Mark: Now isn't it funny how much we care for our bikes and other equipment but our
cycling kit. How often does this end up in a pile on our floor for hours, sometimes even
days, post-ride, which is silly really given how important this kit is to us, how often
we use it. We want to keep this in tip-top shape, and ultimately get as much life out
of it as possible. That means how we store our kit, how we wash and dry our kit, how
we travel with our kit, and what we do with it when we're away, is really important.
Today, we have teamed up with our channel partner ASSOS. We'll be talking you through
how to care for your kit, although all of this advice still applies for other brands
and products too. How familiar does this scene look?
[music] Chances are that kit then just sits there
on the floor for some time afterwards, or maybe if you're really good, it might make
its way into one of these things, a laundry basket, but then probably fester way in one
of those for some time after too. Yes, this is what we need to sort out amongst other
issues. Now, I'm not meaning to put you off this video right away, but when we finish
exercising, our clothing and our kit will contain a whole bunch of different bacteria
caught within the weave of the clothing. Now, despite that sounding really sinister
and disgusting, actually, a lot of that bacteria lives on our skin naturally day to day anyway,
and is generally harmless. However, some nice warm cycling clothing and potentially even
damp from our sweat festering away on the floor or within laundry basket is the ideal
breeding ground for that bacteria. That is when our clothing can start to smell quite
a lot, it will degrade more quickly. It can even lead to problems such as infections,
sorenesses, or other general problems in our nether regions. So, let's rewind.
When you come in from your ride, you should actually be popping your kit straight into
the washing machine, which is fairly obvious. What heat do you pop that washing machine
on at? Certainly, nothing above 40 degrees Celsius, but even actually at 40 degrees Celsius,
it's too high. All your kit should go on at 30 degrees Celsius wash, but that's where
the conundrum lies because likely from your years of washing clothes and experience having
done that, you'll know that a 30 degree Celsius wash doesn't normally remove all that dirt,
grime and bacteria as well as a hot wash. Then, a hot wash will destroy the fabrics
of the kit. First off, Lycra is not like your cotton t-shirt,
for instance. It's a far more breathable material, and that means it can be washed more easily
as a result. Also, if you are able to pop your kit in the wash after each and every
ride, and you're doing that well and keeping on top of things, it should mean that you
don't feel the need to put on a hot wash and give it a blast to thoroughly clean it.
Then, on top of that, to add to all of this care, using a mild detergent, or even an active
wear cleanser, like that you can get from ASSOS, is a really good idea. Now, these aren't
just made to sound fancy and look fancy. They're actually designed to be more gentle on the
textiles and the fabrics within your kit, and also actually working better at those
lower heats. When you are popping your kit into the washing
machine, it's actually best to turn your kit inside out. It's then exposing those parts
of the kit that are closest to your skin when you're exercising, which I'm going to be honest,
I never used to do but makes total sense. Also just make sure any zips are done up.
Don't part your general everyday clothes in on the same wash, because colors may bleed
from those clothes. They do also tend to be a little bit more harsh, particularly things
like jeans, and they can then end up wearing and rubbing on your kit. Also, you probably
just want to put your general clothes on a higher temperature wash anyway.
You can also put your cycling kit into a mesh laundry bag. That's meant to reduce any additional
wear that you might find from the wash cycle, but do not use a fabric softener or conditioner.
I know they make your clothes smell and feel lovely, but they'll also take away some of
the features and properties that you have loved about your kit such as wicking the sweat
away from your skin. Then, finally, if you have struggled to wash your kit regularly
after each ride or you've got some particularly pongy kit, you can also just part it on an
extra pre-wash cycle, just make sure that you keep it on that low temperature.
You might think we're finished there, but actually how you dry your kit is just as important.
You probably get the picture by now, but also blasting your kit on a hot tumble dry is not
a good idea. What you want to do is once it's finished the wash and spin cycle is get the
kit out, hang it up or lie it down flat, somewhere that is going to dry with good airflow.
Then, there's a couple of bits of kit that you really do not want to see or be putting
in the washing machine, and these are your waterproof bits of kit, such as this, a rain
jacket or maybe some waterproof overshoes. Now, fortunately, our washing machine and
washing detergents will just strip these off their waterproofing properties. Whilst it's
possible to reproof them, it's not really something you want to be doing after each
and every ride. If they do need a wash and they're dirty,
what I normally do is simply give them a little rinse down in the shower with some cold water
after the ride, and then just hang them out to dry as you normally would.
That's all good, but then what to do if you're without a washing machine? Perhaps you're
away off work somewhere or maybe on a training camp abroad. The same still applies, really,
you should still aim to wash your kit after each and every ride, where possible. Something
I've actually done before, and you're going to laugh at me here now, is a sort of military
wash. I've come straight from my ride, and fully clothed, I've gotten into the shower,
I've kept the water on a low temperature, and I've used the soap to wash the kit. What
I'd advise with this is using a liquid soap rather than a bar of soap because, obviously,
you have to rub that bar into the kit, and that could wear out the kit more quickly.
I actually, and I hate to admit this, I did this for about two months whilst I was living
in a small flat in South Africa. I don't think I smelled too much. If you don't want to do
that, you can, of course, just wash your kit in a sink and get hand soaps or, again, use
liquid soap. Then, just make sure that you rinse that kit out thoroughly afterwards.
Now, this is all very well and good, but I imagine some of you are certainly scratching
your head right now and thinking, "Yes, but what about commuting?" Actually, you'll ride
into work in your kit, that kit will then sit there all day. Then, you use that same
kit to ride back in later on. That kind of goes against all the advice I've been giving
you today. What else are you meant to do? At the very least, what I'd recommend is trying
to hang your kit up throughout the day, so at least it airs out, dries out, rather than
this warm damp kit just sitting in a pile on the floor all day or, worse, going into
bag and festering away. If you like, you can take it up a notch, you can actually use some
wipes, and just wipe down some of the key areas on the kit. I don't know, that feels
a little bit excessive to me. Anyway, there is how to care for your cycling
kit. I have one final bit of advice, and that is check your pockets before you put your
kit into wash. I hope you have enjoyed today's video. If so, make sure you give it a Like.
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below. [00:08:04] [END OF AUDIO]