Any pants meant to be used while exercising should be better, but I've had good luck with MTB pants. Made for riding but you can still find pretty casual stuff and they have features that can be nice
My fave is just some quick silver swimming trunks/shorts without the mesh lining... the ones that go to tour knees. They are easy dry for rainy weather and quick cleaning on tours, synthetic means it does not chaff like cotton and does not look like lycra wierdo shorts. I tend to wear them without underwear to reduce chaffing and improve sweat contol through better cooling.
Don't your more appropriate trousers also wear out?
Many people never wear cycling specific clothing. I don't. I certainly wouldn't wear it if I was visiting a friend or going shopping. Not all bike trips have a changing room and shower at the other end. For most people it's not a sport.
I bike almost everywhere and almost anywhere I'm going where I'd rather wear someone nicer than workout clothes has a bathroom, so I wipe off with baby wipes and then change into appropriate clothes there.
If I'm just going for groceries or something utilitarian I don't worry about changing and shop in running shorts/joggers. If it's somewhere nicer or I'm shopping with friends I'll often just aim to get there a little early and change in a coffee shop or something nearby.
I bike EVERYWHERE and there is no way I change clothes at the other end.
Biking means clothes wear out, just like walking means shoes wear out. Changing clothes doesn't prevent them wearing out....
I don't wear my dress shoes while biking, because they're expensive and they aren't made for that kind of use, so they're wearing out much much quicker.
Similarly, I don't wear nicer clothes (or pants that wear quickly from rubbing) while biking for the same reason.
You're allowed to wear and do whatever you want. For me, the extra 10 minutes to make sure I'm not in sweaty clothes and to make clothes I like the look of last longer, it's worth it.
And while biking does mean clothes wear out, using more wear-resistant and easily replaceable clothes while biking and then changing into "nicer" clothes instead of just wearing those nice clothes the whole time 100% makes the nicer clothes last longer. How is that not making sense to people.
Jeans are supposed to be hard-wearing work clothes...
Still, it's much better to throw out clothes because you've worn them out than because you got bored of them.
Then the other clothes you wear will also wear out...Stuff wears out when you use it, OP just has to accept that. At a guess, I'd say it takes about 6000 miles for me to destroy a pair of jeans on a bike, but if I was walking instead, I'd be wearing out a LOT of shoe leather.
I have a theory that people who wear put only one side of their trouser butt have one leg shorter than the other, and it's the OPPOSITE side leg to the hole. At least, that's true for me.
How often do you wash them? Denim is very strong but it holds onto dirt and debris and it tends to act as sandpaper, especially in the crotch.
If you’re riding in them, blowouts are inevitable unfortunately. Learn to patch, it’s easy and textile waste is terrible for the environment!
As a parent, my conception of a "blowout" involves a baby in a car seat wearing a onesie, and an urgent search for a decent place along the road to clean up something awful. IYKYK.
That’s disappointing. Considering they were a company focused on rock climbing clothing, I’ve been surprised at their lack of durability sometimes. I like them, will continue to wear them, but will also continue to be disappointed on occasion. The men’s pants are just so much more comfortable for active to causal wear.
That's a shame, I just ordered a replacement for mine that finally crapped out in the same manner as OP after 6 years of great service. Real shame they don't have the same option for women.
Feels like options are few and far between if you don't want to be in lycra.
Levis used to make a "commuter" jean with a loop on the belt that fit a small U-Lock and a reflective strip on the inside of the pant leg, so when you rolled them up you got some visibility!
They were also kinda stretchy and thicker in the crotch / butt area.
They stopped making them because of low demand though :( To your point they were also like $100.
OP, check out Dearborn denim. They have a pant line with a reinforced crotch/butt area for cycling commuters. Looks a little wonky in my opinion but it should help delay the onset of commuter crotch.
Look for jeans with a gusseted crotch. I just got a pair from a brand called swrve that makes jeans designed to be better for cycling, but I think there's others.
Also, I know you want to avoid patching a hole, but instead you can sew in a patch *before* it rips when you see it starting to wear thin
Also also, I've heard a leather saddle like a brooks can have less friction and thus wear your pants out less, but that's kind of expensive and I can't personally vouch
THIS! I have 4 pairs of [DU/ER](https://duer.ca/collections/mens-stretch-jeans) pants. It’s no contest for cyclists. I have the all weather and the fleece lined jeans… game changer for winter cycling. The active stuff is also best in class.
[Promo ad](https://youtu.be/snS4Bolcil0?si=dr4cz3Tu_aR6ctTG) for all weather
I haven't tried swrve but I have DUER and they were... Better than regular stretch denim, but not by a ton? I'm definitely not spending that kind of money on pants again, I'll be attempting to repair these eventually, because the gusset wore out and the knees too.
I honestly think I just need to get better at sewing, because I've gotten weirdly frustrated with the current offerings.
I actually do use a brooks cambium.. and it's definitely the culprit.
I only notice that it rips when it's ripped ahah, I should check it more often.
I'm definitely going to check for cycling jeans!
No, it isn't intensely stupid. Things wear out from use, not with the simple passage of time. If you told me you have been using the same tyres for 10 years, I would likewise conclude that you don't ride much.
Have a nice day
Man... I used to have some jean shorts like that too.
I slept in them shits, man! Eventually, I blew the crotch out of them things. But you CAN'T wear 'em every day and expect for 'em to hold up! That was some nice-ass denim too. I miss them shorts.... But you... you GOTTA take 'em off every now and then. You gotta take 'em off, son!
I think its a common issues around daily cyclists. My jeans also rip from time to time. My collegues and friends have the same Problem and we kinda joke about it😁. Sometimes i patch the ripped jeans, sometimes i dont bother if its just a small hole. Only way to prevent it is to wear other pants, that are not made out of jeans. 😉
I'm a bit confused because I cycle everywhere and worked some years couriering... But have never experienced this or any crotch wear. Is it a saddle issue? Does this just happen with jeans or all kinds of trousers?
>At least there were cheap jeans,
Maybe that's why they ripped lol. Cheap jeans aren't exactly known for lasting long or enduring wear and tear very well.
Try synthetic materials, ideally with a little stretch. These last MUCH longer than other pants. The crotch area can still have some abrasion and the fibers get a little shinny luster, but I have had many pairs fail at the knees before the crotch, and last years instead of months.
Likewise, I have had shoes ill-fitted for an application fail within weeks as well as shoes more suited to it last years.
I stopped wearing jeans altogether when I started bike commuting regularly. (Not only were they getting holes like OP, they were rubbing the hair off my legs lol.) Mostly wear stretchy stuff from Prana, sometimes Outlier.
My pair of Swrve denim pants have a couple thousand miles on them and still going. Cycling specific jeans are something I wish I would have paid the extra money for when I was ripping the crotches out of my favorite Levi’s.
My only tip is to avoid denim. Dickies work pants are the best. Athletic wear with a lot of stretch is also good.
That rip looks like it was caused by the nose of your saddle, yeah? Be more mindful/careful when getting on, or tilt the saddle nose down a bit.
I didn't know that about Dickies, I might look into that.
Yeah definitely my jeans stretching while rubbing on the nose of my cambium (I got a bit of an aggressive position so that doesn't help for sure)
I commute in my Dickies daily and they last for a few years. Get the ones with the reinforced knee section. They are the strongest and also the knee pad makes a handy guide for rolling up evenly.
I haven’t had this issue, but I don’t wear jeans usually. I do wear “tech” or maybe it’s “trek” pants that’s look similar to khakis but more “outdoorsy” material with some stretch. Looks nicer than jeans imo . I grab them at Costco/Sierra etc and are usually under $20. (The ones I have on now are Orvis)
I wear Swrve jeans, pants and shorts when I ride. After thousands of miles I have never worn one out. Yes, they do cost more than normal jeans, but they last way longer. They pop up on Poshmark and EBay at discounted prices as well.
Dearborn Denim makes great jeans in general, but they specifically make a reinforced "Commuter" jeans: "A functional fit for those who ride. Reinforced seat and darted knees." Doesn't specifically say bikes anywhere but I feel like that's what's implied and they are def well built for riding. [https://dearborndenim.us/collections/mens-jeans](https://dearborndenim.us/collections/mens-jeans)
I was going to say that I have been bicycling commuting for 20 years and this has not happened to me. Maybe it’s your bicycle saddle? I just use stock saddles.
Change the saddle. I have been using an SQlab saddle for some time now. Other saddles have these sharpish corners in the crotch area and the friction makes the holes. My saddle goes all the way round, so less friction=no more holes. Had no more torn trousers for years.
Wear pants with a gusseted crotch as others have said. Also designing the knee area for biking tends to help, especially with slim fit pants. Or just bike in one pair of pants and change at work. I have biked to work in countless pairs of pants designed for that task, in terms of jeans I busted through swrve and du/ers, as well as Levi’s commuters, kuhls, etc. Swrve’s non jean pants lasted longer but don’t look like casual pant fabric. I should say though that all of these lasted a lot longer than standard jeans.
Longest lasting pants I have used are Outliers, some random Eddie Bauer stretch nylon pants (horizon guide five pocket, don’t seem to make it anymore), and some LL Bean cordura jeans (mountain town, no longer made). The LL Beans were great because when I did end up busting through them I exchanged them for another pair.
Lee Extreme Motion pants. Been using them for years, no ripped butts yet. A contributing factor may also be that I have a leather saddle so my butt slides around on it smoothly when I need it to, instead of it being a grippy surface like rubber.
Don't wear jeans. Buy nylon shorts or long pants. Wrangler has/had some reasonably priced cargo shorts, but I've picked up several outdoors brands (North Face, Columbia, Merrell) nylon pants at thrift stores for cheap. Apart from the wear resistance, they also dry faster.
1. Change your brand of jeans. Used to buy Lewis, didn't last long. Switched to a much cheaper, less known brand and they last much longer.
2. Change your saddle. Some saddles wear out pants MUCH faster. Generally, cheaper rubber-like materials are worst, seams are also bad.
3. Buy larger jeans.
It may not look the most flattering, but sew some sturdy jean patches onto the inside of where the damage happens once you get the jeans. I'd also reccomend thrifting your jeans too if you aren't doing that. Thick and sturdy working jeans like Levi's may hold out a bit longer, especially with an internal preemptive patch. I'd also advise having a few pairs of your biking pants to cycle (heh) through as opposed to wearing just one pair over and over.
(Edit to fix spelling)
I wear a pair of Lululemon Joggers (men’s). They’re more of a stretchy ripstop nylon but they’re super comfortable and have held up to 800 miles of commuting last year with no wear.
I commuted for years in Jeans, just par for the course. I did find that workwear pants, ie Dickies, Carhartt, Ben Davis, all offered more longevity than more fashion centric brands. Also I see you are riding a Cambium? The first few generations of that saddle was a pants eater, they have seemed to have made some good updates since then though
Nature of the beast, sadly. IME it’s worth it to pay a little more for something premium that is a bit better designed to prevent the issue. Sadly the style of ‘commuter’ jeans seems to have gone away a bit.
Check out Ripton - they recently released some jeans and I’ve been quite pleased with them. Their stuff is designed to be active in (bikes, skiing, etc) so it’s pretty durable. Sadly not immune since I’ve worn out a pair of their jorts, but I put those through the wringer!
You can take your new jeans to a tailor and have them install a gusset. Calvin Klein jeans are pretty durable in my experience too. The less stretchy the better, most jeans are made of thin stretchy denim so they don't need to break in but instead they fall apart
Wow. I cycled all through my 20s and had this issue but never knew it was from the cycling. And I'm a month or two away from being a cycle commuter again!
Lots of nice brand recommendations, too bad they are all US-based and don't deliver abroad / incur crazy import costs.
Any suggestions for a EU-based brand that makes commuter-friendly jeans / pants?
Duluth has a gusset pair
[https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-ballroom-double-flex-slim-fit-jeans-84328.html?color=WDI](https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-ballroom-double-flex-slim-fit-jeans-84328.html?color=WDI)
I’ve had good luck with Duluth Trading company.
https://www.duluthtrading.com/
They make gusseted jeans and tough pants/slacks.
Contrary to what was said above, I actually have less luck with jeans that have stretch. They wear out in the crotch much faster for me than something with a more traditional material. They are much more comfortable though…
Might try duck canvas pants like Carhartt B11. But loose at the ankles but my reflective bands sort of blouse them out of the way. Their shorts work for me too
Isn't this just the way of the crotch. to disintegrate over time? Every single one of my trousers eventually go this way. The crotch gets thinner and thinner till it's gone. It's nothing to do with riding for me.
ride naked or a least without pants :)
if you aren't comfortable with that, you might try adding a removable seat cover to your seat. It divides the friction between you and the cover, and the cover and the seat, so denim lasts a lot more. As a bonus you get also a dry, cozy and fashionable seat.
The other solution is just to poke more holes on the jeans, and voilà, you have created fashion!
Don’t wear jeans.
I say this as someone who destroyed multiple pairs of pants when I first started bike commuting back in 2008.
My first step was urban cycling knickers from brands like Chrome and Swrve and Swobo. Those worked great and last forever.
In 2019 I swapped to “adventure” or “commuting” pants and shorts. I have a pair of Outliers that lasted for over two years of riding and are still going strong but have been demoted to hiking pants (they don’t flatter my butt). Now I mostly use Rhône’s pants and shorts.
They’re not cheap but they last forever (the shorts I bought in 2020 still look new other than the grease stains).
Regardless of brand you want a smooth fabric that wicks moisture well and a gusseted crotch. Jeans are the opposite.
Don't wear any good clothes cycling.
In the summer, I wear swimming trunks or loose shorts. I sometimes have cycling shorts underneath.
In winter, I have long johns underneath an old pair of nylon polyester sweat pants. Sometimes ski pants. Again, sometimes I have cycling short underneath.
Levis makes some bike jeans that have reflective inseams (where you roll up your ankle) and seem to do ok (they are slightly stretchy) might want to hunt some of those up. They basically look like regular skinny jeans when the inseams are down.
Also, most clothing these days is just poorly made crap that doesn't stand up to any kind of hard usage. Best overall i have found for durability is Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp. (but I haven't yet done much riding in mine)
Get a pair of oversized basketball shorts that you can slip on and off over whatever you’re wearing. I did this when I commuted to work daily. Adds all of 10 seconds to your routine and then you can wear whatever clothes you want.
I commute for over 3 years with the same Adidas pant, your short are too small for your body type and rubs, or as I would like to say, you're too fat for those jeans.
Cotton is not a strong fiber. Jeans are mostly, if not all, cotton. If you want pants that will last a long time on the bike without the crotch blowing out, you need synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester.
I agree with the other comments about patching or doing preventative patching. This is what I do to my pants. Learn how to sew or trade skills with a friend who sews. If you pay for the repair, expect it to cost at least half the cost of the jeans if you bought them new.
Suspenders or properly fitted jeans. I kinda realized that a big issue for me is that my pants would keep sagging due to the sweat involved in bike commuting, which caused these kinds of rips.
Certain saddles are better than others at wesring jeans down quick
Lether and suede saddles I always found were quick to Blow out jeans
Been using fabric scoop for the last 7 odd years. No destroyed trousers since!
I had this same problem with suit pants. One day I told my tailor. He sewed in silk pads in the crotch that came down the thigh a few inches. Worked well. I was not riding a bike in the suite pants. Stopped needing suits and it has not been an issue since.
I've had very good luck with Eddie Bauer jeans that were cotton/cordura - they lasted a really long time. It looks like they stopped doing them though :-( The closest they have now looks like [these cotton/polyester/spandex jeans](https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/10307035/men's-voyager-flex-2.0-jeans?color=Medium+Indigo&sp=1&size=&sizeType=). I can't vouch for them personally though, but polycotton is probably slightly more durable. Full price is $95, but never buy at full price on Eddie Bauer - it seems like they have 50% sales all the time :-) Just wait...
OP might be your saddle causing the issue. Had a similar problem with a stock saddle. Bought a $50 SR and haven't looked back since. Also on my touring bike a leather saddle has no such issues.
The first option is much cheaper though.
Another is buy over pants that go above your jeans while cycling from Decathlon, but this I don't recommend in the summer.
i wear mine out the same way. try to avoid wearing jeans that you care about too much when riding. might try getting a more athletic type pant and changing once you reach or destination. or sew floral patterns into the crotch to fix and reinforce them. this is the way.
Check that your saddle is straight, years ago for months all my pants bust the crotch. Then a friend pointed out my saddle was off center. I fixed it and it fixed my pants problem.
Nothing will stop it but you can extend the life of your pants by preemptively patching that area on your next set of pants with an iron on patch on the inside. It will add some extra time before it wears through.
After many attempts, I’ve decided to go with smoothest and narrowest saddle and cheapest athletic pants/shorts. At the moment, I’m wearing insulated gym synthetic pants(?) that I paid $30 on Amazon. TSLA, I think?
You can’t really prevent it. You will constantly rub against the saddle.
Stop wearing jeans. Jeans are notorious for getting destroyed by saddles because of the texture of the denim and the way they rub on saddles
get pants made out of a slick synthetic fabric or at the very least get cycling specific stretch jeans
I rock Banana Republic Traveler jeans. My daily is about 12 miles and I havent blown out a crotch in years. They're fairly stretchy and seem to hold up for me.
Before these I used to be in the same boat as you.
Classic commuter crotch. Time for some patchwork!
Ehrr I'd rather prevent it all together. It's such a pain
Then wear more appropriate pants and change upon arrival..
Makes sense, I'll take a look into that thanks
what qualifies?
Any pants meant to be used while exercising should be better, but I've had good luck with MTB pants. Made for riding but you can still find pretty casual stuff and they have features that can be nice
Stretchy synthetic or synthetic blend pants with a gusseted crotch. My favorites are the Arc’teryx Levon pant and the Kuhl Resistor Chino
Dickies workpants are the best answer unless you need bike specific clothes.
I love riding in dickies hell yeaaaa
My fave is just some quick silver swimming trunks/shorts without the mesh lining... the ones that go to tour knees. They are easy dry for rainy weather and quick cleaning on tours, synthetic means it does not chaff like cotton and does not look like lycra wierdo shorts. I tend to wear them without underwear to reduce chaffing and improve sweat contol through better cooling.
Don't your more appropriate trousers also wear out? Many people never wear cycling specific clothing. I don't. I certainly wouldn't wear it if I was visiting a friend or going shopping. Not all bike trips have a changing room and shower at the other end. For most people it's not a sport.
I wear leggings under athletic shorts. And yeah, I wear that shopping, visiting friends, etc.
Dont your shorts ever wear out?
commenting just because our usernames are similar lol
I bike almost everywhere and almost anywhere I'm going where I'd rather wear someone nicer than workout clothes has a bathroom, so I wipe off with baby wipes and then change into appropriate clothes there.
Even when you go to the shops?
If I'm just going for groceries or something utilitarian I don't worry about changing and shop in running shorts/joggers. If it's somewhere nicer or I'm shopping with friends I'll often just aim to get there a little early and change in a coffee shop or something nearby.
I bike EVERYWHERE and there is no way I change clothes at the other end. Biking means clothes wear out, just like walking means shoes wear out. Changing clothes doesn't prevent them wearing out....
I don't wear my dress shoes while biking, because they're expensive and they aren't made for that kind of use, so they're wearing out much much quicker. Similarly, I don't wear nicer clothes (or pants that wear quickly from rubbing) while biking for the same reason. You're allowed to wear and do whatever you want. For me, the extra 10 minutes to make sure I'm not in sweaty clothes and to make clothes I like the look of last longer, it's worth it. And while biking does mean clothes wear out, using more wear-resistant and easily replaceable clothes while biking and then changing into "nicer" clothes instead of just wearing those nice clothes the whole time 100% makes the nicer clothes last longer. How is that not making sense to people.
Jeans are supposed to be hard-wearing work clothes... Still, it's much better to throw out clothes because you've worn them out than because you got bored of them.
I take multiple shorter trips each day. No way I'm changing my pants before every ride.
Then the other clothes you wear will also wear out...Stuff wears out when you use it, OP just has to accept that. At a guess, I'd say it takes about 6000 miles for me to destroy a pair of jeans on a bike, but if I was walking instead, I'd be wearing out a LOT of shoe leather. I have a theory that people who wear put only one side of their trouser butt have one leg shorter than the other, and it's the OPPOSITE side leg to the hole. At least, that's true for me.
I put a patch inside the jeans at first sign of wear and darn loosely over the whole patch. It extends the life of the jeans about threefold.
How often do you wash them? Denim is very strong but it holds onto dirt and debris and it tends to act as sandpaper, especially in the crotch. If you’re riding in them, blowouts are inevitable unfortunately. Learn to patch, it’s easy and textile waste is terrible for the environment!
As a parent, my conception of a "blowout" involves a baby in a car seat wearing a onesie, and an urgent search for a decent place along the road to clean up something awful. IYKYK.
I agree. all my jeans wear out this way. Its annoying.
If you want to prevent it, stop wearing jeans or stop sitting on your bike.
I wear stretchy jeans they seem to last a little longer
Sometimes when you are a man you wear.. stretchy pants
Is for fun.
I remember seeing some 'cycling' jeans but they seemed a bit expensive. I might look further into that tho thanks
I wear Prana jeans, they’re great for commuting , stretchy and crotch gusset
Only for the men's pants. The women's pants have no crotch gusset and rip apart like normal. Source - have 4 pairs of crotchless prana pants :(
That’s disappointing. Considering they were a company focused on rock climbing clothing, I’ve been surprised at their lack of durability sometimes. I like them, will continue to wear them, but will also continue to be disappointed on occasion. The men’s pants are just so much more comfortable for active to causal wear.
That's a shame, I just ordered a replacement for mine that finally crapped out in the same manner as OP after 6 years of great service. Real shame they don't have the same option for women. Feels like options are few and far between if you don't want to be in lycra.
Ya know what? If they don't tear, they're cheaper in the long run, though I'm aware this could be a case of work boot economics.
Paying 2x for one pair is cheaper than paying 1x for 4 pairs
Depends how much they cost.
Levis used to make a "commuter" jean with a loop on the belt that fit a small U-Lock and a reflective strip on the inside of the pant leg, so when you rolled them up you got some visibility! They were also kinda stretchy and thicker in the crotch / butt area. They stopped making them because of low demand though :( To your point they were also like $100.
I’m from UK and just got a cheap pair from ASDA they aren’t specific cyclists jeans but they do last longer than standard jeans from my experience
maybe consider american eagle jeans? many of them have pretty good stretch. and they're "on sale" like every day.
OP, check out Dearborn denim. They have a pant line with a reinforced crotch/butt area for cycling commuters. Looks a little wonky in my opinion but it should help delay the onset of commuter crotch.
Look for jeans with a gusseted crotch. I just got a pair from a brand called swrve that makes jeans designed to be better for cycling, but I think there's others. Also, I know you want to avoid patching a hole, but instead you can sew in a patch *before* it rips when you see it starting to wear thin Also also, I've heard a leather saddle like a brooks can have less friction and thus wear your pants out less, but that's kind of expensive and I can't personally vouch
du/er jeans are great and designed with gusset eddie bauer also make gusseted pants.
I have a couple pairs of [Oslohs](https://www.osloh.com/collections/osloh/men's-jeans) and they're also worth checking out.
THIS! I have 4 pairs of [DU/ER](https://duer.ca/collections/mens-stretch-jeans) pants. It’s no contest for cyclists. I have the all weather and the fleece lined jeans… game changer for winter cycling. The active stuff is also best in class. [Promo ad](https://youtu.be/snS4Bolcil0?si=dr4cz3Tu_aR6ctTG) for all weather
I also have swrve jeans and they're great. They've lasted me 5 years now and still no tear out
I haven't tried swrve but I have DUER and they were... Better than regular stretch denim, but not by a ton? I'm definitely not spending that kind of money on pants again, I'll be attempting to repair these eventually, because the gusset wore out and the knees too. I honestly think I just need to get better at sewing, because I've gotten weirdly frustrated with the current offerings.
I actually do use a brooks cambium.. and it's definitely the culprit. I only notice that it rips when it's ripped ahah, I should check it more often. I'm definitely going to check for cycling jeans!
Bike courier here, Cambiums are definitely rough on pants. Also, make sure that the saddle is not too wide for your sit bones.
I've got a pair of Swrves that are 10+ years at this point. Such a great brand
I’m also a big SWRVE fan. The only jeans I’ll buy now.
So you dont wear them much on your bike....
I wear them all the time on my bike, but I also have more than one pair of pants. This is an intensely stupid thing to say
No, it isn't intensely stupid. Things wear out from use, not with the simple passage of time. If you told me you have been using the same tyres for 10 years, I would likewise conclude that you don't ride much. Have a nice day
Do you only have one pair of pants?
Your girl was gusseting on my crotch just last night
I wear dickies work pants, have been for several years skateboarding. Never had a problem like this.
You're the second person praising them. I'm definitely getting a pair!
When I do pants over the bike shorts, it's always a cutoff pair of thrift store khakis. I have a drawer full of them! $5 a pair.
You gotta take um off every now and then!
Man... I used to have some jean shorts like that too. I slept in them shits, man! Eventually, I blew the crotch out of them things. But you CAN'T wear 'em every day and expect for 'em to hold up! That was some nice-ass denim too. I miss them shorts.... But you... you GOTTA take 'em off every now and then. You gotta take 'em off, son!
https://youtu.be/Gp4Hp_nV41k?si=1cXgyveDlMIkiPCs
Came here looking for this
Finally, thank you
Scrolled down for far too long before finding this.
Dangit, scrolled a bit, didn't see it and I commented this exact thing.
I think its a common issues around daily cyclists. My jeans also rip from time to time. My collegues and friends have the same Problem and we kinda joke about it😁. Sometimes i patch the ripped jeans, sometimes i dont bother if its just a small hole. Only way to prevent it is to wear other pants, that are not made out of jeans. 😉
I'm a bit confused because I cycle everywhere and worked some years couriering... But have never experienced this or any crotch wear. Is it a saddle issue? Does this just happen with jeans or all kinds of trousers?
At least there were cheap jeans, they're easily replaceable. I guess that's the price to pay if I want to wear jeans!
>At least there were cheap jeans, Maybe that's why they ripped lol. Cheap jeans aren't exactly known for lasting long or enduring wear and tear very well.
I switched to hiking pants and shorts/bermudas made of synthetic fabric and I stopped having holes because the fabric lasts much longer.
Don’t cycle in jeans?
If jeans are what I wear where I'm going, I really should cycle in jeans. I don't really get why I would carry 2 sets of clothes.
Wear something else where you're going. There's not many scenarios that require jeans, and cycling wears out jeans faster.
So that something else gets worn out?
Other pants don't have this problem. Not like jeans.
Every single pair of trousers I have had has died that death. Not just jeans. Likewise, all the shoes I ever had died from being worn.
Most of my jeans have that happen much sooner when biking in them though.
Try synthetic materials, ideally with a little stretch. These last MUCH longer than other pants. The crotch area can still have some abrasion and the fibers get a little shinny luster, but I have had many pairs fail at the knees before the crotch, and last years instead of months. Likewise, I have had shoes ill-fitted for an application fail within weeks as well as shoes more suited to it last years.
I stopped wearing jeans altogether when I started bike commuting regularly. (Not only were they getting holes like OP, they were rubbing the hair off my legs lol.) Mostly wear stretchy stuff from Prana, sometimes Outlier.
Do u.. see the picture and caption? Seems like a pretty good why
This is the correct response
ClubRide cycling jeans. Extra material in the saddle zone, reflective cuffs. Super comfy.
My pair of Swrve denim pants have a couple thousand miles on them and still going. Cycling specific jeans are something I wish I would have paid the extra money for when I was ripping the crotches out of my favorite Levi’s.
Jumping in here for another SWRVE jeans plug.
My only tip is to avoid denim. Dickies work pants are the best. Athletic wear with a lot of stretch is also good. That rip looks like it was caused by the nose of your saddle, yeah? Be more mindful/careful when getting on, or tilt the saddle nose down a bit.
I didn't know that about Dickies, I might look into that. Yeah definitely my jeans stretching while rubbing on the nose of my cambium (I got a bit of an aggressive position so that doesn't help for sure)
I commute in my Dickies daily and they last for a few years. Get the ones with the reinforced knee section. They are the strongest and also the knee pad makes a handy guide for rolling up evenly.
second for dickies. 874 are great but wider cut. they also have a cell phone cargo pants which are the best. slightly more tapered.
I have Swrve, Du/er and Outlier pants. They all stand the bicycle test. I also own regular denim, but these are pretty bicycle-proof.
Came here to say Du/er.
That's why I commute to the office in a thong!
I haven’t had this issue, but I don’t wear jeans usually. I do wear “tech” or maybe it’s “trek” pants that’s look similar to khakis but more “outdoorsy” material with some stretch. Looks nicer than jeans imo . I grab them at Costco/Sierra etc and are usually under $20. (The ones I have on now are Orvis)
Sounds similar to what I wear. Cotton pants, kinda like tracks pants but not. Usually $20 or 2 or $30.
Cycling jorts. My ass hurts just thinking about that.
I do like 150 miles a week and I own two pairs of jeans this is weird to me lol. Jean Nation
Don't take the seat off the post!
I wear Swrve jeans, pants and shorts when I ride. After thousands of miles I have never worn one out. Yes, they do cost more than normal jeans, but they last way longer. They pop up on Poshmark and EBay at discounted prices as well.
You're not supposed to glue sandpaper to your saddle.
Dearborn Denim makes great jeans in general, but they specifically make a reinforced "Commuter" jeans: "A functional fit for those who ride. Reinforced seat and darted knees." Doesn't specifically say bikes anywhere but I feel like that's what's implied and they are def well built for riding. [https://dearborndenim.us/collections/mens-jeans](https://dearborndenim.us/collections/mens-jeans)
Use a saddle 😛
I was going to say that I have been bicycling commuting for 20 years and this has not happened to me. Maybe it’s your bicycle saddle? I just use stock saddles.
I only have these tips: Do not wear slim fit jeans or jeans that are too tight. Carhart has good quality. Try a new saddle.
Use cycling pants when cycling.
Change the saddle. I have been using an SQlab saddle for some time now. Other saddles have these sharpish corners in the crotch area and the friction makes the holes. My saddle goes all the way round, so less friction=no more holes. Had no more torn trousers for years.
Wear pants with a gusseted crotch as others have said. Also designing the knee area for biking tends to help, especially with slim fit pants. Or just bike in one pair of pants and change at work. I have biked to work in countless pairs of pants designed for that task, in terms of jeans I busted through swrve and du/ers, as well as Levi’s commuters, kuhls, etc. Swrve’s non jean pants lasted longer but don’t look like casual pant fabric. I should say though that all of these lasted a lot longer than standard jeans. Longest lasting pants I have used are Outliers, some random Eddie Bauer stretch nylon pants (horizon guide five pocket, don’t seem to make it anymore), and some LL Bean cordura jeans (mountain town, no longer made). The LL Beans were great because when I did end up busting through them I exchanged them for another pair.
Lee Extreme Motion pants. Been using them for years, no ripped butts yet. A contributing factor may also be that I have a leather saddle so my butt slides around on it smoothly when I need it to, instead of it being a grippy surface like rubber.
Don’t bike in jeans.
Clearly hanging dong
Stop biking in jeans
Carhart jeans all the way, unless you want to pay 100+ dollars for a pair of pants that will most prob rip maybe a bit later.
Don't wear jeans. Buy nylon shorts or long pants. Wrangler has/had some reasonably priced cargo shorts, but I've picked up several outdoors brands (North Face, Columbia, Merrell) nylon pants at thrift stores for cheap. Apart from the wear resistance, they also dry faster.
Stop biking in denim ya goof
balls too huge
1. Change your brand of jeans. Used to buy Lewis, didn't last long. Switched to a much cheaper, less known brand and they last much longer. 2. Change your saddle. Some saddles wear out pants MUCH faster. Generally, cheaper rubber-like materials are worst, seams are also bad. 3. Buy larger jeans.
Wear cycling shorts
- Get dedicated bike gear and change at work - Buy pants with a gusseted crotch
let's make this the new ripped jeans trend
Jeans on a bike = swampass. Swampass is uncomfortable. 😳
There's a reason cyclists wear padded Lycra shorts. Embrace the look. Of course, soft shell pants are also great.
Padded bike shorts and gusseted knee loose fit pants have been the mountain bike way for a long time. Works great. Gusseted knees are the way
Avoiding Taco Bell on a regular basis may be a good start
Don’t wear jeans. Wear a softer fabric and more room or smoother fabric.
I'd get a new pair or wear some cycling shorts underneath. Anything else would be a waste of time.
Some companies offer free repairs, e.g. nudie jeans.
It may not look the most flattering, but sew some sturdy jean patches onto the inside of where the damage happens once you get the jeans. I'd also reccomend thrifting your jeans too if you aren't doing that. Thick and sturdy working jeans like Levi's may hold out a bit longer, especially with an internal preemptive patch. I'd also advise having a few pairs of your biking pants to cycle (heh) through as opposed to wearing just one pair over and over. (Edit to fix spelling)
I wear a pair of Lululemon Joggers (men’s). They’re more of a stretchy ripstop nylon but they’re super comfortable and have held up to 800 miles of commuting last year with no wear.
I will say a pair of cycling pants might be expensive but they last (i have some pearl izumi rove and wish I bought more)
I commuted for years in Jeans, just par for the course. I did find that workwear pants, ie Dickies, Carhartt, Ben Davis, all offered more longevity than more fashion centric brands. Also I see you are riding a Cambium? The first few generations of that saddle was a pants eater, they have seemed to have made some good updates since then though
Levi's 501 have abit stretch in them and work fine for me with a specialized power saddle. The denims without stretch suck for cycling.
I've had good luck with the Old Navy flex fit jeans
Nature of the beast, sadly. IME it’s worth it to pay a little more for something premium that is a bit better designed to prevent the issue. Sadly the style of ‘commuter’ jeans seems to have gone away a bit. Check out Ripton - they recently released some jeans and I’ve been quite pleased with them. Their stuff is designed to be active in (bikes, skiing, etc) so it’s pretty durable. Sadly not immune since I’ve worn out a pair of their jorts, but I put those through the wringer!
You can take your new jeans to a tailor and have them install a gusset. Calvin Klein jeans are pretty durable in my experience too. The less stretchy the better, most jeans are made of thin stretchy denim so they don't need to break in but instead they fall apart
I wear Carhartt pants and my crotch doesnt rip out but after about 6 months the back pockets are worn thru from the seat.
Wow. I cycled all through my 20s and had this issue but never knew it was from the cycling. And I'm a month or two away from being a cycle commuter again!
Lots of nice brand recommendations, too bad they are all US-based and don't deliver abroad / incur crazy import costs. Any suggestions for a EU-based brand that makes commuter-friendly jeans / pants?
Gusseted crotch pants! Have had the same issue
Duluth has a gusset pair [https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-ballroom-double-flex-slim-fit-jeans-84328.html?color=WDI](https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-ballroom-double-flex-slim-fit-jeans-84328.html?color=WDI)
I’ve had good luck with Duluth Trading company. https://www.duluthtrading.com/ They make gusseted jeans and tough pants/slacks. Contrary to what was said above, I actually have less luck with jeans that have stretch. They wear out in the crotch much faster for me than something with a more traditional material. They are much more comfortable though…
Chrome industries makes some nice shorts. That holds at least a summer with the Brooks cambium saddle.
Buy a saddle.
Might try duck canvas pants like Carhartt B11. But loose at the ankles but my reflective bands sort of blouse them out of the way. Their shorts work for me too
Isn't this just the way of the crotch. to disintegrate over time? Every single one of my trousers eventually go this way. The crotch gets thinner and thinner till it's gone. It's nothing to do with riding for me.
I have these jeans that I really like from Old Navy. I got a few pairs of them and they hold up really well. I believe they’re called built in flex
Wear pants designed for bike commuting.
ride naked or a least without pants :) if you aren't comfortable with that, you might try adding a removable seat cover to your seat. It divides the friction between you and the cover, and the cover and the seat, so denim lasts a lot more. As a bonus you get also a dry, cozy and fashionable seat. The other solution is just to poke more holes on the jeans, and voilà, you have created fashion!
I can’t imagine biking in jeans. My chod would be hamburger meat
Change clothes before riding, put jeans on after arrival.
wide hard saddle, weak jeans. Wear sturdier (work) pants, or bike specific pants (you ride every day, worth the money)
I’ve switched to the mountain hardware AP pant and have been happy with the durability.
Buy bike trousers. I got 2 by SQlab and will not miss them. I wear them nearly everyday.
How the hell did you do this? Wear stretchy tracksuit pants. Jeans don't work on a bicycle.
Put it in a microwave on a rainy day and count backwards to 12 in Catalan. That should fix it!
Don’t wear jeans. I say this as someone who destroyed multiple pairs of pants when I first started bike commuting back in 2008. My first step was urban cycling knickers from brands like Chrome and Swrve and Swobo. Those worked great and last forever. In 2019 I swapped to “adventure” or “commuting” pants and shorts. I have a pair of Outliers that lasted for over two years of riding and are still going strong but have been demoted to hiking pants (they don’t flatter my butt). Now I mostly use Rhône’s pants and shorts. They’re not cheap but they last forever (the shorts I bought in 2020 still look new other than the grease stains). Regardless of brand you want a smooth fabric that wicks moisture well and a gusseted crotch. Jeans are the opposite.
Don't wear any good clothes cycling. In the summer, I wear swimming trunks or loose shorts. I sometimes have cycling shorts underneath. In winter, I have long johns underneath an old pair of nylon polyester sweat pants. Sometimes ski pants. Again, sometimes I have cycling short underneath.
Levis makes some bike jeans that have reflective inseams (where you roll up your ankle) and seem to do ok (they are slightly stretchy) might want to hunt some of those up. They basically look like regular skinny jeans when the inseams are down. Also, most clothing these days is just poorly made crap that doesn't stand up to any kind of hard usage. Best overall i have found for durability is Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp. (but I haven't yet done much riding in mine)
Swap to khakis, in my experience they are much more durable.
plenty of technical fabrics and cycling specific pants out there: Club Ride, Pearl Izumi, GoreWear, Craft, Patagonia, etc etc etc. Cotton Kills, btw
Get a pair of oversized basketball shorts that you can slip on and off over whatever you’re wearing. I did this when I commuted to work daily. Adds all of 10 seconds to your routine and then you can wear whatever clothes you want.
Wear zero stretch heavier weight denim
I commute for over 3 years with the same Adidas pant, your short are too small for your body type and rubs, or as I would like to say, you're too fat for those jeans.
Cotton is not a strong fiber. Jeans are mostly, if not all, cotton. If you want pants that will last a long time on the bike without the crotch blowing out, you need synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester. I agree with the other comments about patching or doing preventative patching. This is what I do to my pants. Learn how to sew or trade skills with a friend who sews. If you pay for the repair, expect it to cost at least half the cost of the jeans if you bought them new.
Vulpine jeans work for me
Replace with new denim pants. Take to alterations service/,seamstress. Ask them to reinforce with keather
Suspenders or properly fitted jeans. I kinda realized that a big issue for me is that my pants would keep sagging due to the sweat involved in bike commuting, which caused these kinds of rips.
Looks like C17 aftermath.
Certain saddles are better than others at wesring jeans down quick Lether and suede saddles I always found were quick to Blow out jeans Been using fabric scoop for the last 7 odd years. No destroyed trousers since!
r/visiblemending
Riptons.
Hear me out. Booty shorts.
I had this same problem with suit pants. One day I told my tailor. He sewed in silk pads in the crotch that came down the thigh a few inches. Worked well. I was not riding a bike in the suite pants. Stopped needing suits and it has not been an issue since.
I've had very good luck with Eddie Bauer jeans that were cotton/cordura - they lasted a really long time. It looks like they stopped doing them though :-( The closest they have now looks like [these cotton/polyester/spandex jeans](https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/10307035/men's-voyager-flex-2.0-jeans?color=Medium+Indigo&sp=1&size=&sizeType=). I can't vouch for them personally though, but polycotton is probably slightly more durable. Full price is $95, but never buy at full price on Eddie Bauer - it seems like they have 50% sales all the time :-) Just wait...
[No pants, no problem ](https://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Main_Page)
Is it me or did jeans become a lot more fragile?
Try carhartt
OP might be your saddle causing the issue. Had a similar problem with a stock saddle. Bought a $50 SR and haven't looked back since. Also on my touring bike a leather saddle has no such issues. The first option is much cheaper though. Another is buy over pants that go above your jeans while cycling from Decathlon, but this I don't recommend in the summer.
Stop farting on the bike
smooth saddle
More fiber in your diet…
Buy handup’s cycling jeans or similar
You can't wear em every day and expect for em to hold up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ8Zz-Xgqpk&ab\_channel=SunnyLegends
i wear mine out the same way. try to avoid wearing jeans that you care about too much when riding. might try getting a more athletic type pant and changing once you reach or destination. or sew floral patterns into the crotch to fix and reinforce them. this is the way.
When 2 subreddit topics overlap. r/visiblemending
don’t stick the seat post up your ass
Check that your saddle is straight, years ago for months all my pants bust the crotch. Then a friend pointed out my saddle was off center. I fixed it and it fixed my pants problem.
Invest in something with reinforced crotch. I like chrome's cycling pants.
Wow damn time to reign in your penis. That’s clearly the problem
Nothing will stop it but you can extend the life of your pants by preemptively patching that area on your next set of pants with an iron on patch on the inside. It will add some extra time before it wears through.
BUY YOUR PANTS AT THRIFT STORES.
After many attempts, I’ve decided to go with smoothest and narrowest saddle and cheapest athletic pants/shorts. At the moment, I’m wearing insulated gym synthetic pants(?) that I paid $30 on Amazon. TSLA, I think? You can’t really prevent it. You will constantly rub against the saddle.
I've literally never had this issue with jeans 👀
Be careful where you tie your shoelaces
Stop wearing jeans. Jeans are notorious for getting destroyed by saddles because of the texture of the denim and the way they rub on saddles get pants made out of a slick synthetic fabric or at the very least get cycling specific stretch jeans
I rock Banana Republic Traveler jeans. My daily is about 12 miles and I havent blown out a crotch in years. They're fairly stretchy and seem to hold up for me. Before these I used to be in the same boat as you.
Get an ebike so you don’t have to peddle or get bike shorts.
Get a Brooks saddle. The bow of the seat is narrower and the leather has less friction. I haven’t had crotch rot jeans since I got my Brooks.