UsaToday bike commuting popularity grows

[mxt0133]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/bike-commuting-popularity-grows/8846311/

I wonder how many were influenced by MMM, I know I was one of them.  I am really hoping we reach levels closer to Europe.  There are just so many benefit of uncongested roads in the urban areas.

[Cinder]

I wanted to ride to work, got a bike, got pumped up, then winter 2012 happened. Then I found MMM in march 2013 (it was still really cold) and that was the little push that made me commute.    Fast forward to now, I have been commuting since then, though this crazy winter we just had.  There were days when I was riding my bike in the rightmost tiretrack in the snow since the side of the road is where all the snow goes when they plow, and there was a constant light accumulation most of the time.

It's pretty amazing to be back though to shorts weather for riding!

[ToeInTheWater]

this site inspired me.  i'm nowhere near a full-time bike commuter, but a year ago i didn't even own a bike.

my riding also inspired a few others here to do so as well

b

[GuitarStv]

I'm curious, how does one go about commuting via bike if their office doesn't have shower facilities?

- Just be stinky (or maybe they don't sweat?)
- Toilet stall sponge bath
- Lots of hand sanitizer and hope for the best

That appears to be the usual recommendation around here.

[wild wendella]

Fu Mainechu: I guess it depends on the situation.  If you leave early and are in a temperate climate, and if your commute isn't too taxing, you might not really be sweating that much.  Of course, some people like to take showers after they break any kind of sweat.  Personally, I never take a shower more than once a day, regardless of what I've been doing.  Seems like a waste of time and resources.

I think a lot of bike commuters bring a clean shirt to change into, have deoderant at the office, and just wipe down any sweat on their face and torso with a damp cloth before changing into said clean shirt.

Don't you sometimes take walks in the middle of the day?  Do you ever sweat a little then?  Give it a try.  I recently did.  It's easier than I imagined.

edited to add:
Interestingly, a colleague asked the same question when I biked in on Wed.  He lives < a mile away and I suggested he give it a try as well.  "Where do you shower"?  Um, seriously?  It was < 60 degrees before 8 am.  You LIVE LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.  Why would you need to shower after rolling here with a few pedals to propel you for a few minutes of effort that is less than the effort it takes to walk up a couple flight of stairs?

[PindyStache]

- Just be stinky (or maybe they don't sweat?)
- Toilet stall sponge bath
- Lots of hand sanitizer and hope for the best

That appears to be the usual recommendation around here.

Oh, come! There is a lot more varied and helpful advice than that around here!

-Perhaps there is a nearby gym with reasonable membership where you could just shower
-Shower before biking, allow for cool-down period at work
-Take change of clothes (ranging from just new underwear/socks to full outfit); when biking wear wicking/cooling/lightweight material
-Bike slower
-Get in better shape
-Consider electric assist bike solution
-Consider mixed bike/public transit commute to lower distance
-Explore alternate routes for lower-stress riding (avoid hills/fast sections/busy areas)
-Adjust work/commute hours when it is hot out (usually go in earlier when it is cooler; then it's OK to get home all sweaty)
-Keep hygiene/freshening-up products in your desk
-Just wash your face off when you arrive

This issue is one where YMMV greatly though. I am very thankful for the showers at my work!

[GuitarStv]

I'm just secretly bitter that as a profuse sweater in quite good shape who lives 10 miles from work (and leaves home at 6 am when biking in), none of the non-shower suggestions would prevent me from being stinky for the rest of the day.  :P

[PindyStache]

Ha, I am in the same boat myself! Sometimes sweating is just a sign of being acclimatized and fit, right?

[Thegoblinchief]

I sweat like a pig in the summer anyways. Retail store in an old factory space with (maybe) R5 insulation. I change clothes and reapply deodorant.

Driving a car to work is 7% of my pay in round trip mileage alone.

[Cinder]

I'm just secretly bitter that as a profuse sweater in quite good shape who lives 10 miles from work (and leaves home at 6 am when biking in), none of the non-shower suggestions would prevent me from being stinky for the rest of the day.  :P

I am a profuse sweater, and last year it was 8 miles to work (it's now 5.5 since the construction is done).

What causes one to be stinky is bacteria, not sweat.  Hand sanitizer kills the bacteria.

If you either use an anti-persperant deodorant or hand sanitizer before you leave, towel off at work, and have a change of clothes you shouldn't have any issues.  I tend to use my deoderant stick in my arm-pits, 'leg pits', and the area around my waist.  I have lost a bunch of weight (210 around my heaviest, around 160 right now) so I have the 'loose skin' problem, and I tend to sweat there.