Originally Posted by
Hiro11
I just toss my cycling clothes in with everything else. We have a washing machine without a conventional agitator.
The three keys to washing cycling clothing:
- use cool or cold water
- wash everything in mesh laundry bags to protect the delicate fabrics from abrasion
- hang dry your cycling clothes
Do those three things and your clothes will last a very long time.
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
I agree. Not an issue.
Stop to think about what your bike shorts go through on every ride. They aren’t “delicate”. Your shorts rub against the saddle 5400 times per hour (90 rpm over 60 minutes). Nothing in the washer is going to abrade them as much as that. Denim probably won’t stand up to that kind of abuse. Bicycle shorts (and other bicycle clothing) are made of tough, rugged material that doesn’t need to be handled like lingerie..
Life is too short for that. I used to hand dry my bicycle clothes but decided to just dry them in a dryer. Been doing that for more than 2 decades and I have bicycle clothing that is dragging 30 years pretty hard. How much longer do you think I want my bicycle clothes to last?
I think - at least in my case - that the reason to use a mesh bag with bib shorts isn't that they're delicate, it's to prevent the straps from getting all wrapped up with the other laundry or the agitator. I use a bag for my bibs all the time for that reason.
Originally Posted by
PeteHski
This ^
Nothing delicate about quality bike gear. Lightweight, soft on skin, but tough as nails. Those are the qualities that make the best gear stand out.
I do agree wholeheartedly that cycling clothes are not delicate and don't require any special care except maybe don't dry any synthetic at high heat because it simply doesn't need it. But especially shorts. I think heat of a dryer, even at low, will reduce the life span of stretch. Or at least don't let them bake in the dryer any longer than necessary. They dry over night hanging from the door knob in our laundry room plus just use another pair if they don't.