Commuting - newbie Q: what to keep at work?

I plan to start commuting next week. I was wondering what sort of stuff I should keep at work? My commute is 3 miles long, I plan to do it in street clothes, and on the days I plan to ride, I don't have to carry any work-related stuff with me. At least initially, I plan on only commuting when the weather forecast calls for no rain. The commute to work is in daylight, and the commute home is in darkness.

I currently plan to keep a pair of shoes (so I can continue to use clipless pedals), a set of clothes (for the off chance I get caught in a rainstorm), spare batteries (for my taillight), at work. Anything else I really ought to have?

An extra tube and $10 for an emergency cab ride home.

I keep those with my bike.
The only thing I keep at work is an extra set of clothes. Usually, the previous days clothes.

One of everything that you could possibly forget. I don't know if cycling makes you more forgetful, but I find that I regularly forget mundane articles. So my desk drawer has a pair of sox, a pair of underwear, a shirt, deodorant, and a spare cycling jacket and pants. Also $20 for lunch when I forget my wallet. These are all things I've forgotten at one time or another.

I also keep things that I wouldn't wear on the bike. For instance, even on the coldest days I usually wear just a cycling jacket, so I keep a winter coat at work for when I go out to lunch on cold days. I keep a raincoat for the same reason, and a few pairs of office shoes and a blazer which my job occasionally requires me to wear.

I really should have a spare set of keys. When I forget my keys I can't lock up the bike and have to bring it into the office, which raises eyebrows.

I keep a pair of work shoes (amazing how heavy size 13s are) and a belt at work, so I only have to carry my work clothes for the day in my panniers. I also have a spare set of clothes, just in case disaster strikes and I mess up what I carry with me. I also keep cans of soup and other lunch/snack items, restocking on days I have to drive.

I agree with the shoes and belt. I also stash a floor pump and wet ones for post-ride freshening up in my computer network/locker room as well. I also have some extra undies and a tee shirt in case the ride home is lots warmer than the ride in. Good luck and have fun!!

My commute is 2 miles so I just keep wet wipes and a camp towel (one of those thin, quick drying towels) to wipe down and clean up with. I also wear a techwick/coolmax type t-shirt for the ride in, then throw my work shirt over that. Geek straps for the pants and that's about it. I also keep a pair of hockey skates at work, but that's another story.

Hmm, keeping a belt at work as well as my non-cycling shoes is a great idea. And yeah, I'll keep some clothes around, just in case. Money's not much an issue since I'll have my wallet with me anyway.

Thanks for the tips.

I keep my belt, shoes, and full wardrobe almost. I drive one day a week and take enough clothes for all the others. That way I don't have to carry anything with me when I ride. I'll occassionally take a small trunk/rack bag for the days when its warmer on the way home then on the ride in so I have a place to put my extra cycling clothes. It's really nice not having a bunch of extra weight on the bike if I can avoid it. Have fun commuting.

i keep in my office:

a few nice shirts behind door. we're casual, but i keep if i go out for lunch of meetings by surprise. i bring them home every now and then to dry clean

pants (jeans of kackis) i take in, wear for two days or so with different shirt, then bring home and bring in different pair, so only carrying pants every few days.

hair gel, mouthwash, floss.

other stuff i just keep in my rack trunk: wallet, cell phone, keys, some coins for bus, checkbook, cliff bars, and deoderant. my rack trunk functions as my "guy purse", so if i head somewhere else via non-bike and need all that i just take my rack trunk with the shoulder strap, works pretty good.

in the winter my other office chair in office looks like a ski rental place: my warm liner, tights, gloves, hat, warm think jacket, head cover, and undershirt. i neatly fold it all, but still a lot of stuff when spread out.

and lately after i've changed at work to just pants/shirt i've been freezing in our office and putting jacket back on. i'm actually less cold with my layers biking in 15 degree mornings than just sitting in my chair.

Oh yeah, a belt too, because I forgot that a couple of times.

The only bicycle gear I keep at work (I work in a motorcycle shop) is a Campmor rain cape, just in case I get caught at work when it starts raining for the commute home.

Our shop is directly across the street from a Performance Bicycles store, so if I needed anything else I could walk over and get it.

The spare tube at work is in addition to the one you carry. It just saves you having to repair the tube at work.
Other spares to stash at work might inc a brake and gear cable.
Some emergency food rations are always useful.
Some people leave a heavy lock at work and carry a light cable.
Riding in the rain is something you get used to. You probably have quite mild temperatures in So Cal rain so its not a huge challenge.

Thanks again for all the advice. I really appreciate it, though I think some of it might be overkill for my 3 mile commute.

I rode to work and back this morning just to make sure everything's fine on my commuting bike. I could commute today, but it might rain later, and I didn't want to make my first night ride also my first rainy ride. I'll join you guys in the "how was your commute" thread come Tuesday. :)

We have lockers at work. I have shoes, belts, ties, shirts, pants, soap, deodorant, shampoo, towels, the list goes on and on.

A 26 of JD to take the edge off after brushes with idiot drivers.

A 26 of JD to take the edge off after brushes with idiot drivers.

Here, Here!! :beer:
How could I have forgotten that???

From the posts it looks like what you store at work depends on storage space and what your employer accepts. I've had jobs ranging from two wall lockers, showers and someone to do my laundry (a gold mine) to needing a tie on to get thru the front door and you could only carry what fit in a briefcase (Xerox). For seven years I didn't have a car and carried cloths changes to work. That place had one wall locker and a storage room where I could change from the skin out. Now I have short term assignments. I drive the first day and ask how they feel about cycling to and from. Usually tolerant. Thanks for handicapped stalls.

We have lockers at work. I have shoes, belts, ties, shirts, pants, soap, deodorant, shampoo, towels, the list goes on and on.

Ditto, except for the tie part. A reversable belt is very handy. (That way when my shoes don't match I can mismatch the belt also.

How about socks? I have my work shoes at work, but one day I got caught in the rain and had to go sockless. That was a funny day... heh

I keep a pair of sneakers, a week's worth of socks and underwear, a couple pair of jeans, and a half dozen T shirts, plus a light fleece jacket (it's often cold at work, both winter and summer due to overdone A/C). All that fits in one drawer in my desk.
They keep trying to put a flat panel LCD on my desk, but I keep refusing. I find a 19" CRT is great for drying off clothes :-)

I have a pair of shoes and an extra rain jacket there. My work is two blocks from a shop and a carry tools, tubes, etc.. with me.

The only bicycle gear I keep at work (I work in a motorcycle shop) is a Campmor rain cape, just in case I get caught at work when it starts raining for the commute home.

Our shop is directly across the street from a Performance Bicycles store, so if I needed anything else I could walk over and get it.

I work about 120' from a Performance! Cant tell you how often they have come in handy for a daily commuter. :D

I keep a U-lock on the bike rack at work, and carry a $2 cable lock on the bike in case I need to stop on the way for a pee or cup of coffee.