I’ve just bought a couple of pairs of Assos S11s. I’ve used Assos for decades - S5, S7, S9 and now S11. It seems I need to replace them with about the same frequency as Assos bring out a new range (which is probably what they want me to do!).
The reason I replace them is usually because the pad begins to lose its springiness. It doesn’t really get thinner, it just becomes less elastic and seems to work less well. Perhaps the lycra also stretches a bit and becomes less compressive.
I’ve never followed Assos’s washing instructions to the letter, because they’re just not practical - they say to not spin the shorts at all, which means that the pad takes about 3 or 4 days to dry… I do use the Assos detergent, and I wash at 30 C.
As always with new shorts though, I start out with good intentions, having just splashed the cash. What’s the best compromise for a spin cycle speed? I’ve used 1200 in the past but I’m thinking that’s probably a bit high. Is 800 OK, or is 600 maybe safer?
I’m aware that this is the sort of question that most people won’t have an informed knowledge of, but that many will nonetheless have opinions… I’m hoping for the former though!
Using lowest setting for spin dry on the machine, current one has 800rpm as minimum. As you said, no spin dry is unpractical. Use regular liquid wool detergent at 40 deg though.
Really? I’ve rarely had to dry knicks in a spin dryer. I just hang them somewhere unobtrusive and let them air dry for 48 hours or so. The better the chamois quality the longer they seem to last (cool wash after every ride)
I agree, the non visible deterioration of the chamois tends to govern when they go from Road to under shorts on mtb or Gravel. Very occasionally I’ll have a pair where the chamois is still ok but the Lycra is going - they’re for indoors.
Really? I’ve rarely had to dry knicks in a spin dryer. I just hang them somewhere unobtrusive and let them air dry for 48 hours or so.
Probably depends on where you live and the time of year. In Scotland at this time of year (warm enough for the heating to be off indoors ((just) but not actually what you’d call warm) they can take three days at least to completely dry if not spun or squeezed. You think they;re dry until you put them on and sit down..
I used Assos knicks for years, just “gentle”wash in a front-loader, with the associated spin cycle. I live in Melbourne, so getting them dry was only a slight challenge for 2 to 3 months a year.
My bum seems pretty forgiving, and I’m a recreational road rider so the chamois was still good (good enough) while the Lycra or the leg grippers gave out long before the chamois.
Same for me! I have never even considered using the fancy soap Assos uses and I have just chucked them in with my normal laundry, I do always put them in a seperate delicates bag to protect it from some abrasian. I also always considered the loss of springyness as me breaking in the bibs. A bit the same as with shoes, there I also lose the springyness after 2 weeks of me wearing them.
I miss the Assos quality from years ago… what they are making these days is absolute rubbish. Last two pairs, one wore through at the chamois and the other split at the seems. I have about 15 pairs of bib shorts that I cycle through, so these were not on heavy rotation. I wash all bibs separate, delicate cycle, dedicated garment bag for each, dye free detergent (minimal), air dry. Oh and both pairs self-destructed in about 18 months… I brought this to Assos and they basically told me to F off. Onward to the next!
I’ve been washing my own duds since early 80’s. So started with wool, which was a PITA. Like others, I have a number of bibs I cycle through, so there’s never a worry of nothing to wear. To wash, I generally wash all cycling clothing together in it’s own load. Warm, with minimal detergent. I also use Nikwash Sports Refresh since it gets rid of that dank, old sports clothing smell. Don’t overlook the “quick wash” cycle. Unless your bibs and jerseys are badly soiled you do not need to run a full regular cycle. That (along with the drier) is what destroys clothing. After the wash, everything is hung up to air dry, bibs are dried and stored hung inside out.
