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Keep Your Ride Free Gear Looking Fresh

Keep Your Ride Free Gear Looking Fresh

Let’s face it: your Ride Free kit sees a lot. Long climbs, fast descents, coffee spills, and the occasional post-ride pizza grease stain (no judgement). And while it’s built to handle the sweat and speed of the ride, your kit needs a little TLC off the bike too. Think of it as giving your gear a recovery ride — clean, gentle, and essential.

Here’s your go-to guide for keeping your Ride Free jerseys, bibs, and skull caps in top form — because life’s too short to ride in worn-out gear!

Why you’ll love it …

FRESH KIT VIBES
Proper care keeps colours bold, fabrics technical, and your kit looking pro ride after ride.

LONG-LASTING COMFORT
Look after your chamois and it’ll look after you — mile after mile of happy sits.

STANK-FREE ZONE
No one wants their kit smelling like a forgotten gym bag. Care right, smell right.

SWEAT-SMART FABRICS
Ride Free fabrics are high-performance – a little attention keeps them breathing easy.

RIDE READY ALWAYS
With the right wash routine, your kit is always primed for that next big ride or impromptu KOM chase.

What you want to know …

1. The Wash-Down: Ride, Remove, Rinse
First rule of kit care: don't ghost your gear. After a ride, get your sweaty layers out of your bag immediately. At the very least, rinse them in cold water to stop salt, bacteria, and odors from setting up camp. Leaving it for “later” is how funk becomes permanent.

2. Machine Matters: Cold & Gentle is King
When it’s time to wash, turn your kit inside out. Zip up zips, fasten velcro (if applicable), and separate colours. Toss it all into the machine on a cold, gentle cycle using a mild, sports-specific detergent — nothing with bleach, softeners, or harsh chemicals. These damage the fabrics and kill the technical features like moisture wicking and compression.

3. No Heat, No Hurry
Skip the tumble dryer. Heat breaks down lycra and messes with elastics. Instead, air-dry your kit in the shade. Direct sun fades colours, and Ride Free kit deserves to stay sharp. Lay it flat or hang it up, but skip the wire hangers that can stretch things out.

4. Chamois Rules
Your shorts’ gel or foam pad is your ride-or-die comfort zone. Don’t compromise it with fabric softeners, which clog the pores and make it less breathable. Always wash your bibs separately if possible, and never, ever wring them out like a dishcloth.

5. Cap It Off Right
Whether it’s a cycling cap or skull cap, these lightweight legends deserve care too. Rinse sweat out right after use and wash them in a laundry bag with your jersey. Avoid aggressive spinning and lay flat to dry to keep their shape and fit spot-on.

Bonus Kit Wisdom from the Road

  • No ironing – unless you want to melt your mesh.
  • No dry cleaning – save that for tuxedos.
  • Rotate your kit – even your favourite Ride Free jersey needs a break now and then.
  • Patch, don’t pitch – small snags can be sewn or backed with repair patches.
  • Smell check – persistent stink? Soak in a vinegar and water mix before your next wash.

Looking after your Ride Free gear isn’t a chore — it’s just another part of the ride. Keep it clean, treat it kind, and your kit will keep you looking slick and spinning strong, ride after ride. Because the only thing better than a fresh PR is doing it in fresh kit.

Ride Free. Ride Clean. Ride On.

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