For any of you out there who have made cycling a regular part of your day you’ve probably noticed something.  Riding daily takes its toll on your clothes.  Pants in particular get chewed up from riding and often time your favorite trousers hold an abbreviated place in your wardrobe.  It’s honestly one of the more frustrating things about being an active cyclist.  You just can’t have nice things.

There is, however, a clever solution to this problem.  Save money, get extended use out of your favorite trousers and update your armoire with a selection of fresh jeans or slacks in advance of the season.  All it requires is you act at the first signs of wear.  A stitch in time saves nine!

When you’re favorite old trousers begin to tear, get sewing—or at least hit up your local seamstress.  After a long winter of riding you can set yourself up to keep cool with a new pair of shorts.  Use the remaining fabric from the pant legs to reinforce your shorts where they wore the fastest.  These added “biking” patches can keep your new shorts going for several more seasons.

Finally, during the heat of summer, save some extra money by hitting up sales on winter clothes.  It’s a win-win.  Not only do you save yourself from having to pay for a pair of nice shorts, but you can often find huge discounts on clothing in the off-season.  Save money and waste less.  Keep cool and keep riding.