indyfabz

Heh. Earlier this year I saw some serious crack due to shorts worn thin in that location. One guy's shots might as well been made out of clear plastic wrap. Out of courtesy, I let another guy know he might want to invest in a new pair. He was most appreciative.


A woman did the same to me on the first day of Cycle Oregon back in 2002. As she passed me she said something like 'Wow. You must have had those shorts for a long time." She was correct, but it took me a minute to figure out how she knew that. Then the likely reason dawned on me. At the end of the day I inspected the shorts and immediately tossed them in the trash.

rpenmanparker 

You are incorrect. All washing reduces the of life of cycling clothing. It just happens to be necessary.

Where does the notion come from that cycling clothes are supposed to last forever? Supposing machine washing and drying shortens the life of cycling clothes by 1/3. Is it not worth it for the convenience? Before you answer, consider that the same is likely true for all clothing. Why do you not hand wash and air dry all your clothes?

armybikerider

I'm not looking for shorts that will last "forever," I think a couple of years would suffice. I was under the impression that cycling clothes would last longer if hand washed. Maybe that's not true? Doesn't matter to me - it's what I do. I've not heard the same for clothes in general - that's why I don't hand wash everything.


I have bike ride t-shirts that are 30 years old and jeans that are at least 15 years old that are machine washed. Obviously machine washing them hasn't shortened their life - at least not as short as my bibs.

RoadLight

Hi armybikerider,

Cycling shorts are not designed to last 8,000 miles. It sounds like the Performance Elite bibs that you're using now are lasting quite well. As your miles increase, you simply need to replaced them more frequently.

A misconception that some amateur cyclists have is that high-priced pro shorts and bibs will last longer than their medium-priced counterparts and this is not necessarily the case. The pro shorts and bibs may be made from more expensive materials to promote better breathability, compression, moisture wicking/evaporation, wind drag reduction, etc., but they are also designed to weigh less and the lighter fabrics don't last as long.

For example, my favorite cycling clothing (in my budget range) is Pearl Izumi. I like the Pearl Izumi shorts primarily for one reason: they use some of the best chamois (pads). They are often more comfortable for long rides than much more expensive competitors. They have three lines, each for a different market: "Select" for beginners and casual cyclists (no or mild compression in shorts and bibs), "Elite" for intermediate cyclists (better fabrics and medium compression in shorts and bibs), and "Pro" (best fabrics, lighter weight, full compression in shorts and bibs). When you ask Pearl Izumi which shorts and bibs will last the longest, they say the "Elite" ones will. But the chamois in the "Pro" shorts and bibs is the best I have ever used and is highly prized for long distance.

So I use Pearl Izumi "Elite" shorts and bibs for the bulk of my training rides which are usually 35 miles each and I use their "Pro" shorts and bibs for my longer rides, including 100-mile centuries. In fact, I just did a century last Saturday---the last 30 miles in the rain---and the "Pro" bibs were super-comfortable. The full compression fit was a big help to my muscles and the pad never created even a hint of chafing. Plus I beat my 2015 time.

As others have advised, I recommend that you stay with what you like---you're getting good wear out of them---and just replace them more often as needed to keep pace with your higher mileage.

Kind regards, RoadLight

RoadLight

Hello again,

You're right---they should last longer if hand-washed after each use. I've been doing it for years. But I also have a washing machine with a special "Handwash" setting that is very gentle so I use it most of the time. Then I hang them to drip dry in the shower.

I think it is unfair to compare the durability of cycling shorts and bibs to t-shirts and jeans. You are comparing very different fabrics (non-stretch cotton weaves vs specialized elastic nylon/polyester/elastane blends). The primary purpose for cycling shorts and bibs is to reduce chafing. Everything else is secondary. This is not going to be accomplished with a heavy-duty long-lasting fabric. Your jeans may last 15+ years but your crotch won't if you try cycling in them for the kind of miles you do!!! Cycling clothing manufacturers for the most part want their kit to last---they don't want it to wear out prematurely or they'll get a bad reputation and lose business. But they cannot overcome the nature of the design and materials that enable cycling shorts and bibs to do what they need to do and many of those desirable qualities reduce durability compared to non-cycling clothing.

Besides, how much do you sweat in your cycling shorts and bibs? Imagine what they will be like in 15 years if the materials did last that long. No matter how well you clean them, repeated exposure to sweat will eventually make them nasty!

Kind regards, RoadLight

rpenmanparker 

The washing machine and dryer keep my shorts very clean for many years. No nastiness ever. It is hard to accomplish that with hand washing.

f4rrest

I have some $15 shorts without chamois that I use to double-bag shorts that have worn thin but still have serviceable chamois.

mvnsnd

The Castelli Evoluzione is a model you could be looking at. I think they are very good for the price and comfortable with a really nice pad.

Competitive Cyclist link

Bumnah

I love Pearl Izume Elite bibs. I tried Performance Bikes' Ultra series but the fitment just didn't feel as good. My LBS likes Rappha and Assos. My buddy there says if he's doing a long ride back to back he'll go home wash the Assos bibs after ride 1 just to have it ready for ride 2.

FIVE ONE SIX

like i said before, i would look into LG Fit Sensor 2 bibs on Amazon or maybe even a local shop, they're great for $100ish. i was never a fan of LG clothing at all, but a friend has a shop and his team kit is made by LG, so i got a kit and i have to say it's my favorite kit out of the 8+ i own cause it fits like a glove and the bib shorts are very comfortable even on 60+ mile rides. and i've owned Pearl Izumi, Craft, Giordanna, Assos, Specialized, Cannondale, Sugoi and Voler bibs over the years...

bruce19

What works for someone is very individual specific. What works for me is ASSOS. I have 3 pair that I bought on sale at $130 about 2 years ago. I rotate the 3 pair and ride 75-100 mi. a week. This works for me. No guarantees it will work for you but that's my experience. FWIW I have used everything from PI to Castelli and ASSOS is the one that fits and works.

Gasser5.2

The best bibs make a statement. This example not only tells everyone where you stand on legumes, it suggests those drafting too closely should expect some drool.