Author Topic: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?  (Read 5418 times)

QueueContinuum

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Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« on: December 26, 2015, 08:22:59 PM »
I'm sure this has been discussed, but I can't find any relevant posts yet.

People who bike to work -- how do you make yourself presentable for your workday once you arrive at the office?

Shower?
Hobo bath in the restroom?
Try not to pedal strenuously?

Please excuse me if this is a redundant post.

Thanks, 'stachians!

NinetyFour

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2015, 08:30:39 PM »
I shower at my workplace.

And I keep extra clothes and shoes there.

I have been doing this for 17 years.  It is awesome.

Eggman111

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2015, 08:31:09 PM »
I don't bike too fast and I change from workout into work clothes when I get there. I don't shower or do anything else. It's worked well for me over the past 5 years or so. I don't find I sweat a lot, at least compared to some stories I've read here. I can understand that it's different for everyone.

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letired

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2015, 09:24:08 PM »
I live in Texas and bike year-round. I've never had a shower at work.

1. Work in a more casual office where a perfectly pressed appearance is unnecessary (YMMV).
2. Bike gently/down hill on the way to work, especially in the warmer months. Use the last section of your ride as a cooldown period. Wear as little as necessary for the weather. Wear natural fibers (hold less stink).
3. Bring a complete change of clothing, skin out, including clean underwear. Wear natural fibers (again with the stink-holding).
4. Get to work about 10-20 mins early (more cooldown time).
5. Bring wipes/washcloth and wipe off in the bathroom. Removes some sweat, helps with the cooldown.
6. Give it a min for your body temp to drop so you're aren't still sweating.
7. Apply your choice of deodorant.
8. Put on all clean clothing.
9. Mess around for a few mins getting water/coffee/whatever to give you a few more mins to cool down.

If you have the option of a handicap stall/single toilet bathroom, change there, much less gymnastics/bumping into things.

Financial Ascensionist

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2015, 12:29:39 AM »
My commute is 8km long.  Since we have showers at the office, push a little bit, but really not that much since I generally don't have a whole lot of motivation before coffee #2.  I'm pretty sure I would be fine with just a change of cloth if I went 30% slower.  As mentioned earlier, natural fibers need a few rides before they start picking a bad smell, and this is makes your life a whole lot simpler.

QueueContinuum

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2015, 07:37:04 AM »
Thanks for these details!

It must be pretty nice having a shower at work.

What are the comments of your co-workers? Do you guys get plaudits for badassity or are you considered odd?


Financial Ascensionist

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2015, 09:20:36 AM »
Everyone who commutes by bike where I work is definitely saluted as a total badass, no matter how short their commute is, even more so when you bike on a rainy day.

HappyMargo

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2015, 09:24:47 AM »
Thanks for these details!

It must be pretty nice having a shower at work.

What are the comments of your co-workers? Do you guys get plaudits for badassity or are you considered odd?

I had one coworker go off on me one day about what a "weirdo" I am for riding 26 miles R/T on my bike for work (I'm up at 3:30 or 4 AM to lift weights & run, or to bike to work.)  She said I march to the beat of a different drummer & she'd like to punch that drummer in the face.   So glad she no longer works here any more!!

Luckily, for the most part, there's a lot of support for bike commuting.  At work there's others to chat with about bike gear, tires, clothing for extreme weather, etc.  Makes me feel less like a weirdo!  :-)

HappyMargo

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2015, 09:36:36 AM »
Almost forgot to answer your original question...

You've gotten some great answers so far, but the best advice I've ever read (can't remember source) is this:  Rubbing Alcohol.   Seriously.

First swab off the sweaty areas with a wet wash cloth or baby wipes, then apply Rubbing Alcohol. 
I keep it in a tiny spray bottle & spritz on liberally!  Another option is hand sanitizer with a high concentration of alcohol in it (this option seems stickier to me, so not my favorite.)

This does several things (1) helps cool down your skin to stop sweating quicker & (2) kills the bacteria that if left on can get funky.   

After the rubbing alcohol dries, apply deoderant.  I also sprinkle on some baby powder because I like the fresh scent & soft feel (I'm a such a girl.)  Then dress in completely clean, dry clothes (I keep extra socks, bras, panties & tank tops in my locker to put on under hospital scrubs.)

La Bibliotecaria Feroz

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2015, 10:18:53 AM »
Mrs POP bikes to work in Florida and as I recall, she swears by baby wipes.

big_slacker

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2015, 12:01:26 PM »
I have a shower at work. However when I didn't it's all about the baby wipes! Towel off with something, then pits, crack and junk. Deodorant and you're good to go.

This is what we use camping as well. The alcohol thing sounds interesting and worthy of experiment. You can buy alcohol wipes from any drugstore cheap and carry some in your pack.

letired

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2015, 12:53:45 PM »
Thanks for these details!

It must be pretty nice having a shower at work.

What are the comments of your co-workers? Do you guys get plaudits for badassity or are you considered odd?

I think this is heavily dependent on the specific workplace and also geographic location. When I was in grad school, it was completely normal. When I started working off campus, it was considered admirable, albeit slightly odd, esp in the heat of summer.

Mrs. PoP

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2015, 01:32:58 PM »
Mrs POP bikes to work in Florida and as I recall, she swears by baby wipes.

Yup,  I ride 9 miles each way in S Fl with no shower at work.  Baby wipes (my preferred brand is Huggies one and done in cucumber melon - smells less "baby"), riding mellow on the way to work, and changing into all new clothes upon arrival and I'm totally presentable for my work environment every day.  In fact, I probably dress nicer at work now that I bike than I did when I drove.  (Sun dresses are less bulky to transport than the jeans I used to wear most days.).

Urchina

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2015, 03:28:25 PM »
I ride a bike that doesn't require me to change clothes,  and I take a sedate pace so I'm not sweaty when I get to work.

letired

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2015, 05:20:01 PM »
I ride a bike that doesn't require me to change clothes,  and I take a sedate pace so I'm not sweaty when I get to work.

Oh, this is something I didn't mention. I don't bike in spandex at all. I ride a 'mixte' frame with upright handles and  wear normal clothes: jean shorts or running shorts and a tshirt in the summer, longer sleeves in the winter, skinny jeans when it's actually cold out (good for keeping away from the greasy chain), sometimes an earmuff/headband if it's cold enough to keep my ears warm. Again, natural fibers are your friend.

You don't need a race-ready road bike and oodles of spandex for biking to work (unless you really are doing long distances????). I'm at ~5 mi each way.

big_slacker

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2015, 05:31:47 PM »
We have hills here. And rain. So gear it is. :)

Syonyk

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Re: Biking to work -- how to freshen up?
« Reply #17 on: December 27, 2015, 06:59:24 PM »
I ride an electric bike.  It provides enough assist on the way to work that I don't arrive sweaty, even if it's fairly hot out.  If it's raining, I can wear rain gear and not have the common problem of "soaking yourself from the inside" where the waterproof gear gets you hot enough that you may as well not be wearing it.

If you go this route, you can ride as hard as you want on the way home, but you get to work ready to either jump off the bike and to your desk, or to just change clothes and go.

Prior to that, I'd just show up a bit sweaty.  I wasn't a huge fan of it.

 

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