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To dry or not to dry...

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To dry or not to dry...

Old 10-06-08, 07:14 PM
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To dry or not to dry...

cycling clothes in the dryer. That is the question.

Seriously, I have always hung them on the line to dry. Now that I am teaching full time, I don't have the time during the day to get them out to the clothes line. So, do I string up a line in the basement or put them in the dryer? What do you do?
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Old 10-06-08, 07:26 PM
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I take care of the new ones the way the label says to, the older ones, whatever is fastest. In the end none of them have been damaged by the dryer. Your mileage may vary.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:28 PM
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I hang my jeans in the afternoon and pick a new tennis shirt the following morning.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:39 PM
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I used to only line dry my shorts... but in humid weather a chamois can take FOREVER to dry. Now I chuck them in the dryer on low and I haven't noticed any problems. In fact, my shorts actually say they are ok to dry on low, even though I was trained all my life to never dry anything that said spandex on the label.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:41 PM
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Bibs, jerseys and warmers get hung dry, MTB shorts and shirts go in the dryer.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:42 PM
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We put ours on hangers and hang them on a rod in the laundry room. Overnight is usually adequate.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:42 PM
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Hang dry. Either the line in the basement or getting a drying rack and using that.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:43 PM
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No dryer unless washing instructions so indicate.

I hang pretty much all my clothes that have Lycra. They last a lot longer that way.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:44 PM
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I'm lazy and just throw all my bike stuff over the edge of a laundry basket.. probably takes longer than a clothes line but I wait until after I ride to put laundry in so i don't care if it even takes until the next day.
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Old 10-06-08, 07:46 PM
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If you have a few pairs, its usually pretty easy to "rotate" them and hang them dry. Also, if they're a little damp, what's the big deal? You'll sweat 'em up in the first 5 miles anyway. Initially it won't be so comfortable, but it won't matter after a while.

Other than that, occasional dryer time...especially with low heat...won't kill them.
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Old 10-06-08, 08:00 PM
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I always dry my bib's in the dryer. No dryer sheets and in a mesh bag at lowest setting. I have had the same bibs for 3 seasons now doing this weekly with no ill effects
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Old 10-06-08, 08:17 PM
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I didn't realize you were supposed to wash thats stuff.....
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Old 10-06-08, 08:19 PM
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I hang my shorts to dry, but turn them inside out so the chamois dries faster.
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Old 10-06-08, 08:50 PM
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hang 'em high. Let your neighbors see it waving in the breeze.

if you have sponsors, send them a photo of their logo hanging on the line getting more exposure for their business.
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Old 10-06-08, 08:53 PM
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I do what my mother taught me:

Wash them in a regular wash cycle with cold water, dry for 10 minutes on high heat, hang on hangers to let them dry out.

I've been doing this since I was like 12 years old and it hasn't failed me yet, even with my riding gear.
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Old 10-06-08, 08:57 PM
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i just washed and tumble dried my whole arsenal of cycling clothes. i am planning on getting an assos winter kit later this year, so i might be a bit more squeamish about drying that.
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Old 10-06-08, 09:00 PM
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i just hang it in the bathroom overnight it's dry in the morning
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Old 10-06-08, 09:46 PM
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Dryer, no time to mess with them. I have three bibs and bike 5-6 times per week. I just need them when I want to bike and I am not trying to make them last forever.
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Old 10-06-08, 09:53 PM
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I wash and dry without any special precautions, but I also don't have thousands worth of assos gear.
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Old 10-06-08, 10:47 PM
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I've been throwing the same 4 pairs of shorts in the dryer for years now. I have the inexpensive ones that I bought from Nashbar and I've never had any problems. Medium heat. Seriously, these have gone through at least a hundred washings apiece.
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Old 10-07-08, 12:27 AM
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In the summer, I just pull the stuff out of the washer, put it on and go riding...everything is dry in about a mile. I've also done this on cold mornings, and it isn't quite as fun! When I plan better, I hang everything to dry; I never put shorts/bibs/jerseys in the dryer.
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