I’m revealing slightly too much about myself here, but I don’t have exceptionally smelly feet.
My cycling shoes, however, are an altogether different story – my goodness, they suffer from a truly bogging malodorous sour mop cat-wee like whiff through the damp, grim months of winter.
That’s partly down to my customary Scottish tightness and the fact that I live in a top-floor flat, where I steal the heat of my downstairs neighbours. As such, the central heating is rarely on, which means cycling shoes can sit damp for hours after a ride.
Last year’s Gear of the Year pick, the Snowpea Electric Shoe Dryer, has largely solved the permanently damp problem, but there are still times when even it can’t cut through the pong.
SQUIRREL_13637441
Over the years, I’ve tried conventional cleaning products – bleach, dish soap, vinegar, baking soda and so on. They all work to a point, but the stink always finds its way back.
The only product I’ve ever used that fully rids shoes of the dreaded cat-wee whiff of winter riding is Gtechniq Tri-Clean.
SQUIRREL_13637884
'Something you’d clean the floor of a dentist’s surgery with'
Tri-Clean is an all-surface cleaner originally developed for car detailing. It’s said to have been designed in conjunction with a global leader in antibacterial and antimicrobial technology, and is claimed to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria.
These are heady claims to match the heady chemical odour of this potent gear. It smells like something you’d clean the floor of a dentist’s surgery with (follow the brand’s guidance and wear gloves!), but it’s hugely effective, devouring bad smells and breaking the bond of stubborn dirt with ease unmatched by other products I’ve used.
My much-loved Specialized S-Works Vent shoes have appreciated the addition of Tri-Clean to my cleaning cupboard above all else.
They’re still my favourite road shoes, but riddled with knitted vented portions that hold onto grime and odour with tenacity, they’re a troublesome pick for most road riding in the UK outside the summer months. Still, I love the fit, and paired with overshoes, they’re a surprisingly good option for winter riding because they don’t get sopping wet.
Tri-Clean has done an exceptional job of shifting old stains from the uppers and, more importantly, stopping the shoes from developing that familiar sourness after a few wet rides.
Although it doesn’t sud up like soap, it works best if agitated with a firm-bristled brush. If you’re scrubbing more vigorously or using a drill brush (another worthwhile addition to your cleaning kit), I’d go so far as to suggest eye protection.
I’d also suggest you thoroughly rinse anything treated with Tri-Clean and let it dry completely before wearing it again. This isn’t stuff I’d like on my sensitive editor’s skin.
At around £13 for a 500ml bottle, it also isn’t cheap.
However, I’ve been using the same bottle for several years now and have barely scratched the surface – a couple of sprays go a long way.
As a heavy-hitting, once-in-a-while deep cleaner for rank cycling shoes, Gtechniq Tri-Clean has earned a permanent place in my fight against bad whiffs, and is well deserving of a spot in Gear of the Year.
SQUIRREL_13637884
