I am unclear as to what is meant by quick dry synthetic clothes for use on a bike tour. I bought some REI, Terramar and then Patagonia base layer clothes to test. Some of them are still a bit damp the next AM if I hang it up to dry in the bathroom after a wash in the basin, as I probably would on a moteling bike trip. Can anyone recommend a brand that works better?
Gary
It sounds like you have the right type of garments. "Quick dry" is relative, Outside. on a warm windy day they dry fast. Compared to cotton, they dry fast.
Something to try- We use this in motels.
Wash and rinse garment, wring it out, wrap in towel, place towel on floor, step on towel several times(with shoes off). Hang to dry. Motel bathrooms generally do not have a lot of airflow. We usually rig a clothesline, and use the motel's clothes hangers.
or
or
REI and Patagonia seem to work well for me. Technique is more important than brand, in my experience. The biggest determiners in whether something will be dry are: 1) how much water is squeezed from the garment before it is hung to dry, and 2) how and where it is hung to dry.Originally Posted by SFGary
Try wringing the clothing out more and then hanging it outside the bathroom, where it will be less humid.
That's gonna leave a mark.
Agreed. I also find that after an item has been hung for awhile that I can wring more water from the bottom portion.
Carry a mesh bag and sling any damp clothes over the rear rack, not inside your bags.
Silk is quick dry and resistant to mold growth. Try winter silks for cold weather. Gortex is also quick dry a single layer is good for a rain coat it is also quite tough same material used in bullet proof vests.
Hi Doug64
Interesting idea drying with towel and hanging up the clothes on a line and an innovative one of "drying on a lamp" idea is interesting, as long as the synth clothes don't catch fireI'll try both ideas at home, thanks very much for the tips.
Gary
It sounds like you have the right type of garments. "Quick dry" is relative, Outside. on a warm windy day they dry fast. Compared to cotton, they dry fast.
Something to try- We use this in motels.
Wash and rinse garment, wring it out, wrap in towel, place towel on floor, step on towel several times(with shoes off). Hang to dry. Motel bathrooms generally do not have a lot of airflow. We usually rig a clothesline, and use the motel's clothes hangers.
or
I use wool too, not quick dry but will go several days without needing to be washed. I do use some quick dry synthetics, I usually figure on a a change every third day to allow for drying time.
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Hi sstorkel, I made sure I wrung the clothes out to the point I noticed that the color from the Terramar and Patagonia was bleeding (I hope that is only temporary because they were new), came back in about half hour and did it again. But I did hang it up in the bathroom which is damp. I'll add doug64's idea by using some heat source as well as getting a clothesline.
Hi Aaron, I did try the SMARTwool option in socks but I noticed yesterday, which was a cold windy day by SF standards, that the wind froze my toes. So it looks like I might need sock liners as well. If I also take some woolies do I also need another layer to keep warm. I know I am deviating from the thread but it is related...I use wool too, not quick dry but will go several days without needing to be washed.
Aaron
Nice idea, MichaelW, I'll do that. Thanks. I need to create a list...
I have carried four plastic hangers and some clothespins because motel hangers often do not hang anywhere except in their closet, but a normal hanger can hang from the shower head for drip dry.
When I wrap things in a towel, I let them stay there 15 to 30 minutes, that gives the towel more time to soak up the water.
Regarding the comment above about a mesh bag, I plan to carry a mesh duffle on my next tour for that purpose. I have strapped wet clothes on the top of my frontrollers, but that is a dusty location.
I got a pair of these a couple weeks ago, it helped cut the cold somewhat but I don't think there is a perfect solution. Bottom line is that I am glad I bought them but my toes still get cold.
http://www.rei.com/product/833461/va...-2011-closeout
Try something in a nylon material, such as some of these convertible pants:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~convertible/
And if you're staying in motels, why not use their laundry?
Last edited by Machka; 02-28-12 at 03:17 AM.
Yeah, $3 to use a motel dryer to have the clothes all ready to go in 30 or 40 minutes -- certainly beats hanging crap around your room all night and still not being sure your clothes will be dry.
The issue really comes to light when you are camping in cool weather and want to dry your clothes after riding and sweating a lot. It's then you'll face the challenges of drying stuff overnight... if the stuff is the only clothing you have to wear and you haven't got at least one spare set to slip into.
Dream. Dare. Do.
Silk liners, I wear wool socks pretty much year round, in the colder months I add a silk base layer. My biggest challenge has been finding thin wool dress socks. I much prefer the natural fibers over synthetics most of the time. A lot of the synthetics bother me, as in make me itch. I live in the deep South, summer finds me in cotton or linen much of the time.
Aaron
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Walmart or Sears ... ladies' section. Look for wool, angora, and/or cashmere. I have numerous pair of thin wool dress socks which I wear to work in the winter as dress socks, or under Kodiak wool socks when cycling in the winter.
A few years ago while bicycling through Missouri in the summer I learned that in areas with high relative humidity it can take a long time for clothes to dry. After employing the traditional techniques of rolling clothing in motel towels, stringing lines around the room and over desk lamps, and attaching a mesh bag to my panniers I found that my clothes were still damp and beginning sour. Stopping mid-day at small town laundries gave me a chance to get all my clothes (except for what I was wearing of course) washed and dried in an hour. I used the time to eat lunch, talk with locals and nap.
If you toes get cold, try gatorskin socks. They are outstanding. I use them when it is cold out and I commute to work.
+1
You can find laundries at campgrounds, hostels, motels, hotels, etc. ... or as individual businesses in many towns. And most are relatively inexpensive ... especially if you're travelling with someone. The facilities are often large enough to toss in two cycletourists' loads of laundry.
And as you say, it's a good opportunity to take a break from cycling. In addition to what you've mentioned, we've read the magazines and newspapers they have lying around, gone for a walk, done a little window shopping and/or exploring, and picked up some groceries.
Drying clothes on the fly on your rack works extremely well under most conditions. However, make sure you secure them well or they may fall off. If you have front panniers with outer mesh pockets you can dry clothes in them as well.
BTW...Putting on damp clothes to start a ride is not the worst thing in the world, especially if it's a warm morning.
This is true.
My solution involves having two sets of riding clothes. Wash one set at the end of the day and hang them up. If they're not dry in the morning (and they often are still damp) I strap them to the outside of my panniers or rack top, assuming the day is dry. Generally everything is dry by the end of the day. If not, wearing them usually provides the needed heat to dry them out the rest of the way. Until the sweat starts to get them damp again.
Hopefully I can find XXLWalmarts around here don't carry wool anything, for anybody, but I will try Sears and some other sources. Problem is I wear a men's size 11.5 shoe.
Aaron
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Instead of a hotel towel, try the same technique using a synthetic chamois such as "sham wow" or something similar from an auto parts store. It can absorb much more water and a chamois will dry much faster than a towel. Most motels have a fan in the bathroom--leave that on for air circulation when clothes are hanging to dry (even if the clothes are not in the bathroom it aids in circulation). Finally, if there are a few damp places on the clothing when you wake up, hit them with a hairdryer, which 99% of all motels have in the bathroom.
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