i got some new five tens for chrimbo and when i went out in them i got quite muddy, as you do on a bike, and then my mum started saying to me that i needed to wash my shoes or else they will disintegrate because of the material if i leave them muddy, i refuse to belive thst purpose made mountain bike shoes will disintegrate because of mud, that is literally what it is designed for surely.
is this true or is my mum actually just waffling to the max – it’s like a canvasy type material and isn’t waterproof, i do get not leaving them absolutely caked in mud so i will give it a little brush to get all the surface mud off but i really can’t be arsed fully cleaning them after every time i go out 😆
by SoapyBrow
17 Comments
I think wet would be a problem. Mud implies wet. Dirt implies dry. As long as they are dry you should be fine in my opinion.
I’ve never cleaned mine a single bit and they’re fine
Absolutely waffle
Prolonged wet will absolutely impact them – make sure they dry fully and quickly
I’ve used 510s for >10 years in the UK all year round, so they’ve basically never not been covered in mud after a ride apart from a few short weeks in the summer. Never cleaned them, never had a pair rot though I do try and dry them after each ride. The soles will get torn up from your pedals before you have to worry about the uppers!
Probably just annoyed that your new white shoes are already filthy and you don’t care to clean them. Moms are like that.
Cleaning off surface mud and drying properly will prolong your shoes’ lifespan, especially if leather, but not by a lot. You’re probably going to wear through the soles of the shoes before the tops fall apart regardless
Depends on where you live. In my part of the world the local soil is quite acidic, and can eat shoes over time.
It’s always best if you look after your kit anyway!
Complete BS lol.
Best way I’ve found to clean mine are to wait til they’ve dried, then use a bristle brush on them and that knocks all the dirt off. Works especially well on the suede parts.
Your pedals will most likely wear through the soles before they fall apart.
Listen to your mum kid
It’s less the mud and more so getting them dry and not having long term moisture and stuff.
And it’s not really the uppers or sole you’re worried about… It’s the bondage that keeps those things together. THAT is the weak point of an abused shoe.
Like most things, you want to keep it out of extreme environments. Long term. But mostly moisture. I’m not sure what effect significant cold or heat may have. Just try to dry em out
I have had many different pairs, but I will say that the sleuths held up the poorest, especially on the soles. Much better than vans or other non MTB shoes, but you certainly get less hardiness for a more normal looking shoe. Just my experience. These are fricken sweet though.
She’s right these are water soluble
I got Sleuths last July and haven’t washed them yet. My freeriders get thrown in the washing machine maybe twice a year but this is to refresh the stickiness of the soles more than anything.
Not wearing shoes is pretty much the only way they’ll actually fall apart. Rubber needs to get compressed from time to time to stay elastic – I had a pair of old basketball shoes I never wore, and they crumbled apart in the middle of the night once which was very odd until I learned why.
Just wear your shoes and don’t listen to your mom’s nonsense.
Momma said alligators are angry cause they got all them teeth and ain’t got no toothbrush