers and a range of other bits. Singles speed.

The Lady

For Malcolm's saddle, taken as a direct copy from his painting. When finished the saddle will be on his restored first generation Malvern Star mountain bike. Hopefully ready for Christmas tomorrow.

For Jess' Boyf

I made this custom wallet. Full grain cow on the outside, kid skin inside with hand stitching.

Double Straps - Monogram

Kangaroo, cloth and cow

With doule keeper fit with single cages

"LMNM"

Though strictly speaking not really a monogram, these kangaroo tri-laminate double toe straps feature the new (surprise) owner's initials - hand embroidered. New to my repertoire of techniques this method allows for finer line work lettering to be applied to the straps. The colour is the natural undyed kangaroo hide which will quickly darken to a light tan when exposed to sunlight. Ben, I hope they are well received.