Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Pinning race numbers to the back of all in one / racing suits

31 views
Skip to first unread message

David Naylor

unread,
Mar 6, 2006, 4:18:46 PM3/6/06
to
Anyone got any ideas how to reduce the damage caused to my all-in-one racing
suit from having 4 safety pins put through it every couple of weeks to affix
a competitor number?

My all in-one is in good condition apart from 4 gaping holes developing on
the back.

Trouble is just about every time I race I wear the number (I single, I race
bow in the double, people keep asking me to steer the quad or 4-, and I'm
only 74kg so I'm a regularly at the sharp end of the eight...)

Surely innovative kit makers must be able to come up with an idea?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks, Dave


Christopher Anton

unread,
Mar 6, 2006, 4:49:36 PM3/6/06
to

"David Naylor" <david.removethisbit...@iee.org> wrote in
message news:dui8vm$ir5$1...@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

> Anyone got any ideas how to reduce the damage caused to my all-in-one
> racing suit from having 4 safety pins put through it every couple of weeks
> to affix a competitor number?
>
> My all in-one is in good condition apart from 4 gaping holes developing on
> the back.
>
1. Sew some small patches of Velcro(TM) in the appropriate place to your all
in one
2. Buy a roll of stick on Velcro(TM) - it usually has quite good adhesive
3. Cut four small pieces of the appropriate corresponding part to match your
all in one
4. Bob's your uncle

Not that I've ever seen in done - it's just occurred to me. Howver, I seen
more thanenough coxes who think it's a good idea to repeatedly stick pins
through their inflatable life jackets!


Joseph Meehan

unread,
Mar 6, 2006, 6:19:21 PM3/6/06
to

Runners have running shirts with pockets for numbers built in. The
numbers just slide in.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit


John Mulholland

unread,
Mar 6, 2006, 7:30:45 PM3/6/06
to
"Christopher Anton" <c.a...@NOSPAM.blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Q72Pf.123357$YJ4....@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

The new Getech lifejackets designed for the ARA have a clear pocket on the
back for racing numbers.

John Mulholland


chris harrison

unread,
Mar 7, 2006, 4:13:42 AM3/7/06
to
Joseph Meehan wrote:
> Runners have running shirts with pockets for numbers built in. The
> numbers just slide in.

Triathletes wear an elasticated band which goes all the way around - you
pin the number to the band. It is designed to be able to be easily put
on (e.g. in transition between the swim and the cycle) and oriented so
that when you're cycling the number shows to the rear, but you can pull
it around in the second transition, so when running it shows to the
front. (e.g. http://www.triandrun.com/triathlon/93.html) . Many tri
events will give you them free, perhaps with a sponsor's name on.

Additionally, it would mean that you'd only need one number, rather than
an additional one to be on your warm-up kit, too.

Sarah

unread,
Mar 7, 2006, 6:57:54 AM3/7/06
to
not sure about wearing a tri band while rowing as you wouldn't be able
to adjust it with your hands - when running (or cycling) you can make
minor adjustments if it rides up / slips down.

also they're only fixed at the top edge, so tend to flap around in the
wind - which is more of a problem when rowing I think.. Triathlon
number also come pre-punched with holes for tying to the tri-band.
Until rowing numbers come like that too, then you'll be trying to
puncture the number without tearing it to shreds.

love the idea about the velcro - had been wondering how to attach my
number for Saturday without ruining the waterproofing my brand new
Godfrey gillet - had thought about finding a seam and sewing a small
loop onto the seam, then pinning number to the loop rather than the
seam.

other idea (better for lycra) would be to add extra patches to the
garment and pin to those.

I normally attach my coxing to the webbing straps of my lifejacket -
but as only attached at two points (top middle/ bottom middle) it
doesn't always stay flat properly.

andy....@ps.ge.com

unread,
Mar 7, 2006, 7:48:39 AM3/7/06
to
Duck Tape

karon

unread,
Mar 7, 2006, 8:39:48 AM3/7/06
to
Innovative kit maker here! I suspect the problem is with the fabric of
your all in one. I know (from my own past experience) that cotton lycra
goes into holes from lots of pinning and pulling. If you have an all in
one made from meryl or tactel, for example, which is a micro-fibre,
then it copes with having pins stuck in it as well as wicking. Let me
know if you want more info.

Karon

Richard Packer

unread,
Mar 7, 2006, 5:23:17 PM3/7/06
to

Think laterally. I wish more events would make use of "Empacher slot"
numbers. Yes I know someone's bound to come up with the "but they
cost lots of money" bleat, but they needn't. If every boat had a
simple blank bit of (buoyant...) plastic suitable for putting in that
slot, and onto which you could stick self-adhesive numbers (rather
than on the boat), then there would be less need to stick holes in
kit. I'm sure suitable materials are readily available at your local
DIY store (or cut up an old ice-cream carton maybe). Lock the number
in place with a small screw or a cable tie, and Bob's your auntie's
husband.

Failing that, how about some kind of lightweight elasticated bib for
bowmen to wear *over* their all-in-one (it might need to be in club
colours if it couldn't be made sufficiently translucent); you could
easily have a transparent pocket in the bib for a number (I have a
hi-viz jacket with a pocket in the back for a label - it would be
trivial to modify it).

But if you do pin numbers on to kit, on behalf of every marshal and
umpire, *please* do use a pin on each corner - if you only use one pin
on the top edge, and one on the bottom edge, the number ends up
virtually unreadable (OK it's tricky for coxes since you obviously
mustn't put a pin through anything other than your lifejacket
straps!).

Rob Collings

unread,
Mar 8, 2006, 3:46:12 AM3/8/06
to
Richard Packer wrote:
> Think laterally. I wish more events would make use of "Empacher slot"
> numbers.

Some insist on both. The only problem I see with these numbers is that
there are a lot of boats without slots and the clubs don't seem to want
to bother fitting them. At the weekend, I saw a number of crews racing
with the cox waving the number around.

> Failing that, how about some kind of lightweight elasticated bib for
> bowmen to wear *over* their all-in-one (it might need to be in club
> colours if it couldn't be made sufficiently translucent); you could
> easily have a transparent pocket in the bib for a number (I have a
> hi-viz jacket with a pocket in the back for a label - it would be
> trivial to modify it).

The School's Head use numbered bibs in addition to the empacher slot
numbers. They work pretty well, although because they are
organiser-provided one size has to fit all which can be amusing.

> But if you do pin numbers on to kit, on behalf of every marshal and
> umpire, *please* do use a pin on each corner - if you only use one pin
> on the top edge, and one on the bottom edge, the number ends up
> virtually unreadable (OK it's tricky for coxes since you obviously
> mustn't put a pin through anything other than your lifejacket
> straps!).

And perhaps the numbers could be made out of something that doesn't
disintegrate as soon as it sees a drop of water.

Rob.

mark

unread,
Mar 8, 2006, 6:16:15 AM3/8/06
to
Somebody finally let you in a boat................hope you are the Dave I
think you are (ex-Salford/Grosvenor???) !

"David Naylor" <david.removethisbit...@iee.org> wrote in
message news:dui8vm$ir5$1...@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

Richard Packer

unread,
Mar 8, 2006, 11:08:23 AM3/8/06
to
On 8 Mar 2006 00:46:12 -0800, "Rob Collings"
<robin.c...@gmail.com> wrote:

>And perhaps the numbers could be made out of something that doesn't
>disintegrate as soon as it sees a drop of water.

That's a simple question of persuading organisers to buy the right
sort of number. Ordinary paper or card may be cheap, but generally
it's rubbish for rowing events. It's easy enough to find suppliers
who *do* make waterproof and tear-proof numbers - e.g. The Running Imp
http://www.runningimp.co.uk/products_01.htm - look at their "polyart"
and "Tyvek" range. Tyvek's superb - virtually indestructible.

Jason Thrasher

unread,
Mar 9, 2006, 7:48:14 PM3/9/06
to
Cyclists I know use 3M 77 glue for some events. It's a spray-on glue that
is sprayed on the number's backing. Put the number on the ground, spray it.
Let it dry for about 2-3 minutes. Then slap it on your back while you're
wearing the kit.

It'll hold for an event if it's used on dry clothing. It doesn't stick so
well to already-wet or sweaty clothes.

It's more conformant to your clothes if you crumple the number in a ball,
and then flatten it out, before spraying it. Also, since paper/tyvek
numbers don't stretch, make sure you're wearing the clothing before applying
the number - otherwise it will pop off when you move.

Jason

"David Naylor" <david.removethisbit...@iee.org> wrote in
message news:dui8vm$ir5$1...@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

0 new messages