Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
Reload this Page >

Question for those that ride to work...don't you get sweaty and gross?

Search
Notices
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

Question for those that ride to work...don't you get sweaty and gross?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-15-08, 02:20 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 96

Bikes: 2008 Specialized Sirrus Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Question for those that ride to work...don't you get sweaty and gross?

Part of me would love to ride to work, but the fact is there's no shower at the office and I'd just be a sweaty disgusting mess. Do you guys have showers at work? How do you deal w/ that?
dvon1981 is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:23 PM
  #2  
Triathlon in my future???
 
flip18436572's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southwest Iowa
Posts: 2,193

Bikes: Junk, that is why I am here. :-)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
My ride is less than a mile away, no need to shower. If it was a longer ride, I would probably take a towel with me and a wash cloth and use a sink. Then after shave lotion and deoderent.
__________________
2007 Jamis Ventura Comp
2006 Jamis Explorer 2.0
2000 Specialized Hardrock (bought used)
Swim, Bike, Run and sounds like fun
flip18436572 is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:31 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
lil brown bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Boston (sort of)
Posts: 3,878

Bikes: 1 road, 1 Urban Assault Vehicle

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by dvon1981
Part of me would love to ride to work, but the fact is there's no shower at the office and I'd just be a sweaty disgusting mess. Do you guys have showers at work? How do you deal w/ that?
You need to go read the stickies over in the commuting forum. There are a lot of strategies, primarily involving showering in the morning, not wearing your work clothes to bike in and doing a "sink bath"/cleanup with wet wipes or witch hazel or powder or some combination thereof at work. And, of course, there's also the consideration that your co-workers who just rode in on a jam-packed subway train, and who took twice the time you took to ride in, are probably not smelling like roses either.
lil brown bat is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:32 PM
  #4  
Banned.
 
Mr. Beanz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Upland Ca
Posts: 19,895

Bikes: Lemond Chambery/Cannondale R-900/Trek 8000 MTB/Burley Duet tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Mine is about 7 miles. When I start riding, I'll have Gina drop me off on the way as she works in the same direction. We get off at different hours so it'll work out.

I just can't start the day without taking a shower and feeling fresh. A sink bath just wouldn't do it for me!
Mr. Beanz is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:40 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Caincando1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Dodge Center, MN
Posts: 820

Bikes: Trek Pilot 1.0

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I gotta shower after I work up a lather. I just gotta....
Caincando1 is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:43 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
cyclezealot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Posts: 13,230

Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1485 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 64 Posts
Not a concern since we had showers. However, those giant sized body wash wipes work quite effectively.
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living










^ Since January 1, 2012
cyclezealot is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 02:56 PM
  #7  
SERENITY NOW!!!
 
jyossarian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the 212
Posts: 8,738

Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Check the commuting forum. For me, I take a shower, put on my work clothes and ride to work. Wipe down w/ a towel, use a moist towlette and I'm ready for work. Give yourself a few mins. to cool down when you get to work.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR



We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
jyossarian is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 04:58 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 96

Bikes: 2008 Specialized Sirrus Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
Mine is about 7 miles. When I start riding, I'll have Gina drop me off on the way as she works in the same direction. We get off at different hours so it'll work out.

I just can't start the day without taking a shower and feeling fresh. A sink bath just wouldn't do it for me!
that's exactly what i'm feelin. I'd feel gross all day.
dvon1981 is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 05:50 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
st0ut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: new england
Posts: 748

Bikes: Wife Trek 7100, GT lola, specialzed Hotrock, Trek Grommet, dead Trek 5200(KIA rear derailer failed and brok frame), and Trek 720 (Died of neglect when the 5200 became a stable mate)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
next week i start a new job where i'll be commuting at least partially all day and sometime hopefully up to 25miles one way.

i'll stage shower and clenup stuff at work.. AXE spray and then cool down in the lab / datacenter.
mmmm Will i feel groos.. no.
will i look good helll yeah. i am a clyde but after a year if getting serious about weight loss I am cut clyde.
st0ut is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:13 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
jaxgtr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,866

Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 761 Post(s)
Liked 1,720 Times in 1,004 Posts
Originally Posted by cyclezealot
Not a concern since we had showers. However, those giant sized body wash wipes work quite effectively.
+1. These are nice
__________________
Brian | 2023 Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS | 2023 Trek CheckPoint SL 7 AXS | 2016 Trek Emonda ALR | 2022 Trek FX Sport 5
Originally Posted by AEO
you should learn to embrace change, and mock it's failings every step of the way.



jaxgtr is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:20 PM
  #11  
Bikezilla
 
Mazama's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Flori-Duh
Posts: 881

Bikes: Co-Motion Mazama

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'd feel gross. Maybe if I shoered before I left and then toweled off whn I got there..
Mazama is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:22 PM
  #12  
If you fail, make it epic
 
AndrewCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: D/FW, TX
Posts: 178

Bikes: Fuji Newest 3.0 ('07), Trek Verve 2 Disc ('20), MTB/Sport Bike coming soon.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I don't take a shower, ride into work and shower there (the office building has better water pressure than my place anyway).
AndrewCO is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:34 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
natbla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 369

Bikes: 2011 Chinese Carbon Road, 2012 Giant Talon 1 29er, 2018 Mongoose Salvo Supa

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I keep a towel at work to wipe off when I get there. I generally shower before going, put on ant-perspirent, and take the anti-perspirent with me. I stay in my cycling clothes while I cool down and get my office up and running.Then I go to the bath room and change. I wipe excess moisture, reapply the anti-perspirent, and then get dress with the cloths I brought into work. I ride 16-19 miles to work (depending on route).

Only thing that people notice is if I forget to brush my hair and I show up at my first meeting with helmet head.
natbla is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:39 PM
  #14  
Keep on, keepin on
 
B Piddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: La Crescent, MN
Posts: 228

Bikes: IRO Jamie Roy Custom build, Giant Sedona, '06 Trek Madone 5.2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Shower before you go
Bring work clothes
Get some pit-stick going
Clean up in the sink
Baby wipes

Easy as that - yeah I feel a little overheated for about 10 minutes or so, but I get to work early enough so I'm cooled off when it's time to start dealing with the common folk. Gross? not a bit. All the ladies at work know I bike commute in and I always catch them checking me out...that's right ladies...clyde power.

I'm more ready to work after a bike commute than I ever was during a car commute. The company should offer me an incentive for cutting down on parking, pollution, and added productivity.
B Piddy is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 06:46 PM
  #15  
me ride bike good
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: outside Boston, MA
Posts: 462

Bikes: Trek 4300; Trek 1.5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have a shower at work, so I am fortunate, but I would shower at home, pack your work clothes, plan to arrive a bit early and cool down for 20-30 minutes-does your building have a picnic table outside? maybe chill there and drink some water and cool off. Then, wipes or wet towel/dry towel method, change and voila!
77midget is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 07:36 PM
  #16  
Everybody relax, I'm here
 
haenous's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
yah, it cuts down the average time of meetings as well jk i shower when i get there.
haenous is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 07:51 PM
  #17  
Infamous Member
 
chipcom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 24,360

Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
I just can't start the day without taking a shower and feeling fresh. A sink bath just wouldn't do it for me!
Take your shower before you ride to work. Then use the sink to clean up when you get to work. It's worked for me for many years of places without showers and I have to go back to it again in a couple weeks when we move to a new (showerless) building.

Sure, it's nice to be able to shower at work, but the lack of a shower isn't a deal-breaker when it comes to commuting by bike, though it does seem to be used by many as an excuse why they don't do so.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey

Last edited by chipcom; 07-15-08 at 07:54 PM.
chipcom is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 08:01 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
lil brown bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Boston (sort of)
Posts: 3,878

Bikes: 1 road, 1 Urban Assault Vehicle

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by dvon1981
that's exactly what i'm feelin. I'd feel gross all day.
Well...you may just be a rather fastidious person, and you may be in a situation where you live in an air-conditioned house and drive an air-conditioned car to your air-conditioned office, and never really have to sweat except when you decide to do so for exercise. However, having air conditioning everywhere you go, not having to do any physical labor, and having hot and cold running water every fifteen feet is a relatively recent phenomenon, one that most of the planet still doesn't enjoy -- including most people in the United States. Most people don't live their lives in an air conditioned bubble, the sun shines down on them, they need to walk down the street in the heat, and they sweat. If they're "gross", then it's "gross" to be a human being who sweats and excretes and all that good stuff.
lil brown bat is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 08:04 PM
  #19  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 39

Bikes: Giant Sedona DX, Giant OCR 3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No shower at work for me. I (try to) ride 10 miles every morning, but, my short ride is only 6 miles....and by the time I get back to the house I'm soaked with sweat, so I need to shower.

My work is 15 miles one way and that's using interstate highways that bicycles are prohibited. If I take roads that it is legal to ride bikes it would be over 25 miles one way. So, biking to work is out of the question for me....at this time anyway.

I moved into a house 2 years ago, but before then I lived in a condo 1.5 miles away from my office. That would have been a perfect commute for me.

I envy those who are in a position to commute to work using their bicycles. I see a lot of them and I always make it a point to check out their bikes.

Best,
Brian
PAJ3Cub is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 08:06 PM
  #20  
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Solve your shower problem for just $30.00 - set this up on the lawn of your business or a nearby park.


(I don't believe the girl is included in the $30 price.)

Portable Camp Shower / Shelter Combo
Here at army surplus world we carry a portable camp shower / shelter combo. The portable camp shower is 30" x 30" x 72"h. The portable camp shower has heavy-duty rip-stop waterproof polyethylene walls, a fiberglass pole frame system, durable web straps with quick-release buckle to secure frame and shower for hanging, a large 5 gal. capacity camp shower, and the black polyethylene shower attracts warmth from the sun for heating water. The portable camp shower meets C.P.A. I. -84 flame ******ant specifications. The portable camp shower comes complete with a heavy duty carry / storage bag with straps, full length zipper and informational panel. Order your portable camp shower today.
Purchase Options
Description: Portable Camp Shower / Shelter Combo
Stock Number: 01086
Our Price: $29.95

Last edited by DnvrFox; 07-15-08 at 08:15 PM.
DnvrFox is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 09:11 PM
  #21  
Chubby super biker
 
bdinger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,980
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I've commuted for over a year now and honestly the "gross" thing is in your head. Always shower immediately before leaving and wear clean cycling clothes, carrying a completely different change of CLEAN work clothes or pre-staging those clean clothes.

For me the ticket is a clean shampoo'd head after my ride. I have a shower in my building but honestly I generally skip it in favor of just a sink and a bottle of herbal essences. Seriously, comfort wise that made the difference like night and day for me. I also soap and rinse the nether regions.

I have an assistant across the hall and four marketing girls who, believe me, wouldn't hesitate to let me know of unfavorable smells. so far, zero complaints.

Its 99% in your head. After doing it for a month, driving the car will feel gross.
bdinger is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 09:24 PM
  #22  
Support JDRF
 
b_young's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 925

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Specialized Roubaix Elite

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
If its my week in the training center we have a shower there. Otherwise, I work at a nuke plant. Steam lines everywhere and the normal temp is around 110-125 so no real worries. I do keep clean clothes, a towel and extra deo at work though. As long as you shower before you ride and wipe down when you get there you shouldn't have any problems
b_young is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 09:34 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
+1 on all the suggestions regarding showering first, bringing work clothes, wearing cycling clothes, etc. Been working great for me so far (added bonus for this year - the weather hasn't been bad enough that I haven't been sweating enough that I would have to clean up after I got the cycling clothes off). After I get there and change into the work clothes, I feel just the same as if I drove there in my work clothes (minus the benefits of exercise of course).
Glenn1234 is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 09:52 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Snohomish Washington
Posts: 306

Bikes: Trek Portland

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I ride 13.5 miles to work with 750 feet of elevation gain, all in the last 4 miles. So I am a sweaty mess.

Luckily we have showers and I have a locker.

One day I notcied that I was having a smell "issue" with some of my clothes. It turned out to be my shirt, which had picked up a smell from my backpack.

I slipped off to the locker room and put on a spare shirt.

The next day I discreetly asked the woman who sits next to me if she had noticed anything. She said she had. I asked her to let me know if it happens again. So we are smell buddies (for want of a better word).
djwright is offline  
Old 07-15-08, 10:09 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
st0ut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: new england
Posts: 748

Bikes: Wife Trek 7100, GT lola, specialzed Hotrock, Trek Grommet, dead Trek 5200(KIA rear derailer failed and brok frame), and Trek 720 (Died of neglect when the 5200 became a stable mate)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by djwright
I ride 13.5 miles to work with 750 feet of elevation gain, all in the last 4 miles. So I am a sweaty mess.

Luckily we have showers and I have a locker.

One day I notcied that I was having a smell "issue" with some of my clothes. It turned out to be my shirt, which had picked up a smell from my backpack.

I slipped off to the locker room and put on a spare shirt.

The next day I discreetly asked the woman who sits next to me if she had noticed anything. She said she had. I asked her to let me know if it happens again. So we are smell buddies (for want of a better word).
with benefits?
st0ut is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.