New Life for My Old Bike Tights
A few weeks ago I gave my old thermal tights a new life as x-country ski tights.
Maggie helps out testing bike tights as ski gear
It took 30 minutes of easy, if tedious, work with a seam splitter to remove the old chamois. The tiny holes that were left from the thread came out after one wash and now they look just like regular tights.
We took a quick ski out behind our house yesterday in the new snow. The fleecy brushed interior of the fabric makes the tights perfect for mild weather (around 30°) nordic skiing. They resist wind, stay dry and I didn’t overheat going up hills.
If you have a favorite pair of Terry bottoms that are past their useful life as bike bottoms, it might be worth a little bit of work to remove the chamois and find a new use for them. I’m glad I did.
This is why you don’t need tights with a chamois… when you buy tights withouta chamois, you can wear them with shorts underneath AND also wear them for nordic skiing, hiking, snow shoeing, whatever.
Padded tights are a big waste of money.
I have been doing that with my old bike shorts for about ten years. When the chamois is shot, I just take it out. They are repurposed as running and workout shorts. Good for a few more years.
Hmm – the fit of bike tights is all wrong for nordic skiing. I much prefer a euro fit pant with some drape to accommodate appropriate base layering.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has done that.