Proper care of your cycling kit isn't just about making it last longer, it's about preserving the technical properties that make it work. Recycled polyester cycling clothing has specific care requirements that, if ignored, can degrade performance, damage fibres, and shorten the garment's life. Here's the complete guide.

Why Cycling Kit Needs Special Care

Conventional cotton-care habits - hot washes, fabric softener, tumble drying, actively harm technical cycling fabrics. Here's why:

• High temperatures break down elastic fibres (Spandex/Lycra), causing the fabric to lose its compression and shape.
• Fabric softener coats the fibres with a waxy residue that blocks the moisture-wicking channels engineered into the fabric. After a few washes with softener, your jersey stops wicking.
• Tumble drying applies heat and mechanical stress that degrades both the outer fabric and the chamois foam in bib shorts.
• Aggressive spin cycles can stretch seams and distort the cut of the garment.

The Right Way to Wash Your Cycling Kit

Wash After Every Ride

This is non-negotiable. Sweat, bacteria, and sunscreen left in the fabric attack fibres and degrade chamois antibacterial treatments. Leaving kit unwashed after a ride is the fastest way to shorten its life.

Temperature: 30°C Maximum

A cool wash (30°C) is sufficient to clean cycling kit effectively. The bacteria that cause odour are killed at lower temperatures than you might think — and the enzymes in most modern detergents work just as effectively at 30°C as at 60°C.

Use a Technical Detergent or Mild Liquid

Use a liquid detergent (not powder — powder leaves residue) specifically designed for sports or technical fabrics. Avoid anything containing bleach or optical brighteners.

Never Use Fabric Softener

This deserves its own point because it's the single most common mistake cyclists make. Fabric softener ruins the moisture-wicking properties of technical fabrics. Never. Not even once.

Gentle Cycle, Low Spin

Use the delicate or sportswear cycle on your washing machine. Limit spin speed to 800 rpm or lower to reduce mechanical stress on seams and elastic fibres.

Air Dry Only

Hang your kit to dry naturally, away from direct sunlight (UV degrades elastic fibres over time). Never tumble dry. Most cycling kit dries within 2–4 hours at room temperature.

The Microplastics Issue : and What to Do About It

Synthetic fabrics — including recycled polyester — shed microscopic fibres during washing. These microfibres pass through standard washing machine filters and enter the water system, where they are very difficult to remove and accumulate in aquatic environments.

The best solution currently available is a microplastic washing bag. You place your cycling kit inside the bag before washing. The bag's fine mesh captures the majority of microfibres shed during the cycle, which you can then dispose of in solid waste rather than allowing them to enter the water supply.

Velor Anti-Microplastic Washing Bag — €32.50

This is particularly relevant for recycled polyester garments, since the recycled fibre structure can be slightly more prone to shedding than virgin polyester. Using the washing bag is the responsible complement to choosing recycled materials in the first place.

Storage and Long-Term Care

• Fold, don't hang bib shorts — hanging on the chamois stretches it over time.
• Store away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation of elastic fibres.
• Don't store damp — mould and mildew will permanently damage fabrics and chamois foam.
• Replace chamois cream after washing — it doesn't survive the wash cycle.

Washing Kit Summary