General Cycling Discussion - repairing bib-shorts

I fell a few weeks ago and put a pea-sized hole in my brand new bib-shorts. What is the best tactic to fix it. I have not worn them since, in case that might make the hole bigger. Do bike shops sell patches or something? Does the fix job have to be real careful or what? Let's just my experience sewing is very limited at best!

Cheers

Maybe someone else can give you some ideas on doing it yourself. If you want to check on a professional job, hiddenbaysports.com does repairs. You could send them an email describing the damage and asking for a quote.

Ride on down to your nearest fabric/sewing store and ask the kind salespeople there for some advice. I've had luck sewing small holes with nylon thread. If your tear is on the large side or your bibs were very expensive, you might consider having a professional do the work. I have a friend in TX who does cycle-clothing repair. If you can't find someone locally, PM me and I'll give you her contact info.

Originally posted by poptart
Ride on down to your nearest fabric/sewing store and ask the kind salespeople there for some advice. I've had luck sewing small holes with nylon thread. If your tear is on the large side or your bibs were very expensive, you might consider having a professional do the work. I have a friend in TX who does cycle-clothing repair. If you can't find someone locally, PM me and I'll give you her contact info.

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to go "hunting" for a fabric/sewing store. I live in downtown Montreal and I can say with absolute certainly that I have never noticed one before. There has to be one around somewhere. I'll check around and get back to you, thanks again!

You can also try some of the local drycleaners.... at least here, they usually do alterations and fixes to clothing. They won't do anything too heavy duty, but fixing a hole should be in their arena. Plus, they will probably be cheaper than a sewing store.

PBW

most sewing stores that i know of don't do repairs themselves.

you have a few options.

You can let someone else repair it or do it yourself.

I say do it yourself. It's easy and you will feel better about it because you fixed it. kinda like doing work on your bike instead of letting someone else fix it for you.



Ok, the hole is pea sized. this is very small and you won't need any fabric to patch it.

your just going to close the hole up. this shouldn't look too bad if done right. you should be able to fix it w/ less than 20 stitches.

purchase, if you don't already have, some quality polyester thread and a needle.

cut off about 3 feet of the thread and thread the needle.

starting from the inside of the garmet and push the needle through next to the hole.
pull the thread through and push the needle back through after crossing over the hole to the other side of the fabric.

continue doing this, keeping the thread close to the last place it went into the fabric.

once you have closed up the hole, finnish with the thread on the inside just as you started.

tie the thread off.....

simple and you did it yourself!

Originally posted by pnj

Ok, the hole is pea sized. this is very small and you won't need any fabric to patch it....


That sounds like good advice, I will definitly look into it. I have a few follow-up questions then. The flap from the rip is still there (the hole is the shape of a crestent moon, if you know what i mean). Do I try and sew it back to the shorts? In addition, what do I look for in quality polyester thread and a needle?

Originally posted by Spire


That sounds like good advice, I will definitly look into it. I have a few follow-up questions then. The flap from the rip is still there (the hole is the shape of a crestent moon, if you know what i mean). Do I try and sew it back to the shorts? In addition, what do I look for in quality polyester thread and a needle?

you can just sew next the the cut/rip in the same crecent shape or cut the flap away and just sew the hole up from side to side.

the first way will take a bit longer but it is really up to you.

if you don't care too much what it looks like I would go for the easier way. that's not to say that it will look better leaving the crecent, this will be your first repair so chances are, it's not going to be perfect.

but it will fix the hole and you only get better w/ practice.

for the quality thread, just don't buy the stuff that's 3 rolls for .99 cents.
most of the polyester thread is fine but they do try and sell the junk stuff. this stuff breaks way to easy and seems to fall apart just sitting on the spool.

any needle should work. ask the lady at the fabric store if the thread is quality or not if you want.

Originally posted by pnj

if you don't care too much what it looks like I would go for the easier way. that's not to say that it will look better leaving the crecent, this will be your first repair so chances are, it's not going to be perfect.

Thanks again for the advice! Is there anything that I can do to really screw it up? What should I watch out for, if anything.

you can't really screw it up. you can always take the thread out.

as it is, it has a hole in it. your going to fix the hole.

depending on how good or bad your stiches are, it may look better or worse.... if it looks REALLY bad, take the thread out and re-do it.

i find that once I sew something I don't go back and re-do it unless it is so bad it can't be used how it is and must be repaired.

the only thing you need to be carefull about is the thread pulling all the way through the fabric.

the very first time you pull the needle and thread though, the knot may pull through the fabric. if this happens my suggestion would be to follow these directions.

tie a knot about 3 inches from the end of the thread that is opposite the needle.

when you put the needle into the fabric be carefull not to pull so hard that the knot pulls through.

sew the thing up and when you get the last sticth in, tie the two ends of thread together.

the thread may pull out of the fabric when you are sewing next to the edge of the hole also, so make sure you keep the needle far enough away from the edge so the thread does not pull through.


good luck and let us know how it turns out.