Living Car Free - Best Methods for an Impromptu Shower?

The weather is finally cold and I am finally making myself occasionally commute by bike like I've been telling myself I would for a while now. Sweating is almost a non-issue for me in colder temperatures, but definitely a problem whenever it's over 60 degrees or so. I know many people here say not to worry about smelling bad, but I just can't physically be comfortable at class/work all day if I'm drenched in sweat. I've read about someone using over-sized Wetnaps and that seems like one of the best ideas I've come across yet. For the people like me, what methods have you tried, and what works the best?

buy a fitness membership one that has showers all over town.

I arrive a little early for work and change clothes.

I use st. Eve's wetnaps. I think the parent company is in switzerland. Anyhow, they are okay. In fact, im out of my supply....i'll have to pick up a few later on tonight or this weekend.

I just take a little birdbath in the sink. I keep a small hand towel to dry off. Cheap, easy, and a lot lighter on resources and landfill than wet wipes.

I just take a little birdbath in the sink. I keep a small hand towel to dry off. Cheap, easy, and a lot lighter on resources and landfill than wet wipes.

When I worked at a location w/o showers, I did exactly this. I would also carry a face cloth, wet it in the sink and then run it over anything that felt sweaty. Better than using wipes...

Nowadays, there's a shower at work. I normally shower before the ride, still, and then get a quick rinse at work.

You mention sweat not being an issue below 60F. For me, the coldest weather is the sweatiest. I might not sweat much on the ride, but entering a heated building with 3-4 layers on... that usually starts it. I also find that even after showering and having a brief cool-down, that I'm still uncomfortably heated when I arrive at my desk. This normally happens only in winter.

Perhaps they have the heat up too high. Or perhaps the cold weather has my metabolism racing during the ride.

Baby wipes( hate to but I don't generate alot of waste anyway) work for me in most cases. And ye old '*****s bath' in the sink. But in the summertime here in the south, it's pretty rough, I generally have a change of clothes and shoot by the YMCA if it's possible. Truck stops are always an option if you got one you can work into your route somehow. I've worked that option alot when hitchhiking.

Thanks for the suggestions. The towel idea seems like a good one. I have a small towel and some all-purpose backpacking soap that would probably work really well. I'm surprised I didn't think of that earlier.

Rather than starting a new topic, does anyone use any sort of moisture-wicking pants/bottoms? I'd like to find some sort of pants that will breathe and not cause my legs to over heat like jeans do. I'm really opposed to wearing a full kit when I'm only riding a few miles down the road, although it is by far the most comfortable clothing I have when it's hot and humid outside. There must be some sort of normal-looking bottoms that still afford a decent level of comfort.

And ye old '*****s bath' in the sink.

Does the censored word refer to a worker in the, um, entertainment industry?

The microfiber swim towels (http://www.swimoutlet.com/Swim_Towels_s/341.htm) can be rinsed out and wrung dry.

http://www.swimoutlet.com/photos/6189-1.jpg

buy a fitness membership one that has showers all over town.

not a solution in most smaller towns across america. i moved from a place that had like one or two gyms period

I've heard people really like their wool biking pants. I typically wear a pair of biking pants (synth) and a thinner pair of pants that are water-resistant (<30F).


I am a big fan of the baby wipes.

In warm weather, I do the same as Roody & tsl: get to work a few minutes early, towel off quickly, apply a little deodorant, and change into work clothes. No one's complained yet, and I work with middle school kids, who I'm sure would be happy to inform me if I were malodorous.

It won't do anything to stop sweat, but the most effective deodorant I have tried, bar none, is Crystal Stick. It really stops B.O. and lasts a looooonnnng while. I just replaced my first stick, after almost 2 years!

It won't do anything to stop sweat, but the most effective deodorant I have tried, bar none, is Crystal Stick. It really stops B.O. and lasts a looooonnnng while. I just replaced my first stick, after almost 2 years!

That is a very long time to go with one stick/rock/unit of deodorant. Tom's of Maine seems to go in weeks and despite my repeated asking them, they don't re-use their containers.

It won't do anything to stop sweat, but the most effective deodorant I have tried, bar none, is Crystal Stick. It really stops B.O. and lasts a looooonnnng while. I just replaced my first stick, after almost 2 years!
Agreed. Crystal Stick is 100% active ingredient. No waxes, oils, gels, lubricants, perfumes, propellants, etc. Very effective deodorant, but as you said it's not an anti perspirant, you still sweat.

Wear a good wicking undershirt, remove both that and the shirt 'above' it, and spray key areas of your bod with a premixed solution of alcohol, witchhazel, and water.