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Cycle commuters, how often do you change your shorts?

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  • March 15, 2011 at 12:02 pm #13216
    Denzil Dexter

    Not seen this discussed anywhere else so purely in the interests of scientific enquiry I thought I’d raise the subject here. If you commute in Lycra how often do you change/wash your shorts in a week? My colleague Dave has been strangely reluctant to join me in the search for the optimum commuter short wearing time, so I’m asking you.

    I’m guessing if your daily commute is an epic the answer will be every day, but what if – like my new commute it just strays in to the realm where Lycra is slightly the better option?

    Up until recently I’ve worn Lycra for longer weekend rides only, a day in he saddle, and my daily commute has been done in more or less normal clothing. However a few months ago I changed jobs and so now do a slightly longer, hillier commute… It’s still only half an hour each way but it’s a harder ride and just slightly too sweaty for civvies.

    However, two 30 min rides a day divided by eight hours drying time doesn’t seem to justify bunging them in the wash every night, or changing for a clean pair. Nasal tests confirm they still seem fresh, even against a control of some clean unridden shorts, my colleague Dave balked at confirming my findings (Pah! calls himself a scientist – they still smell better than his lab coat!).

    But joking aside how long would you use the same pair of shorts for, and would your measure be one of time or distance ridden?

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  • March 31, 2011 at 11:13 am #641749
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    andylul

    I put them back on if I can
    I put them back on if I can catch them…

    Seriously, always wear at least two pairs of shorts and/or padded undies. Ones nearest to skin get washed after every complete ride, whether it’s 10 or 100 miles. Outer layers dependant on conditions, but usually ‘yes’

    Mind, I cycled into London along the A23 at rush hour once last year and could’ve justified washing my entire downstairs area many times based on pure terror – thank heavens for a strong perineum…

    March 31, 2011 at 11:00 am #641747
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    David cycling the world

    yeah i do actually change
    yeah i do actually change everyday!

    and thats where it gets hard! il be going a week or so in the same pair before changing, and washing them at any opportunity i can find. (i know Mark even resorted to washing his in rivers)

    March 29, 2011 at 11:48 am #641745
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    Simon E

    @mad_scot_rider – your sweaty
    @mad_scot_rider – your sweaty shorts may not smell bad (to your nose), but the bacteria build-up over a few days isn’t too healthy. And if you work in an office you may well be sitting down for most of the day.

    Artificial fibres dry quickly enough that I can wash my shorts or undershorts after tea and they’re ready to wear by the morning.

    Combined with regular changes of underclothing, washing yourself properly helps prevent saddle sores. If I do start getting discomfort I apply Weleda nappy cream after a shower or before going to bed.

    March 28, 2011 at 7:39 pm #641743
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    rokapotamus

    I find merino is the way to
    I find merino is the way to go. I wear top and shorts for a weeks ride and not too stinky by friday afternoon.

    March 27, 2011 at 10:25 pm #641741
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    the _chief15

    If you can stand them up to
    If you can stand them up to dry them it’s probably time to change.

    Don’t try drying your kit in the microwave, I once did this with some underware, due to bad laundry planning and running late, and had to put out an elastic fire.

    March 21, 2011 at 12:22 pm #641739
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    sanderville

    I had a small insurance
    I had a small insurance windfall at about the same time that I had a crippling saddle sore so I splurged on ten pairs of winter longs from Wiggle so I can wear a fresh pair in the morning and a fresh pair in the evening, then wash the whole lot once a week.

    It’s only a six mile commute but there’s nowhere to dry your kit at work and I never want an infected groin again.

    March 19, 2011 at 6:24 pm #641737
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    workhard

    I’ve taken the easy way out
    I’ve taken the easy way out and bought some new shorts at Lidl

    March 17, 2011 at 11:29 pm #641735
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    Tony Farrelly

    hmm… defrosting I’d probably
    hmm… defrosting I’d probably want to dry them in the microwave too. Actually I might want a separate microwave 😕

    March 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm #641733
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    Stofish

    Just a thought, but…
    How
    Just a thought, but…
    How about sticking them in the freezer when you get home from work (Thus halting the bacteria growth) and then defrosting them in the microwave each morning?
    They could go for months without a wash that way!

    March 17, 2011 at 1:48 pm #641731
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    cat1commuter

    We should also consider the
    We should also consider the environmental angle. Most of the carbon footprint of an item of clothing comes after purchase, from the washing it in a machine. So by washing your lycra less frequently, you are saving the planet.

    March 17, 2011 at 1:27 pm #641729
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    mad_scot_rider

    24 miles each day – hung to
    24 miles each day – hung to air at night – washed weekly and they’re usually not to whiffy at that point

    I’m surprised by the squeamishness of some of the commentors and by how many feel the need to change every day

    Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I’ll back the “sniff test”

    March 17, 2011 at 10:30 am #641727
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    Tony Farrelly

    It’s only yucky if it doesn’t
    It’s only yucky if it doesn’t pass the sniff test…

    I can see where Martin is coming from, there probably comes a point on a long ride when your shorts can’t get any sweatier, that’ll be saturation point I suppose maybe after 60 or 80 miles that isn’t going to make much difference on a 160 mile day ride, but would after two 40 mile rides (maybe even one) when your shorts would be as it were full having reached maximum sweat capacity – so you possibly wouldn’t want to leave them lying around for a day before you put them on again… they’d fail the sniff test for a start.

    March 16, 2011 at 9:48 pm #641725
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    workhard

    Martin Thomas wrote:I’ve done

    Martin Thomas wrote:
    I’ve done 160-odd miles in a day (in one pair of shorts, obviously) but I don’t think I’d wear the same pair for four separate 40-mile rides.

    I’m intrigued by the reasoning…. apart from the potential yuck factor of putting ‘dirty’ kit back on.

    March 16, 2011 at 8:40 pm #641723
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    dave atkinson

    phew! cheers hbc…
    phew! cheers hbc…

    March 16, 2011 at 7:59 pm #641721
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    handlebarcam

    This thread is getting too
    This thread is getting too disgusting, with talk of skid marks and lady bits. Therefore I invoke [url=http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/godwins-law]Godwin’s Law[/url]: even though Lycra wasn’t invented until the 1950s, the Nazis definitely wore their Lycra shorts for more than two days in a row. Therefore anyone who does likewise in evil and wrong.

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