kimjo2000

Hi all. I've been throwing my bibs (Hammer Volers, Girodana Silverline, Performance Ultra) into the dryer along with the rest of my laundry for the last couple years with no ill effects. But I read that bibs should be hang dried. True? Any experience w/ lycra melting? Thanks.

Ratfish

If it works, it works, you know. I don't use bibs anymore, but when I did I would hang-dry them.

caloso

Delicate setting works for me.

urbanknight

Delicate setting here too. I'm starting to think I should hang dry, though, since two of my pairs (Performance and Pearl Izumi) are starting to show some loose stitching after only a year and a half.

Jakedatc

I've always hang dried my biking and other "performance" fabric stuff.. it dries overnight so it's not a big deal. I have one of those pop up hampers that i just hang everything around the edge.

i'd be more worried about the elastic in waistbands and any other place where rubber is involved.. that doesn't react too well to heat.

Cleave

Hi,

It's not the lycra melting, it's possibly causing the lycra to lose it's elasticity. I always hang dry my bibs. Of course if you've been drying them for years with no ill effects then who am I to say?

ILUVUK

I hang dry, but they have occasionally (accidentally) been tossed in the dryer. no big deal, but I wouldn't put them in the dryer regularly.

Geoff326

yea i'd agree.

EffSizzle

Hang dry, always!!! Jerseys too...

carpediemracing 

I think the current era of clothing is extremely durable. I don't know functionally how things hold up (i.e. will it still be waterproof but breathable) but from a "will it be wearable" point of view, I don't have anything that can't be machine washed and dried.

I've been machine washing and drying my cycling clothes forever, ever since I moved to synthetic chamois (late 80s?). It takes a while to "thin out" lycra (i.e. "transparent shorts"). I have gear from 1997-99 which has given up, but stuff from, say, 2000-2001 hasn't. I wash my shorts, jerseys, stuff that gets sweaty after every use. Although I don't use them as much, I have jackets 5 years old that I wore daily in appropriate weather (4-6 months/year) and they're still good too. I have a jersey that I crashed the first day I had it in 2004 and therefore get relegated to trainer use (and I ride the trainer more than I do outside), they're already ripped, and they don't rip anymore.

Gear manufacturers include Verge, Voler, Nalini, Champion, Giordana. All of them at least shorts and jerseys.

In SoCal it's so dry my friend (and former teammate) asked why I threw my gear in the dryer. Here hanging it out will dry it in 12 hours or so, the air is so dry. At home it would just get mildewy.

cdr

enjoi07

^^true depends on location..im in SD california...i hang dry

MrCrassic 

I hang dry as well, but drying at delicate setting for 15 minutes or so works well.

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Nick29

I generally hang dry my cycling clothes. Putting them in the dryer doesn't do anything positive for them (not that it necessarily damages them) and they're only slightly damp when I take them out of the washer anyway.

Suzie Green

I have been putting my shorts and jerseys in the dryer for years...as in 20+. If you're worried about them getting tangled up with something, you can use a mesh bag made for delicate items. Toss them into the bag and it will protect the garment from things in the dryer that have large zippers etc.

sstorkel

I follow the care instructions printed on the clothing. Jerseys hang dry, bibs and shorts go in the dryer on the lowest heat setting. I generally wash the cycling stuff separate from everything else. Never had a problem...

carpediemracing 

Good point - velcro and cycling gear don't do well together. Wash velcro stuff separately or something because if it sticks to your jersey it'll pill that part of it and make it all fuzzy looking.

cdr

subframe

I hang dry anything that is 'nice' or that I want to last any length of time. Bibs are expensive enough that they are automatically in that category.

Driers are hard on clothes...

Tapeworm21

I always hang dry. Thing with bicycle clothing is that it dries so fast. Why not just hang it up?

Sometimes my chamois is still damp when I put them on... but I don't notice it after a mile. Probably depends on the bib/short though.

cuski

My drier has a 15 minute cold air setting... and a little rack where I can put the clothing so that it doesn't get tossed around. Works well especially for shoes.

dcvelo

I stick to hang drying, and use a fan to keep air circulating. Even in our humid climate that works well...

garysol1 

I toss mine in the dryer on the lowest setting without a dryer sheet. Never had a problem.

gsteinb

Colors definitely fade quicker

garysol1 

My bibs have faded for sure. I never chalked it up to the dryer but that could be it.....

pharding

Hang dry overnight. The stuff is too expensive to risk drying it in the dryer.

patentcad

Is there no limit to your Fredosity?

If it doesn't survive the dryer, it goes in the friggin GARBAGE. Ride, rinse, repeat. Every DAY. Don't worry so much. Your bike clothes can handle the dryer, mine have all been through it a few HUNDRED times.

'Hang dry overnight'. You weenies kill me.