On shorter bikepacking trips (2 or 3 days) I pack a padded bike short for each day in the saddle. I’m aware that this will not work on longer trips. How do you deal with this, especially if washing isn’t feasible (no chance of drying in time)?
Packing two bibs has proven my go-to. You need a second bib just in case. When washing cannot be done, I go with wet wipes and keep my “parts” as clean as possible, pairing with chamois cream which has antiseptic. I wouldn’t use the same bib (cleaned this way) for more than three days in a row in a hot climate though.
My experience is two bibs are sufficient for most trips, even though I packed 3 for a longer trip we made this year. What that means though is quite a biy of elbow grease to clean them regularly. Particularly if you’re riding in warmer weather. Wash them ideally after each ride, so if you don’t feel like it one evening you still got a spare.
Got to admit that I’ve got a finicky taint. This way got me through a long trip with basically no problems though.
Carry 2 pair, wash or at least rinse one pair at the end of each day, wring it out, let it air-dry on top of your seat bag (assuming dry weather).
I recently did a long bikepacking trip with 2 pairs of bibs. I used a scrubba bag to wash one pair at the end of every day and then alternated between the pairs. Would be tricky to get them to dry in consistently wet or cold weather though. Wringing out in a towel helps, especially if you sleep in hotels etc.
I’ve done trips with two pairs of bib shorts. Camping, not hotels, so washing was done with whatever clean water I could find. Dry the wet pair on the bike during the next day’s ride, with a rear rack and some sort of straps.
I can’t do multi-day rides with chamois cream, so a healthy dose of that went a long way to making the (sometimes still moist) bib feel fresh when I put it back on.
Interesting. I stumbled across the scrubba bag before, but forgot about it. Does it make washing in any way more efficient (less muscle, water, soap, time)? Would you take it with you again?
Thanks, everyone. You all seem to be doing fine with two pairs. Any suggestions for quick-drying bibs/shorts?
My recommendation would be to think more about how to keep your gluteal area and especially your butt, clean than worry about the washing or changing shorts. If you wash your butt before hop into your sleeping bag and after every pooping, there is really no need to worry too much about cleanliness of your bibs. Of course your clothes will collect sweat and dead skin but none of that is lethal
If water (and a drop of soap) is available, you can easily use your water bottle to wash your gluteal area, then your hands. Just remember to do this well away from any water source.
I think it does a slightly better job than washing in the shower under your feet. I mainly got it so I could wash while wild camping (assuming a water source) and because so many campsites on another trip had grim clothes washing facilities.
I would take it with me again, but they are a lot (~£40) for a shortish trip. I only bought one as I had two several week long trips this summer.
I recently found out Angus Young only wore one pair of bibs on his European Divide Trail FKT (
The best way is to go without bibs in the first place but that requires a few rides to get used to it. I find bibs way too bulky and simply not quick enough to dry to take on bike trips. A simple pair of merino undies will get you a long way, doesn’t require you to get changed at camp and dries out in no time when you do have to wash it.
Based on my own painful experience, I can say that your butt can be surgically clean, but if you are spending several long days in the saddle, you need to at least rinse out your shorts.