1. i usually get my cycling shorts on amazon for 35 bucks free shipping no tax. i'm sure if you waited for performance bike/nashbar sales on their own generic shorts you could get better prices but the reviews are always meh so i'm hesitant to get those. i can recommend these pearl izumi shorts on amazon which i'm currently using in size medium (6'1 and around 155 pounds)

http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-Qu...9178372&sr=8-3

2. to be honest, i only have one pair of cycling shorts (i'm cheap) and wash them as often as i can. when i can't wash them, i just hop in the shower with them which i think is a fairly common practice.

hope this helps!