Cycling shorts? Life time?
06-28-20, 10:21 AM
#1
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Cycling shorts? Life time?
Just a question for all those with spandex/ chamois shorts for road cycling.
what is supposed to be the life span for these material before you need to replace?
what is supposed to be the life span for these material before you need to replace?
06-28-20, 11:39 AM
#2
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Your cycling friends will tell you when it's time to replace. The fabric gets thin and your butt will shine through. Really, how do you determine the lifespan of your non-cycling clothing? 
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06-28-20, 03:03 PM
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We're going to yell at you! Sorry wrong thread.
06-28-20, 03:08 PM
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Depends on quality/durability of fabric, how often you use them, and how gentle you wash them.
Machine washing will wear them out much faster.
Back of envelope estimate from me is about 300 rides.
Machine washing will wear them out much faster.
Back of envelope estimate from me is about 300 rides.
Last edited by datlas; 06-28-20 at 04:04 PM.
06-28-20, 03:54 PM
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Throw them away and buy bibs.
06-28-20, 03:56 PM
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I just replaced a pair of bibs.... the elastic was shot. You can tell by looking.
I'll save them for winter riding when I wear tights over my bibs.
I'll save them for winter riding when I wear tights over my bibs.
06-28-20, 04:59 PM
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On the road, when the the lycra breaks down and the become opaque, usually a couple of yrs for me. Same shorts on the mtn bike under a pair of gym shorts, when they start getting "saggy".
06-28-20, 11:10 PM
#9
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As far as I can tell, for modern shorts or bibs, one year. For shorts and bibs made fifteen years ago, fifteen years.
I don't know how every single clothing manufacturer managed to coordinate the introduction of planned obsolescence in their products but they did.
I don't know how every single clothing manufacturer managed to coordinate the introduction of planned obsolescence in their products but they did.
06-29-20, 10:20 AM
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I have multiple sets of bibs so that I don't have to wash every day. They obviously last longer because I don't use each bib as often. I always air dry--no dryer, and use the hand wash cycle in the washer. I buy higher quality bibs and they last me at least 3 years (usually longer), and I ride quite a lot.
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06-29-20, 12:51 PM
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My experience is that cheap shorts may only last a season or two. High quality shorts can last a lot longer. I have a lot of cheap shorts that I only wear under tights because of the translucency issues others have mentioned.
06-29-20, 01:11 PM
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When the elastic fails or when they become translucent, then you need to think about retiring them or rotating them out. I have some 7 year old Hincapie bibs that only get worn on the trainer or under tights.
06-30-20, 11:56 AM
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My thing with this is that the contact points on the bike be respected. Shoes, gloves, glasses, helmet safety, clothes including bib. They should be perfectly comfortable and functional. If a bib has gotten "tired" at all, I junk it. Even for 90min on the trainer a bib with tired pad is no good. I ride to enjoy myself, not to get saddle sores or a sore bum because I'm too cheap.
I wonder if there's a reason why people don't ride long indoors if they always wear crap old bibs with no support and feel terrible!
I wonder if there's a reason why people don't ride long indoors if they always wear crap old bibs with no support and feel terrible!
06-30-20, 12:50 PM
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I have 2 Pearl Izumi Elite bib shorts that are my go-to, and 2 other non-PI pairs that only get used when the PI's are in the wash. The PI's have about 500 rides (10,000 miles) each, consisting of commutes, centuries, double centuries, 1 triple century, mtb, and crashes in all disciplines. All the original stitching is intact, and the chamois is still in good condition. Always cold washed, and always air dried on a rack.
06-30-20, 12:57 PM
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Some Of my assos bibs have over 20k kms on them..they get faded in the sun after awhile
so end up for trainer rides but still 100% functual..20 k kms and going on one about 8k on
my news ones, they look brand new still..
get what you pay for, assos last the
longest out of any ive tried, and I’ve had all top end gear.
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06-30-20, 01:19 PM
#17
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I have about 10 pair of shorts. Every year I try to buy one new pair and throw away the worst pair. My shorts have a hierarchy for ride length comfort. Generally the least expensive are better for short rides. Which raises a question of mile/dollar: are less expensive shorts really less expensive? I think that if you have by experience determined what are your best long ride shorts, probably not. Which doesn't answer the OP's question, because I have no idea. It varies from not very long to quite long. My Performance shorts are in the category of worst shorts I ever bought. Castelli are in the category of best. Pearl Izumi are pretty good. I agree with the sheep burner: the pad becomes uncomfortable before the shorts are translucent - well AFAIK. IME how much of an issue translucency is depends on the wearer, their conditioning and grooming. I have had delightful rides with people wearing translucent shorts.
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