CYCLES AND WASH CYCLES
So you’ve invested your hard earned money in Ciovita Kit, and in many ways cycle wear is an investment. You get what you pay for, so it makes sense to go for quality over value, because at the end of the day your kit is your training partner, your best friend on your bike and can make a real difference to your performance and comfort.
Any good investment needs to be looked after and your kit is no different. With expensive Lycra, state-of-the-art mesh fabrics and our high quality chamois pads, washing best practices and general care can greatly increase the lifespan of your kit.
So for your reading pleasure, we’ve outlined some steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your Ciovita kit.
SEPARATE CYCLE
If you’ve ever done a load of laundry you know to separate your whites from your darks. This rule applies to cycling kit as well, but we go one step further. Whenever possible wash your cycling items separately with delicate items. Regular and heavy cycles may damage your kit, greatly reducing longevity.
NOT ALL DETERGENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL
When it comes to picking your detergent, simple is better. As a rule of thumb never use soaps that have perfumes or dyes in them, and stay away from fabric softeners. Instead go for a simple concentrated detergent.
There are a variety of specialty detergents available on the market, which are specifically designed for washing cycling kit, but it isn’t absolutely necessary to use these. When it comes to detergent, one of the most important things is to ensure that you adequately rinse your kit. High performance fabrics feature many technologies, such as moisture wicking, and detergent trapped in the fabric can reduce the efficacy of these technologies.
BE DELICATE
If your machine allows, always use the delicate cycle for washing kit. We would recommend that certain items such as bibs are hand washed to maximize their longevity, but we understand that this isn’t always possible. Just between us, there isn’t too much difference between using a delicate cycle on a washing machine and hand washing. Just make sure you stay away from heavy settings.
XYZ – EXAMINE YOUR ZIP
For any kit such as our bib shorts or jerseys that feature zips, please make sure you zip them up if you are machine washing. Undone zippers can do a lot of damage in the wash cycle – tearing and otherwise damaging the fabrics or your other clothes. It is good practice to turn cycling jerseys inside out when washing them in the machine.
USE COOL WATER
Always ensure that you wash your kit in cool or lukewarm water, never in hot. Hot water can damage performance fabrics. Be sure to rinse your kit in cold water after washing to get rid of any excess soap residue, this can lead to skin irritation on your next ride.
HANG DRY
Tumble dryers and cycling kit are not friends. In fact most high performance fabrics will be ruined by a spin in the dryer. To preserve the quality of your kit for the maximum amount of time you should hang it up and let it dry naturally. Beware of direct sunlight, that can damage the fabrics.
If you don’t have time for nature to do your drying, lay down your kit in a large towel, fold the towel around the apparel and ring out the extra moisture.
TO MACHINE OR NOT MACHINE
Not every piece of kit is machine friendly, you should take the time to look at the washing instructions given with the kit to determine the best way to wash it. Certain items like gloves or caps can be damaged by washing machines and it’s best to hand wash these items.
RINSE AWAY SWEAT
If your body has a tendency to sweat a lot, water-rinse the garments after each use to protect the fibers from bacterial attacks which might lead to fabric deterioration. This will prevent odour-causing bacteria from having a party and dissipate the stink to aid the laundering process.
WHEN TO WASH
Many of the items in the Ciovita range feature anti-bacterial treatments, which keep your kit fresher for longer, but please don't leave your smelly, sweaty kit in the wash basket for a week. Rinse out that sweat, as some people have very acidic sweat that can destroy the elastane.
You should use your judgement to determine if your kit needs some TLC. It can vary from person to person and from ride to ride. You need to look at factors like how much you sweated and the length and intensity of your ride. If in doubt, give it a wash.
