spectastic

Unfortunately, my new job wants me to dress business casual on a daily basis. I still want to bike to work. I'm wondering whether you guys have any advice for me. I got my right ankle covered. The two things I'm worried about:

1. rainy days for my pants
2. hot texas weather

any tips or experiences would be appreciated.

BassNotBass

I started off by carrying a weeks worth of clothing to work and storing them in my desk drawers. From that point on it was just lugging a days worth to and fro with four day's worth in reserve.

1nterceptor

1. Full coverage fenders and/or change of clothes at work.
2. Lightweight expedition shirt + convertible pants(legs zip on & off) and/or change of clothes at work.

gerv 

Carry your business casual attire in a pannier or backpack. Change at work.

Ns1

this.

spectastic

thanks all

JiveTurkey

I change at work. I usually bring what I need daily, but keep a mini-wardrobe at the office.

zacster

I change at work but carry it daily in a pannier, and wear my padded road shorts and a t-shirt in the summer, and road shorts + leg warmers and a capilene underlayer, a thermal jersey and a cycling jacket on top.

Nobody would come near me if I wore my office clothes on my ride.

jettore

How far is your ride each way?

spectastic

less than 5 miles I think

tergal

<assumed you went to work dressed as your profile pic >



Serious note Carrying a weeks worth of clothing in on Monday works if you have the space to store it at work .

fuzz2050

It depends on what business casual means at your company, the length of your commute and your expected weather.

If you have a short commute (less than 5 miles, although closer to three is ideal) then just wear whatever you want. I've put in a surprising number of miles on a suit (it's mainly surprising because I don't wear a suit all that often). For those distances, it doesn't really matter what you wear. If it rains, you can get a little wet. Long underwear underneath light weight wool dress pants will be warm and comfortable even when wet.

If you have a longer commute (I think ten miles or so is the cut-off for me) then just wear something good to bike in and carry business casual clothes.

acidfast7

ride slower, sweat less, commuting is not a race

squegeeboo

Another vote for backpack or pannier. It's what I've been doing for years. I keep 1 emergency set in a desk drawer for the occasional time i forget my button up or pants, and then bike my clothes in every day, get to work, get cleaned up, get changed.

pdlamb

+1 more.

At 5 miles, you might be on the border between bike clothes and normal clothes. But in the summer you'll want to change when it's hot in the morning, and pretty soon you'll find out how comfortable bike shorts are (and how long they don't wear through!), and then you'll be happy with special bike clothes year-round.

neil

Changing is really the only option for hot weather (and hills, if you've got them). If your ride is flat and not too long, you can usually just wear your work clothes when the weather's moderate, though even this requires getting out of the "it's a race" mentality too common amongst North American commuters.

Rain is the easiest. Full wrap fenders + good rain gear = dry clothes. Good rain gear is made of a breathable fabric like GoreTex and has vents in strategic places to keep the air flowing without getting you wet.

Commodus

It depends completely on your route. If it's long and hilly, it's tougher to arrive looking presentable.

Oh...I see that your ride is only 5 miles. I think I'd go in dressed exactly as I wanted to be in the office. Just go slow.

CenturionIM

I also do it in street clothing. I am just too darn lazy. That said, I heard regular cloth wears out easily around the saddle area. So yeah, change at work.

sauerwald

I am a professional, work in an office where I must wear business casual. - Here is what I do:
I carry my work clothes in a pannier and shower and get dressed at work. I ride home in my work clothes, slowly enough to not work up too much of a sweat.
I keep a spare set of clothes at work, including a sport-coat and tie. Saves me on the days that I forget a belt, socks or shoes.
I have an 8 mile commute each way - I don't wear lycra, padded shorts etc for the commute in - summer it is shorts and a T-shirt, winter longer pants, long sleeve T shirt and a jacket.

Ozonation

I find it interesting that you say, unfortunately, your new work place requires you to wear business casual. I guess it depends on what constitutes business casual, but I would think many people would prefer business casual: not terribly formal, but at the same time, it does add some decorum to the workplace. I work at a university: yes, it can get more casual some days, but if the faculty and support staff did not wear business casual at all, it just would not do for workplace: even if people wear (nice) jeans, they wear collared shirt as well as a minimum. Very few wear runners or sneakers.

But I digress... much as the other posters have said, I would keep a change of clothes at the office for those days that you forget to pack a shirt or pants. Leave an extra pair of dressy shoes under the desk. I would also bring an extra pair of dress socks and a belt - you might not have a belt as part of your biking outfit, get to the office, and realize you're missing the one piece that completes your attire.

I also have a tie and blazer hanging in the closet, and if you're a guy, I'd strongly suggest the same (or the equivalent for women) - you never know who is going to "pop by" your office or desk with short notice, and in 15 minutes, you can look more presentable than your peers (hey, it's a rat race out there!0. If you don't have a closet, just put everything in a garment bag (or two) and hang them from whatever hook or rack is available. I'd also leave a small face or hand towel, facewash (a wet, shiny face, and grime around the eyes arent' fun), comb, and a toothbrush and toothpaste at the office.

Unless it's really adverse weather, in warmer seasons you can probably wear your slacks (I'm assuming khaki type pants are the de rigueur pants to wear) while biking. You probably only need to pack a shirt. For a 5 mile or less trip, you'll probably perspiring mostly through your upper torso so wearing a biking top or dry fit style work out shirt will be more comfortable. Fenders are a must.

Although this seems like a lot, one added bonus is that if the weather is great, and lunch is boring, you have the option of changing quickly and going for a bike ride!

caloso

This time of year as long as it's dry, I just wear my office clothes. If I'm going to get rained on or sweaty, I'll change when I get here.

CommuteCommando

+3

I get in early enough that heat is not an issue on my way too work, and I go slow~12-15 mph. I wear cycle bibs and jeans or slacks go right over them. I wear a golf tee on top. I do not have the luxury of a shower at work, but do fine with out it.

e0richt

another alternative is to use a backpack that would possibly contain a change of clothes, lunch (if you bring it), etc... you should make the clothing into a roll to prevent wrinkles, and this also allows for you to wear biking specific clothing (much more comfy) and allows you to cool down before change (depending on how long the commute is...)

Ns1

WTF? I have a 2.8 mile commute and when I'm done I'm sweating like a pig. I would never bike to work in a suit.

wphamilton

I've done it in business casual. If you ride easy enough, early in the morning with no strenuous hills it's possible even in the summer. That said, I eventually wound up taking a towel and at least a shirt, and changing at work. A tip: keep the shoes at the desk if you can get away with it.


I agree with theEconomist that it tends to wear out the seat of your slacks. If the weather is cool (and if you're going slow), you can mitigate that by putting some warmups or wind-breaker pants over the office pants. I've done this the last couple of days in fact - it's 9.5 miles and the temp is in the 30's - even though I do change and shower at work. Just that much less to carry.