Cycle commuters, how often do you change your shorts?

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  • #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?

Viewing 10 replies - 46 through 55 (of 55 total)
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  • #641659
    0
    chain_link

    Clean shorts everyday.
    :&
    Clean shorts everyday. Please.

    #641657
    0
    dave atkinson

    once a week for me too,
    once a week for me too, disgusting oik that i am. sometimes twice if i’ve gone the long way home and gone after it a bit… total mileage is only about 55 miles.

    #641655
    0
    cat1commuter

    tony_farrelly wrote:… we’ve

    tony_farrelly wrote:
    … we’ve got some Craft padded pant type things for wearing under normal shorts on your bike

    Oh, those are good. I have a couple of pairs.

    #641653
    0
    bigant

    Usually best to wash them if
    Usually best to wash them if a skid mark appears on the chamois …..

    #641651
    0
    Chuffy

    Yup, I get a week out of mine
    Yup, I get a week out of mine (16 miles round trip) on the grounds that I wouldn’t stop half a dozen times on a 200k audax to change, so why would I change after just 16 miles? Especially as they only do 8 miles at a time and have a nice airing in between.

    #641649
    0
    Stofish

    I find the “sniff test” is
    I find the “sniff test” is always a good indicator. It may seem a little unsavory but it accounts for weather conditions, how energetically I ride and how long-ago my last shower was when I put them on. Turnover ranges from daily to up to 6 riding days.

    #641647
    0
    elbooch

    13 miles each way. Clean
    13 miles each way. Clean shorts every day.

    (Do people really not put clean shorts on each day? I’m amused to find I’m genuinely shocked)

    #641645
    0
    Tony Farrelly

    Yeah I get about a week out
    Yeah I get about a week out of mine and like cat1 i always hang ’em up to dry. Now the weather is getting better though, I’ll probably mix it up a bit with a pair of baggier shorts & we’ve got some Craft padded pant type things for wearing under normal shorts on your bike – that then raises the issue of whether I keep ’em on all day or change them when I get in… Hmm, thanks Denzil!

    #641643
    0
    openbath

    I’m going to be the first to
    I’m going to be the first to bravely step up and answer. My commute is roughly similar to yours from the sounds of it and I tend to do it 4 or 5 days a week.

    I have to admit I go for the once a week wash, but I don’t let any of my colleagues near me, especially at the end of the week.

    #641641
    0
    cat1commuter

    Mine seem OK for a week (5
    Mine seem OK for a week (5 days) of commuting, which is 200 km (125 miles), 7.5 h in the saddle. I do use chamois cream though, which seems to prevent minor saddle sore issues I occasionally suffered from when first committing to doing this commute every day. 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.

Viewing 10 replies - 46 through 55 (of 55 total)
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