Just wondering what your typical post-commute TO WORK cool off routine is, to avoid being sweaty all the time.

I found for me, that when I bike to work (about 7 miles) with panniers, going about 15mph on a mild uphill all the way, I get pretty sweaty. I shower before I get on my bike, put on fresh sports clothes (tank top & light shorts in summer/fall weather) to maximize cooling, and bring my work clothes (shirt & tie) in my panniers. I wear my work shoes on my bike - work surprisingly well. Generous antiperspirant and deordorant as well. Oh, and a dab of sunscreen where it's needed.

For cooling, I purposefully take a leisurely 3-5 minutes to lock my bike with a U-lock, and thin cable to connect my helmet, rear tire, and seat. I used to try and do this as fast as possible, but good advice on this column showed me that the leisurely approach is much better for starting your cooldown and getting a good, solid, worry-free lock on your bike.

I then go sit down somewhere outside and read a book for at least 15 minutes. I start out really sweaty (I leave a wet spot on the concrete where I sit), but after 15 minutes, I'm totally dry. Even though I'm in the white-collar shirt & tie crowd, I don't even shower before work; I just change all my clothes, including underwear, and dab down my face & hands at the sink. Nobody at work has ever noticed anything out of the ordinary with me when I start up, even when I ask them to try hard. I suspect that much of the "odor" that people associate with sweating is due to accumulation of mold on clothes and bacteria on skin - when you start off really clean, there's much less of a problem.

I suspect that my commute on-bike is 20mins, and my cool off time is also about 20 mins. Seems long, but it's actually quite productive and relaxing, to sit outside and read my books in the morning sunrise. I find I'm more focused for thinking during the day with this non-harried approach. It even far beats the car, which gets me to work in 15 minutes (no traffic), but I tend to "rush" it, and park, walk over, and start work without the "zen" morning startup routine.