You ever notice how, after a while, Lycra or spandex starts to give too easily, and doesn't compress? Jerseys and jackets aren't an issue, but compression base layers obviously it's an issue and for shorts... well, that can be an issue for modest guys, too.
The first couple pair of bib shorts I got about 18 months ago have started to lose their compressiveness. I thought it had something to do with how often they have been washed, but it seems not so much. Here's what I found in an article about compression gear:
Now, over the course of the last 18 months, I estimate I've worn each of those bibs about once a week on average, lets say 70 times. As I accumulated a couple of other pairs, I stopped washing them immediately after rides - I just let it all accumulate and run a load of it every few days. Maybe that's why they seem to be falling short of their 180-wearings life expectancy. That, and I'm also beginning to suspect that putting them in a washing machine is worse than putting them in the dryer. I avoid using the dryer for a lot of things simply because tumbling them around creates unnecessary wear and tear, but I think the washing machine is more of a problem for spandex, because it is likely to stretch them, particularly in the spin cycle, and when things get tangled up.

I ride 6-7 days a week and hand wash and air dry my cycling clothing. Sometimes I wash in the sink, other times in the bath tub. Rinse them off when I take a shower and hang them up for the day in the shower. I have two Louis Garneau jerseys from my old cycling club in Princeton which I wear 90% of the time, bought in 2007 and they both look almost new, only the tags are worn. Shorts wear faster. My Canari bibs I have worn every ride in the last six months (do the math) are getting the usual thin spot in the crotch area, I figure they're good for a couple more months and I have a new pair waiting. My socks I've had for I don't know how many years.

What is your time worth to you? I would rather machine wash and dry my cycling clothes and replace them a bit sooner than wash them by hand. I don't feel cheated when exercise clothing (or any clothing for that matter) wears out. That is what I expect it to do. For my money I get a reasonable interval of wear from the clothes and convenient and very effective cleaning of them. Then on to some new stuff. I'm happy with that.

You a tiger? I'm graduate school class of '75.

I noticed I've got several pairs of Peral Isumi that are eight years old and haven't lost any compression. I've always washed and dried in machines except for rare hand wasting on trips.

I know that to some extent, the better gear seems to last longer, I had some pairs of lower-end PI shorts where the grippers got dried out and crackly in storage while the nicer bibs were still perfectly usable, and I've heard from very avid riders that they get more life out of Assos or Giordana than they did out of their Pearl bibs on top of that. I try and give the bibs at least a rinse when I get home, getting sweat and anything else out of them, and thus far (other than trying it out at one point) I don't really add any lotion/etc. to them, never really found it made a difference.

Senior military science instructor. They kept us hidden in a building on Alexander St. Finished my degree at TCNJ, our satellite school, when I was there. I got to learn what's really going on inside our universities today. A real eye opener to say the least.

Machine wash warm, hang dry. I have some lower quality bibs that are getting near end of life that are probably 3 yrs old, but the higher quality ones 5+ yrs seem just fine. I tend to go through one wear/washing per week since I have a good selection to choose from.

I machine wash (front loader) and machine dry my stuff (usually not after every ride, (note below)) and it seems to last forever. I have stuff well over 10 years old that's still fine. I do usually have 6 pair of shorts/bibs and maybe 8 jerseys in rough rotation so the wear and tear does get distributed among them.

Note: I'm not wanting to start a discussion on laundering after ride, but IMO, much if not most wear and tear on clothing occurs during laundering. Less laundering usually means an article of apparel will last longer. There are certainly social and personal hygiene considerations.

I've got a Kopps jersey. Raced out of there when I was a kid. CRCA then moved up the line to the better teams.

Rocky Hill, Griggstown, Bound Brook, Somerville...fun days.

Played hockey at Baker Rink, saw Bill Bradley play at Dillon Gym, was at the first game ever played at Jadwin.

That is probably right. Don't rule out the damage caused to outer layers by the sun however. That is another factor that weakens the fibers and sets them up to be damaged in the washer/dryer.

I'm wondering how many guys just don't realize how worn out their shorts may be. The seam in the crackal region seems to receive a disproportionate amount of stretching, but who's likely to notice whether that's a problem on his own shorts?

hmm I have had a set of FI Mille Assos bibs for about 10 years, I have several pairs but that pair is one of the oldest and gets used and washed about once a week after 2-3hours of use all year round, so around 500 times in the laundry, and now it's starting to show a few signs of wear... But we don't have chlorinated water in Sweden, so maybe that's the reason.

I've taken to washing my bibs, baselayers, and more delicate jerseys in a mesh laundry bag, the kinds used for delicates like bras and lingerie. I've always had an agitating top loading washer, and I think this will keep these items from getting stretched and worn down as much as if they were washed without being bagged. Can't say for sure though.

Machine wash delicate cold hang to dry here. What I've found is with my cycling clothes over the years is that with long term storage the elastic bands usually dry rots and crumbles long before the fabric itself is shot. Takes about 5-10 years for this to happen. The other thing that happens is that white fabrics can lose their luster. Chamois can lose padding too after both lots of miles and breakdown of foam padding.
Every season I cull 1 or 2 items from the clothing bin.

I often just get in the shower wearing my kit and wash them as I take them off. Hang them out to dry. My shorts are about ready to be replaced after 5 years which isn't bad. (Hincapie bibs)

Do everyone a favor and buy new shorts on a regular basis.
No one wants to see your hairy butt. It's gross and makes you look like a bum.

How do you know? If you have to ask, then you know it's time to replace.

I buy new shorts all the time. I just keep wearing the old ones to piss you off.

I do the same. I save my best bibs for others and wear the stretched and holey ones for him. Since I'm faster he has nothing else to look at.

that's some locktight logic there

I have bibs that are over fifteen years old and are serviceable...these are the shorts I wear under my tights...they are getting a bit threadbare in critical areas lol but still work ok. The elastic has died but I just cuff them under and they work fine.
My best bibs are several years old...Voler bibs...I love these bibs and they hold up very well.

Thrifty!
Reminds me of some favorite bits of kit - a couple of sweaters. One is an old merino crew-neck that got a few moth holes, and another is a sweater I was issued when I was aboard ship.

That thing is OLD (got it in '86), very trim-fitting and the sleeves seem to have shrunk a bit, so I wouldn't wear it or the other ratty sweater to work or anything, but as a thermal layer under a windbreaker, they can't be beat! By the way, it seems those brown sweaters can still be had for about thirty bucks from an army-navy outlet. Made in USA, of course.

I have 5 bibs and 8 tops in rotation. Front loader, laundry bag, delicate cycle, no fabric softener. I never use the dryer for them. Stuff wears out which gives me an excuse to replace something.

I go through 2-3 kits a year.

I write a number in each pair of bibs reflecting the year it was purchased. Older bibs are relegated to trainer use or off-road riding (i.e. cross or mtb).

i notice my stuff does not deteriorate as much now that i put them in a delicates washing bag. i assume it is because the spin cycle does not stretch it inside.