avatarworf

In theory it would be great to have a clean pair of shorts handed to me each day, but in practice how does it work? Do you carry a lot of pairs and wash infrequently or carry a couple pairs and wash every day? With wild camping, we don't have enough water to do a wash most of the time, and if it's raining then the shorts are not going to dry anyway. With two pairs of shorts each, we rarely go more than 2-3 days without washing them, although this can stretch to longer in remote areas and I think it would be a real pain to wash every single day.

Is the risk of infection/bacteria not related as well to how much you sweat? I have seen this discussion come up before and it strikes me that this is something that is very personal to each cyclist.

onbike 1939

Well, I'm not lucky enough to have clean shorts handed to me unfortunately. I carry two pairs of racing shorts and wash the pair I have been wearing on arrival at the camp-site. As most of my camping is in France during the summer, the shorts are usually dry in twenty minutes or so. I carry two very light poly/cotton tops also, and wash the one I've been wearing at the same time. No big deal, just part of my routine.
Wild camping does make this a bit more difficult I grant you, but then again you do not have to wash the whole short, only the insert. Spending six weeks on tour and cycling every day, I do want a shower, so it's camping sites for me and especially as I'm am now becoming old and decrepit.

The bacteria/infection problem has no relationship to sweating but to the heat and moisture trapped by the Lycra material. I have damaged kidneys and bladder, and having suffered just such infections I have to be very careful in this regard.

thebigmrT

I personally use Dr Bronner's Unscented for everything, hair, body, face, clothes, dishes, whatever.

But there's a lot more out there to choose from, just make sure whatever you choose is designed to be used in a camping environment, or at least biodegradable. Most of the time, we're camping out at night, which means any run off from us is going directly into the environment around us.

greenstork

Thanks for clarifying. I use Dr. B's exclusively when in the woods because it is biodegradable. I'm heading off on a credit card tour and will probably bring along some liquid laundry detergent because it has the enzymes you need to really clean clothes that Dr. B's doesn't have -- and use it in a sink of course.

Machka 

No, I'm not kidding. It's not as bad as you might think. It's not like I'm discharging anything when I ride!! As I said, I've done well over 100,000 kms and have had only 1 saddle sore unrelated to the cleanliness of my shorts.

I think North Americans tend to be a bit .... ummmm ... fussy (?), finicky (?), or something about wearing the same clothes more than a day or two in a row.


Then again, maybe the ability to wear shorts several days in a row has something to do with things like .... saddle choice, temperature, shorts choice, body chemistry, personal health, etc.

onbike 1939

[QUOTE=Machka]No, I'm not kidding. It's not as bad as you might think. It's not like I'm discharging anything when I ride!! As I said, I've done well over 100,000 kms and have had only 1 saddle sore unrelated to the cleanliness of my shorts.

I think North Americans tend to be a bit .... ummmm ... fussy (?), finicky (?), or something about wearing the same clothes more than a day or two in a row.>






Are you dating at the moment?

Machka 

[QUOTE=onbike 1939]
What does that have to do with anything?

If your question is whether or not anyone will come near me, I have done all my tours with cycling partners who have worn their shorts as long as I have (or longer!). It's fine!! And as for people in grocery stores etc ... well, we get to the front of the line and out the door really quick. Works very well.

But even when I'm at home, I don't wash my shorts after every ride. There's no point in that. I do wash them after long rides (centuries, brevets, etc.), but not after my "after work" type of rides. I just hang them where they can dry and air out a bit, and they are good to go again the next day.

onbike 1939

[QUOTE=Machka][QUOTE=onbike 1939]


What does that have to do with anything?

If your question is whether or not anyone will come near me, I have done all my tours with cycling partners who have worn their shorts as long as I have (or longer!). It's fine!! And as for people in grocery stores etc ... well, we get to the front of the line and out the door really quick. Works very well.



That indeed was my question.

While I can't salute your personal hygiene, I stand in awe of your stoic indifference to public reaction.

sweetnsourbkr

hmmm

velo2000

You folks crack me up. I sure hope I get enough internet access on my tour so I can keep up with amusing threads like this one.

Machka 

I'm a randonneur ... we're known for wearing the same pair of shorts (and jersey, and everything else) for 24+ hours straight! And I really don't care what "the public" thinks of me.

gregw

"What do you do with your shorts? "

Padded side to the back during the day for cycling and....... in the front at night in the bars.