Leathers - bedding them in

[Freakuk]

I bought a new A-Star 1 piece suit around the middle of last year and they're tight (same size as my last suit). I on;y wore them 3-4 times last year due to being so tight and I was hoping they would have stretched/given a little in that time but not as much as I'd hoped.

With the new season looming, what can I do to assist with this, does wearing them in the bath/shower actually work? Are there tried and tested techniques?

[anonymous-user]

easiest way is to lose some weight.

Not a dig, just personal; experience

[black-k1]

keirik said:

easiest way is to lose some weight.

Not a dig, just personal; experience

[Freakuk]

It's an option, but I'm already a stone lighter than the last set I bought in the same size.

[WinstonWolf]

black-k1 said:

keirik said:

easiest way is to lose some weight.

Not a dig, just personal; experience

My Crowtrees tell me when I've turned into a fat bd, I can't really argue with them as they were a perfect fit *once*.

[black-k1]

Freakuk said:

It's an option, but I'm already a stone lighter than the last set I bought in the same size.

Is this exactly the same suit model/design as the previous suit? Different designs, even from the same manufacturers, can be different sizes and thus should, ideally, be tried on before purchase.

[graeme4130]

Leather does stretch over time, but the easiest way to speed the process up is :
1) Rub a leather conditioner into them thoroughly
2) Put them on with as many layers underneath as you can manage
3) Put the shower on full heat to create a room full of steam, but don't actually get into the shower
4) Do some yoga style stretching in them and sweat your arse off

I only know this as I ordered an AS Techair suit last year, and it was way too tight for me to ride in, so had to go through the same process. I couldn't swap the sizes either as I ordered it all printed up

Don't wear it in the shower or bath as although the water will initially soften it up, unless you live in a zero water hardness area, it'll dry out really stiff and probably shrink slightly whilst it does so

[catso]

Am I the only one whose bike leathers 'shrink' over the winter?

Must be lack of use but regular wear/use in the summer normally sees them 'grow' again...

[jhoneyball]

Go to the nice ladies at HideOut and get them to adjust them to fit properly.

[Rawwr]

I was totally sh*tting myself the weekend before last when I put on my YellowBender™ suit for the first time since October. Amazingly, still a perfect fit, which is incredible considering the amount of st I'd chucked into my gullet over Christmas.

[Freakuk]

jhoneyball said:

Go to the nice ladies at HideOut and get them to adjust them to fit properly.

It's an option but it's the best part of 400 mile round trip

[CAPP0]

When I had my Hideout one-piece made. they measured me up and I said "thing is, i do plan to lose some weight"

"Yes sir", they said, "everyone says that".

They were right. I did, but I put it back on again

At least the suit still fits.