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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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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 55 total)
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  • March 16, 2011 at 7:56 pm #641719
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    The _Kaner

    When I was commuting in/out
    When I was commuting in/out from work it was a 10 mile round trip.
    Used longs during the winter and padded undershorts (new/ clean pair each day)..the bibs were washed if the weather was wet as often as needed, but if dry (and cold) every couple of days. In summer, tended to wear lycra under baggies.

    March 16, 2011 at 3:30 pm #641717
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    Anna D

    clearly you are all boys. i
    clearly you are all boys. i do a light soap and soak after every 2nd wear and throw them in the washer whenever i do laundry (once a week). lady bits are too sensitive to muck and sweat to do less than that.

    March 16, 2011 at 3:12 pm #641715
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    Celeste08

    My partner & I each
    My partner & I each ride/commute at least 100 miles per week. Fortunately we share the view that a pair of shorts wear is limited to one day in the saddle only… End of season sales are a great place to pick up two pairs for the price of one. Two pairs also halve the number of washes.

    March 16, 2011 at 2:10 pm #641713
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    Martin Thomas

    It’s not so much the mileage
    It’s not so much the mileage as the number of times you’re taking your shorts off and putting them on again if you ask me. 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 definitely with bigant on changing your shorts when you can see skidmarks.

    March 16, 2011 at 1:54 pm #641711
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    simonmb

    Every 5,000 miles. Whether
    Every 5,000 miles. Whether they need changing or not.

    March 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm #641709
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    skippy

    Whilst all rave about not
    Whilst all rave about not wearing briefs under the bib shorts , i have continued with this since day one !
    Riding the tours thus attired i have found that tossing the briefs at the end of the day generally allows the bibshorts to get used several times before general wear & tear makes hand washing a necessity .

    Tops on the other hand get washed nightly as regardless of weather there is a perfume added that annoys the following morning . Even items wrapped and sealed once tucked inside the top become rather wet during the day so it shows how much sweat passes through the top during an etappe of the Grand Tours .

    March 16, 2011 at 12:36 pm #641707
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    workhard

    Hmmmm…. my late mother
    Hmmmm…. my late mother stopped doing my washing the first time I brought my rugby kit back after school “I’m not making a rod for some other woman’s back” she said and thus a ‘new lad’ was born, and I’ve done my washing ever since, a situation my wife of 25 years is entirely happy with. Shame on you men that expect your women to do your washing and shame on your women for letting you get away with it.

    Shorts; I alternate two pairs during the week with a 4-day-a-week 26-mile-a-day commuting regime, and use assos creme applied straight to the skin when I put them on. Zingy! I wouldn’t change my shorts on a 100 miler so I don’t buy the need to so when commuting unless they become soiled.

    March 16, 2011 at 11:39 am #641705
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    Tony Farrelly

    David cycling the world

    David cycling the world wrote:
    i do my own…. occasionally.

    Well that should be enough if you don’t change ’em every day.

    Thinking about it that’s probably good practice for the round the world race too 😕

    How are you gonna deal with the shorts issue on that one?

    March 16, 2011 at 11:35 am #641703
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    mr-andrew

    The secret to getting the
    The secret to getting the girlfriend to do the washing is to try it yourself and be crap at it. In fact, that holds true for many things. The second part of the secret is to make sure she doesn’t read the same online bike websites.

    March 16, 2011 at 11:22 am #641701
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    David cycling the world

    i do my own…. occasionally.
    i do my own…. occasionally.

    March 15, 2011 at 11:10 pm #641699
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    paulfg42

    Jeez, how sweaty must some of
    Jeez, how sweaty must some of you lot get to be washing your shorts every day?

    Once a week (if necessary 😉 ).

    March 15, 2011 at 10:57 pm #641697
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    viveLaPants

    i can go 2 weeks. mind you I
    i can go 2 weeks. mind you I do have three pairs I rotate.

    March 15, 2011 at 9:19 pm #641695
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    pward

    2 x 15 miles is enough for my
    2 x 15 miles is enough for my derriere – wouldn’t dream of recycling any kit from innermost two layers after that, eurrrgh!
    :”>

    March 15, 2011 at 8:50 pm #641693
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    Marky Mark

    Everyday for me and I do my
    Everyday for me and I do my own washing 🙂

    March 15, 2011 at 8:48 pm #641691
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    downfader

    Sniff tester here too (or I
    :&

    Sniff tester here too (or I could just be a pervert). I smell the braces too as the pad has silver impregnation anyway, and that tends to stop odours.

    I ride a minimum of 6 miles, sometimes up to 20 in just the morning. Typically the lycra lasts me 3 days during winter and 2 during summer. I’m a sweaty blighter though. 👿

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