How to repair textile?

[Vmiles]

Unfortunate incident yesterday cause me to kiss the pavement and sent my bike to the shop.
I was wearing new Teknic jacket and pants and there are series of rips where is met the pavement. Mostly on my knee, elbow and side of my jacket and wondering it is worth trying to patch it or just get new ones to replace it. none of the hole is bigger than an inch and armor under isn't scratched.
Do you think it is time to break out my Ducati patch collection and sew it on?

Thanks,
Chris.

[sqweak]

IMNSHO, Replace it. The point of repairing leather is that it can withstand more and is cost prohibitive to replace the full garment. Textile should be treated more disposable than that.

[mmoore]

Well for most textile stuff I'd agree. The exception being Aerostich, who operate a really terrific repair service. Of course at 'stich prices you wouldn't want to throw it away.

I know there are places that repair backpacks, tents and other outdoor gear (there's one near the REI store in Berkeley) so you might try that type of place to see if they'd patch or repair.

[erkishhorde]

I wouldn't trust normal threads on anything that you want to protect you. Theoretically most riding jackets are made with kevlar threads so that you don't get seam failures. The same would need to go for any patches that you put on. Normal threads are likely to fail and the patch will just fall off in an accident. Not to mention that the patch itself probably isn't kevlar either.

That being said, I did patch a couple holes in my Teknic jacket on the wrist portion when I got holes from a small lowside. Definitely not waterproof anymore but it helped keep the cold out. I got a new jacket as soon as I could though.

[Triangleforge]

Also, remember most CE-rated elbow, shoulder, knee, whatever protectors are designed to work ONCE and need to be replaced as well if they took a hit. If yours is of this type, add at least $20-30 per set to the cost of getting your gear back up to snuff. Might be worth it at that point to just go new.

[mmoore]

Originally Posted by Triangleforge

Also, remember most CE-rated elbow, shoulder, knee, whatever protectors are designed to work ONCE and need to be replaced as well if they took a hit. If yours is of this type, add at least $20-30 per set to the cost of getting your gear back up to snuff. Might be worth it at that point to just go new.

Really? I'd never heard that. It always seemed like squishy stuff you could bang on again and again...

[DaineseDan]

Replace it. The newer textiles have come a long way (the good ones at least), but they are still considered one time use garments. Even if they are just one inch tears in the outer shell, the structure has been compromised. Even if patched, they will literally shred should you go down again.

Just think:

new textile = cheap

skin grafts = painfull and expensive

[mmoore]

Originally Posted by DaineseDan

Replace it. The newer textiles have come a long way (the good ones at least), but they are still considered one time use garments. Even if they are just one inch tears in the outer shell, the structure has been compromised. Even if patched, they will literally shred should you go down again.

Just think:

new textile = cheap

skin grafts = painfull and expensive

Hey Dan, what about the CE armor? If you have it in your leather jacket and have a get off, does it need to be replaced?

[DaineseDan]

As a general rule, yes. ANY armor (regardless of some manufacturers claims) should be considered one time use. If it has taken an impact, it has done it's job by abosorbing and dispersing the energy from the impact which will compromise the integrity of the structure. It may look just fine, but in a secondary impact, it will not be able to absorb the energy, transfering it on to the rider instead.

This should be considered with reason, obviously. If you fall over in your driveway you don't need to run out and buy a new jacket. Luckily, most decent manufacturers offer replacement armor kits that allow repairs to be made.

Here again, it's a cost versus risk situation. Wouldn't you rather buy a $40 armor kit after going down, rather than leaving something in that has already done it's job?

[Triangleforge]

Probably was too general with my original post; I do know a lot of the foam protectors are made of a crushable material that does a great job of absorbing impact the same way a helmet does -- by permanently deforming the foam. CE rating is based on an actual test of the gear's impact absorption, and how a manufacturer gets to that point is up to them.

One example is the Vanson CE rated armor, which specifically says it's a one-shot deal:
http://www.vansonleathers.com/product_pages/armor1.htm

I've got one of the Vanson CE rated slip-in back protectors in my jacket, and it seems pretty similar in construction to the CE items I've got in Joe Rocket, Fieldsheer & Marsee gear, so my personal inclination would be to treat them as single-use.

And T-Pro Forcefield specifically markets their gear as taking multiple impacts, in contrast with hard shell items:
"The materials we use offer repeat performance technology. Hard shell protectors can only take one impact and should be discarded immediately after a fall."
http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.co.uk/technology.asp
Marketing hype? Truth? I've no way of saying one way or another...

And even with Forcefield stuff, I'd probably heed Dan's advice if a piece had taken a serious smack.