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.
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.
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. Photos on the bike from Richard of Bicyclecrumbs.
Some minimal brandy kangaroo whip leather for this classic aesthetic Wondercross.
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.
Mark's SLR Superflow Boost recovered in Nike elephant skin (bovine) embossed printed leather.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For Stan's Vanilla Classic I recovered this Aliante saddle with grid stripe perforations picking up the colours of the frame: cream, cyan, vanilla blue and racing red. The matching bar tape features the five petal vanilla flower-multi colour perforated design.
For Scott's new bike I have taken the Vanilla flower which features in Speedvagen's graphics and applied it in a multiple concentric pattern. The perforations on the saddle fade through three shades of pink. On the bar tape the perforations represent a repeat five petal flower in two shades of pink with accents of cyan in between.
I recovered this S-Works Romin saddle for Rolling Wheels Cycles in China. It's in a vegetable tanned burnished tan colour leather with an adaptation of the Passoni Cycles wheel logo in a repeat perforated design across the whole saddle surface.
A saddle and bar tape for Anthony with his signature perforated design in hot pink referencing the light reflection from a carbon fibre weave.
For Alexei's 80s vintage Italian Simoncini I refinished this Selle San Marco Regal in a very dark green leather with red highlights, chrome rivets and some matching custom bar tape.
For Serk Cycles I recovered this Power Mimic saddle in tan kangaroo leather with perforations in a gentle green to match the bike's paint scheme, and made some coordinating bar tape. The bike is on schedule to show at the Handmade Bicycle Show in Melbourne next weekend.
About the Mimic feature on Specialized saddles: consisting of some very soft foam through the centre on the nose and within the middle recessed section. This soft foam is covered with a super thin and elastic membrane which allows the foam to retain its softness. The leather I use on the new cover does not have the same stretchy characteristic which means the soft bits are no longer so soft. Essentially it becomes a Power saddle with the middle recessed instead of 'cut-out'.
The last photo is a late addition to the bike. A two piece saddle bag with perforated detailing to match the saddle.
For Allan's Giant TRC road bike I just finished this leather set in whiskey colour Kangaroo to compliment the tan wall tyres he's planning to install. The saddle is a Giant Fleet SLR and the perforated detail features the rich plum colour of the frame. We are still developing a compact saddle bag for Allan's bike.
Happy birthday to Ian from Deb! Deb sent to me Ian's old worn out SMP Dynamic saddle and a few photos of his very special Italian Officina Battaglin road bike. I replaced the tired padding with some fresh EVA foam and developed a perforated pattern based on the graphic detailing of the frame's seat tube. Thanks Ian and Deb.
For Baum Cycles the Lady Gel Flow saddle has several seamed panels and features perforated diagonal stripes in titanium silver and Champagne gold. I always enjoy the wonderful challenge of figuring out the nicest panel configuration, taking into consideration; form, function, economy and aesthetics.
