With its proven performance-enhancing ability, compression plays an integral role in the fit and functionality of all of our apparel. By itself, the role of compression is considered in every garment to improve comfort and longevity while riding but perhaps most apparent is the amount and necessity of compression found in Velocio bibs, shorts, leggings, and tights.
Considerations:
First Impressions
We always recommend that you wash your new apparel before wearing it. The garment will relax and break in over the first few wearings and washes - not a profound amount - but enough to be noticeable and more comfortable. In part, this is due to the production process of fabrics and garments, where washing will tend to release, relax and soften fabrics and finishes.
Getting Them On
(Wait, you’re telling me how to put on pants? Yes...yes we are.) A common question for us, this is a legitimate process… We highly recommend when pulling your bibs/shorts on, you start at the bottom - pull them up to the knees, then align the leg gripper on your thighs. From there, work the legs of the shorts up your thighs until you can position the chamois, then pull up around the waist. This preserves the shorts and chamois any extraneous stretching and pulling and simultaneously positions the short correctly. For example, you should always avoid pulling from the front/back at or above the chamois as this can damage the fabrics where the chamois is attached to the lycra.
Care:
Washing
Carefully follow care instructions for washing your garments. In general, use mild detergent on a cool/cold cycle and always lay flat to dry. Using heat/tumble dry will reduce the longevity of the garment significantly, since each garment contains a high level of elastane (Lycra) which will become fatigued and brittle with heat, reducing their ability to be compressive and eventually breaking the fibers. Drying your garments in direct sunlight is also not advised, since UV rays can fade and break down fabrics as well. Click Here for our FAQ regarding Care.
Wear
While we test each fabric we use for durability and only use fabrics that meet a high level of durability, technical compression, and lightweight fabrics are inherently more fragile and do require some care when wearing.
• Ensure that there are no abrasive areas on or around your saddle. Often velcro on saddlebags, or edges of saddles/seat posts can, over time, cause issues with wear, leading to abrasion and even holes.
• Be mindful during breaks: find a smooth surface to sit on - pavement or splintered wood can act like sandpaper to your shorts.