How to Cut a Saddle With a Crocodile Seat

The bicycle seat, or saddle, is an important part of the biking experience. Having the correct shape, size and stiffness in your saddle can be the difference between biking being a chore or a pleasure. Once you get the perfect saddle, you don't want to give it up. But over time, the seat cover material wears out from normal use. Instead of replacing the entire saddle, re-cover the seat with a new material. For an extra fancy look, use crocodile leather as your new seat-cover material.

Things You'll Need

  • Old bicycle saddle
  • Pliers
  • Marker
  • Measuring tape
  • Crocodile leather
  • Foam pad
  • Scissors
  • Leather knife
  • Cardboard
  • Spray adhesive
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the saddle from the bicycle. Unscrew the seat from the metal bars or springs on the underside of the seat, and remove the bottom plate. You may need pliers to loosen the bolts so you can remove them.

    • 2

      Cut or pry the old cover from the seat. If you can remove it intact, you can use it as a template for your new cover. If it comes off in pieces, discard the cover. Remove the foam cushioning as well, if applicable.

    • 3

      Trace the old cover with a marker on the underside of the crocodile leather. If you were not able to save the old seat cover, turn the saddle upside down on the leather and trace around that. Measure the depth of the seat and add that to the outer edge of your seat tracing. Add another one-fourth to one-half inch beyond that. You will be placing the cover on the seat and folding it over the sides and under the bottom of the seat. Pay attention to the direction of the scale pattern on the leather when you trace. You want the pattern to run lengthwise on the saddle.

    • 4

      Repeat step 3 with the foam pad. Use the old foam as a template to trace, or trace the bicycle seat. You do not need to add any extra to the foam tracing as it sits on the saddle under the leather. Use whatever thickness of foam you wish; you can double up on foam if the pad you have is not thick enough. If you do not use foam padding, skip this step.

    • 5

      Cut the pieces. Cut out the foam using scissors. For the leather, place the piece on a table or flat surface. Lay a piece of cardboard or a cutting mat under the leather so you don't cut the table. Cut along the trace outline with a leather knife. Cut slowly so you don't make a mistake and damage the crocodile leather.

    • 6

      Spray adhesive on the top of the bicycle saddle. Place the foam section on the adhesive. Spray the top of the foam pad and the underside of the leather seat cover with the adhesive. Set the bike saddle upside down in the center of the leather.

    • 7

      Fold the crocodile leather around the saddle, starting from the front and working your way toward the back. Pull the leather tight and smooth it down as you work, so it does not wrinkle or bunch on the sides of the seat where your legs will rub. Add more adhesive as you work if necessary.

    • 8

      Reassemble the parts of the saddle. Replace the saddle on the bicycle.