Our kid's MX trousers has leather bits to protect against the hot exhaust on the inner calves, and they get washed every ride pretty much. After 2 years they are quite stiff (fnarr) but free up with wear. I've told him to rub some hide food into them to soften them again.

I reckon you could wash gloves, but only once or twice. If all else fails you're into renewing them anyway aren't you?

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Never break more than one law at a time, and never carry more grass than you are willing to eat.