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?
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Oh, lord yes. Pants in chains/gears was a feature of early biking for me. Clothing semi-disintegrating due to riding too much - a Brooks saddle that would eat into blue jeans, backpack shoulder straps sand their way through tee-shirts, pedal clips destroying cheap tennis shoes…
The worst was discovering the LuLuLemon transparent shorts thing long before the company ever existed: Spring rides when the shorts are unexpectedly tight.
@ascentale
my fav caught-clothing:bike tale:
half century ago
drifting around
walking thru Buena Vista Co,
A cowboy stepped out on the sidewalk and confronted me.
Hats, boots, hands on his holster'd sixguns
"Sir. I need you to come with me"
ok, lead on
the 5y/o cowboy walked me thru the park to the path, where his 4y/o sister awaited his return with her dress caught in the chain on her training wheeled bike
Dealt with that.
He tipped his hat and said: "thank you"
@bikenite
@ascentale @bikenite A5. For me, nothing worse than chain oil on my pants. I almost always ride with clips holding my pant cuffs close to my ankles.
@ascentale @bikenite A5. #BikeNite
It was a hot day in Whistler, BC, and I was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt, which made it easier for a blondie to survive the intense sunlight. We were hoping to get to Pemberton and back via trails and side roads. Somewhere on our way I trusted my hardtail too much, hit a bunch of potholes, and went over the bars. The white shirt got a lot of grey and brown on it, some red, and a decent hole. Unfortunately I had to get rid of it after we got back.
@ascentale @bikenite A5 #BikeNite have had a shoelace wind up on a pedal axle, that was fun. Definitely had grease-on-pants-cuffs over the years, mitigation has been (1) Levi's 541 (less floppy at the cuff), (2) chainguards and (3) chainring guards, sometimes laser-cut from acetal (mirrored acrylic is flashier but acrylic is too brittle to last).
The butt of my pants wears; I've patched jeans, and stitched pockets on nylon shorts. The fabric on the seat of the shorts gets polished over time.
Two squares of black acetal ("Delrin™" except I think this is some generic brand) laser-cut in the chainring guard pattern. The center area of the pattern is filled with circles of various sizes with a small center hole; these are spacersm used to get the right separation between guard and chain.
The square on the right is "empty", meaning the guard and spacers are removed and installed on a bicycle, the other is still in place and taped in place/together on its backside.
There's a blue Park Tools ruler across the top of the left square, showing that the square is 235mm (9-1/4 inches) wide. (The ruler is legible because I used white-out to fill all the little recessed measurement lines and lettering, then wiped off the excess.)
Close-up-ish of the chainring-and-pedals area of a bicycle parked on the edge of a damp brick sidewalk.
The pink bicycle has a shiny metal guard, and a mirrored acrylic chainring guard that manages to reflect the bricks in good alignment with the pattern on the sidewalk.
The chainring guard has a slot cut so it fits directly over the crank arm, and 3 holes drilled in it for 5 130bcd chainring bolts. It is attached with long thin screws that go through the hole in the center of each chainring bolt.
@dr2chase @ascentale @bikenite
I'll ne'er forget riding w/ a small group and crossing a street and then having R. say STOP!!!" in that voice that makes you just STOP. Ten seconds later, he was off his bike and ... unwinding my shoe lace from the pedal axle.
I LOVE ridiculously observent neurodivergent humans.
@ascentale @bikenite A5: apart from oil stains, the most annoying clothing fail I've had was when I tried to remove one of my lightweight full-fingered gloves while riding (can't remember why it was so urgent) and instead of pulling the glove off my hand, I ripped its entire fingertip off with my teeth.
@ascentale @bikenite A5: apart from oil stains, the most annoying clothing fail I've had was when I tried to remove one of my lightweight full-fingered gloves while riding (can't remember why it was so urgent) and instead of pulling the glove off my hand, I ripped its entire fingertip off.
#BikeNite A5: I tuck my pants legs into my socks precisely because I don't want to get them caught in the chain.
But now most of my light-coloured socks* have black grease marks on them where they were protecting the pants legs. So it works!
* My dark-coloured socks probably have black grease marks on them too, but who can tell?
@ascentale @bikenite I ride almost exclusively in kit. When in normal trousers they get pushed up above the calf.
I did once chase and stop (in a very non aggressive / threatening manner) a lady wearing a long scarf which was already oily from the chain and which kept flirting with get caught in rear mech.
I had been told the story of Isadora Duncan and just could not let it go.
A5. Nope, and I haven't had trousers snag either!
A chap in my old cycling club ones did a time trial and had a stitching failure on his shorts. As he crossed the finish line he unknowingly flashed his wedding tackle at the rather substantial crowd.
@ascentale @bikenite A5 - my plans are to try and keep cycling. I’ve got a few events planned - Dirty Riever and also a few Glorious Gravel rides including the Centurian. My hope is to get fitter and keep enjoying being out on my bike. #bikenite
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).
@plactagonic @ascentale @bikenite I have some really nice pink ones with sliver reflective that are slightly elastic so they are very effective.
@plactagonic @ascentale @bikenite My local bike shop carries them, but I've also purchased them mail-order. You can always add them to another purchase so you're not only getting that small item shipped.
@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.
@gcvsa
Oh that's a great reminder for this
https://bikerumor.com/video-penny-in-yo-pants-how-to-cycle-in-a-skirt/
Sadly looks as if the original domain has lapsed and is now just an advertising redirect.
@kumisaappaat @ascentale @bikenite As a corollary to that, I use scünsi silicone hair elastics, which make great heavy duty elastic bands for all sorts of purposes, and can even be color-coded.
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.
@Cyclist @ascentale @bikenite
#Bikenite A5b:
I too have had shoelaces caught in my chain, and yes it can be almost crash inducing at speed.
I've developed a habit of after tying the laces, tucking them under an eyelet loop below so they stay centered on the top of the shoe. After I discovered this technique also prevents the shoelaces from coming unexpectantly untied anytime, I now do this all the time, even when not riding.
Yup, I tuck my shoelace loops under one of the across loops too. And now, even when I'm not cycling. Nobody has yet commented on my odd lacing pattern...
#BikeNite A5b+
@bobjonkman @MartyCormack @ascentale @bikenite
Yes, I do mine all the time. I never know when I might hop on the bike to run an errand, so it's much safer that way!
@MartyCormack @Cyclist @ascentale @bikenite Tidy!
I also tuck my laces out the way - but not in a particularly cool way🤪
@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".
@ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite I have a full chain case but also elastic + velcro straps with reflective ribbon for holding trouser legs tight. It goes a highly reflective cuff.
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
@ascentale I ended up getting a much more conventional bottle cage with no sharp bits.
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.
@oheso @meganL @ascentale @bikenite
My cleats have those . Absolutely essential if you ride with laces - as they always make their way into the chain ring eventually
@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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