Smelly Bike Shoes
Hello All,
I have smelly bike shoes and they are getting pretty nasty.. How can i resolve this problem? I have tried drier sheets, and they do nothing.
Jonathan
0
Hello All,
I have smelly bike shoes and they are getting pretty nasty.. How can i resolve this problem? I have tried drier sheets, and they do nothing.
Jonathan
Comments
The less economical but more interesting option.. Burn Baby Burn!
Darren, funny about letting them burn, but i have grown a strong bond to this Sidi's.
When was the last time you washed your bike helmet, your bike shoes, and your running shoes? If you haven’t done so in the past month, they probably stink. If you can’t smell it, ask someone else to, then look at their face…the truth comes without words being spoken.
THE HELMET: Are the straps white with salt deposits, and are the little pads slippery from sunscreen and hair product, and is the outside stained with grime? I rinse my Rudy Project Helmet after almost every ride. It is 5 years old and looks brand new still.
TO WASH IT: Turn on your kitchen sink and let the water run luke warm. Run the water on the helmet, the pads and the strap. Then take about a tablespoon of shampoo, dish soap, liquid hand soap, or liquid laundry detergent, and rub it between your hands and finger and then apply it to all the surfaces that absorb water. Rinse it thoroughly, shake it to get excess water out, and put it in the sun to dry. Wipe the outside with any cleaner like Simple Green, or Pedros. Stay away from stronger detergents, as any residual that is not rinsed will run into your eyes when you sweat in it again.
RUNNING SHOES: I train with socks in training shoes and race without socks in flats. A lot of my training is on the beach and if the tide is high, my shoes get wet, very wet with salt water (live is tough in La Jolla, CA). So I wash them a lot.
TO WASH THEM: Machine was them in cold water with some laundry detergent. Wash 4 or 5 pair at a time. When they are done spinning, immediately put them in the sun or dry-room to dry. Believe it or not most quality running shoes can withstand about 20-30 washes. The last, midsole and outsole these days are glues so well, that they can withstand this sort of care. For most of us that is about a wash a week before it is time to replace the shoes anyway.
BIKE SHOES: I still can’t understand people that train without socks all the time (and I am not Felix Unger). I mean now and then to simulate a race, okay, but not all the time. I learned that bike shoes are a lot more resilient than I would have imagined first by racing NORBA during a few very wet and muddy seasons, but more recently by doing spinning workouts and indoor stationary bike interval workouts. I have a pair of SIDI Triathlon shoes that I have rinsed and washed with regular shampoo in the shower over 100 times and they are still in good condition.
TO WASH THEM: Best is to use the sink again, room temp water, and mild detergent and an old toothbrush. Shampoo works too. Wet the shoes, clean as needed, shake really well, towel dry as much as possible, then set to dry in the sun. If the shoes have leather, saddle soap works well to preserve the softness. I am testing bee’s wax right now on a brand new pair of SIDI Triathlon Shoes so I will report later.
The cleaning tips above will not only keep your gear smelling and looking better, they will also reduce the likelihood of acne, infection in the eyes and ears, as well as promote healthier feet, toes, and toe nails.