Snags/pulls in cycle clothing, repair

[Pinhead]

I bought two CHEAP cycle jackets from LIDL, and they both have snags in them after no time.

I looked on google for a similar image

Is this what all low weight jackets are prone to


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[PH]

Is this what all low weight jackets are prone to

Yes, to an extent. Though more expensive ones have some sort of grid in the weave to reduce it. You've chosen to buy two jackets, where one costing twice the price may have offered better value. You might not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't.
Cut it off flush, maybe quickly pass a flame over it (At your own risk) to seal the end and it ought to be fine. Alternatively, a smear of superglue will stop it spreading.

[freiston]

I tend not to buy much bike-specific clothing, especially tops, but I do buy "outdoor" clothing including lightweight base-layers (to me, they're long-sleeved T-shirts) that have snagged/pulled like that - and they weren't cheap and were from well-known brands (Rohan and Rab). Otherwise, I can't really say whether all low weight jackets are prone but I will say that imho, stretchy and thin is more likely to snag/pull.

As far as repair goes (from the title), I can't offer anything except that sometimes a snag/pull can be reduced by stretching the material, trying to pull the snag back in by doing so.

[rareposter]

Is this what all low weight jackets are prone to?

Well, it's what a lot of CHEAP jackets are prone to. Low weight is fine if it's well made.

There's two schools of thought with bad weather clothing, especially for activities like cycling where the clothing is prone to hard use, getting dirty etc.
One is to buy cheap and bin it once it starts falling to bits.
The second is to buy the best quality you can afford but then take very good care of it.

As PH says that is probably salvageable (at least for a while) with a bit of superglue.

[simonhill]

Apart from aesthetics, is it a problem?

I've just looked at one of my thermal vests and it's got lots little pulls. It still works and I still wear it.

[nirakaro]

Alternatively, a smear of superglue will stop it spreading.

Or, a tiny smear of clear silcone sealant does the job, and doesn't set hard, so feels less obtrusive.

[freiston]

Apart from aesthetics, is it a problem?

I've just looked at one of my thermal vests and it's got lots little pulls. It still works and I still wear it.

I feel the same and do the same with my tops. I would be wary of trying a repair in case it might irritate me if it rubs the skin, like some labels or stitching can. If it still functions, then I'd be prone to leaving it as it is. If it looks like it might pull further and spread, then I'd be inclined to attempt to prevent that by, for example, a circle of stitching or a small patch.

[L+1]

Can you identify if the fabric construction is woven ( threads over and under, like tweed) or rather like a knitted jumper ( but with much finer yarn)? The woven style is easier to repair if a thread has become snagged ….. gently work the loose thread back into the fabric, over quite a large area (length).
If knitted, you can try the same idea- but the path of the damaged thread will be much more complicated and the yarn very, very fine.

Technical fabrics are sometimes complicated composites of both woven and knitted styles and often like neither.
What I would not recommend is pulling up on the thread as in your photo - the situation will only get worse…. Or pulling a large area of fabric to try to get the thread ‘to go back in’…. It won’t and you will damage the rest of the fabric. If you can, work any slack back in gently using the blunt end of a suitably sized needle or similar, in tiny increments over the whole length ( or width) of the affected thread.

If, as is likely, the construction is a complicated weave or knitted combo, I would just pull the snag through (use a large eyed needle, as if the snag were a chunky thread) to the other side for the time being ( don’t cut it - you will get a hole) without any glue, silicon etc, to see how it looks/behaves.
If it isn’t ‘laddered’ ( I.e a cut thread in a knitted fabric), it won’t get worse with the excess to the inside, so long as you don’t pull on the loose end. If the fabric is laddered, then you will have to darn, probably using a similar coloured sewing thread, not the piece of thread which has been pulled up. You might consider trying to use a hot wire, match head etc to melt the ends of the ‘ladder’ to stop the run - very much at your own risk…. And you will then have a hole in the fabric ( possibly a very large one!!!!) - some synthetic fabrics, especially cheap ones are worryingly flammable or melt easily.

Whatever you decide to do…..something specific has caused this snag - it’s not just wear and tear, even if a poorer quality fabric. Try to locate what the cause is, or else it will happen repeatedly in the same location.

[pjclinch]

All else being equal, lighter fabrics are more prone to damage than heavier ones. In practice all else isn't equal and you can get tougher stuff by throwing money at it, but much as I consider Lidl and Aldi etc. stuff to be very good value you only have to look at the price to see it doesn't have much money thrown at it.

I have some similar nicks on various things, in the case of the new trousers I'm wearing as I type this I can blame one of our cats. I just trim off any threads sticking out so they don't catch and pull further and other than that leave it and it tends to be fine. It's only if things are in obvious danger of getting worse that I'd worry about some form of patching.

It's annoying but ultimately it's what happens when you use stuff. Better stuff will go longer before it picks up scars, but nothing's immune. What's important is it doesn't actually disintegrate.

Pete

[freiston]

Whatever you decide to do…..something specific has caused this snag - it’s not just wear and tear, even if a poorer quality fabric. Try to locate what the cause is, or else it will happen repeatedly in the same location.

I'm pretty sure that all the snags on my Rohan and Rab clothing were caused by damaged fingernails catching the material (in mitigation, I do have club nails and they are prone to catching, splitting and tearing).

[L+1]

Whatever you decide to do…..something specific has caused this snag - it’s not just wear and tear, even if a poorer quality fabric. Try to locate what the cause is, or else it will happen repeatedly in the same location.

I'm pretty sure that all the snags on my Rohan and Rab clothing were caused by damaged fingernails catching the material (in mitigation, I do have club nails and they are prone to catching, splitting and tearing).

That’s interesting…I can’t remember snagging outdoor clothing with my nails but when I used to dress more formally ( skirt/dress and tights) I only had to think about getting ready and a rag nail would appear, as if by magic!
My usual nemesis are bramble thorns. I can’t resist stopping for good brambles and no matter how nimble I think I am, I always end up snagged to a greater or lesser extent.
Having not replaced my last puss cat, it’s amazing how much better clothing and fabrics last without visible damage. A hard choice to make though, I’m waiting for a new cat to adopt me…..

[Pinhead]

As PH says that is probably salvageable (at least for a while) with a bit of superglue.

100%

[Pinhead]

Whatever you decide to do…..something specific has caused this snag - it’s not just wear and tear, even if a poorer quality fabric. Try to locate what the cause is, or else it will happen repeatedly in the same location.

I'm pretty sure that all the snags on my Rohan and Rab clothing were caused by damaged fingernails catching the material (in mitigation, I do have club nails and they are prone to catching, splitting and tearing).

Mine was my cat

[PH]

Mine was my cat

Ah, cats. If you'd included that in the original question my answer would have been different - Give up, they always win, no fabric has been created that can resist their destruction and you know they're laughing at you when they do it.

[pjclinch]

Mine was my cat

Ah, cats. If you'd included that in the original question my answer would have been different - Give up, they always win, no fabric has been created that can resist their destruction and you know they're laughing at you when they do it.

Well, what PH says above, but also it indicates that the fabric isn't failing just because it's rubbish. And unless it's an actual rip in those circumstances it's not likely to get worse, so I'd say roll your eyes at the cat and don't worry about the jacket which should still do its actual job okay.

Pete.