Any suggestions? I know I could just replace them (again), but they get nasty pretty quickly. Tried washing them out thoroughly the other day, and that just made them into stiff and shrunken corpse-handling gloves. Am currently typing this with corpsy hands. Yuck. Will try washing hands again with yet another type of soap.
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Are they getting completely dry between uses?
Washing machine! Yes, they get hard and crusty when they dry, but then you wear them and they relax.
If they are drying out thoroughly after every use (place them in the sun somewhere or on a vent), then you probably only need to wash once a week.
Go to pricepoint or nashbar and buy 2-3 pairs of their least expensive gloves and rotate them.
Ever thought about not wearing gloves? I’m a little new to the sport and had gloves for the first few months, then experimented without gloves. My palms are fine, just took time to adjust.
Most wear them to prevent this:
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Put them in a plastic bag and freeze. That is supposed to kill the odor causing bacteria.
Good Bob… how long of a ride was that?
I’m up to 50 mile rides with no pain or nothing.
Ever thought about not wearing gloves? I’m a little new to the sport and had gloves for the first few months, then experimented without gloves. My palms are fine, just took time to adjust.
Try that and then run over glass and put your hand down as you’re riding to wipe off the tire. You’ll put the gloves back on.
To the OP: Have two pair and wash every few rides. Throw them in the washing maching, not hand wash.
clm
Good Bob… how long of a ride was that?
I’m up to 50 mile rides with no pain or nothing.
Guessing that’s from a crash, not from riding.
clm
UGH…I know that smell… sometimes soaking them in a bowl of water with some white vinegar will help. Or water with a little bleach.
But usually once they’re holding that smell its into the trash with them. I’ve found the best way to avoid this is to wash them pretty much immediately after you wear them. And I dry mine in dryer too, I use Pearl Izumi gloves and they hold up fine in the dryer.
There’s that new detergent by Tide - Tide Sport with Febreeze, you might try that too.
And that is why I wear full finger gloves (GASP!). It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.
I think the most important thing is to make sure they are completely dry between uses. Mine smell fine even when they are so dirty that my hands come out black after a ride. In a pinch, you might also consider microwaving them for 60 seconds (seriously) to kill the bacteria.
Start playing hockey. Your hockey gloves will make your bike gloves smell like roses in about 2 weeks.
I’d say the smell is more like a pungent cheese.
i have two pair, rotate them, and wash after every ride…just like my bibs, jersey, socks, etc. No lingering smell issues at all.
How often do you wash yours?
i was about to make a “smart alec” comment about why people even bother with gloves – then I realized after reading your post that it’s to protect them in a crash…
btw, I believe they do have a significant aero penalty though.
You don’t race in them, just for training.
You don’t race in them, just for training.
'Zactly. Palm road rash sucks.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe will start off with putting them out in the sun for a while, then might try freezing them, then moving on to the laundry. Hope I can save this pair - they’re (otherwise) in good shape, and probably the most comfortable pair I’ve owned.
Soak them for a couple of hours in strong salt water…this will help kill the bacteria.
soaking them in a bowl of water with some white vinegar will help. Or water with a little bleach.
i’d do the following, some of which has been noted:
- put through the washing machine. if no difference, or not enough,
- soak in water + baking soda, then rinse thoroughly.
- or—the above, with vinegar.
thorough drying will help the above steps, of course.
peggy