Commuting - what do you do when you don't have showers at work?

just wanted to see if anyone has the same prob as me... there are no showers at work

i commute about 18kays... but mostly it is flat or downhill

so i just take a change of clothes... deodorant and some rexona wipes....

anyone in the same predicament and have other methods to freshen up?

I have about 7 miles each way, and I too do not have access to showers (none that I'm allowed to use anyway). Fortunately I don't get too sweaty, so I splash some water on my face, change, and use a body spray if I'm concerned about b.o.. I will use some kind of baby wipe on my face, neck, arms to feel like I've had a shower.

I stop at a gym near the office, shower, change, then ride the last Km. You might see if there is something nearby - the gym I stop at is at an ice rink, so it helps me cool down quicker.

Just take it easy on the ride in. Cycling takes less energy than walking, and the higher speed means much more evaporation. In the summer, I find myself fairly dry after a 5 mile (9 km) ride, but I am soaked when I walk a few blocks to the subway.

Paul

Twice I rode into work and we had no water.. Plumbing was being worked on...I usually tell my boss who is critical of biking to work. The shower so refreshes me, I am reved for the night.
But anyway. Those two times...I had a gallon of water put aside.Towels, towelletes like you use for primitative camping. The gallon of water was enough to rinse off my hair. Rinse out my cycling clothes. The towlettes made me feel almost as refreshed as a real shower. It worked ok. Of course not as good as a real shower...I am afraid,on a warm day, I would get pretty smelly in just 5 mile commute. that is me.
But it worked ok..As long as you have a bathroom with a sink. Plus deodrant and body wash, a little cologne. You will be ok.

I do the same thing as many here do.

Take a shower before you leave.

Bring a change of clothes to get into once you get to work.

You can use some moist towlettes or "baby-wipes" to dry off.

I also bought a "pack towel" (http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?stat=7889&langId=-1&storeId=8000&textQuery=pack+towel) at REI and I bring it along too. I bought a large one and cut it in half to take up less space in the pack.

Dan

Same here:
* shower before I leave home
* take it easy on the ride to work
* some sort of 'baby wipes'
* deodorant and change of clothes

I found it all works much better if I don't put deodorant on before I leave home.

I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol at work. I spray then dry off with paper towels. A little deoderant, fresh as a flower. I find that if I take a week off, the first few days back on the bike I get pretty smelly but once the daily routine is set, it goes away. I tried the baby wipes but the scent was not to my liking.

I dab some rubbing alcohol on a damp wash cloth and run that over my body. It gets rid of the most of the sweat and I can put on clean clothes.

If you're worried about your body odor - and it can be a problem - take a shower before the ride so you start out clean. It's the microbes on on your skin (gross [pardon the pun] over simplification) that smell bad and if they aren't there, even being sweaty doesn't smell so bad.

That's my system too:
1) Take shower at home.
2) Put on deoderant.
3) Change when I get to work.
4) Use body spray/baby wipes.

I'll probably start putting the deodorant on at work-better idea.

That's my system too:
1) Take shower at home.
2) Put on deoderant.
3) Change when I get to work.
4) Use body spray/baby wipes.

I'll probably start putting the deodorant on at work-better idea.

The Old Spice High Endurance Wipes seem to work reasonably well also.

My system is similar to the above:

1. Shower in the morning before I leave.
2. Put on deodorant and dress for the ride.
3. Cycle slower on the last 2 km to the office.
4. I use a facecloth to do a quick wash on the face and and neck in the washroom, rinse in hot water and
5. In the privacy of my office, I use the facecloth to wipe down my shoulders and upper body.
6. Dry off with a dry clean hand towel.
7. Freshen up my deodorant with a dab, don't want to overdo and maybe a dab of cologne.
8. I keep a change of clothes at the office to change into. I replenish my supply on the days I drive the car in. I set up a clothes hanger to hang up my shirts and pants and my cycling clothing for the ride home. I put the hanger in a corner of my office, out of the way and to be discreet.
9. When I cycle home, I'll bring my underwear, undershirt, socks and any other clothing that needs washing. I try to get 2 or 3 wearings of my shirts and pants between washings. I don't perspire heavily during the day.
10. I keep a stash of wipes on hand for emergencies.

My ride to work is at least 22.5 kms.

That's my system too:
1) Take shower at home.
2) Put on deoderant.
3) Change when I get to work.
4) Use body spray/baby wipes.

This is what I do also -- although I save the deodorant until I get to work. Mind you, I don't regard sweat as a big deal. In our climate, it's possible to sweat profusely merely sitting idle in an air-conditioned office for nine months of the year. What difference is arriving sweaty after a ride going to make?

I ride very slow as not to work up much of a sweat. On hot days your going to sweat regardless, so I go into the restroom and wash with soap and cold water in the sink and I carry deodorant. The ride home at night is when I push it, but I don't care about sweating then.

I cahnge clothes, putting on a bit more deoderant when I do. I work inside not close to anyone for a couple of hours, but my ride to work is in the cool pre-dawn hours anyway. AFter working a couple of hours indoors, I go outside for the rest of the day, by myslef, so it doesn't matter if I'm sweaty, but I still don't have that B.O. smell.

Showers are available, but I don't need them for similar reasons as stated above. I shower before leaving. It's only 5 miles, and I usually take it easy. I typically wear a poly T-shirt, and whatever jacket is necessary, and change into work shirt when I get there. In the summer it's hot enough that sweat is a problem anyway, so I carry a washcloth in a plastic bag and use that to freshen up. Wring it out and it works fine for drying, too.

I have to hang my ride clothes up somewhere so they can dry, otherwise bacteria proliferate and they stink to high heavens.

Showers are available, but I don't need them for similar reasons as stated above. I shower before leaving. It's only 5 miles, and I usually take it easy. I typically wear a poly T-shirt, and whatever jacket is necessary, and change into work shirt when I get there. In the summer it's hot enough that sweat is a problem anyway, so I carry a washcloth in a plastic bag and use that to freshen up. Wring it out and it works fine for drying, too.

I have to hang my ride clothes up somewhere so they can dry, otherwise bacteria proliferate and they stink to high heavens.

Ditto. Showers are a real time-sink.

Query: Do those tops that claim to draw sweat away from the skin (like this one (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47825400&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1)) actually do anything?

The reason I ask is that there are also no showers where I work, and on my commute I currently wear a cotton t-shirt which gets pretty sweaty by the end of the ride. So, I'm trying to decide whether it's worth spending the money on one of those hi-tech cycling jerseys (which, to me, don't look as comfortable as a good old t-shirt).

Thanks, Andrew

Ever heard the story about heavy people wearing spandex..Because it is comfortable.I know that is not an enticing lead. But,I think it true..I do not find jersey's uncomfortable...The material gives..Of course if you buy the correct size..Plus, they can be bought in a looser fit...I do not like clothing flapping in the wind.
But its biggest draw is the wicking properties.

Query: Do those tops that claim to draw sweat away from the skin (like this one (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47825400&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1)) actually do anything?

The reason I ask is that there are also no showers where I work, and on my commute I currently wear a cotton t-shirt which gets pretty sweaty by the end of the ride. So, I'm trying to decide whether it's worth spending the money on one of those hi-tech cycling jerseys (which, to me, don't look as comfortable as a good old t-shirt).

Thanks, Andrew

They're very comfortable and and dry fast even if they're sopping wet from a down pour. They look good and don't wear out either.

I am in the same boat...19km's to work with no shower. Like everyone else bring a change of clothes and a good deodorant. I have brought a 150cm x 75cm travel towel (80% Polyester, 20% Polyamide)...I just soak half of that under the hot water then strip off and have a good sponge bath. Freshens me up fine and it dries before I leave to go home at the end of the day. The next best thing to a shower.