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Having bought a couple of expensive bibs recently I would like to take care of them to make them last as long as possible.
Non Bio liquid detergent ?
Washing @ 30 degrees ?
Don't spin dry ...well here is my problem, my washing machine don't have an option to skip the spin dry at the end. The lowest setting is 600rpm, which I use.
Is this going to shorten the life of my bibs?
Should I just resort to hand washing them?
How do you guys and girls out there take care of your bibs?
All tips and tricks appreciated .
Wear them, take off put in washing basket. When enough cycling kit has gathered put on 900 spin 30 degree wash with non bio. When the cycle has finished take them out and hang up to dry, outside preferably. Been working for me for 15 years.
Don't treat my bibs any difference to the rest of my cloths. Bungs them in and forget. Is this why I ride slower than everyone?
aP you must be doing it right, making your bibs last 15 years!
Sandwicheater, you are slower than everyone because you eat too many sandwiches 🙂
I put mine in a 40 degree wash with non bio and no fabric softener. The machine does it's 900rpm spin and then hung up outside or cool tumble dry. Got a 5 year old pair of Gore shorts still going strong and a couple of 3 year old pairs. They only get worn once before going into the wash.
I just put mine in the wash basket and they magically appear clean the week after along with the rest of my clothes
Why wouldn't you spin them? Mine just get washed at 30/40 in an ordinary non-bio detergent.
This is what I do with my Assos...spin is 1200-ish, give or take. I ignore the special bag that came with the shorts and didn't replace the special detergent once I'd used it all. Hang dry. All of my gear is washed like this.I put mine in a 40 degree wash with non bio and no fabric softener
I'm not fannying around with 'special treatment' for a pair of shorts ffs! If they can't stand up to normal washing then they're no good to me and I wouldn't buy another pair from that manufacturer.
Reason why I'm asking about the spinning is the one manufacturer (Assos) advises against it and the other(Castelli) advises to minimise spinning .
Assos:
Machine-wash is possible but always use a wash bag, a delicate cycle and lukewarm water (max. 30° C).
Do not soak, wring or rub. Do not spin after washing. To remove excess water from your garment gently squeeze by hand.
Castelli:
Wash on cold or luke warm Max 35c with a liquid detergent (we recommend non-bio detergents) use only a small amount of detergent. Rinse twice, minimize spinning to reduce creasing.
What a load of faff!
All my cycling stuff - and everything else I wear - goes on 60C(actually 50C)wash with a 1200 spin - which I reduce to 1000 if I remember. It is better at getting rid of that baked in sweat smell - more my running that riding kit to be fair - without having to soak beforehand.
Nothing has disintegrated in the wash yet, but then again I don't have any 15 yo kit, mainly cos I am a lot thinner than I was a few years ago so have reinvested. But isn't there a risk that the lycra wears a bit thin by that stage, peekaboo crackage for the person on your wheel?
Me too, although it often takes longer than a week for things to re-appear. Quite how that is I don't know as all I ever hear about is how much washing she does.I just put mine in the wash basket and they magically appear clean the week after along with the rest of my clothes
Just be careful about putting in anything with Velcro or hooks as they are likely to catch in the fabric. That's what causes damage during washing IMO. Oh, and the inevitable eventual see-throughnes that all shorts succumb to.
I get the maid to dry them wafting a hand fan at them
A couple of pairs of mine are starting to get a bit thin, but I've not thrown any away in 7 years or so, they just get retired to being used only under baggies.
Always 40C, occasionaly non-bio, occasionaly sports wash, always spun becuase if I'm doing the cycle kit washing it's beacuse I've run out and want it now!