The washing machine has probably ended more cycling jerseys than the bike ever did.
Everyday cycling kit gets a fairly repetitive existence: ride, sweat, wash, dry, repeat. That is exactly what it is there for.
The trick is not turning laundry into the hardest part of the training week.
THRONE's official Foundation care guidance is simple enough to remember and boring enough to work. Cool wash. Gentle cycle. No aggressive chemicals. Air dry. Read the label.
The short version
- Wash below 30°C.
- Use a low-speed spin or delicate cycle.
- Use a laundry net / delicates bag.
- Use a quality washing detergent.
- Close zips and Velcro before washing.
- Air dry out of direct sunlight.
Avoid bleach, fabric softener, tumble drying, dry cleaning, ironing and prolonged soaking.
There. You can go ride now.
Before the wash
Close all zips and Velcro straps before the garments go into the machine. Put technical kit into a laundry net or delicates bag, and keep dark and bright colours separated.
Those are the current THRONE care instructions. There is no secret thirteen-step ritual involving a special moon phase and a European detergent subscription.
Keep the wash cool
Foundation care guidance specifies washing below 30°C on a low-speed spin cycle. A cold hand wash or delicate machine cycle is also listed as appropriate.
Technical cycling fabrics contain stretch components that do not need a heroic amount of heat to become clean. More aggression is not more care.
Use a quality detergent and follow the garment care label.
What not to add
Do not use bleach or fabric softener.
Do not tumble dry or dry clean the kit.
Do not iron it.
Do not leave it soaking for an extended period.
The Foundation care guide also warns that poor-quality detergents can contribute to premature breakdown of elastic content in technical materials.
Your bibs have survived enough. They do not need to be cooked afterwards.
Air dry, away from direct sunlight
Hang or air dry Foundation garments out of direct sunlight.
No tumble dryer. No direct high-heat shortcut. Cycling kit is allowed to take longer to dry than your patience would prefer.
A note on white socks
Foundation socks are white.
This is both aesthetically clean and a modest test of character.
The same care principles apply: follow the label, avoid bleach and aggressive treatment, and keep dark and bright colours separated when washing.
At some point every cyclist learns that buying white socks and owning white socks are two different hobbies.
Why care matters for everyday kit
Foundation is intended to be used regularly. That makes the laundry routine part of the product experience whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
The goal is not to make the garments precious. It is the opposite: use them often, then avoid doing unnecessary damage between rides.
Cool water, gentle treatment and natural drying are easy habits to repeat. That is more useful than a complicated care routine nobody follows after week two.
The THRONE care checklist
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Wash below 30°C | Bleach |
| Low spin / delicate cycle | Fabric softener |
| Use a delicates bag | Tumble drying |
| Use quality detergent | Dry cleaning |
| Close zips and Velcro | Ironing |
| Air dry out of direct sun | Prolonged soaking |
| Read the garment care label | Guessing because laundry confidence was high |
Ride it. Wash it properly. Repeat.
For garment-specific guidance, use the THRONE Care Guide.