Commuting - Arriving Sweaty at work....

Hey guys,
What do you do when you arrive at work after riding to work. I do not have showers at work,

-- S

Is this a summer problem or a Montreal winter problem ?

Ride at a less athletic pace , so you dont get so sweaty.

Slow down and coast a few mins before you finish. Cooling down on the bike is more efficient than waiting till you stop. It will save you time overall. Riders usually break out into a sweat just as they stop, because they are still generating heat, but not losing it through convection.

Wear clothes that handle sweat well, and avoid waterproofs when its not raining.

At work, I found that a wet flannel did the job OK.

If you are riding in a very hot summer, pour a water bottle over your head and clothes before you finish the ride. This will cool you off and wash you.

I cycle in in cycling clothes so I find apart from under my helmet I'm not that sweaty. I have a shower before leaving home and have a flannel, soap and deodrant along with clean clothes at work (I wear a suit so it's merely a case of keeping a couple of suits in my office with a pair of shoes and carrying a clean shirt and tie). Providing you shower daily and change your clothes you're unlikely to smell even if you're a bit sweaty - only stale sweat smells.

Richard

I don't have a shower at work either. I just do a "sponge" bath in a stall in the bathroom. It works fine for the most part. Even in the summer I did OK. Granted, around here it doesn't get too hot very often.

andy

I did work briefly in an office that didn't have showers. In the Brisbane summer ti wasn't very pleasant. Even riding at a leisurely pace produces copious amounts of sweat (dang, sitting still does that). I did like the other guys and had a sponge off in the sink. Fortunately there was a relaxed dress code ie. none at all, and I could wear shorts and a t-shirt in the office.

If you really want a shower, scope out the immediate area for a local gym or YMCA. They usually let you use the showers for a nominal fee. Also, check if there are any government offices around you. The one I worked in for a time had free showers in the basement.

If you have a shower right before you leave and clean clothes to change into, it shouldn't be a problem. Also you can always carry a towel to dry off with immediately after you get off the bike.

You might investigate wetwipes to give yourself a wash without needing running water.

One other thing you might want to remember (if you don't already) is to carry some deodorant of some kind with you. That, combined with a change of clothes, should do the trick.

Originally posted by Richard D
Providing you shower daily and change your clothes you're unlikely to smell even if you're a bit sweaty - only stale sweat smells.

Richard
I agree.

(WARNING: STARK LANGUAGE TO FOLLOW!)

Remember: pits and crotch, pits and crotch! (And helmet...keep clean at all costs!)

Change those undies and use that deodorant stick!

Other than that, you'll be peachy! ;)

In several years of commuting in all weather, I got by without a shower at work: sponge bath if needed (often nothing was needed--as Richard says, only stale sweat smells); a change of underwear kept in my desk drawer just in case; deodorant stick in desk also (seldom had to use it). We're talking about temperatures ranging from 2 degrees F. to 110 degrees F., rain, dry, in-between.

I never lost any friends, so I guess it was OK. Come to think of it, I never made any new ones....

I shower before leaving home. When I arrive I rinse my hair in the sink to remove helmet hair and use a wet wipe on the critical areas. A little fresh deorderant to follow and I'm good for the day.

My commute is only about 3.8 miles, but it does have some small hills. I just couldn't see showering/changing for a 20-25 minute ride. It took me a while to get used to slowing down a little, but I found if I'm not winded when I start up the hill, I can mike it up with out getting sweaty. So, instead of averaging about 15 mph, I probably average about 12 mph. The exception is hot summer afternoons, but then I'm on my way home anyway. But normally, I just wear regular work clothes in on my bike ride. I'm usually a little winded when I get in to work, and might even be slightly sweaty, but it doesn't seem to be noticable to anyone.

My commute about 13 miles and though I wear cycling clothes and gore tex, I go quick enough to arrive sweaty.

I take fresh underclothes with me and a shirt and leave a suit at the office.

I then have a "*****'s bath" i.e a wash of the armpits etc. and use plenty of anti niff stuff.

Happily pressure has worked and we are geting a shower this year.

As everyone else has said, a wet face cloth in the toilets, a change of underwear, and hair short enough to not worry about. It works pretty well, although I'd rather have a shower!

Ellie

Some of the big hygienic product companies are coming out with new moistened towel products for this purpose.

There is a new Old Spice wipes product (P&G?) I tried a couple of days ago. It seemed to be way over-scented at first, but that flashes off and you feel/smell pretty acceptable.

There are other products on the market and more coming (I'm 'in-the-loop' about this...).

Keep your eyes on the store shelves. It will probably cost you $0.15 per day to clean up with the adult-specific wipes.

I found that my hair was the biggest problem because it looked so bad after riding to work. I cut it short with a razor and now i have no problem, i can run a wash cloth over my head and i'm set for the day.

I stick of deodorant and a change of clothes works for me. I've only biked to work a few times, but I've run and lunch for a couple of years now. Trust me, sweat is putting it lightly! :o

Today I cycled to work (15 miles), ran at lunch (5 mi.) and cycled back home (15 mi.). When I got out of the clothes, I didn't feel that I smelled so bad that a quick application of Speed Stick wouldn't cure it. (I did take a shower though ;))

PH
:D

Originally posted by mike
Keep your eyes on the store shelves. It will probably cost you $0.15 per day to clean up with the adult-specific wipes.
Sounds like a good idea, Mike--but I can see it now: they will start making them ANTIBACTERIAL.

Please, cyclists, if you have a choice, DO NOT choose residual-effect antibacterial products. They are responsible for promoting the growth of resistant microorganisms. The organisms strong enough to survive the residual antibacterial effect are able to reproduce and thrive.

Products containing alcohol, which kills organisms but does NOT leave residue that kills off only weaker ones, should be safe to use, however.

Originally posted by mike
Keep your eyes on the store shelves. It will probably cost you $0.15 per day to clean up with the adult-specific wipes.
If you don't mind smelling like a baby (a clean one :p ), you can use baby wipes, too.

:)

Originally posted by JonR
...if you have a choice, DO NOT choose residual-effect antibacterial products. They are responsible for promoting the growth of resistant microorganisms. The organisms strong enough to survive the residual antibacterial effect are able to reproduce and thrive.

Products containing alcohol, which kills organisms but does NOT leave residue that kills off only weaker ones, should be safe to use, however.
JonR, you sound just like my dad! He is a retired microbiologist, PhD. You have just quoted him verbatim. He is die-hard on this point (and unlike me, he doesn't talk much.)

You don't need hyped-up chemistry to prevent body odor, unless you don't plan on showering everyday. Just plain soap and water will remove the skin oils that bacteria love to grow in. :)

I don't even use anti-perspirant. I keep a stick of plain deodorant in my pack. The trick is to put some on trouble spots immediately before and after a ride. Don't wait--odor causing bacteria present a problem once they have had time to multiply, and they can do this very quickly. Slap it on, pronto, before you notice any "smell."

Originally posted by JonR

Sounds like a good idea, Mike--but I can see it now: they will start making them ANTIBACTERIAL.

Please, cyclists, if you have a choice, DO NOT choose residual-effect antibacterial products. They are responsible for promoting the growth of resistant microorganisms

I think you are correct that the antibacterial products are coming, if they aren't here already. It is really just a matter of changing the formula of the wetting solution and making sure it doesn't corrode the equipment used to manufacture the product.

There are some new nonwoven materials today that claim to be antibacterial by the nature of the nonwoven material itself - no added chemicals. I don't know how or why it works, but it is being marketed now as body wipes and sold to hospitals and nursing homes.

In the cooler months I don't have a problem. Just a quick wash off at the sink.
In the summer I have to take a "bath" at the sink. No showers here. :( Then some deodorant and clean clothes and I'm ready for work.

Fortunately we have a year-round casual dress code. Jeans and shirt in the winter. Jeans or shorts and shirt in the summer. Comfortable clothes means my body gets a good airing out and no one has complained yet. :D

Last summer, and so far this winter, I commuted and worked in the same clothes. My office has a fairly relaxed dress code so this was convenient. Like the others have said, if you're clean to start with, sweating isn't going to make you smell bad if you do a little judicious cleaning in the washroom upon your arrival at work. Just don't store your gloves in your desk drawer, whew ;-)

This summer I'm switching to cycling wear on my commutes for two reasons. One is that I can go right out for my training ride on my commute home, as opposed to going home, changing and then riding. The second is that I now own all these really nice pants that I can't wear because the inner thighs at the crotch is worn out :-(

Originally posted by threadend
The second is that I now own all these really nice pants that I can't wear because the inner thighs at the crotch is worn out :-(

I had the exact same experience PLUS, even with gators, you wind up with dirty pants on rain/snow days or melting slush days.

After years of commuting with my work clothes, I now find it is simply more comfortable to wear bicycle specific clothing and keep my pants wardrobe at work. I wear my work shirts and bicycle tights (it is winter now). In summer, I carry shirts to work or wear a wardrobe I keep there.

my workplace has showers but I often don't bother, as I don't really get that stinky unless I'm wearing polyester, and deodorant seems to take care of that (I don't care about sweating).

Usually I just change my clothes, wash my face, and *maybe* run a brush through my hair. Rubbing down with a hot, damp, squeezed out washcloth is also very refreshing. In the summer I try to dress so that the wind cools me down and keeps the sweat from accumulating -- wicking fabrics are rather nice for this. It also helps to carry stuff in panniers instead of on your back.

for myself, I find that regular exercise sweat is no big deal -- it doesn't really stink even if there's a lot of it -- the main thing is to make sure it evaporates quickly and doesn't stick around too long on your body or your clothes, stewing up bug juices.

hmmm...I wonder if staying well-hydrated might also mean you have less concentrated, less stinky-making sweat?

-Cathy

I'm new at bike commuting, but have been fitness walking the last 2 miles to the office for 4 year (2 miles in less than 30 minutes). Our office is business casual (knit shirts and slacks in the summer). I shower before leaving, slow down for the last 5 minutes, rinse face, arms, back of neck with cold water to speed the cooling, get there early enough to cool down before meetings, and keep a fan under my desk. I'm going to add a fan on top of my desk this summer to speed my cool down.

YMMV, temperature here is usually about 70F with high humidity in the morning during the summer. I get out there before the sun reaches "broil."

The afternoon walk is heat conditioning :D

Originally posted by hunterseeker

hmmm...I wonder if staying well-hydrated might also mean you have less concentrated, less stinky-making sweat?


Cathy, I would bet money on it! (Alas, I have no money to bet.)

Some of us here ought to start an advocacy group: IO2S (It's OK to Sweat)! :beer:

Originally posted by MichaelW


Ride at a less athletic pace , so you dont get so sweaty.

Slow down and coast a few mins before you finish. Cooling down on the bike is more efficient than waiting till you stop. It will save you time overall. Riders usually break out into a sweat just as they stop, because they are still generating heat, but not losing it through convection.



Thanks Michael.
But it didn't cost anything! Isn't that anti globalization?
I was thinking of an expensive solution and all it took was slowing down a bit on the way to work and coasting the last 2 minutes.

Erik

Erik asks, "Isn't that anti-globalization?"

It probably is!

Never fear, some multi-national corporation will "discover" it has been holding a patent on COASTING for years, and soon we will have to pay for a license to do it.

:mad:

Originally posted by JonR
Some of us here ought to start an advocacy group: IO2S (It's OK to Sweat)! :beer:

Sweating is a very special feeling and those who have not experienced it have been sadly deprived in life as far as I'm concerned.

Originally posted by Chris L


Sweating is a very special feeling and those who have not experienced it have been sadly deprived in life as far as I'm concerned. I reckon you'll be by yourself on this one kinky boy !!!

Originally posted by Buddy Hayden
I reckon you'll be by yourself on this one kinky boy !!!

I was by myself riding 293km yesterday, too. I know all about sweat.

Originally posted by JonR
Erik asks, "Isn't that anti-globalization?"

It probably is!

Never fear, some multi-national corporation will "discover" it has been holding a patent on COASTING for years, and soon we will have to pay for a license to do it.

:mad:

Like the one on '.gif' files for the internet? :lol:

Originally posted by bikerider


Like the one on '.gif' files for the internet? :lol:
Exactly. The latest (and the one I had in mind) is British Telecom (or is it Telephone? anyway, BT, the great big UK communications company) suing Prodigy in the US, claiming BT has a patent on, get this, HYPERLINKS. They say it will be a blockbuster lawsuit, and if BT wins every time you click on a link you may be paying a licensing fee in the future--which means higher costs for everybody.

Corporate greed is just something I cannot understand; I guess I just don't have evil enough a nature.

But I'd better not get started on that one (again).

Just call me Socialist.

[Hi, I'm new here]

I have a 26-mile RT which I do year-round here in Philly, and I do work up a sweat, whether it's from the humidity or inside my winter layers.

But it's not a problem. I shower before I leave home, of course, so I and my biking clothes are clean. When I arrive I make sure I have time to cool down so I'm not going to pour sweat into my work clothes.

Then it's time to deploy the commuter's friend: baby wipes. I keep a big supply of baby wipes, clean towels, and deodorant in a file cabinet. Now that I have a private office it's easy, but it was no big deal to go into a stall in the men's room, towel off, and then wipe down with a couple of baby wipes. Apply deodorant, dress, and nobody can tell I rode in.

Leaving time to cool down is, for me, the key. Sweating up your work clothes is what you want to avoid.

RichC

Originally posted by Rich Clark
Apply deodorant, dress, and nobody can tell I rode in.

Except for those funny spots on the backs of your hands, right? :D

Good post! Very similar to my own experience. Hey, commuters, don't worry about sweat. It's a minor problem compared to dogs, impatient drivers making turns three feet in front of you, storm gratings designed to snag bike tires, flats in the middle of nowhere and your patch kit is dried up and your pump quits working--and so forth...

Rich, thanks, and hope to see a lot more here about your commuting experience.

Except for those funny spots on the backs of your hands, right?

Cyclists have the strangest suntans in the universe, don't we? But commuting isn't the best time to work on it, given the times of day we ride.

RichC

Originally posted by Rich Clark


Cyclists have the strangest suntans in the universe, don't we? But commuting isn't the best time to work on it, given the times of day we ride.

RichC
Well, I rode to work at 6:45 in the morning, but came home at 4:30 in the afternoon, and I got BAKED during half the year, a tan that never went away. But an hour or two can make a big difference. :)