Is There a Way to Repair a Hole in Cycling Shorts?

[wackyjacky1]

My dang kitty somehow got a hold of my shorts that were drying on the shower rod. She chewed several tiny holes in the right butt-cheek area. :rolleyes:

Is there any way to repair this? Probably not, I guess, but I sure hate to have to toss out a virtually brand-new pair of shorts (I've only worn them once :( ).

BTW the shorts are 80% poly, 20% lycra, if that helps.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/DSCN0069.jpg

[jobob]

If you can't repair them, you could always save them to use indoors on a trainer (assuming your SO / family members / housemates don't object).

Or, if it gets chilly enough where you are, you can wear tights over them and no-one would be the wiser. :cool:

[ny biker]

How small are the holes? Could you dab some clear nail polish on them to keep them from getting bigger, like when you get a run in pantyhose and you need to do an emergency fix?

They still might need to be worn at home/under tights only, but it might keep them from getting worse.

[7rider]

I crashed once and tore my favorite pair of new shorts.
I now use them for "wearing under tights" duty.

[Tokie]

I got this suggestion from another TE'er - Select a pair of "sacrificial" shorts, and cut out patches for your damaged shorts from them. I sewed the patches on the outside of my shorts (for comfort) and held them in place with a tiny zig-zag stitching with my sewing machine. It isn't attractive, but quite serviceable! Good luck! tokie

[lph]

I got this suggestion from another TE'er - Select a pair of "sacrificial" shorts, and cut out patches for your damaged shorts from them. I sewed the patches on the outside of my shorts (for comfort) and held them in place with a tiny zig-zag stitching with my sewing machine. It isn't attractive, but quite serviceable! Good luck! tokie

Hey, this is a good idea. I have a pair of ancient Nike spinning shorts that I just keep 'cos when it's really hot out they're the shortest pair I have. (And earn me some welcome catcalls once in a while :D) I have a hole in my Amfib tights, and the Nikes just went sacrificial...

[malkin]

Fray Check, made by Dritz works like nail polish to keep the holes from ripping further, it's a little less stiff than nail polish when it dries, and since it's made for this purpose there may be other reasons why it works.

I'd use Fray Check on the edges of the hole, and if it is small, just stitch it up by hand and then fray check the scar. If the hole is big and needs a patch, the sacrificial fabric is the way to go. I'd consider running a bead of fray check around the edges of the patch before stitching it in too.

You can tell I like the stuff, but maybe that's just because the fumes have gone to my head.

[fidlfreek]

Great option on the fray check!

Instead of sacrificial shorts you could just buy a little lycra at the fabric store. Or look on ebay for used shorts. (There are tons that don't sell for even their initial $1 bid because who wants a used chamois?) Maybe a super crafty local tailor could make the patch on the inside...don't know for sure on that one

[Aggie_Ama]

I have a pair like that, just get a cute cycling wrap. My holey shorts are used for commuting, no one knows they have holes. They also do "under tights" duty. I love those bibs and can't give them the heave-ho for a little hole.

[wackyjacky1]

(There are tons that don't sell for even their initial $1 bid because who wants a used chamois?)
LMAO!

Yup, I think I'll try the Fray Check + patch route. I used to cross stitch, so I'm familiar with the stuff (and I'm pretty sure I still have a bottle tucked away in my cross stitching box).

I have to wonder, though, why she couldn't chew a hole somewhere less embarrassing. Why go straight for the butt-cheek area?! :D

[spokewench]

Murphy's law!

[RoadRaven]

We have a few holey shorts and jerseys due to crashes.
I can repair the jerseys ok using a zig-zag stitch... but have had no success at all with lycra.
Maybe I need to get an overlocker...?

Our ripped shorts continue to be used... the latest pair is my son's - his first wearing of new shorts, new jersey and almost new gloves and he crashed so well we had to get him a new bike frame! (Carbon doesn't withstand impact well at all!)

So he still wears his shorts on training rides...but I ask him to wear sunscreen under the shorts on his thigh/hip where the road shredded his shorts (and skin).

[malkin]

If the hole is small enough I'm almost always happier with hand stitching than machine. One grandmother taught me to stitch from the inside, but the other granny told me to watch the outside as I worked on a mend so I'd see how it was going to look.

[bmccasland]

I think if you're hand mending, you'd want the least amount of thread on the inside, so that might make a difference on your stitches.

My experience with fray check is that it itches.

I'd either wear the shorts under tights, or got to the fabric store to find some lycra to mend them.

Can you use the stretchy serger thread to darn the various loops back together? The stretchy serger thread would have give that regular thread wouldn't. (for some reason I never saw the photo before).

[RoadRaven]

All this talk of fraying has me confused... we are talking lycra???

Its just that our lycra shorts with road-crash shreds don't fray... so I am confused...

[malkin]

If a hole doesn't get bigger or reveal anything that you prefer to keep hidden or interfere with the fashion statement you intend to make then it seems to me that it isn't a problem and doesn't need a remedy.

Depending on the knit or weave of the fabric some holes tend to grow and grow (by rip or run) so one may prefer to seal (stop the increase in size of the opening) or mend (close the opening).

A snag is a knit stitch pulled out of its normal length which can look ratty and be the result of (among other things) a drag across an uneven surface, but if the fibers are not broken through, it will not result in a hole and it will not run.

Lycra is really really stretchy, so when a little bit gets grabbed it can snag out of the normal format without breaking. It can get scraped without a rip or a hole.

Does that help the confusion?

I've been listening to Handel's Messiah today, so I'm humming "And all flesh shall see it together" but I'm thinking of the flesh that wasn't really meant to be seen.

[Irulan]

word from the pro...

the idea of a small patch zig zagged on is how I do it, and I've been a technical sewing specialist for 10+ years. If you use a med zigzag, you don't need to turn the hem. I go for a round shape as it handles the distortion of lycra better than a square.

You haven't seen a grown man cry until he rips a hole in his $250 Assos bibs....

Malkin is right, lycra doesn't fray but it will unravel and the holes will grow after a period of time.

If you want to buy lycra for mending, Jo ann's usually has some but you can order better quality online, Seattle Fabrics has a very nice selection of Italian lcyra.

www.specialtyoutdoors.com/about/whatis.asp if you are curious.

Irulan