Tumble drying cycling gear

[Webbo2]

When I was into sailing I went to a place where we could hire a boat. and/or windsurfer sometimes
They also did courses that supplied all the clothing - mostly wet suits and the like
so after it had been used it had to be dried

The room where they dried them absolutely stank!!
It gave the impression that some people who were sailing in a rented wetsuit didn't see the point in coming back to shore and taking it off it they "need to visit facilities"!!!!

I thought that was the way you get warm in a wet suit.😉

 

[Alex321]

Unlikely to be dry if you've washed it, but why not wash when home, or do you 'wash' home and work - that's probably overkill - just every day for base layers/light summer stuff. Winter, the heavy top layers I'll wash every couple of days as there is no skin contact.

I tend to just do it in the office, as it is easy enough to do while I'm having a shower.

At home, I'll just put my kit on an airer in the en-suite.

It will just get your gear dry if you've got a little damp from rain, but we have a colleague that turns it off at lunch. That's OK on dry days, but not wet ones, so I leave a post it note on the plug. It's probably why folks towels stink, they don't dry properly. I use baby wipes and a complete change of clothes.

The only issue is, constant use in a tumble tryer will increase wear on your kit.

I'm sure it does, but I tend to sweat quite a lot, so if I don't wash it reasonably often, it can get pretty whiffy.

 

[Alex321]

I don't bother with a shower when I get to work as after an hour of grafting I promise you the ingrained smell of sweat and weld shop is worse than a bit of sweat from cycling

I don't think I would shower in that situation either. But I work in IT (current official title "Data Engineer"), and spend my working time sat at a desk.

 

[presta]

Ans the artificial fibres thus released are a significant contributors to microplastic pollution.

I've had four washer-dryers in 38 years, and the only ones that have ground fibres off the washing like the photo above are the two that came with energy & water saving labels.....

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I thought that was the way you get warm in a wet suit.😉

I was told it was generally not "the done thing" in one you borrowed

based on that room, that concept was not strictly adhered to!

 

[fossyant]

I don't think I would shower in that situation either. But I work in IT (current official title "Data Engineer"), and spend my working time sat at a desk.

I have a baby-wipe shower !

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I should have said in the original post, this is old gear I use for the turbo so I wasn't overly concerned as it is all pretty well used anyway, I just didn't want to trash it. All seems fine after a gentle 30min spin.

 

[Big T]

I tumble dry most of my winter gear, which is a bit more robust than my summer tops and shorts. I don’t tumble gloves as I find that the inner lining can come out (I don’t machine wash them either for the same reason). I don’t tumble my Castelli shorts, I find the leg grippers don’t last long if I do.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I have a baby-wipe shower !

Wiping yourself with babies was made illegal in 1979

 

[palinurus]

I usually dry outside where possible, even in winter- but if it is pissing down I'm not going to mess about so I take it to the launderette with everything else, and at a quid for six minutes it's going on high heat.

 

[Binky]

I don't tumble dry cycling kit nor do I wash with fabric conditioner.
I follow instructions of 30C and either dry on line outside or hang on dryer in utilty room if wet out. I also wait until I've got 3-4 sets of kit used and wash all together. Seems to work.

However. Lots of people just wash cycling kit in with regular wash inc fabric softner etc and say they have never had a problem.
I suspect they've probably got it right and we're all a bit too precious.

 

[Pblakeney]

I don't tumble dry cycling kit nor do I wash with fabric conditioner.
I follow instructions of 30C and either dry on line outside or hang on dryer in utilty room if wet out. I also wait until I've got 3-4 sets of kit used and wash all together. Seems to work.

However. Lots of people just wash cycling kit in with regular wash inc fabric softner etc and say they have never had a problem.
I suspect they've probably got it right and we're all a bit too precious.

I stopped using fabric conditioner for any "breathable" clothing since I read that it blocked up the "pores".
Might be convenient for waterproofing though, but then you'll just sweat. 🤔

 

[Webbo2]

I stopped using fabric conditioner for any "breathable" clothing since I read that it blocked up the "pores".
Might be convenient for waterproofing though, but then you'll just sweat. 🤔

I never found any cycling clothing I didn’t sweat in. In fact I strongly suspect if I cycled naked I would still be sweaty.😂😂😂😂