In a fit of thrift, and a desire to learn new skills, I have taken to repairing my cycling clothes rather than just replacing.

Recently, my needle and thread have been focussed on some comfortable, but weakly stitched, Adidas gloves. The repairs aren’t pretty, but are functional.

I’ve now got some Giordana shorts to do where the stitching has gone on the inner thigh – any suggestions as to what thread and how to get a flat stitch?

So, what’s your best repair and how long has it lasted?

Bump. Or you’re all rich enough to replace kit ever time it wears out.

I’ve got a couple of pairs of £80 Pearl Izumi shorts that I’ve hardly worn and torn. I’ll go and fetch a needle and thread too.

Tom – there’s a little alterations shop in the peoples republic. I recently dropped my Sombrio jacket in there as the zip had gone. They put a new zip on it for a tenner (considerably cheaper than a new waterproof). Good as new.

So…. if its decent kit and you doubt you’re needlework skills….

judging from how busy they are, I’m sure a lot of people are making do and mending rather than splurging on new kit

Mrs TJ does all the sewing around here – she is very good. I’ll ask her advice later and post up

I still use a descente winter top ripped by a taxi/bike interface, repaired 21 years ago…

Taught myself to use a sewing machine and properly sorted some cut-down goretex trousers for riding. Regularly repair stuff as it is usually hard enough to get it in my size to start with!

Aha..! I knew you’d all come out of the woodwork* some time…

binners – is that the one near the school/behind the achingly trendy cupcake shop..?

TJ – cheers!

Tootall – did you use a book, or just go by trial and error? We have my mother’s old sewing machine, and I’d like to learn how to use it.

*Another handicraft for another day….

I ripped the throwbag pocket off a brand new bouyancy aid in a grade 5 rapid, stitched it back on with dental floss and its still there 12 years later.

That’s the one fella. They do a great job. They’ve repaired a pair of my Troy Lee shorts too, for a couple of quid

Nice one, binners. I’ll send Mrs North round (well, there need to be some advantages on her being on mat leave!)

A few websites, a book or two, some spare fabric and a few hours to spare. If you can get the manual for the machine you’re away. Just learning to thread it is a start, then experiment.
Get a bag of offcuts from Point North fabrics and you will be making little bags for things and messing about for hours.

TooTall – cheers. will look them jup.

Have a couple of other minor projects in mind.

It’s an essential skill these days-everything I buy that’s stitched together (not only cycling gear) seems to unravel at the slightest excuse.

There’s a good article on either instructables or ehow about threading a sewing machine. I did it after thinking our inherited machine was broken – turns out the bobbin underneath was just jammed.

Don’t forget, boys . . . “A stitch in time saves nine”
ie. look out for loose threads, and fix them before they unravel

If the original seam on the trousers you mention was created with a serger or overlocker you might find there’s not enough seam to do a machine repair.

hello mumsnet,

i’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to:

binners – Member

Tom – there’s a little alterations shop in the peoples republic. I recently dropped my Sombrio jacket in there as the zip had gone. They put a new zip on it for a tenner (considerably cheaper than a new waterproof). Good as new.

Ooh, do they do new zips in camelbaks too? I’ve two that have dead zips. My local cobbler does some repair work but doesn’t touch rucksacks

The scruffy looking place as you go into the CIS/Printworks side entrance of Victoria Station do excellent repairs and zip replacements – specialise in motorbike stuff, but have ressurected a couple of old but expensive walking jackets & rucksacks for me over the years.

There is a kurdish tailor who works out of a shop at the end of my road.

He has just done a fine job of triple stitching my endura baggies that had ripped down the middle and he also fixed a new zip to a gore riding top that I had broken.

He’s had also fixed a suit for me and repaired some old trousers. very good.

hello mumsnet

See all that up there^^^^? Pah to your cheek Mr Consequence..! 😉

Esme-good advice-an old adage but still very relevant in these modern times!

I always stitch my stuff up again. I’m hardly a master of the needle (in fact, I often use yellow or red thread to sew up black cycling kit, so I can see the thread easier while watching TV 🙂 ) not pretty, but it does the job and saves money.

‘Fixed’ small tears or abrasions in waterproofs by putting gaffa tape on the reverse and filling the split with superglue. They seem to hold fine for years.

Busted velcro and zips are beyond me though.

seriously though….

isnt this what women are for? 😆

nbt – can’t you convince bunnyhop to do the work for you..?! 😉

Anyway, this is the place binners is referring to. I’m going to nip round and see what Irene can do for me (oo-er..!). I’ll ask about rucsac zips when I’m in.

Irene’s Sewing Box, Chorlton-cum-Hardy

nbt – try these folk for camelback repair. Found them very good in the past.

http://www.lsr.gb.com/

For outdoor gear, these people are absolutely brilliant:

Scottish Mountain Gear

They put a new floor in my old North Face tent for a surprisingly reasonable sum, and the service and workmanship was top notch. They also do waterproofs and rucksacks and whatnot too. Great service.

As for shorts etc – I always look at repairing them but unless it’s crash damage I usually find that the stitching etc has come out becuase the fabric’s worn through, so repairs are usually futile. Even with some crashes the fabric is worn away so it’s useless.

Mrs Grips did put new ankle zips on a pair of tights once for me – that was a total nightmare though. We both tried, it was really hard because lycra tends to stretch when running it through the machine. In the end she hand stitched it I think.

trailofdestruction – that’s a great link. Might be able to get my old Endura overshoes repaired (zip has gone). Will do for commuting if I can.

molgrips – fabric is OK on the shorts,. It’s just a worn saddle cover that has in turn worn the stitching on the shorts. they’re only around 18 months old, so I’d like to keep them going if I can.

Definitley one for the favourites list. Ripped that new Gore Tex jacket, don’t throw it in the bin in despair, you can probably get it patched up and re-proofed for a lot less than a replacememnt.