Hi everyone

I commute to work every day (about 3 miles each way) in my work clothes. Now that it's fall, I''m wearing corduroys nearly every day. Already, in just a few weeks, I've worn two pairs really thin in the crotch to the point where I'm afraid I'm going to tear them in just a few more rides. ugh. I can't afford to replace clothing too frequently. I didn't have this problem in the summer when I had jeans on usually. Looking for some good advice. Would a different saddle help, or maybe a rain cover or something on my current saddle? We don't have any place to change clothes at work so since my commute is short it's easier to just show up in what I'm going to wear for work.

Thanks!

The only suggestion I have is don't ride in corduroys. That fabric is especially prone to damage by abrasion and a bad choice for cycling pants.

Go back to jeans, or another abrasion resistant fabric. You might leave the corduroys at work, and ride in something else and change on arrival. Otherwise get ready to increase your clothing budget.

I don't ride in anything except athletic shorts, bike shorts or cheap jeans. Its just what happens to thin materials.

This actually happens to all of trousers, even those that never see the bike.

What they said. I ride to work in cheep insulated bike tights or shorts depending on weather. You have to have a bathroom at work. That is where I change (in the one at my work, not yours).

Full denim pants, or wear denim shorts over top.

- Andy

I've found denim quite poor for wear ... even raw denim. I found someone in Germany to sew new crotches into my pants for €5/pair, which is quite nice though (colour-matched and everything.)

Rip-stop material has been much better/spandex.

I've got about 600 rides on my usual riding bottoms with no sign of wear for €15 from a German coffee online shop. Far superior to denim, IMHO.

The hardest-wearing pants for everyday use are polyester cotton. It feels better than pure polyester technical gear, is light, windproof, quick-drying and you can get various grades of casual-ness. Mine usually last 2 years in the saddle, even the budget ones.
Useful temp range for me is +25 to -5C, Below this, I add long johns or over-pants.

expensive
Affordable
budget

if my commute was only 3 miles, I would walk.

however, that wasn't your question. I agree with the above comments about corduroy wear. it's a material that wears quickly, especially compared to denim. if you're not wanting to wear biking apparel, I would stick with denim and add some sort of base layer. take the base out when you get to work.

Consider purchasing jeans or pants that are made to commute in, and are reinforced in areas prone to abrasion.

Levi's, Swrve, Betabrand, Club Ride are some of the brands making cycling specific jeans and pants. They are more expensive than regular jeans or pants, but you won't have to replace them every few months.

Levi's are discounted at REI right now, as is their Novara house brand...

Poly cotton work pants....Dickies like......wear good,dry fast,look like pants......come in lots of colors.

I buy them second hand for my work(I get DIRTY) for a couple dollars a pair.....Shirts also.

+1 on the Dickies. I don't wear them to work, but do wack the lower legs of them off to make bike knickers for riding around on weekends in-between seasons.

Wear cycling shorts and put your trousers of choice on when you get to work.

You say you don't have a place to change clothes at work, but surely you have a bathroom.

I'm a local historian. Many people I've interviewed who grew up during the Great Depression talk about how they used to get one fresh pair of corduroys to wear to school each September. That pair would have to last all year. On the first day of school, the hallways would reverberate with a loud, distinctive "vroop, vroop," the sound of newly corduroyed thighs rubbing together as the children walked to class.

After a few weeks, the sound would mellow out a bit, and by Christmas time, most children's corduroys were so worn down that there was no longer any sound in the hallways during recess. For the holidays, children were often given the choice of receiving a toy for a present, or a new pair of pants. Most chose the toy and eventually wore holes all the way through the thighs of their cords, which their Moms would then patch with a swatch from the previous year's pair.

Don't wear corduroys to ride. Carry a pair, or leave a pair at work so you can ride in denim or some tougher material.

Maybe throw a pair of elastic waist workout shorts on OVER your cords. Put on, Ride bike, Get to work, drop em.

And the sight of such an outfit would be super

Polyester helps .. even a % in the weave. just bring what you need to wear to meet the dress code with you.

the place HAS to have a Bathroom. to change in .

Get yourself some athletic pants made from polyester fabric or nylon, they are a lot more durable and comfortable then jeans or corduroys.

Wear your underwear on the outside.

>I've worn two pairs really thin in the crotch to the point

This is why I started wearing bike-specific lycra. Stuff is indestructible (and the missus likes it).

My denim pants are several (7?) years old and no signs of wear anywhere really. Depends on how thin it is, i guess?

- Andy

Seems like the materials Gap and Levis make denim and corduroy jeans from do not last as long as they used to, cords especially.

They cut costs where ever possible to increase Profits .. so they can Buy Naming rights with the surplus, on football stadiums.

Its the 100% cotton that is the problem see post number 17 above .

Not synthetic bike-specific trousers or knickers. (I have a pair of tights that are over 15 years old.)

I've adopted Sweatpants as my Daily -retired- wear. Track suit warm up trousers.
Russell (@the Meyer store) has some .. smooth Nylon outside , polyester fleece interior , it's a compound knit fabric .
1 pair sewn in Egypt, the other Bangladesh .. I bought the Black ones.