Why is it so hard to throw away old cycling apparel?

[Mr. SR500]

I have a box of old stuff I just can't toss. Some PI bibs, lots of gloves, socks, couple jerseys, and my fav old Assos bibs. Lycra is thin, elastic is shot, stuff I can't wear anymore, but it's still hard to part with. Not sure if it's throwing away something that cost so much or good memories. Anyone else keep apparel past it's prime, any good recycling idea?

[Tri Girl]

I, too, have a strange connection to my old cycling gear. I finally got rid of some of it when we had an international tri in our city. One competitor from S. America collected cycling stuff to bring home to racers who had nothing. I still had some stuff that was too old to give away. It's sitting in a bag in my closet. I wish I had a good idea of what to do with it. I think even the homeless would frown upon most of it or I'd donate it to a shelter.

[shootingstar]

One thing for certain, any old cycling gloves with too many holes/splits, etc. are happily thrown away. Gross. Same for tights and overstretched headbands. Forget it.

But I do have an old, washed pannier that just has a slight hole in pocket. Has been handy for guests since they never need to use every inch of it. Just something for any small purchases they make when I lead them around the city during the visit on bike.

[OakLeaf]

I'm the same way, but not just about cycling clothes.

Like, why aren't there rag collectors any more? Not that old cycling clothes would be any use for rags, but old underwear and jeans would be...

[7rider]

Jerseys, jackets, and no-chamois tights get sold (hopefully) at a local bike swap.
Thin, torn, and fading shorts get worn under tights or when riding rollers/trainer.
Beyond that, sometimes I just have to develop a stiff upper lip and toss 'em. There's something strangely freeing about that.
Besides, it's a good rationalization for buying new!

e.t.a. Oh, and old socks are good for keeping the coffee thermos from flopping around in the bottle cage on the commuter!

[OakLeaf]

sometimes I just have to develop a stiff upper lip and toss 'em. There's something strangely freeing about that.

I swear, we only put a trash can out every six weeks or so (it's a b**** paying for the service!) but everything I send to the landfill comes back and haunts me.

[Irulan]

I'm the same way, but not just about cycling clothes.

Like, why aren't there rag collectors any more? Not that old cycling clothes would be any use for rags, but old underwear and jeans would be...

There are, under a different guise than the old days. People bale up the clothing that even Goodwill won't take, and send it off to third world countries.

[ridebikeme]

Well, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one with clothing I can't seem to part with. Although in my case, it isn't necessarily that it has holes, worn out elastic... sometimes it's because I get something new to replace it. I do end up giving some to a friend that doesn't own a whole lot of cycling clothing, but sadly, I still have a great deal of it.

OK, OK maybe now I'll be inspired to do something productive with it!

[Trek420]

It was fun to give away cycling clothing I'd shrunk out of. I found some AIDS Lifecyle riders my previous size to donate to.

I'd like to lose/tone up more and donate another round but then .... I'd need to buy more stuff.

Oakleaf, between recycling and composting I was paying for a full can so non-recycling neighbors could top off. Now I've got a smaller can thus saving $17 a month. I donate a lot to local thrift stores, especially during the remodel, try as we did to order just enough I ended up with extra materials. Those went to Habitat for Humanity. it's a nice tax deduction.

We have a bike thrift store that supports Trips for Kids to donate to or go to.

[shootingstar]

It must be the memories attached to worn-out cycling apparel/gear.

I do tend to wear out well any outdoors sports apparel. What I've actually found harder to discard are T-shirts that indicate places where I've visited. Still am wearing a Vermont t-shirt at home, acquired from my lst touring bike ride ever back in 1992.

Recently I relunctantly threw a T-shirt that indicated Prince Edward Island, another place where we did bike touring ..um back in 1994 (I need to look at my cycling journals to check year.). The neckline was so trashed from wear, etc.

And there's a Cape Cod (Nantucket Island)T-shirt, I wash carefully. 1993 where I tour-biked there too. Has a cartoon of riding couple with his bike all decked out like the kitchen sink, shower and everything else on the rack.

One day will wear my Nunavut T-shirt (Canadian Arctic) more often. Got alot of T-shirts to plough through.
Yea, I bike so I can still fit into these relics.

[marni]

there is an organization called gear4good.com which accepts some donations of gently used sports equipment.

As for old t shirts and in my case all the t shirts I get each year from all the charity rides I do, I am saving them to make into lap quilts by cutting out the motifs and interesting stuff and putting it together crazy quilt style with a light layer of batting and some flannel for backing.

That way I'll have something to take with me to the old foks home.

marni

[Trek420]

As for old t shirts and in my case all the t shirts I get each year from all the charity rides I do, I am saving them to make into lap quilts by cutting out the motifs and interesting stuff and putting it together crazy quilt style with a light layer of batting and some flannel for backing.

That way I'll have something to take with me to the old foks home.

marni

See ya there! Race ya down the hall with our walkers.

I've taken many of those shirts and put the most interesting part of the design in embroidery hoops, sort of like a wooden frame.

We may need to bring back the TE garage sale threads.