Having an internal debate with myself about the disgusting bib shorts I was wearing on the trainer today and decided to ask the council of the forums:
When do you declare bib shorts done and toss them?
When they’re see through, have holes, or you can’t get rid of the funk
.
Indoors they are never dead.
Outdoors they’re dead when you start hearing giggling and sniggering behind you on a regular basis.
Indoors they are never dead.
Outdoors they’re dead when you start hearing giggling and sniggering behind you on a regular basis.
^^^^^This.
I have several pairs with some stitching coming undone, leg grippers that are frayed, logos that are peeling, quarter-sized holes in the lycra at saddle wear points, etc They are all now on “zwift duty.”
As far as being permanently “dead” it’s usually the lycra sagging (like a worn swimsuit) or the stitching coming undone to the point of usability.
Perfect. Fits right into my collegiate swimming days where I would layer old jammers until you couldn’t see my ass crack.
When I start getting chafe
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When I start getting chafe
Right answer.
I understand folk’s need to cling to familiar things or be budget conscious, but this isn’t an area to skimp excessively. Even indoors. If you ride indoors for a few hours you could hurt yourself.
I wouldn’t give up on a pair that started fitting looser and the pad feeling “less generous”. I was like, “ok on the trainer”. I did like 90min on Zwift and had some unpleasant chafe.
Trashcan.
The contact points should never be cheaped out on…bib shorts, gloves, bar tape, helmet, glasses, shoes, etc…the things used a LOT and the things that could hurt you or keep you from getting hurt (or really sore/chaffed).
I have my old crappy shorts for indoor rides of an hour or less, and my good bibs for outdoors and longer indoor rides. I can ride just about anything for an hour.
When I start getting chafe
Right answer …
The contact points should never be cheaped out on…bib shorts, gloves, bar tape, helmet, glasses, shoes, etc…the things used a LOT and the things that could hurt you or keep you from getting hurt (or really sore/chaffed).
The rider/saddle interface is the MOST important … failure any of the others can be “endured” for a time, butt a problem in the undercarriage will ruin your day instantly
That used to also be my criteria. But once I got married when the shorts got to a certain wear point they just never made it back from the washing basket. Where did those shorts go ? I threw them out.
When I start getting chafe
Right answer …
The contact points should never be cheaped out on…bib shorts, gloves, bar tape, helmet, glasses, shoes, etc…the things used a LOT and the things that could hurt you or keep you from getting hurt (or really sore/chaffed).
The rider/saddle interface is the MOST important … failure any of the others can be “endured” for a time, butt a problem in the undercarriage will ruin your day instantly
+3 points, good pun
There’s a few components to this.
-
Chamois: Tend to degrade a bit at first and then “settle in”. E.g. A new pad is noticibly more cushioned for the first 10 or so rides. After that they can mostly maintain their level of cushioning for from ride 11 to 100+.
-
The Shorts themselves: These have a more linear degradation that mostly has to do with decreasing recovery of lycra. Lycra is the component that pulls back when a short is stretched, this provides important compression to ensure the shorts fit without bunching or wrinkles. Lycra is degraded by all sorts of things: mechanical stretching, body oils, sweat, heat cycles, etc.
You know your shorts are shot when:
- The chamois isn’t comfortable anymore
- The shorts are losing their ability to hug your powerful thighs
- You begin to consistently get chafing that you didn’t previously
- Obvious signs of wear: Holes, grippers falling off, etc.
To help cycling clothes last as long as possible.
- Rotate between pairs
- Wash soon after riding to eliminate the sweat and body oil contact on fabric
- Hang dry to eliminate heat cycles from the dryer
- Crash less
Depends on how many pair you have.
I’ve got a few 3-4yr old pair that have the same chamois as some <1yr old pair. I wore the old pair today and could tell a HUGE difference.
When in doubt ride it one more time and if still in doubt throw it out ?