Tony N.

I have lost several inches in my waist and my fairly new bike shorts have become quite loose. Have any of you ever heard of or used some kind of suspenders to get some more mileage out of your too big shorts?

MrClyde

Get bibs next time?

Sounds like a good problem to have. Congrats on the weight loss.

LesterOfPuppets

Know any sewers? I'd try having them taken in a bit at the waist.

achoo

Took me a while to figure out you weren't asking him to toss his now-too-big shorts into a storm drain...

LesterOfPuppets

Hahaha! I guess I need to figure out what the new, improved PC word for seamstress is....

Assuming there is one.

Sewist? I think that would be better than sewer for print applications.

CACycling

Tailor? Bike shorts have a lot of stretch so anyone doing modifications would need to be really good working with stretchy materials. It could be done but might be better to sell the old ones and buy ones that fit.

Tony N.

Thanks for the replies but just need suspenders. Oh and I do have an excellant sewer. I'll ask her what she thinks but will not call her a sewer. :-)

LesterOfPuppets

I've worn suspenders in the past for non-cycling endeavors and there are two basic types that I've seen:
1. have button holes to attach to buttons sewn into pants.
2. have clips that clip onto the pants

I don't think having a bunch of buttons sewn onto your bike shorts sounds like a very good idea.
Clips can increase wear at attachment points.
I don't even like bib straps, so doubt I'd enjoy suspenders for riding.

B.Alive

"Cloth Combining Engineer"

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jethro56 

sew suspenders on?

dkmatdrum

I use suspenders that clip on and they work fine. I use them with fairly heavy Ibex El Fito wool knickers. I have also worn the version of the knickers that have bib uppers and the suspenders are just as comfortable and somewhat easier to use when using the restroom (at least when standing) They have a two jaw gripper and then a cover that folds down and locks them. They were my fathers Christmas suspenders and have a Santa Claus pattern.

billydonn

Please post your solution on the fashion thread!

dkmatdrum

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timmythology

At first, this topic took me by surprise. After thinking about it, and having a pair of cycling pants that are too big, I am really thinking it would not be that hard to do. I would use the thin strap suspenders though. I have a pair of big, wide, and red suspenders. But they receive too much attention so I would not want to use those.

Wogster

An option would be to take a small piece of other black material, say about 2" long sew or have this sewn into the shorts to give a tab that you can attach clip on suspenders to, or add a button for traditional suspenders. You could also fold it over the waist band so you have a square about 1" in size on the inside and outside, then sew through, this would then give something for the suspenders to grip to.

Marauder9

Can you not feed some cord/string into the top of the shorts so you can tie them?

LongT

I use suspenders all the time. They just clip onto the waist band. Sometimes I have to fold the waist band a few times for extra thickness. Some of my shorts are REAL OLD. I still can use, barely, my first lycra shorts. I switched from wool. Anyway, the big problem I've found is rust from the clips getting on my shirt. I bought the cheap ones from WalMart or Target.

Bill

Alathea

I know this topic is old as time, but I'm very glad I found it. Other than Aerotech, I can't find bibshorts in my size. I have 2 pr aerotech full tights that I have been wearing but they are cool weather and really uncomfortable for riding in the house while I rehab (injury). I have 5-6 pairs of bike shorts by various makers that I could find in a 5x with little problem but bibs are a whole 'nother issue. I don't know why I never thought of attaching suspenders. Ill be inside anyway so the only people that would see it might be my kids or my wife, and I can always throw on a jersey. Thanks, all, for passing on the idea!

rumrunn6

wish I had this problem. fwiw - I use cheap Walmart suspenders with cycling pants & cycling rain pants which I wear over my cycling shorts. those pants don't have the same fit as the shorts

79pmooney

Suspenders and shorts work really well together and have for a long time. I raced in the 70s out of Boston. The local guru was John Allis, first American of the modern era to go to Europe and race. Returned to captain the Century Road Club (flagship for Raleigh) and share generously what he'd learned over there. This knowledge spread to the Boston racing community as "the Allis way". We all knew he rode wool shorts made with buttons for suspenders. Well, those shorts were out of my budget but clip-on suspenders were cheap. And they worked really well.

I never stopped using them. Bibs came along, but seemed like such a hassle. I had been taking for granted simply un-clipping 4 buckles to sit on a toilet. Clip back in, pull my jersey down and go. And other bib advantages (good shorts fit, no wrinkles) I'd been seeing for decades. (Undressing in a 30 degree porta-potty at Cycle Oregon to do one's business and taking longer than many of the women with a long line waiting - every morning for a whole week - really?)

grizzly59

I used to buy nice cycling suspenders I think from Nashbar back in the 70s-80s. Worked great, team colors, and they increased your panache and speed a bit. I was just thinking about finding some the other day.

Mmassey338

Depends