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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 15, 2011 at 8:39 pm #641689
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    0liver

    Typically two days per pair.
    Typically two days per pair. About 15 miles each way, probably only 4 times a week. Hung up to dry on my nice warm computer as they aren’t supposed to be left lying around the office hanging on chairs or radiators.

    As for bacteria, they need warmth and moisture to breed so if the shorts are taken off then they will breed less well. So the relationship between time and distance is not simple…

    March 15, 2011 at 8:37 pm #641687
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    Stofish

    No need to wash your shorts
    No need to wash your shorts just get yourself in the Schwag Grab and win a can of helmet cleaner!
    http://road.cc/content/news/32390-schwag-grab-charge-bag-full-goodies-roadcc-tee

    March 15, 2011 at 8:20 pm #641685
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    armstrong7

    You can see why there are so
    You can see why there are so many lone cyclists, I wash my shorts after every ride.

    March 15, 2011 at 8:11 pm #641683
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    handlebarcam

    My workplace has changing
    My workplace has changing rooms, but they are tiny. That means drying out cycling clothes is a running battle with the lunchtime-runners. If I leave my kit hanging on a hook it is often scrunched up in a ball on the floor by the time I am ready to go home. Still the London Marathon is only a month away, and the situation usually improves after that.

    March 15, 2011 at 7:25 pm #641681
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    bikingscot

    My commute is only about 15
    My commute is only about 15 mins each way, so no way would I wash them every day. Even if it was longer, as long as they weren’t soaked through, I’d just dry them and spray them with antibacterial Fabreeze every night and get a good week out of them

    March 15, 2011 at 6:44 pm #641679
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    slow-cyclo

    cat1commuter wrote: I never

    cat1commuter wrote:
    I never leave my lycra in a plastic bag though – they are always hung over a chair back by their bib straps to air when not in use.

    Blimey, in my old office I’d never have got away with leaving them hung over the back of my chair. I used to have to fashion a bizarre washing line apparatus involving the IT cable run, my upturned bin and a pannier to suspend my towel whilst the shorts festered in the pannier having been hurriedly dried on a radiator whilst i showered.

    March 15, 2011 at 6:41 pm #641677
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    Stofish

    I suspect most of those who
    I suspect most of those who change their shorts daily don’t do their own washing.

    March 15, 2011 at 6:41 pm #641675
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    simonmb

    mr-andrew wrote:My girlfriend

    mr-andrew wrote:
    My girlfriend makes me change my underwear daily.

    EVERY day? And you do it? Wow. You must really love her!

    March 15, 2011 at 5:52 pm #641673
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    Coleman

    I’m glad I got to Lidl
    I’m glad I got to Lidl yesterday. Otherwise I don’t think I could afford to wear clean shorts everyday. A regular change of shorts is like a regular change of bed linen – not strictly necessary but I think girls really appreciate it.

    March 15, 2011 at 5:44 pm #641671
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    mr-andrew

    I probably get 2 or 3
    I probably get 2 or 3 non-consecutive days out of them. I’m not going as far as spraying them with dettol tho…

    tony_farrelly wrote:
    @mr-andrew and how often does she make you change your jeans?

    March 15, 2011 at 5:32 pm #641669
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    Tony Farrelly

    @mr-andrew and how often does
    @mr-andrew and how often does she make you change your jeans?

    March 15, 2011 at 4:08 pm #641667
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    mr-andrew

    Due to middle age spread,
    Due to middle age spread, I’ve abandoned lycra and commute about 120 miles/week in jeans. My girlfriend makes me change my underwear daily.

    March 15, 2011 at 3:50 pm #641665
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    dave atkinson

    Quote:after sweating in to

    after sweating in to them, the bacteria from your sweat/skin start to multiply, and that they continue to do so whilst your shorts sit, not being worn.

    maybe i need to go at them with the dettol spray every night 😀

    March 15, 2011 at 2:37 pm #641663
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    step-hent

    The argument I’ve heard for
    The argument I’ve heard for only wearing the shorts on one day is that, after sweating in to them, the bacteria from your sweat/skin start to multiply, and that hey continue to do so whilst your shorts sit, not being worn. So when you change them should be overall time based, not distance or riding time based. I therefore change my shorts or padded tights each day – I’d rather do some extra washing than get painful saddle sores.

    That said, (a) I’m no scientist – the explanation seemed sensible to me but I’m not sure whether it is true and whether the bacterial build up, even if correct, would be a problem; and (b) the problem may be eradicated/minimised by anti-bacterial inserts in shorts. Anti-bacterial chamois cream would also make the shorts last longer between washes, if the theory is correct.

    March 15, 2011 at 2:24 pm #641661
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    David cycling the world

    hmmm, commuting alone, i only
    hmmm, commuting alone, i only do 150miles per week.
    yet, i change my kit everyday! i have 4 team kits that i change between everyday.
    it shocks me to find someone that does over 100mile/week, only changing their kit every 4 or 5 days!!!

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