Cycling to the office - what do you wear to stay clean/dry?
Discussion
Hi,
Recreational cyclist here!
Hadn't had a bike since I was about 18, but bought a cheap Hybrid this summer just to see how I got on, ended up really enjoying it, and managed quite a few recreational rides.
I'm changing jobs shortly and for the next 6 months or so I will be working in an office that has very little parking, but is fortunately only a 30 minute walk from my home... Or a 10 minute cycle ride.
Due to the time saving I would like to cycle to work, and the new office is quite modern with a decent covered bike shed etc so 'parking' at work would be easy.
It's just that I work in shirt/trousers/shoes and don't want to get dirty on my way there. I know from my recreational rides that it only takes one small puddle on a journey to leave you splattered in mud!
I don't think the new office has facilities like showers, just the normal toilet cubicles and sinks.
I was going to fit some sort of aftermarket plastic mudguards (any suggestions? Bike is a Carrera Subway) to my bike to keep off the bulk of the spray, but other than that can anyone suggest clothing solutions?
I can leave shoes at the office and cycle in trainers, but should I wear some sort of waterproof over trousers and jacket over office clothes? Or just take clean clothes in a rucksack?
How do you do it??
Recreational cyclist here!
Hadn't had a bike since I was about 18, but bought a cheap Hybrid this summer just to see how I got on, ended up really enjoying it, and managed quite a few recreational rides.
I'm changing jobs shortly and for the next 6 months or so I will be working in an office that has very little parking, but is fortunately only a 30 minute walk from my home... Or a 10 minute cycle ride.
Due to the time saving I would like to cycle to work, and the new office is quite modern with a decent covered bike shed etc so 'parking' at work would be easy.
It's just that I work in shirt/trousers/shoes and don't want to get dirty on my way there. I know from my recreational rides that it only takes one small puddle on a journey to leave you splattered in mud!
I don't think the new office has facilities like showers, just the normal toilet cubicles and sinks.
I was going to fit some sort of aftermarket plastic mudguards (any suggestions? Bike is a Carrera Subway) to my bike to keep off the bulk of the spray, but other than that can anyone suggest clothing solutions?
I can leave shoes at the office and cycle in trainers, but should I wear some sort of waterproof over trousers and jacket over office clothes? Or just take clean clothes in a rucksack?
How do you do it??
I have showers etc but the best thing to do is take working attire with you one day a week and leave it all at work on hangers. It will get trashed really quickly if you wear it on the bike.
Then resist the urge to cycle too fast that you work up a big sweat and freshen up in the toilets using baby wipes etc.
Then resist the urge to cycle too fast that you work up a big sweat and freshen up in the toilets using baby wipes etc.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sks/velo-42-ur...
I fitted the above mud guards to my MTB, they were really good, they felt flimsy but did a Stirling job
Keep the pace down and avoid sweat
I'd still be tempted to get changed into work wear a the office, as its no fun bimbleing along avoiding puddles !
I fitted the above mud guards to my MTB, they were really good, they felt flimsy but did a Stirling job
Keep the pace down and avoid sweat
I'd still be tempted to get changed into work wear a the office, as its no fun bimbleing along avoiding puddles !
NinjaPower said:
but should I wear some sort of waterproof over trousers and jacket over office clothes? Or just take clean clothes in a rucksack?
That’s an annoying distance, if the weathers 5hit you’re going to be spending more time faffing around changing clothes than you are on the bike. Proper long mudguards will make a huge difference.
Unless you’re as sweaty as I am I don’t really see any reason why you can’t just cycle in your work clothes for that sort of distance. Take it easy and freshen up if you need to in the bogs, deodorant and baby wipes.
Keep a spare pair of trousers and a shirt or two and some socks in the office and if it’s rubbish when you set off chuck on some sportswear; some tracksuit bottoms and whatever you need to keep you warm for the top ½.
My experience of inexpensive waterproof clothing and cycling is that if it rains you might be dry on the outside but will arrive at the office needing a shower from all the sweat on the inside.
donfisher said:
That’s an annoying distance
It is indeed.It's easily a 30-35 minute walk which is a bit of a trek, so 10 minutes on a bike (I did a practice ride one night just for fun) is much more appealing. I'm saving myself the best part of 4 and a half hours a week by cycling instead of walking.
But... As you point out it's the other time faffing about when I get there.
Hmmmm....
I'm in a very similar situation to you and it took me a little while of trying different ways of doing things. The secret is getting in a morning routing and in the mind set of get on the bike and go (even if it's raining). Here's how it works for me.
1) I leave my suits, tie's and shoes at work. Just take in a shirt for the day.
2) If you don't have a shower, wet wipes are your friend! Without doubt IMO Huggies are the best. Look out for offers at the supermarket, you can get 4 x packs for £4 which will keep you going for months. I shower before the ride, wet wipe when I'm there, bang on some deo.
3) Keep spare pants, socks and a towel at the office for those days it pours and you get soaking.
4) Keep a spare tyre and a pump at the office for when you get a puncture. It will happen.
5) I used to swear by panniers on the bike, but since I changed bike I've been using a rucksac which is raised away from my back and have quite like that. Whatever works for you.
6) I wear some old trainers, combat shorts and a high viz altura jacket. It's wind and shower proof and without doubt the best bit of kit I've bought. Cost around £40. There needs to be ice on the ground for me to put long trousers on.
7) If it's pissing down I've got a full water proof jacket, but to be honest I end up as sweaty as I would wet, so am not a great fan of this. Elsewhere I just get wet and change in the office. It's rarely that bad that I need to use spare kegs.
HTH and enjoy, you'll never go back to ploughing through the traffic in a car again.
1) I leave my suits, tie's and shoes at work. Just take in a shirt for the day.
2) If you don't have a shower, wet wipes are your friend! Without doubt IMO Huggies are the best. Look out for offers at the supermarket, you can get 4 x packs for £4 which will keep you going for months. I shower before the ride, wet wipe when I'm there, bang on some deo.
3) Keep spare pants, socks and a towel at the office for those days it pours and you get soaking.
4) Keep a spare tyre and a pump at the office for when you get a puncture. It will happen.
5) I used to swear by panniers on the bike, but since I changed bike I've been using a rucksac which is raised away from my back and have quite like that. Whatever works for you.
6) I wear some old trainers, combat shorts and a high viz altura jacket. It's wind and shower proof and without doubt the best bit of kit I've bought. Cost around £40. There needs to be ice on the ground for me to put long trousers on.
7) If it's pissing down I've got a full water proof jacket, but to be honest I end up as sweaty as I would wet, so am not a great fan of this. Elsewhere I just get wet and change in the office. It's rarely that bad that I need to use spare kegs.
HTH and enjoy, you'll never go back to ploughing through the traffic in a car again.
If its only 10 minutes, you'd be fine with some over trousers, a decent coat and some mud guards imo.
I cycle to the train station every day (its this sort of distance) and its not too bad. I do go through trousers at a fair rate though - they seem to wear more where the saddle contacts the inside of my leg.
I cycle to the train station every day (its this sort of distance) and its not too bad. I do go through trousers at a fair rate though - they seem to wear more where the saddle contacts the inside of my leg.
warp9 said:
2) If you don't have a shower, wet wipes are your friend! Without doubt IMO Huggies are the best. Look out for offers at the supermarket, you can get 4 x packs for £4 which will keep you going for months. I shower before the ride, wet wipe when I'm there, bang on some deo.
again.
POOFagain.
You need some of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200-Alcohol-Anti-Bacteri...
IN51GHT said:
warp9 said:
2) If you don't have a shower, wet wipes are your friend! Without doubt IMO Huggies are the best. Look out for offers at the supermarket, you can get 4 x packs for £4 which will keep you going for months. I shower before the ride, wet wipe when I'm there, bang on some deo.
again.
POOFagain.
You need some of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200-Alcohol-Anti-Bacteri...
IN51GHT said:
I swear by Gore bikewear stuff, not cheap, but very good.
I’m all for encouraging people to spend on nice stuff but for a 10 minute ride that’s a bit excessive. Depending on where you are it actually doesn’t rain that that hard, that often. It’s a bad time of year for blowing large sums of money on kit that is only really useful for some very specific conditions. IMHO the £50-100 that could go on that jacket that would be perfect for 3 or 4 trips in the winter would be better spent on decent spring and summer stuff or, or lights, or on the bike itself. Especially if you have the option to just grab an umbrella and walk in. The £40 high vis above is about right. Useful to keep you warm, useful to stop you getting absolutely soaked and I think it’s worthwhile having a dedicated cycling jacket for that morning where you get a rear puncture and want to avoid getting anything nice covered in grime, oil and brake dust.
Obviously this all depends on your budget and if you want to do more at some point than just 10 minutes to work and back.
Even in the darkest depths of winter, a 10 minute cycle ride does not warrant the finanical outlay for Gore clothing. Whilst I appreciate you can get very wet in 10 minutes on a bike, you will get too hot if you wear too much clothing and then you are just a sweaty mess. Better to be wet, have a sort-of-wash then dry off than be aforementioned sweaty mess. As many people say, you cant stay dry on a bike in heavy rain so dont fight it, certainly not for 10 minutes.
Im in virtually an identical situation,commute is 5 miles and done on a Carrera Subway too.
I leave my shoes at work,i cycle in in work trousers a t shirt and over trousers and jacket as needed.
Shirt n stuff i fold carefully into a backpack,other bits in panniers.
Not got mudguards yet.
Can highly recommend changing tyres if you havnt already,I use Schwalbe Citijetd,cheap quick n puncture resistant.
I leave my shoes at work,i cycle in in work trousers a t shirt and over trousers and jacket as needed.
Shirt n stuff i fold carefully into a backpack,other bits in panniers.
Not got mudguards yet.
Can highly recommend changing tyres if you havnt already,I use Schwalbe Citijetd,cheap quick n puncture resistant.
nagsheadwarrior said:
Im in virtually an identical situation,commute is 5 miles and done on a Carrera Subway too.
Can highly recommend changing tyres if you havnt already,I use Schwalbe Citijetd,cheap quick n puncture resistant.
Well the bike seemed to be very little used when I bought it, so is still on what I assume is the original tyres, which have 'Kevlar X-lined' or something stamped on them.Can highly recommend changing tyres if you havnt already,I use Schwalbe Citijetd,cheap quick n puncture resistant.
I did actually fit some Schwalbe CitiJet tyres to a friends mountain bike who started doing a bit of road/cycle path cycling and they looked bloody good tyres for the road and did consider buying some for my Subway but wasn't sure if they would make much of a difference given that the Subway already had road/hybrid tyres fitted.
But if they're going to make a difference then I could be tempted as they're only £20 a pair including delivery.
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