Who out there is Self Employed, and how does being carless work for you?

[MAD Rider]

I am thinking about starting a consulting business and I am figuring that being carless is going to be very hard since I’ll need to dress appropriate for my clients every time I go to see them. I am figuring it would probably be 2 or 3 days a week. I was wondering if anyone out there has done the carless thing in a professional trade and how it worked for you.

[Ziemas]

In my line of work I end up in many different high level places. Any given day I might work at up to five different locations, all of which I reach by cycle. Good waterproof overclothes are a must to keep clean. Booties are also helpful. With time you will find the places which have shoe buffers (the ones with the cream are the best.)

I haven't gotten any negative feedback from anyone. Show up on time and clean and all will be well.

BTW, check out the briefcase pannier from Arkel for low key cartage.
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/briefcase/overview.asp?fl=1&site=

[folder fanatic]

At first, I would not do cycle to client's meetings-image is everything. After a while and you establish yourself, slowly intergrate the bike in your meetings. Adopt a European approuch to your cycling when you meet clients by wearing modified bussiness (casual) clothes and learn to adopt a more slower, less intense for sweat cycling pumping actions while you are on the bike as the Europeans do.

As a woman, I have done so and always try to create a "ladylike" aura about me by careful selection of the bike I use (one Euro-styled ladies frame and the other a low step-over folding frame bike) for keeping skirts and pressed pants neat and unrumbled. I use a Pants Clip from Dahon of California on my pants to keep them from getting grease on them or getting caught in the chain.

I purposely keep away from looking like a "Lance Clone" with the Spantex and tight shorts look as it would distract others from what I want to convey and get away from the seriousness of what the business at hand. I let others know in a discreet way I ride, but without drawing too much attention on the bike. It is alot like make-up. Make-up is sucessful on a woman if it draws attention on her good features without looking like she is wearing make-up. Strive for that.

[becnal]

If it isn't raining, then wearing a suit to work on your bike is no problem. Just make sure to wear pant clips to keep your right trouser leg clean and oil free. And give yourself plenty of time so that you can ride slower and sweat less, and also so that you'll have lots of time to cool down and maybe go to the restroom and wash your face and hands.

I also have several items of business attire which can be rolled up in a plastic bag in my panniers if the weather doesn't permit me to wear them on the ride. For example, a "permanent-wrinkled" shirt, which obviously isn't bothered by being folded or crushed. Corduroy or linen trousers are also hassle free.

I ride to several offices throughout the town every day of the week except Friday.

Wear smart clothes, give yourself lots of time, and wash your face and hands. Oh yeah, and taking a shower right before you head off to work is also highly recommended, as is using ample deodorant.

[patc]

I'm self-employed, and being car-free is mostly an advantage to me. Its part of my "environmentally responsible photography" business, and as such does get me some business from people who care about the environment, or at least are curious.

I don't worry about how I dress. Part of my reason for being self-employed is that I left the shirt-and-tie business far behind me. Sometimes I need to dress up a bit (e.g. shooting a wedding), but my clients normally see me as I always dress. If that costs me the contrast, so be it. (And even for weddings I will not wear a tie!)

There are two drawbacks to it, though. First is that cycling (or buses) sometimes takes longer, so doing several small jobs or several meetings in a day can be a real killer. The second problem is with equipment: if I need the studio kit, it can be a real drag to cart that in the trailer a long distance during bad weather. We've had a lot of rain lately, and I'm getting tired of looking like a drowned rat at every shoot.

Regardless of your job, self-employment is about selling yourself as much as your product/service. As such you can turn anything that distinguishes you into an asset - and that certainly includes being car-free, funky clothing, etc.

[becnal]

Hey MAD Rider,

What kind of distances are we talking here? Within or near your town?

[weed eater]

I work at home and so my challenge, as many have noted, is to travel to the occasional client meeting or portfolio review and look my sharpest. Fortunately I am on the West coast, where dress standards are more casual than some other places, but I still like to dress up a bit to make a good impression.

Number one option for these things is to consider using transit for part of your trip. Many of my office visits involve a short ride to BART and then train and walking to the downtown SF office, so looking like just another business-casual guy is not a problem.

For bicycle-only transport, and just in general, I have found that two things are very very helpful:

1. Invest in some un-cotton clothes. You can find some synthetic "miracle-fibre" clothes at an outdoor outfitter or online. "Adventure travel" wear is perfectly suited to our daily lives, as it happens. Simple lines, wrinkle-free, and moisture-wicking. The other option is to find some summerweight wool clothing, which will be more expensive but ultimately longer lasting and probably more attractive.

2. The other thing that has helped me is to tone down my clothes-horsiness. This is largely a personal step that may not apply to others. I used to be very interested in dressing with a certain flair, lots of attention paid to interesting colors, patterns, etc, and unique or interesting combinations. Nowadays I have a plaid shirt in long sleeve, a plaid shirt in short sleeve, and two pairs of lightweight pants, all "miracle-fibre." I am not a fashion plate and in fact look a bit plain, but it helps, because as a result, I don't think anyone really notices how I'm dressed--I just look appropriately businessy, and we can get on with things. Also, I think David Byrne was right--people will remember you if you always wear the same outfit. They certainly don't seem to mind, at any rate.

Rain and other inclement weather presents its own set of challenges. Always bring a pair of dry socks and a fresh pair of shoes if you can, because that's the part that gets the wettest. If the building your'e going to has secured bike parking for employees, you can usually "pass" and use it--ask the parking attendant if there is a place to park your bike, and the next time you can just go ahead and use it. That way you can lock your bike in the official closet, change your shoes, stash your rain gear, etc.

It's definitely a bigger challenge than plain commuting, but it can be done. Ultimately, if a client won't hire me because I show up smelling more like a human than most, and am not wearing $200 leather shoes, then...I have to find other clients. Beats owning a car, though.

[MAD Rider]

Hey MAD Rider,

What kind of distances are we talking here? Within or near your town?

Umm I live in a suburb of Denver and I have clients with in 30 to 40 miles, so kind of far distiances. I figure I'd take a bus or something but it seames like a, well not a good use of time. I'd really like them to bring a car share thingamajig out here so that I could do that and then not have to wory about it but who knows when that will happen

[weed eater]

Umm I live in a suburb of Denver and I have clients with in 30 to 40 miles, so kind of far distiances. I figure I'd take a bus or something but it seames like a, well not a good use of time. I'd really like them to bring a car share thingamajig out here so that I could do that and then not have to wory about it but who knows when that will happen

Ouch. I don't have to consume those kinds of distances very often, and when I do it's car-sharing all the way. Flexcar _did_ have a car in Denver but it was rather cursory. Couldn't hurt to pester them...www.flexcar.com