Road Cycling - washing your lycra

Howdy,

I just wanted to know if anyone else just throws there shorts in the wash and then hang dries them? They say to hand wash on them...but now that I'm wearing them properly (yes...confession time I was one of "those" that wore shorts under the shorts, after very recently wearing nothing under them and not having a sore butt the next day after a 100KM ride I can't go back!) anyway, I find that I need to "clean" them like underwear and hand washing just doesn't seem enough.

So does everyone ignore the labels and chuck in wash (hang dry of course) or do you delicatly hand wash your shorts?




Chad

That is what I do but I haven't been doing it for too long so I don't know if it makes them wear out faster. I can't imagine hand washing my bike shorts by hand...just too lazy. :D

I've always washed mine in the washer on warm with cold rinse and line dry. Washing by hand is way too much trouble.

I wash mine in the Hand/Gentle cycle, cold water, then hang dry it.

Corsaire

I find that I need to "clean" them like underwear and hand washing just doesn't seem enough.
:eek:

whoa! TMI!

I toss 'em in the wash and even sometimes in the dryer. I've worn my current one for about 1500 miles and they're still in great condition.

I wash mine in the Hand/Gentle cycle, cold water, then hang dry it.

I do the same thing

also do not use fabric softner

In the washer gentle cycle, cold. Dryer delicate setting. No problems.

I hand wash my cycling shorts. Live in NYC, no laundry machine at home.

I wash my gloves, shorts, jersey and socks. About 30 minutes total to wash, rinse, ring and hang to dry.

Howdy,

I just wanted to know if anyone else just throws there shorts in the wash and then hang dries them? They say to hand wash on them...but now that I'm wearing them properly (yes...confession time I was one of "those" that wore shorts under the shorts, after very recently wearing nothing under them and not having a sore butt the next day after a 100KM ride I can't go back!) anyway, I find that I need to "clean" them like underwear and hand washing just doesn't seem enough.

So does everyone ignore the labels and chuck in wash (hang dry of course) or do you delicatly hand wash your shorts? Chad

I'm with you. I ignore the label & just wash them with other like colors (Mom would be so proud) and hang them up to dry.

DP

:eek:

whoa! TMI!

I toss 'em in the wash and even sometimes in the dryer. I've worn my current one for about 1500 miles and they're still in great condition.

You took that way out of context LOL looks way worse rereading it in quotes though...I'm not getting all nasty on ya no worries. I just mean that I'm wearing them and just like socks they get sweaty and stuff...

lol but sorry that did sound bad hehe

In the washer gentle cycle, cold. Dryer delicate setting. No problems.

Me too. Never a problem.

Wash?

Wash?

Maybe thats why your single. :D

i toss everything in the sink, fill with hot water, pour in detergent, swirl everything around a bit and let it soak while i shower. then i rinse everything out, squeeze it out, and hang it up in the shower to dry.

it's dry by the time i'm ready to ride the next day.

I machine wash and machine dry too. If I can get them out of the dryer before they dry all the way, then I do. But I don't sweat it with the dryer if they stay the whole cycle. I still have Pearl Izumi shorts that were bought 15 years ago and are still kicking. I don't even think twice about doing the same to my Assos shorts (very spendy) and newer Pearl Izumi shorts. I mean, c'mon they don't melt.

Maybe thats why your single. :D

Awesome! :roflmao:

I mean, c'mon they don't melt.


You see...how would I know unless I throw my primal wear, and my new colnago outfit in and find out!
:eek:



**EDIT**

Where did I learn english? My grammar was so bad I think I could do better in 1st grade...geesh still *aint* great but at least its better :-0

You see...how would I know unless I through my primal wear and my new colnago outfit in and found out!
:eek:

All this reminds me of the humongous CanyonLand, UT feature called Washer Woman Arch. Gotta go to the White Rim Trail to see that in person though. Here's a pic. Happy washing.

http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/wchan/photo/gf29.jpg

Maybe thats why your single. :D
Is Methos plural for methane?


All this reminds me of the humongous CanyonLand, UT feature called Washer Woman Arch. Gotta go to the White Rim Trail to see that in person though. Here's a pic. Happy washing.
I think you can see it from Arches too? Don't remember where I saw it from, but that place is awesome. And speaking of which, uhh, I'll start a new thread instead...

I throw them (shorts and Jerseys) into a pillow case, tie it, and throw is with the regular wash.. Works fine..

I assume several people have said this, but: gentle cycle, cold water, hang dry. Seems to work wonders, esp on the cheaper shorts...

During the week I do short 15-20 mile rides, and I don't wash them each time ride, only have one pair of biking shorts. during the summer the heat, can get my shorts to smelling a little FUNKY. On those days i wear my shorts into the shower, using bath soap and hang up to dry. and i get a good year or more out of my shorts. i only do laundry once a week at the laundry mat.

I toss them with my jerseys and jeans and shirts and socks of every color and description into the wash, then into the dryer. I figure if they can handle may ass rubbing them into a saddle for 120+ miles a week, they can handle a good tumble in the Maytag.
Occasionally, if I've already washed my daily clothes or my ride is within an hour or so, I'll toss the cycling clothes into the sink with some dish detergent and swirl 'em around for awhile. Then I'll rinse 'em out real well (you do NOT want soap in your drawers!), and toss 'em in the dryer to toast 'til I ride.

Cole

One of my team mates loves to ride in smelly jerseys, its so bad, that even 3 or 4 wheels back you can still get a whiff, and If you are directly behind him, forget it, it will kill you.

I thought It would be funny to try and do the same to him....

I rode 60 miles in 95 degree heat, left the jersey in the back of the car, all balled up for 4 days. Then took it out (it was still a little wet!) and rode a team time trial with it on. We made sure he was behind me in the rotation order. OH MY GOD did it stink, like a wh0rehouse at low tide, so bad infact,that even guys who were in on the joke were protesting. When we were done, we went to grab a bite, I still had it on you know... gotta keep the gag(ging) going.

When I got home and took it off to take a shower, everywhere there was a seam that pressed up against my skin.... I had a rash, it was still there in the morning!


I take my helmet in the shower with me, however, its a snap to clean it in there.

Hrm,

Anyone who throws there jersey/shorts in the dryer have any idea how many washes/dries you get before the outfit is "worn out"

This may be lame (not that I care what anyone thinks :) ) But I buy all my shorts with a jersey...they all match. At present that would be all of two sets :) But I'll be adding more now with my new found love of cycling shorts.

So, the wash/dry thing is interesting would be nice to be able to do that and have them ready for a same day ride. The hang dry was ok at my last house but here I dont have the room to do it well (I used to have a fireplace I could hang it off the mantle to the side on...not in front of fire but to the side) now I've got my closet door half open (its a bi-fold) and I have them hanging from the top...

Meh. Anyway thanks for the input...kinda reinforces my "its ok to put it in the wash" if 90% of everyone else does the same with no problems!

Chad

One of my team mates loves to ride in smelly jerseys, its so bad, that even 3 or 4 wheels back you can still get a whiff, and If you are directly behind him, forget it, it will kill you.

I thought It would be funny to try and do the same to him....

I rode 60 miles in 95 degree heat, left the jersey in the back of the car, all balled up for 4 days. Then took it out (it was still a little wet!) and rode a team time trial with it on. We made sure he was behind me in the rotation order. OH MY GOD did it stink, like a wh0rehouse at low tide, so bad infact,that even guys who were in on the joke were protesting. When we were done, we went to grab a bite, I still had it on you know... gotta keep the gag(ging) going.

When I got home and took it off to take a shower, everywhere there was a seam that pressed up against my skin.... I had a rash, it was still there in the morning!


I take my helmet in the shower with me, however, its a snap to clean it in there.


So the guy who you were "getting back" did he even comment? Did he clean more often after that? Or did he not even notice!???

He admitted to taking longer pulls, It was easier to breathe when he was on the front. He seems to do the laundry more often now, but he still wears a real stinker every now and then.

I also sweat a tremendous amount, even in the winter rides (georgia winter, so its not really winter) but regardless, of the pace, I seem to always sweat more than anyone else, and usually a lot more.

On our "mixed-group" Wednesday rides, the newbies make comments about how they heard I was a total bad ass, but I look like I'm struggling to keep up, cause I'm sweating so much. I have been asked not to wear sleeveless jerseys, becuase I'm showering the guys behind me with my pit sweat, when I turn my head to look before pulling off, There are always 3 or 4 drops that come off my face/nose right onto the guy behind me. My bars are always soaking wet, socks too, hell it even gets into my seat tube.

I don't know why this is.......

Maybe thats why your single. :D

I tossed that one out there for anyone to hit out of the park. Sheesh. Nice one.

Smoothie, I don't know what's worse. My brother is constantly spitting or farmer blowing. His synuses kick into overdrive when he works out. I get so pissed at him because when he is pulling I am getting a shower.