baribari

I don't have a washing machine at home so I can't machine wash my gear regularly. I also don't like hand-washing it with detergent since it takes so much time and water. That said, not cleaning shorts will end in saddle sores.

I have tried soaking them in a highly diluted bleach solution (a capfull in 3-5 gallons) and air-drying them to kill all the germs in lieu of washing. Is this a bad idea? They at least look reasonable clean, but my sores haven't gone away.

If you hand-wash, how much detergent should you use, and how long do you need to knead the shorts?

rgr555

i just soak all my stuff in Nikwax Base wash in my sink in hot water, double rinse, then hang dry

https://www.amazon.com/Nikwax-143-Base-Wash/dp/B0011UH5VU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525676342&sr=8-1&keywords=nikwax+basewash

Psychocycles

One thing I do is take the bibs with me into the shower. Then you can get a small amount of soap (if I'm feeling lazy I sometimes just use body soap but otherwise have a small container of laundry detergent outside the shower) & scrub them up a little while you're under the water and it doesn't take longer than 2-3 minutes from start to finish.

seau grateau

Take em in the shower with you, scrubby scrub, hangy dry.

canklecat

I hand wash most of my riding gear often. Doesn't take much water. For shorts, a jersey, socks and gloves, I'll use a 3 gallon mop bucket -- doesn't need to be full -- and one Gain or Tide gel fling or a splash of the liquid detergent. Slosh around, let soak for about 30 minutes -- the enzymes work better that way. Slosh around again, rinse a couple of times, wring out, hang to drip dry over the tub. I use trouser hangers with clips to hold everything -- no problems with sagging from heavy wet clothing. I set a fan on the shelf nearby to speed up drying. Dries overnight. No hassle, really.

I have more casual riding gear for my hybrid so I don't need to wash those baggy shorts and tee shirts every day/ride. I'll do those at the laundromat once a week. If the road bike stuff needs washing I'll toss those in as well.

This is where Lycra, Spandex, poly, etc., come in handy. They hand wash easily and drip/air dry quickly. Wool and cotton take a lot longer. Even my socks are poly or poly blend.

Also I mostly use AeroTech Pro shorts with their minimal tan and black faux-chamois. It's thinner than most and dries quickly. It's comfortable to me on rides up to 50 miles. Beyond that I might prefer the thicker sculpted/3D padding. Takes a little longer to drip/air/fan dry but it still dries overnight.

If you have saddle sores it might be due to some other problem. In ye olden days of merino wool shorts with real leather chamois we didn't always wash the shorts after every ride on multi-day rides. There wasn't always a place to wash anything. The trick to keeping the chamois clean was personal hygiene -- most of our club were health care professionals, nurses, doctors, etc., and probably a bit more finicky about that stuff. Carry baby wipes or comparable disposable wipes and use 'em after bowel movements. Take whatever personal hygiene and comfort items you need on the road -- it'll fit in a sandwich size baggy in your jersey pocket, saddle bag, wherever.

Persistent saddle sores, broken or cracked skin, rashes, itching, etc., may be fungus -- athletes crotch. Try some miconazole nitrate ointment for a week and see if it helps.

Instead of bleach, try hydrogen peroxide on your shorts. Not a bad idea to do once in awhile anyway. Works on a lot of nasties and is easier on the fabric.

Finally, some folks -- including me -- wear ultra-thin wicking fabric underwear even with padded shorts. Yup, it defies the rules. Don't care, it's more comfortable to me. Tried it both ways. The underwear helps with wicking on hot, humid days and reduces friction. Champion and other brands make snug, supportive boxer briefs of the same fabric as cycling shorts -- poly and Spandex. Some are made with a mesh pouch for better ventilation. Try a pair for awhile, see if it helps reduce irritation so the saddle sores heal.

It's not a substitute for laundering the cycling shorts, though. The Champion boxer/brief fabric is very sheer. If you use butt butter or chamois cream it'll seep through the underwear into the padding, so everything needs to be laundered as usual. I just find the underwear reduces friction. I've never needed butt butter or chamois cream with modern faux-chamois padding.

indyfabz

Yes. Simply take them in the shower and was the pad with regular old soap. I spent nearly four months on the road touring with only 2 pairs of shorts. Rarely did the sorts see a washing machine. No problemo.

pesty

If I have something I need washed for the next day or that's not machine washable, I'll hand wash it in the sink. I'll put in a tablespoon or two of "free and clear" type laundry soap and whatever's being washed in the sink with some warm water, get it all mixed up, and leave it for a bit while I'm in the shower. Rise it when I get out. Roll it up in a towel to get it a little bit dried, then hang it overnight to finish drying.

johnny99

I keep a small bottle of liquid detergent next to the sink. Squirt a small amount on the chamois before hand washing. Let it rinse in the shower when you bathe if you want to save water. Hang to drip dry. I rotate 2 pairs of shorts since sometimes one won't completely dry overnight.

Bob Ross

Buy a second pair of bibs.

profjmb

This

CliffordK

+++1000

I haven't gone to the whole bibs thing, and usually just ride in jeans. However, I've picked up several pairs of riding shorts, so I can have a week's supply before the next laundry batch.

exime

That sounds like a horrible experience. Almost worse than sleeping with socks on. My college dorm roommate slept with socks on. Never trusted him as a person because of it.

datlas 

Agree with above. You can get by with just 2 pairs of shorts/bibs if you do this. It's not rocket science.

CliffordK

Quicker that way when the police show up to the door. Tip-toe to the back door, slip the shoes on and one is gone.

WhyFi

My schedule says that I typically get to ride 3 days per week, so I want to have 3 sets of decent bibs so that I can wash them once per week. I keep a couple older bibs around as backups for the weeks when my schedule allows more riding or for when I'm lazy and/or I forget to do laundry.

Dan333SP

There may be other issues at play (specifically, with your saddle/fit) if you have saddle sores that just won't go away.

colombo357

EXFOLIATE.

Or, if you aren't showering right after a ride, use baby wipes ASAP.

Basic acne medication like benzoil peroxide works well too.

indyfabz

Heh. The only time I can sleep with socks on is if I am touring and camping and it gets very cold at night.

Dan333SP

You guys are freaks. I can't imagine any circumstance where I wouldn't want to sleep with socks on. Even when it's hot.

indyfabz

When it's sub-freezing and you are in a tent with a +33 degree sleeping bag.

TimothyH

+1 on taking bibs into the shower. For the OP without a washer this is the best bet and works for helmets and chest straps too.

Old business travelers trick... roll the garment in a towel and step on it to remove most of the water then hang. It will be dry in a few hours.

noisebeam

Is it OK to wear my socks in the shower too?

Dan333SP

Just these.
https://www.amazon.com/Secure-SRSS-1...s=shower+socks

baribari

I have three pair of summer bibs, although only one of them doesn't have some messed up stitching around the middle...

I seem to go through chamois pads and stiching way before the lyrca goes bad.

Three seems about right if you ride very day.

baribari

I went and got some antibiotics yesterday. I haven't taken enough time off the bike for the ones I have to go away on their own.

The guy didn't seem to think it was an ingrown hair. Probably just an infected pore.