Commuting - Staying clean

I spent the last month commuting in preparation for an MS 150. I brought in a week's worth of clothes and changes of underwear, etc. I don't have access to s ahower and hated walking around in sweaty underwear all day. Do any of you try to stay "clean" when you ride (i.e. not sweaty)? If so, how?

I wear cycling shorts in, and bring spare underwear along. Seems to work fine for me. I have a longish (20 miles one way) commute and I have had no problems so far.

I don't worry too much about the sweat - sweat alone doesn't tend to make me feel 'dirty', and I sweat a fair bit. I've found the best method is to have a shower at home in the morning, throw on the cycling shorts and t-shirt/jersey (no deodorant), and take a washer in to work (we don't have showers here either). With a quick wipe with the damp washer, and then some deodorant and the clean clothes, I feel plenty fresh enough for the whole day.

My commute is about 12-14 miles, depending on the route/shortcuts.

If its hot, use one of your waterbottles for a shower as you end your ride. If its cool, just pace yourself and dress to stay comfortable.
Slow down over the last 1/4 mile. Its much more efficient to cool down on the move, with air blowing over you, than to get off and rush into a warm building.
At the moment I have a 25min ride and dont need a shower at the end.
I used to have a longer ride, and used a wet flannel and towel to freshen up.
Take clean underwear and T shirt. Shower in the morning before the ride.

Where I live, you can sweat profusely sitting idle inside an air-conditioned building for nine months of the year. The best way to combat it is deodorant. Sweating alone won't make you dirty. A change of underwear after the ride in is essential - regardless of having a shower or not. Showering before the ride helps, but isn't essential.

I do not have a shower at work, either. My commute is about 15kms, and I take the last 2 or so really easy. Approximately at that point I reach the more urban part of my commute, so I will have to slow down in any case (more traffic, intersections, traffic lights etc).

I find changing into a complete fresh set of clothes (including underwear) after riding is enough for me. My colleagues have not complained.

--J

If it really bothers you make sure you cool down before changing into work clothes so the sweat's not on them.

have you tried baby wet wipes. They're great for a quick clean up though ecologically a bit unsound, but they do moisturise so your ass ends up as soft as a peach :D

As others have said, make sure you cool down before changing. There is a mighty powerful AC exhaust point outside of the storage room where I park my bike. I stand other it for a few minutes to cool down. I then wipe down with a couple of baby wipes and a put on fresh clothes, which I bring with me each day. No one at work has complained and this is a bunch who is not afraid to tell you what they think.

My answer is similar to most but just for the record- I wear padded bike shorts for the commute. Once I get to work I wait about 10 minutes just to cool down. Then I take a face cleansing cloths that you wet to rehydrate it and then wash your face with (the soap is dried into the cloth). For the rest of my body I use those pre-moistened baby wipes. Seems to work fairly well for me. Most of my coworkers are suprised at my startling change of appearance- like superman emerging from the phone booth!

I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol at work. Spray the sweaty bod, wipe with paper towels in bathroom. Apply fresh deoderant. No complaints yet. All clean dry clothes carried in each day via backpack or pannier.

[QUOTE=elares]I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol at work. SQUOTE]

Elares, doesn't that dry out your skin?

The best advice I ever go twas to wipe down with a cool damp towel (Not hot) wipes away the sweat and leaves no odor. I keep deoderant and a brush at work to primp up befor I start. Of course I work in a warehose and usually work up more of a sweat by 9:00 than I do on my ride :)

I keep an array of smeel-good things at work just in case: deodorant spray, foot powder, and of course, baby wipes (Wet Ones). Baby wipes: they're not just for babies anymore.

Like someone else said, try to slow down the last few minutes of the ride. I also come in pretty early, so it's no problem for me to spend the first few minutes of my day (booting computer, checking e-mail, getting coffee, etc.) cooling down before I change.