Commuting - first time commuter--need help

Ok so I have decided im going start commuting on my fixedgear,My trip is about 5 miles round trip.I work in a bank driveup so theres not much space and i plan on wearing my workpants the way there,clean up in the bathroom and put on a clean shirt.And then just bring everything home each night.The only thing i am kind of affraid of is I SWEAT LOTS.Does this plan sound good and any suggestions?

only real way to know if it works for you is to try it. I kept on trying different things until I figured out what worked best for me. What you could do is on your first ride, do what you said in your original post, and also bring a change of pants/undies and maybe some wet ones wipes or a dish towel. This way if it works as planned, great, if not you can wipe down and change to freshen up. Make sure to bring deodorant!

I agree with Jinks, but also have another suggestion. Make a "pre-commute" ride before you start commuting to/from work. With it being a three day weekend, you could give it a try tomorrow morning and see how you feel. If you think you won't be up to an immediate round trip ask someone to pick you up at the bank.

Also, :beer: on starting to commute to work!

Make a "pre-commute" ride before you start commuting to/from work.

+1 to that. Also, consider wearing cycling shorts instead of work pants in the morning. You'll be cooler. Do you have a place where you can leave work shoes, belt, etc, at work so that you don't have to take them with you on the bike every day?

Good luck!

I also will have a very short commute (under 5 miles one way). A suggestion I read somewhere else here that I plan to try is to shower right before you leave, using some kind of anti-bacterial soap. The sweat isn't what smells, it's the bacteria that builds up on the sweat, so if you're squeaky clean, then you sweat, then you dry off pretty well and apply some more deodorant, it seems like you should be good.

I'm going to try a pre-test, too. I do have showers at my work but I would rather avoid having to take that much time getting ready there, if I can help it!

Honestly, I think you'll be fine. I sweat a lot too - it's not ladylike in the least, but that's just the way it is - and with a "birdbath," antibacterial wetwipes, and dodrant, I've been fine. (Nobody's complained anyway!)

+1 to that. Also, consider wearing cycling shorts instead of work pants in the morning. You'll be cooler. Do you have a place where you can leave work shoes, belt, etc, at work so that you don't have to take them with you on the bike every day?

Good luck!
I agree with all of the previous advise, most importantly:
1) Take a pre-commute ride.
2) If at all possible, wear bike clothes and change at work. That way, you take off the sweaty clothes, and your work clothes can't get messed up on the ride. If you don't want lycra bike pants, get the mountain bike kind that look more or less like regular shorts. Wearing bike clothes is especially important when it rains. Then, only your bike clothes get wet. Trying to keep street clothes dry in the rain is a tough battle, and it's a battle that usually ends up with you sweating under rain gear and your clothes wet and dirty anyway.
3) Start your ride clean.
4) Keep wet ones or baby wipes at work to wipe off.
5) Have fun.

A suggestions I read somewhere else here that I plan to try is to shower right before you leave, using some kind of anti-bacterial soap. The sweat isn't what smells, it's the bacteria that builds up on the sweat, so if you're squeaky clean, then you sweat, then you dry off pretty well and apply some more deodorant, it seems like you should be good.[QUOTE]


+1

That cant be stressed enough. Shower right before you leave for work and you'll be good to go.