BRAAP SCOTLAND • WEEKEND RIDING • KIT CARE
Saturday is done. The bike is filthy, the boots are soaked, the helmet liner is damp and everything you wore has been stuffed into the back of the van. Then you remember you need to put most of it back on again in the morning.
The problem with Day 2 starts on Day 1
A normal wash at home is easy enough. A weekend away is different. You might be parked in a field, sleeping in the van, cooking beside the bike and working with whatever space, water and drying time you have.
After a wet Scottish event, kit can be more than just dirty. It can be damp all the way through. Jerseys, gloves, helmet liners and body armour hold sweat and moisture, while boots can still be wet inside long after the outside mud has started to dry.
No washing machine? Start with airflow
The biggest mistake is leaving sweaty, damp kit bundled up in a gear bag all night. As soon as you finish riding, get it opened out.
- Take removable helmet liners and cheek pads out where practical.
- Open boot straps and pull tongues forward so air can circulate.
- Separate gloves, base layers and socks instead of leaving them inside other kit.
- Hang jerseys and trousers where they can breathe rather than leaving them in a heap.
You are not trying to create a perfect laundry room in the paddock. You are simply trying to give moisture somewhere to go before the van is shut for the night.
Deal with the worst of the mud first
Heavy mud is easier to manage before it dries solid. Knock off the worst of it outside the van, wipe down obvious dirt and avoid bringing half the course into your sleeping area.
Boots are a good example. You do not need to fully wash them in the paddock, but getting the worst mud off the outside and opening them up helps stop them turning into a cold, wet block overnight.
Freshening the kit overnight
This is where a product such as MotoClean Apparel Care fits into the routine. It is a foam freshener intended for riding gear, helmets, boots and other soft materials, designed to help clean and freshen items between proper washes.
That does not replace washing muddy kit properly when you get home. The useful bit on a weekend away is that it gives you a practical way to deal with sweaty liners, boots and gear when a washing machine simply is not available.
Helmet liners, gloves and body armour
These are usually the items that feel worst the next morning because they stay close to the body and hold moisture.
If removable liners can come out easily, take them out and let them air. The same goes for knee guards, elbow guards and removable armour. Open everything up as much as possible rather than trying to dry it as one solid piece.
Do not trap moisture inside the van
The temptation is to put everything inside because the weather outside is worse. That can leave the whole van damp by morning.
Use ventilation where you can, keep wet gear away from bedding, and avoid packing freshly damp kit tightly into boxes or bags. If you have a separate rear garage area, awning or covered space, use it.
The simple overnight routine
- Knock off heavy mud outside.
- Open up boots, helmet and armour.
- Separate wet layers so air can move around them.
- Freshen the items that need it.
- Leave everything with as much airflow as the van setup allows.
Day 2 does not need perfect kit
By Sunday morning your kit might not be showroom clean, and that is not the point. The aim is to avoid pulling on something that has spent twelve hours wet, sweaty and sealed inside a bag.
A little organisation on Saturday evening can make a big difference. Dry what you can, freshen what needs it, and save the full clean for when you get home.
Then wash everything properly when you get home
Weekend freshening is exactly that: a short-term solution. Once you are back home, follow the care instructions for each item, properly wash removable liners and clothing where suitable, clean and dry boots, and let everything dry fully before it is stored.
Looking after kit is not the exciting part of riding, but arriving on Sunday morning with gear that is dry enough and fresh enough to put back on is a lot better than discovering Saturday's mud is still waiting for you.
READY FOR DAY 2?
You are not doing a full laundry cycle in the paddock.
You are stopping Saturday's kit from becoming Sunday morning's problem.
