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Following on from my last seat recovering project a year ago (see viewtopic.php?f=1&t=286834 - still using with no issues including road/off road including a C2C and more!) I wanted to try it again.
I made a decent job of it first time but it wasn’t perfect. I need a new saddle for a bike I’ve just ordered so onto evilbay I went.
Picked up 2 SDG Bel Air Ti saddle for less than £5 each.....
(Saddle 1 – first try a year ago!)
Saddle 2
This one was bought as a Ti version which had been “recovered in fancy leather from new”. Looked like a good candidate as although it was a bit tatty I thought that as the new leather had been put over the original cover the foam should be pretty good underneath. As you can see the ridges of the original cover can be seen through the newer leather.
Not really happy with the condition of this one to be honest but the rails are straight and it was very cheap.
On the walk back to the car from work (where I took these pics!) i pulled the front plastic cover off because the numpty before me had chucked loads of staples in it and it was falling off.
He probably had to do this because there isn’t enough room under the plastic bits for 2 covers so it wouldn’t screw down properly. Thankfully the screw was still in there so should go back together ok and the staple holes won’t show.
Saddle 3
This one was in better overall condition although the rails are slightly bent. I may try to straighten them but it’s not too bad so may leave it.
Next step is to remove the old covers VERY carefully so the foam underneath stays intact.......
I started on Saddle 3 at home first.....
Took the plastic bumpers off – these are good seats to try with as these plastic bits hide the hardest bits to glue down so if it doesn’t look very pretty when you do the gluing it doesn’t matter.
Rails are slightly bent.....
Some needle nodes pliers used to pull the staples out but its fiddly.
Foam looks ok....
After about 30 mins of careful peeling it’s off! I use a scalpel to gently tease the glue away from the foam as I peel it off as the foam is delicate and a little bit of glue can pull big chunks out...
Even the edges are pretty good.
Only bit where some foam pulled out a little was the channel section. The leather I am putting on is thicker than the original cover so this should be invisible once covered – Saddle 1 ended up being lumpy as I wasn’t as careful pulling the cover off.
Saddle 2
Started peeling the cover of this one off on the way back to the car.....
Bumpers off
Peeling off....
I wasn’t happy at this point as it was clear that this saddle hadn’t been “recovered from new” as the original cover underneath had holes in it. Grrrrrr. I don’t like being lied to so may take it up with the seller on principle...
Same method as the other one, slowly and carefully with a scalpel. The glue had dried a bit more on this one so it was slightly easier.
Done – although the foam isn’t as good as the other one – but it’s saveable. Its a Ti-railed one so it’ll be worth it.
I don’t think I’ll keep both, one will be for sale I think as I don’t need both of them..........
Next step is to decide what colour leather on which one...
I made a decent job of it first time but it wasn’t perfect. I need a new saddle for a bike I’ve just ordered so onto evilbay I went.
Picked up 2 SDG Bel Air Ti saddle for less than £5 each.....
(Saddle 1 – first try a year ago!)
Saddle 2
This one was bought as a Ti version which had been “recovered in fancy leather from new”. Looked like a good candidate as although it was a bit tatty I thought that as the new leather had been put over the original cover the foam should be pretty good underneath. As you can see the ridges of the original cover can be seen through the newer leather.
Not really happy with the condition of this one to be honest but the rails are straight and it was very cheap.
On the walk back to the car from work (where I took these pics!) i pulled the front plastic cover off because the numpty before me had chucked loads of staples in it and it was falling off.
He probably had to do this because there isn’t enough room under the plastic bits for 2 covers so it wouldn’t screw down properly. Thankfully the screw was still in there so should go back together ok and the staple holes won’t show.
Saddle 3
This one was in better overall condition although the rails are slightly bent. I may try to straighten them but it’s not too bad so may leave it.
Next step is to remove the old covers VERY carefully so the foam underneath stays intact.......
I started on Saddle 3 at home first.....
Took the plastic bumpers off – these are good seats to try with as these plastic bits hide the hardest bits to glue down so if it doesn’t look very pretty when you do the gluing it doesn’t matter.
Rails are slightly bent.....
Some needle nodes pliers used to pull the staples out but its fiddly.
Foam looks ok....
After about 30 mins of careful peeling it’s off! I use a scalpel to gently tease the glue away from the foam as I peel it off as the foam is delicate and a little bit of glue can pull big chunks out...
Even the edges are pretty good.
Only bit where some foam pulled out a little was the channel section. The leather I am putting on is thicker than the original cover so this should be invisible once covered – Saddle 1 ended up being lumpy as I wasn’t as careful pulling the cover off.
Saddle 2
Started peeling the cover of this one off on the way back to the car.....
Bumpers off
Peeling off....
I wasn’t happy at this point as it was clear that this saddle hadn’t been “recovered from new” as the original cover underneath had holes in it. Grrrrrr. I don’t like being lied to so may take it up with the seller on principle...
Same method as the other one, slowly and carefully with a scalpel. The glue had dried a bit more on this one so it was slightly easier.
Done – although the foam isn’t as good as the other one – but it’s saveable. Its a Ti-railed one so it’ll be worth it.
I don’t think I’ll keep both, one will be for sale I think as I don’t need both of them..........
Next step is to decide what colour leather on which one...
