I asked a relative for a #BikeNite question:
Q5. Have your pants ever snagged on a gear and torn? Have you had other clothing issues while riding a bike? What happened and how did you fix it?
Discussion
I asked a relative for a #BikeNite question:
Q5. Have your pants ever snagged on a gear and torn? Have you had other clothing issues while riding a bike? What happened and how did you fix it?
A5:
Yes, I solved it by wearing reflective velcro strap around my ankle. It is in my opinion bit better than the clips but they are bit PITA to find where I live (and not worth to ship 3€ item).
@ascentale @bikenite A5. I cannot remember that I snagged my pants, but used to get oil on my trouser legs if I didn't roll them up. Nowadays, I ride with belt. I don't wear any special cycling clothing.
Btw. I use my bike as an everyday vehicle, not for the Tour de France. Who puts on sportswear when they get into their car?
#bikenite
@ascentale @bikenite a5. I tried commuting in jeans which was fine except after a week or so I noticed a hole appearing in the crotch. And so ended that attempt at wearing “normal” clothing. #bikenite
@ascentale @bikenite #BikeNite Q5. I have not had my trousers damaged by chainrings in a very long time, but yes, it has happened in the past. This is easily prevented by a velcro or elastic strap, even a bit of cordage. Chainguards exist for a reason, even if they aren't "cool" to many people.
The main clothing issue I face now is riding with skirts and dresses, and finding skirt weights to keep me from offering a gratis can-can show, like the one shown below from Bike Pretty.
A5
I've had shoelaces catch in the chain which is un-nerving, especially if you're cycling at speed.
I now always tie my shoelaces in behind the shoe's tongue, and pull the tied lace over to the right in my right hand shoe and to the left on my left hand shoe so there's no chance of it happening again.
@ascentale @bikenite I've gotten a pantleg fouled in the chain a long time ago but I bought these reflective velcro strips that I use to cinch up my pant hem so that isn't a problem anymore. I just leave it attached to the bike rack when not in use.
I tend to ride in over-long jeans, and when I bike, I fold them up to the knee.
This keeps any grease-stains on the inside, keeps me cooler, and mostly keeps the jeans out of the chainring.
Plus, I started seeing film stars wearing jeans folded high in k-dramas a couple years ago, so... I'm trendy!
@ascentale @bikenite I used ankle clips, springy plastic or steel doodads that hold your pant leg tight to the ankle.
@ascentale @bikenite I wrecked a really nice pair of rain pants on a gear. I repaired the rip with helicopter rotor tape, use spring steel legs clips, and wear only those rain pants when biking in the rain.
#BikeNite A5. Yes, all the time for awhile. Also shoelaces in pedals, LOL. Fixes, in order of preference:
A. Modify the pants that are causing the problem to bring in the pants around the ankle. Now that I know how to sew and modify pants, I just do this for any pants that I happen to wear. This is the best solution!
B. Tuck the pants into socks. Works, most of the time, but not elegant nor does it work well all the time.
C. Tie the pants to my leg with a piece of string. Did this for a bit, but it's a PITA, and gave up on it, and then I lost the string I was using while riding, and reverted to B. Prefer to just do "A".
These are also an option. This aside of the Atlantic at any rate. Spring steel bicycle clips.
They used to be a standard accessory everyone who wore trousers had back when I was a kid. Modern versions are also available in nicer brighter colours.
large velcro wrappy strip things [like what you use to bind cables/wires]
@ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite
I seem to recall a chain guard on my bike from the 60s.
@dougfir @ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite All Dutch bikes seem to have chain guards, but they are heavy.
@dougfir @ascentale @bikenite Well, that works too, LOL.
A5. Usually when I commute I carry my change of clothes, etc., in a biking-specific backpack that I hardly notice when I'm riding. But on one ride this past fall I had to carry something larger (maybe a box of sweets for my colleagues after a weekend trip?) so I used my regular backpack.
I didn't realize I'd "outgrown" the backpack's waist strap, I clipped it together behind my back and didn't think about it again until it caught on the edge of the saddle when I was trying to dismount at a red light. Didn't fall, I'm happy to report.
On the ride home I looped the strap through the arm straps to keep it up out of the way.
@ascentale @bikenite A5 #bikeNite I've gotten lots of holes in trackies I've worn without adequate trouser clippage.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. I tore many a pair of jeans back in the 2000s on a chainring in that distinctive L shaped tear. Never did actually fix them, but I started rolling my pant leg up to avoid it. Now I generally wear tighter fitting pants rather than boot cut jeans so it's less of an issue. Occasional worry of tearing pants/shirts for work, but that's best resolved through clothes ammendable to biking in with more ease.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. My main bike has a chain guard, so no chain related issues. I did once catch my pants on my bottle cage (one of the cute animal ones from Portland Design Works) and ripped my pants, which led to me replacing the cage! #BikeNite
A5: I had a few pants in my early twenties that had colorful triangular patches in them on the inside right hem from when I was negligent and hadn't cuffed my pants. These days instead of forgetting to cuff them, I forget to uncuff them. :P
I mostly wear street clothes on a bike.
I’ve once or twice had a bad combo of wind and leg position that caught the cuff just right. I was lucky to feel it happen in time to back the crank up and get free without too much damage.
I have also pushed some beloved but very worn trousers beyond their limit and torn the seat out at inopportun moments.
@goldenmeanie @ascentale @bikenite as a man with large thighs, I wear essentially every pair of pants till the seat goes through. Though more often they go when getting into a car than when riding.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. I've had a small hole worn in my jeans from the bike chain. Other than that, I've had a bungee cord get stuck in my cassette badly enough that I needed to remove the rear wheel to get it out.
Chain grease is an ever-present problem, and it's the reason I normally wear bike-specific clothing on longer rides now.
@ascentale @bikenite I lost a pair of pants thanks to a snag on the bike seat. No repairs were possible, but thankfully there were nearby clothing stores.
@fundamental @ascentale @bikenite catching my pants rear pocket on the seat as I launch is a frequent annoyance. But hasn't caused any issues.
Yet.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. Before I started wearing proper cycling gear years ago I was wearing a cotton T-shirt and got some kind of stinging insect caught in my shirt. Stung the hell out of me and the stings got infected. Ever since then I wear Spandex jerseys even though they're not flattering. #bikenite
@AE4WX @ascentale @bikenite Way back in the 1970s, before Spandex was a thing, I had a bright yellow nylon jersey with a big blue stripe. And out on a ride on a summer day, I had a bee chase me for something like 2km. Bee probably thinking that's one mfn fast enormous yellow stinky flower!
@ascentale @bikenite A5. Yes, they've snagged. No, they've never torn. That's because I often ride in jeans. Other issues? Sometimes shoelaces will get caught if the loops are too big.
Just batten stuff down before riding. I used to use reflective velcro straps on my pants legs, but now I find just tucking my right pants leg into my sock works better.
Double-tie the loops if they're too long, or use shoes with v-straps.
For dresses/or skirts, get a skirt guard for the rear wheel. #BikeNite
I used to have uncleated Shimano shoes with a small elastic loop across the tongue to tuck in the laces. Handy.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. No. My bikes all have chainguards. Most of them have the chain encased in a watertight housing, because I use hub gears. Why would you ride a half-finished bike that doesn't let you wear TROUSERS??? #BikeNite
@ascentale @bikenite A5: definitely have done this too much. Usually when I ride my bike to a party or something I'm dressed up for. I forget that my pants legs might be wider than my typical jeans I wear when riding. I loved when Levi's had their Commuter line which were slim fit legs and had reflective stuff on the inside of the hem too. Loved those and still have pairs of 511 and 510 Commuters that I wear. #BikeNite
@genex @ascentale @bikenite I still think about those Commuters. They were so good!
@emily @ascentale @bikenite yeah I wish they'd bring them back - I'm glad I bought many extra pairs of them. I'm actually working a high level meeting at Levi's so maybe I'll tell them that then!
@ascentale @bikenite I've had my shoelaces get caught 3 or 4 times. Only my jeans once, but luckily my gear pushed them up out of the way so it could go directly into my leg meat.
@ascentale @bikenite
A5.
I used to have a backpack where one strap was on a hook, not permanently attached. One day that strap came loose while I was riding and fell into the chain, sending me into a fall -- at the corner of the two busiest roads in the village. It was awesome. When I got home I hammered the hook shut.
#BikeNite
@ascentale
In the early '90s, I had a really good 21 speed that I would ride to and from work. At the time I was working military police and our uniform was bloused camouflage. One morning I was running very late, so I wore my uniform while biking to work and my bloused pant leg got caught between the chain and the chainring. Well, the teeth didn't want to let go and ripped my right pant leg off at the knee
@bikenite
@ascentale @bikenite
#bikenite A5a: BTW my daughter in law showed me on Wednesday the hole in her pants by the ankle from her bike chain.
@ascentale @bikenite
#bikenite A5:
I've gotten pants caught and torn in my chain before, but so long ago I can't recall details. I religiously bind pants to avoid this recurring.
Other clothing issues have occurred during crashes and I have a mended jersey and mended winter cycling pants as a result.
@ascentale @bikenite A5: I haven’t snagged my pants but I definitely get chain oil on one leg if I forget to roll up my pants, or tie them tightly.
I have an issue with pockets, since many of them aren’t deep enough. When I drop my phone in a pocket and jump on my bike, I don’t want to worry that my phone might fall out. (I don’t have a bike phone mount). I’ve altered a couple pockets to make them deeper just for that purpose.
@ascentale @bikenite A5: No, but I've had cargo nets catch on wheels twice. Once I had to cut it free, the other time I was able to unwind it and it was okay.
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