Fix for holes in cycling shorts/bibs?

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 6 months ago by baiskeli.

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January 19, 2013 at 1:51 pm #912728

Jason B
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Any ideas to repair holes in shorts/bibs? I can’t keep buying shorts every time a strategic tiny hole shows up. I have a couple of old bellwether shorts from the the 80’s that i can use for patches, (btw, men dont throw away cycling shorts or underwear, we wait for them to disintegrate [J.S.]). I have got to think a needle and thread is going to make bigger holes, so is there any good adhesive out there? Before I waste any of my Purple Passion #7, or my Sultry Fire Red, does nail polish work?
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January 19, 2013 at 8:40 pm #960573

baiskeli
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@Jason B 41069 wrote:

Any ideas to repair holes in shorts/bibs? I can’t keep buying shorts every time a strategic tiny hole shows up. I have a couple of old bellwether shorts from the the 80’s that i can use for patches, (btw, men dont throw away cycling shorts or underwear, we wait for them to disintegrate [J.S.]). I have got to think a needle and thread is going to make bigger holes, so is there any good adhesive out there? Before I waste any of my Purple Passion #7, or my Sultry Fire Red, does nail polish work?

Because the material is thin and stretchy and gets pulled on, just sewing the hole usually fails. New holes appear where you put the thread in. I once fixed a pair by adding a patch consisting of the entire panel that had the holes, sewn over it and connected at the same seams, where sewing won’t ruin it. It simply covered up the holes. I used some black stretchy material similar to that of the pants. Worked pretty well. Best done with a sewing machine.

January 20, 2013 at 3:22 am #960542

Vicegrip
Participant

Tire patch. Fix the hole with what you have in hand, water proof, flexible and adds street cred at the same time…:cool:

January 20, 2013 at 11:33 pm #960551

creadinger
Participant

I have a pair where the seam is coming apart in a really bad place. Can I try to fix that with needle and thread? For now they’re only in my winter rotation where I have to wear something over top of them.

January 21, 2013 at 2:42 am #960553

acc
Participant

Oh gawd. My kindest suggestion is to hand wash your bibs/shorts, whatever. They’ll last longer. Take them in the shower with you.

My plea is to retire them permanently. It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good show, it’s just not an apporpriate way to introduce yourself. And trust me, it’s more likely than not that I’ll be behind you.

If you are truly desperate, and the emphasis here is on desperation, perhaps you could place a big chunk of duct tape underneath where the hole is located.

If desperate times call for desperate measures perhaps you could wear something thinner underneath the offending bibs.

January 21, 2013 at 12:01 pm #960558

Jason B
Participant

@acc 41159 wrote:

My plea is to retire them permanently.

But they haven’t disintegrated yet, so that is totally unacceptable :p

But in all seriousness, I think I may have found a solution. Now let me preface this by saying I am not talking about worn out shorts that have a few atoms separating my livelihood from freedom. No silly goose, I am talking about snags, tiny holes, less than centimeter round, that go glistening white when worn. I mean, I have a new $80 pair of sugois that I feel funny wearing because of the glaring white beacon on my thigh. I guess I’m shy.
I know we are stinky onions right now, and it would take crowbar to get through all the layers to get to my superman briefs, but I’m thinking ahead for warmer times.
So back to the hole fixing: Iron Mendhttp://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Wetsuit-Booties-Snorkeling-AUTHORIZED/dp/B001HWFJNS
Made for scuba but the stuff is super thin and stretchy. It appears to be used often for cycling shorts.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2306[/ATTACH]
I ordered some and will give an update later.

January 21, 2013 at 12:52 pm #960559

acc
Participant

One more thing to consider—

When Lycra wears out it becomes more transparent and less opaque.

I learned this with swimsuits and I see it on the road now and then.

We used to double up on swimsuits and tell everyone we just wanted more drag.

You might want to give them a sunshine test or if you’re not shy you could ask someone riding behind you for an opinion.

January 21, 2013 at 1:27 pm #960560

Jason B
Participant

@acc 41167 wrote:

You might want to give them a sunshine testor if you’re not shy you could ask someone riding behind you for an opinion.

Oh, but I do the sunshine test. If I hold my shorts up to the sun and they turn into dust like a vampire, I won’t wear them.

Honestly, your words are well heard. I too have been the victim of looking up from the pace-line wheel in front of me to see a horrible site through thin Lycra that has left me scarred. My old shorts are for my basement trainer.

January 21, 2013 at 5:27 pm #960462

Vicegrip
Participant

http://www.velominati.com/etiquette/dont-be-an-ass-just-say-no-to-bad-lycra/

Funny stuff, caution there are a few bad words.

The iron on stuff works (I used to do a lot of diving) but you have to take great care as the melting point of the glue is often close to the base layer.

January 21, 2013 at 9:31 pm #960472

krazygl00
Participant

I’ve had pretty good luck with Seam Grip and a patch. Saturate the patch and the area around the hole liberally with seam grip, sort of like papier-mâché, then apply the patch and smooth out with a brush. I once had a seat post that had a burr or something that caused premature death among several expensive shorts before I fixed the problem, so I got pretty good at this method.
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