Work commuting (work clothing)

[mpop]

I start my new Job on Monday, but I have one question on my commute. The place I will be working is business casual dress. I know the route that I would take to work is downhill or flat the whole way. Should I take my cloths in my bike back, if so how do I prevent them from getting winkled. Or should I just wear them on the bike ride and since there is no hills, and it is only 2 miles, I probably will not sweat, and just put my dress shows in my bike bag. Also in the bag will be a briefcase, I have already checked to make sure that the briefcase will fit. I will probably take spare clothing if I bike in my work clothing, for the days I decided to go for a bike ride after work instead of heading home.

Also is there anything else I should keep in mind. Right now I am use to a .2 mile commute to work, the new job is about 2 miles away, yes I live very near to my work.

[super-douper]

I used to have a 1.5 mile commute and had no problems just wearing my regular clothes. Just tie up your pantleg and go. Now that i've moved 18miles away I wear bike clothes to work (though I don't ride all the way, or every day) and just fold my clothes carefully. Dress code at my job is pretty liberal though, so it doesn't really matter even if my stuff did get wrinkled.

[Slow Train]

I think whatever suits you best. The wrinkle-free slacks should be fine if rolled into a bag then shaken when taken out. You may have to use a bike bag for when it rains - unless you plan on walking.

I wonder if they make bike chaps to cover your pants? :rolleyes:

[Mtn Mike]

Me too. On days that I have a 1 mile commute, I just wear my work clothes to ride. I have good fenders, so a little dirt or water on the road isn't a problem. I also wear a pant leg cuff. If it's raining or snowing, I'll change at work.

[vtjim]

Business casual here too. I just loosely roll my clothes and put 'em into my "trunk rack bag." (Or backpack if I'm on the winter MTB.)

(looking at my shirt...) No wrinkle issues here.

[gwd]

I have about the same commute. In the hotest most humid part of the summer I do shorts n t-shirt and change in the restroom. The rest of the year, I just ride in work clothes. With a nice chain case I don't need to tie the pants up. The wrinkle free pants work for me. I'm one of those people who sweat a lot, a co worker who bikes to the same office and who lives in the same neighborhood never changes. I expect you'll sometimes want to change and on cooler days not bother.

[nilloc]

Mike,
I spent a lot of time working in courts where I had to wear slacks and a button-down shirt and tie. wearing my court clothes on my bike was not possible, especially in the summer when they'd get soaked in sweat. Eagle Creek makes these things called Pack-It Folders that were absolutely perfect. My clothes were always unwrinkled. They make them in different sizes (and colors) for different needs. I have one of the smaller ones (i think it was 15") and it fits perfectly in a backpack or messenger bag. I think Rick Steve also makes them. Here's the advertising pitch from some web site :
"Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder - Organize your clothing for easy access and ensure everything you pack stays wrinkle-free. This unique, patented concept compresses your clothing between two folding boards to prevent shifting during transit and provides more packing space. You will be amazed the capacity gained, and the convenience of traveling wrinkle-free when using Pack-It® Folders."
http://www.letravelstore.com/images/po-folder04.jpg

[LandLuger]

My father is a professional that bikes to the office/hospital. His solution was an electric assist. Don't sell the idea short. It is very easy to retrofit a traditional diamond frame bike, and you can even do it yourself. Cruise to work averaging better than twenty mph--with some of the better kits, and hammer back to the crib on your own power at the end of the workday. For the longest time I thought the concept was lame, but the quality and practicality of the kits on the market as well as my father's success has brought me around.

[Slow Train]

Eagle Creek makes these things called Pack-It Folders that were absolutely perfect.

Hey that is really neat! I love stuff like this.

[mpop]

Thanks all for the infomation. Just one last question, I am thinking for my first day of work I should just walk to work, since it is the first day and I don't want anything to go wrong. What do you think?

[Slow Train]

Beats showing up and finding out you forgot you socks ;)

[Artkansas]

I used to ride 9 miles. I folded my clothes and it worked well. For rain, I gave myself a complete new set of clothes. But I kept a pair of shoes at work all the time. It's good to wash after arriving, at that job I had access to a private bathroom and in the summer stripped all the way down to cool quickly and wash it all. Some recommend alcohol for a quick wipedown. But do it, because you won't know how you smell a couple of hours afterwards.

[mpop]

Good advice Artkansas, the place I will be working has a private gym on site, and a few showers too, so I will be able to make use of those if I need to. Going to work is the easy part of the ride, it is all down hill, and flat, and it is only 2 miles, and 3/4 of it is off of the main roads, so I can take it slow. It should be an easy commute, maybe 15 minutes at the longest.

[Roody]

Thanks all for the infomation. Just one last question, I am thinking for my first day of work I should just walk to work, since it is the first day and I don't want anything to go wrong. What do you think?
Yeah, you could do a dry run of the commute on your day off to see how it goes. I doubt if you'll have any big problems.

[shishi]

shirt and pants on same hanger folded in half and placed in bag. They come out unrinkled for my 2-3 mile commute each day.

[twochins]

you need to have the ankle wraps to secure your pant legs at the bottom...that way you can pedal carefree...do you have light front and back for your bike? you need these

[bhchdh]

Alot of good information here, check out the commuting forum for other tips.

[mpop]

Thanks all, today was my second day at my new job. And the first day I biked to work. They have bike rakes in the parking garage. I was not the only one that biked in today. (We had snow today, no accumilation, but it was the coldest weather I ever biked in)

[chimpunk]

I too commute two miles one way five days a week. Dress is shirt, tie, slacks, and dress shoes; sometimes sport jacket/blazer. I just throw everything on, leave my top button undone and my tie a little slack, and ride in white socks and tennis shoes. When I get there I change my socks and shoes, button my shirt, and fix my tie. I ride slow enough to not sweat on the way in. If it is cold I throw on a cheap Target windbreaker, and some $1 discount Wal-mart gloves. If it rains I fold my pants and shirt neatly and put them in my panniers, wear a $10 Target poncho, shorts, tshirt/long shirt and change at work. If you fold the shirt correctly and pack your clothes loose, they will not be wrinkled (so don't stack stuff on top of your clothes).

I might also add that during lunch I cruise around town in this dress as well, sometimes up to ten miles running to the bank, resturant, or other place. I don't get horrible sweaty as long as I keep my speed down. Going slow is the key. I notice I get sweatier when I walk to the sub shop than if I bike there. I think it is because I exert more energy walking and my sweat doesnt have an opportunity to evaporate. Actually, I don't really know why, I just know I sweat more when walking than riding for some reason, at least that is in the context of commuting in business dress.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

[genericbikedude]

Good advice Artkansas, the place I will be working has a private gym on site, and a few showers too, so I will be able to make use of those if I need to. Going to work is the easy part of the ride, it is all down hill, and flat, and it is only 2 miles, and 3/4 of it is off of the main roads, so I can take it slow. It should be an easy commute, maybe 15 minutes at the longest.

If you have a gym at work I imagine that you also have lockers... Why not keep a stash of clothes at work, and choose what you need to wear AFTER you've woken up a little bit. I often regret dressing myself on too little sleep.