Waterproof Bicycle Saddle Cover

A short tutorial to make a waterproof bike seat cover, using a rice bag and a heat gun. The resulting cover is totally waterproof and will last for months. No more shopping bags!

VIDEO TUTORIAL

This is the video guide if you want to watch it. Otherwise, just follow the steps below.

You will need:

- a bike seat

- a rice bag

- a heat gun

- scissors

- a pen

- pliers or other metal object

useful to have:

- a bench vice to hold the saddle while you work on it

- double sided tape to stick the plastic to the saddle at the start

Cut along all the seams of the bag so it's just a flat sheet. It will have a printed side (green for me) and a silver, reflective side.

When we start heating this plastic up, you will notice it is only the reflective side which is able to stick together. The printed side will not stick well. This will be important later on.

Stick the seat in the middle of a section of plastic, on the printed side. Use a pen to draw a wide outline around it, about 7 cm away from the seat. Cut the shape out with scissors.

Start making folds or pleats around the edge of the seat. Heat them up using the heat gun and press the folds flat. Be careful not to touch any of the hot plastic with your hands. Use a tool like pliers, or a screwdriver or other metal object.

Keep working around the edge of the saddle. You can use a pair of pliers to stretch the plastic a little as you heat it and it will fit to the shape of the saddle more closely.

Use the scissors to cut away any excess plastic below the edge of the seat. You can also take this opportunity to wrap the plastic around the front of the seat if you like.

The seat cover is finished. This picture is actually from after 7 months of use. (I forgot to take one when I originally made it). The reflective film on the inside of the cover might flake away over time, but it won't impact how waterproof the cover is.