Diy cycling shorts?
 

I plan on making some cycling shorts, but have never owned any or looked at any before.. I have achilles tendonitis right now so I can't ride around to shops and look at them, I'm limited to looking at picture online. I was planning on getting the Lycra type material from jo-ann fabrics and I was wondering if the synthetic chamois cloth that they sell in the automotive section to dry your car is the same or similar as the synthetic chamois that they make shorts with? or if I could just buy the kind they use for cycling shorts somewhere? Sorry if this is a dumb question :p Maybe I'll be better off just making the jersey and buying some shorts, but I thought this would be a fun project since I can't ride for a few days..

Just buy the real deal. Trying to cheap out on your shorts just makes riding downright painful.

That sounds like a really bad idea.

alright... It doesn't look like there's anything too special about the jerseys though. Looks like I'll be buying the shorts and just making the jersey. Cycling clothes are so expensive!

Since when do you need special clothing to ride a bike? Just throw your leg over the saddle and go, as discussed here: http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2...mmuting-2.html.

buy the good shorts or less expensive liners

Right, because the bicycle short manufactures have magical elves making them? They don't?
It's perfectly possilbe to make cycling clothes on a home machine. jalie 2216 is supposed to be a decent pattern; it includes shorts and jersey both. (and long legged tights, too.)

I don't need special clothes to ride my bike, but I've been starting to do 80 mile rides pretty frequently on my fixed gear and my saddle makes me pretty sore by the end of the ride and once it gets warmer it would be nice to have something that'll keep me cooler.. I'm thinking about just sewing liners inside my cut-offs and making a jersey. I would like to save any extra money that I get to finally get some clipless pedals and shoes and a new helmet..

edit: not the liners, the sythetic chamois if i can find some for cycling shorts.

Thanks for the advice. I've seen a couple different patterns, but I think I'm going to just cut up some old, tight fitting shorts and use that as a pattern and I don't think making a jersey will be too difficult... at least I hope not.. I tried making a jean vest before and couldn't get it to fit right, but i think it'll be easier with material that stretches.

http://www.rei.com/product/794383
http://www.rei.com/product/765677
http://www.rei.com/product/794384

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/cycling_crotch_pads.htm

anyone know anything about these? I would probably get the long endurance one

Thanks! maybe I'll do that. It's about the same price as just buying the pad

It will cost more to make your own than to purchase a pair. Get a cheap pair of DeSoto tri shorts for $20 and wear them under your shorts. They are cheap, padded and hold well.

With some looking, you can get suitable fabric for 4 or 5 bucks a yard. a pair of cycling shorts will take, roughly, a yard. (depending, largely, of course, on how big you are.)

I'll need to buy a pad too... The link I posted earlier sells there "top shelf" pads 6 for $90. I might do that and make lots of cycling boxers or sew them into some of my tighter fitting shorts.

I rode 130.3 miles saturday in regular nylon shorts, no saddle issues.

Anyway, if you make your own, I would definitely buy some first and copy them rather than making something you'd never seen before.

You can get some really cool print patterns at Walmart, but I think all that stuff is cotton or cotton blends, and jerseys are usually a non-cotton synthetic, one reason to own them. Even with a jersey, it might work better to start with one as a pattern, come to think of it. People usually wear them pretty tight, so you don't have a lot of leeway on sizing it.

I think actual chamois is sheep skin or something? Anyway, what's in shorts and what they use on cars is likely to be two completely different synthetic products, so I wouldn't interchange them.

I can get nylon material from the Jo-ann fabrics by me. It's listed as "swim wear and dance wear" material. They also sell Polyester. Maybe I'll just buy the patterns..

turns out this is not such a wacky idea!

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/tips/pgallery.asp
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-...patternid=2375
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-...?patternid=909
http://www.sewessential.co.uk/Catego...rPage=5&page=1
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=6979997

You'll be much more efficient if you spent those hours working, and then buy the shorts with a fraction the money you earned. Now you've got both the shorts and a bunch of money in the same amount of time. Oh the magic of the industrial revolution.

I made a pair of DIY Bike Shorts a while back using a larger size of Sportiff Brand shorts and a piece of Chamois material custom-cut and sewn into the crotch area. Worked great for about $15 overall cost. I bought the Like-New Sportiff Shorts at our local Thrift store for $3.00. Don't be deterrred--go for it!

Maybe. Maybe not. Some people actually like to sew. and they'd fit properly...

vogue, in Evanston, had a bunch of suitable stuff the last time I was there. (Which, I confess, was before christmas. ) better quality and cheaper than Joanns....

I actually had more issues with padded shorts on long rides than non-padded. The chamois soaks with sweat or rain, traps heat, limits airflow and causes rash. I tried top of-the-line Pearl Izumi shorts, same thing. I'm trying to move away from padded shorts altogether. I just got my first Brooks saddle and it does look indeed like you don't need chamois with it. If this works out I'll get Brooks saddles for all my bikes and forget padded shorts.

When I was a kid I practically lived on a bike and we never heard about any padded shorts. But we did have leather saddles back then though!

So now I'm looking for soft, comfortable, fast drying shorts without seams in critical spots. Preferably merino wool. I was thinking about DYI route too.

Oh, and speaking of jerseys, yes they're overpriced. Since I don't use the back pockets (don't like having anything on my back - that's what frame bags are for) I just buy regular sport shirts on sale at Marshalls, Costco, BJ's, etc. For $10 a piece they work great for cycling.

Adam

Well, I suspect that you're overlooking an important issue.

If you've never worn or even examined a pair of bicycle shorts before, how would you know what they are supposed to feel like? I've owned some budget priced shorts and I've owned some better quality shorts. The better ones feel better and are much more comfortable to wear. Assuming the OP's objective is to be more comfortable on the bike it would be nice to have a better frame of reference before making their first pair.

OP if you decide to make your own, do go with a lightweight pad because the thicker ones can cause infection. That is why I suggested the triathlon shorts. Another thing, I hope you are not asking this question so that we can pump you up to justify wearing florescent green spandex.