Jeans wear through
 

My office pants have been wearing through too fast in the backside. I wear jeans and with two pair they have developed threadbare areas next to the back pockets.

Commute distance is about 2.5mi each way (1.5mi bike to station, take train, 1mi. bike to office) and I would rather not go through the whole change clothes routine. I have been looking at the Cordura jeans by Swrve, but I am also wondering if there would be a saddle that would be easier on jeans. I currently have a SpeedV by WTB. Any thoughts?

That sounds typical to me. I have worn out many pair of jeans. How ever all my bike shorts and bike tights have gone tens of thousands of miles. The bike short stays against you skin and transfers to sliding to the
surfaces of the shorts and the seat. This is why the shorts are a little slippery.
One posibility might be be keep your bike shorts on under your jeans at work. Then you just add tights for the cold weather, and just remove the tights and put on your jeans. I have done this, it's OK. The shorts are slippery, you need to keep your belt tight, so they don't slide down.
Only 2.5 miles? Just walk.

Hmm, I used to commute in jeans pretty often and in 2 years didn't notice any abnormal wear. If your saddle has "cloth" patches that might be an issue. My saddle was 100% vinyl on the outside and so was very slippery. Maybe that's the issue?

That's a lot more wear than I would expect. I commute in jeans a lot and haven't noticed this. What kind of saddle do you have?

I have the WTB Speed V Progel, it does have some fabric/cloth areas at the back edges. photo at http://www.wtb.com/products/saddles/recreation/speedv/ hmm. I was thinking the saddle shape might be the factor, but I see the friction could be a factor.

I've only had my swerve Cordura jeans for a few weeks now, and actually don't do all that riding in them at this point, so can't tell you how they'll hold up. Only done 2 15 mile rides and some small around the neigheborhood rides and no signs of wear so far. I do wear them pretty much every day. Ive worn 2 holes in my cotton shorts via my Brooks saddle rivets in a few months of daily 30mile RT commutes I like them a lot as a pair of jeans to wear for any purpose.

Polyester is tougher than cotton, and adds durability over pure cotton .
adopted to blend sweatpants for most of my wear,,
+ some hybrid poly ones, fleeced inside smooth outside compound fabric.

like them better than the Patagonia cool weather tights, because not tight,
I got those oversize at the time.. I fill girth, but not length.


wearing Denim takes the hair off my legs,
and keeps a patch on the outside of my thighs bare.

My last bike came with a WTB Valcon Team saddle and it was the first time I experienced serious wear on my jeans. That saddle really focused my weight right on the points of my sit bones, which seems to be why the wear. It was also pretty uncomfortable. I switched to a WTB Silverado and since, my jeans have shown no wear and I find the seat a lot more comfortable. I bet it's an incompatibility between your shape and your saddle. I'd try another.

I normally ride in polyester-cotton mix hiking pants. Compared to denim jeans, they are lighter, more windproof, quicker drying and more durable. There are many expensive outdoor brand versions but the cheaper ones from outdoor discount stores work well.
I'm not a huge fan of cargo-style pants for cycling but the extra zipped pockets are good for security. I use the leg cargo pockets for shopping lists on the back off envelopes, nothing heavier.

Use wear denim every day on my bike, and up untill about feb 2011 I wore holes through my pants at the rate of 3 pairs a year. They were always "vintage" / stone wash style.
In feb 2011 I purchased 2 pairs of cheap plain denim (un-stone washed) jeans from GAP and fortunately no holes since then. I'd even say I'll get another year out of them.

Some serious friction issues going on with the OP if jeans are wearing out on that short of a commute, and a slicker saddle is in order if jeans are going to be the preferred outwear. With that much friction going on, I'd suspect that the OP has some serious skin chaffing issues as well.

Though not for everyone, a wide slick leather saddle, such as a Brooks, might be the ticket.

My legs are fine, I wear slim fit denim and the jeans don't really rub against my skin. The holes happen next to the pockets as if they are folding or rubbing at the pocket seam, and there happens to be some cloth at the corresponding point on my saddle. I have been looking at the brooks line since they look very smooth and also lack seams on which clothing could hang. The B17 and the Team pro both look like good options do you recommend one vs the other?

Most definitly not. My friend used a brooks and his Jeans wore out exactly the same. We actually talked about this issue two weeks ago. He told me his problem stopped when he stopped using his Brooks.

edit...the brooks saddle in question.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2..._1202387_n.jpg

Well, that is strange. Nonetheless, I agree with dynodonn. A hard and smooth saddle, especially a hard leather one, should have far less friction and should therefore be much less destructive to your trousers. I can't imagine what your friend was doing wrong. I use a hard leather saddle and ride in my work clothes (I work in an office) about 20 miles each day, and my pants don't wear out that fast. I mean yes, they do eventually wear out in the seat, but by then they're usually pretty much used up anyway.

I agree with RHM and dynodonn. It's probably those seams on the saddle in question that are causing the wear. You could get a new saddle (FWIW, I use a brooks which has not caused any noticeable wear, and my commute is twice as long.), or you could try just a saddle cover.

If i wear to pick my saddle again I would have gotten a nicer Brooks with the brass rivets. The normal rivets are the points at which my pants are getting holes. The brass ones are smoother so there is less of a lip to rub on the material. Plus, they look sharper.

I find it odd how some people have this wear problem while others don't. I've used 2 Bontragers and 1 Brooks B-15, and have had ZERO wear with either. I stopped commuting in jeans mostly due to rubbing/chafing. I'll still ride in softer cotton trousers from time to time, but most of my riding in done in polyester/nylon knickers now.

I wonder if your saddle is too wide or not level. My pockets do not contact the saddle at all when I ride, and I'm pretty short (I'm figuring it would be even less on a taller person). Also, that point is a natural stress point, so it may not be the saddle at all, but that the jeans are too tight for their tolerances.

Ok, I can put a spin on this, both I and my friend wear on just the left side of our Jeans. We are both right handed so my guess is that we have poor riding style and we compensate by more effort on the left (**********)

That makes me think your seat is too high. You hips should not move up or down while you pedal.

Doubtful as my knees are slightly bent when I`ve got full extention on the pedal stroke. As I mentioned earlier, my problem stopped anyway when I swapped jeans brands. lol

I have a daily commute of about 4 miles and have ridden on a handful of different saddles - Brooks B17 Standard, Selle San Marco, WTB SST Comp - and have always worn through the seat of my jeans. To be honest, I have found that the amount of wear and tear to your jeans depends more on the quality and fit of the jeans than anything. Also would suspect that this is much more pronounced on road bike commuters than hybrid commuters since the more upright you sit the more padding you will have between the saddle and the pelvic bone, which is what I have found to cause the wear.

My wife has designated my jeans as either bike-riding and non-bike-riding pairs so I don't have to worry about it. :)

I do the bike ride, then train, then bike ride to work. Also, jeans are my wear, 365 a year.. Yes, Jeans and cowboy, the only way I go.. ;) With that said, I don't wear my jeans on the bike!! :) I keep my jeans at work, and change clothes when I get there. This morning for the 14 degree cold weather commute, I have 3 pair long johns, UA cold gear leggins, and Pearl Izumi shorts. IMO, trying to wear work clothes on the bike, doesn't do well. It might make your ride uncomfartable if it is cold, and you get your clothes for work all messed up. Try riding in bike gear, and carry or have a change of clothes at work. Should be better all around...

Anybody remember that Seinfeld quote, about George and his sweatpants? "It's like you're telling the world, I give up!" I gave up, on the pants-seat holes, and now I just patch them and don't care if they look goofy. I dream of a world....dream...of a...world...my friends, where a little healthy active-transportation B.O. is preferable to egregious perfume and dryer-sheet odor, and wear and tear on perfectly functional clothes is acceptable, indeed, not even noticed. I know, it's not Martin Luther King, but still a positive step.