Basketball Leather

A current job using salvaged basketball leather.

For a former basketball player who now rides bikes instead. The leather is successfully salvaged, now I need to develop the pattern and figure out how best to piece these surprisingly small patches of leather together whilst retaining a certain basketballness in the design.

San Marco Mantra: My First

My first Selle San Marco Mantra recover. The pattern was complex but with all that practice on various SMP saddles it came together nicely with the first attempt. This one's destined for Dale's new Baum and might be seen around Hong Kong.

 

 

  

Aliante: F+J Natural Kangaroo

The Saddle

With Saddle Roll Strap

Hand Stitched

Rolled but Empty

This saddle and tool roll are on their way to Baum and Stephen's new Turanti cyclo-cross bike. I love doing saddles for brand new Baums!

Simple Arione Set

A clean Fizik Arione recover for Johannes' brand new Baum which should be ready about now. Simple black with Rapha pink perforations on both saddle and bar tape. i-phone instagram picture this time.

The Whole Family: Fizik Arione

 

The Finished

The Artwork

Fizik Arione recover for Ben's brand new Kenevans.

Scratch Nack & Cross Stitch: Prologo

Difficult to catch a clear shot as the saddle speeds past

 

These perforations take a long time

A bar tape and saddle group for Danny's new Firefly due in July. The Prologo logo will be replaced with an orange Firefly logo.

Fizik CX Arione: Speedy Dots & Cross Stitch Tape

 

Here's a bunch of tape and a saddle for Duncan's dream bike build.

Busyman Facebook Page

A few days ago we (my wife Feride) set up a Busyman Facebook page. We'll be loading heaps more photos, so check them out if you're interested and choose to 'Like' the page if you would like to see updates when we load more photos.

Flanders Flemish Flandrian Feline

Prologo Scratch Nack with the lion of Flanders embossed on both flanks. White kangaroo leather, vegetable tanned and some matching stitched and perforated bar tape. Commissioned by Kevin as a momento of the Flanders ride.

Subtle SMP: Red and Blue

Satin finish kangaroo

Minimal hand stitch details

The nose

Busyman

A subtle SMP recover for Todd's dad including busyman leather replacement label. 

Tray of Saddles

My work table

Concor, Romin, SMP Evolution & Prologo

Stealthy Prologo Recover

 

A Prologo saddle I just finished recovering for Cam's soon to be Baum. Seems like I'm the only fellow in town who's not getting a Baum. I wish I was getting one, maybe one day.... On this one Cam wanted it to be quite subtle so I removed the logo and went for a simple perforated pattern down the centre. The saddle is in black kangaroo and the bar tape is stealthy black on black.

Romin Honey

 

 

Honey brown Specialized Romin Expert recovered for Adam over in the USA. The old cover was successfully removed but a very slight impression of the stripes is still visible. Hand dyed kangaroo leather which will hopefully match some Brooks honey bar tape. In any case it will age gracefully alongside the bar tape.

Leather Patina

Faith's leather bits age gracefully.

Black and the Fern

Black the Cat

Handmade

Silver Fern of New Zealand

Suede

Todd's other saddle for his other Baum. Arione CX in polished kangaroo and suede with blood orange perforations.

Some Patterns

 

 

  

 

A selection of pattern pieces from three years of Busyman. Check out the story on Coolhunting.

Antares Cross Stitches Group

 

Waxed poly thread - won't wear away

Double thickness in centre to ensure body and comfort on the bars

Fizik Antares in black kangaroo with hand stitched detail for Peter's new Baum. Subtle double stitched tape to match.