How to Fix a Ripped Bicycle Seat

A ripped bicycle seat is an expected part of being a dedicated cyclist. A seat that has ripped can expose your body to potentially dangerous objects that can cause injury while riding. Taking a proactive approach to avoiding this can be accomplished by regularly inspecting your bicycle's seat. At times however, a rip in the seat is both unexpected and possibly unavoidable. If you choose to ignore a ripped seat, it may lead to chronic pain and debilitating injuries due to riding in an awkward manner. Being ready as well as resourceful can help you fix a ripped bicycle seat inexpensively and quickly.

1. Identify the size of the tear and the material that is used to make the seat cover and the padding under it. A larger rip may require stronger material to hold the edges together. Check for missing padding in and around the area of the rip. Lost padding material can cause your buttocks to come in contact with springs or hard metal parts in the seat. This can lead to pain or injury when riding your bicycle.

1. Fill any gaps in the padding with cotton balls, soft cotton fabric scraps or pieces of an unused sponge. Temporarily close the rip with a piece of duct tape and test the firmness of the repair by sitting on the bicycle saddle. Keep in mind that no matter what material you use to fill the gaps in padding, settling and compression of the material can be expected with regular use. Move around while sitting on the seat, adjusting the padding to prevent bumps in the seat that cause discomfort.

1. Gently but firmly push the torn edges of the seat together until they meet. Cut a piece of duct tape long enough so that it extends past each side of the rip and around the sides of the seat. Place one end of the duct tape on one side of the seat, parallel with the rip. Holding the rip together with your other hand, firmly pull the tape taut over the rip and attach to the other side of the seat. Extending the tape over the sides of the bicycle seat can help distribute the tension applied by your body weight, reducing the risk of detaching the tape or making the rip worse.

1. Cover the seat with your shirt or another piece of clothing if the rip occurs on the road and you don't have tape available. Smooth the center of the fabric over the seat and gather the excess around the post under the seat. Tie a piece of string, such as a shoelace, tightly around the fabric, closest to where the seat meets the post.