Stinky!

Something most people don't know about synthetic fibers, like those used in sport clothing, mostly lycra and spandex blends these days, is that they really smell after a good work-out. However, if one works out in cotton or wool, the smell on the clothing is not as bad. Why? The simple reason is that the synthetic fibers are too neat. They don't trap the odor molecules the way messy natural fibers do. The synthetic fibers are designed that way, to transfer sweat away from the skin quickly, but once the watery components of sweat have been evaporated, guess what gets left behind: the odor molecules, in concentrated amounts on the surface of the fabric. Yummy. And that's why I stink after a ride. But, you may ask, what's the source of the stinky molecules? The source comes from the colonies of bacteria living on our skin. Hee, hee, you are not alone...