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The solution for sweaty smelly bike clothes at work.

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The solution for sweaty smelly bike clothes at work.

Old 07-28-16, 01:51 PM
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guess the OP isn't worried about ... "Shrinkage"

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Old 07-28-16, 01:54 PM
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I will admit I have not read this whole thread, I kinda wandered off at sticking stuff in the freezer. But I came back because, other than my helmet, I wash everything every time I wear it, doesn't everyone? I take a shower right before I leave for work. Even when I rode 14 miles each way to work my stuff never stunk. And trust me, my co workers would have told me.
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Old 07-28-16, 02:09 PM
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When I get done riding my clothes are literally dripping wet. Same for any moderately strenuous activity I engage in for more than about half an hour. I would have to remember to take my frozen clothes out to thaw an hour before I left work.


If you get to store your bike inside, hang your clothes on your bike. If not, see if you can get a coat rack in your bathroom or hooks under your desk. When I commute I dry out my morning kit and wear it again for the afternoon ride. Cycling clothes dry out pretty quickly.




The freezer trick is for people who have bought expensive blue jeans and don't want to "wear them out" by washing them. Some people swear by it, and those people must not have active sweat glands.
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Old 07-28-16, 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by making
I wash everything every time I wear it, doesn't everyone?
for the first year or so of bike commuting I wrapped everything in plastic and put it in my bag in the basement. I had a fresh dry set for the ride home. 2 sets every day that I did the ride(s) washed both every night
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Old 07-28-16, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
for the first year or so of bike commuting I wrapped everything in plastic and put it in my bag in the basement. I had a fresh dry set for the ride home. 2 sets every day that I did the ride(s) washed both every night
And since that first year you woke up and realized you didn't want to spend your life doing laundry?
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Old 07-28-16, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
And since that first year you woke up and realized you didn't want to spend your life doing laundry?
haha yeah now i just keep buying freezers

no, then our office moved to a place with a shower and a boiler room where I could hang my stuff, but I still used fresh shorts for the ride home

btw I do a load of laundry every day, which includes work dress clothes and 2 sets of gym clothes cuz i go to the gym twice a day
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Old 07-29-16, 07:11 PM
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showering in the bathroom sink
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Old 07-31-16, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
haha yeah now i just keep buying freezers

no, then our office moved to a place with a shower and a boiler room where I could hang my stuff, but I still used fresh shorts for the ride home

btw I do a load of laundry every day, which includes work dress clothes and 2 sets of gym clothes cuz i go to the gym twice a day
You might consider buying more gym outfits and more work dress clothes, or a larger washer so that you can ease up on a daily laundry ritual. Or perhaps you go daily to a public laundromat in order to socialize; if that is the case ignore the advice.
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Old 07-31-16, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
You might consider buying more gym outfits and more work dress clothes, or a larger washer so that you can ease up on a daily laundry ritual. Or perhaps you go daily to a public laundromat in order to socialize; if that is the case ignore the advice.
I've got it easy, washer/dryer is in the master bath off my master bedroom
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Old 07-31-16, 07:01 PM
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I just hang my riding clothes on a hanger for the day. By the time I leave for home my riding clothes are dry. Never had any complaints about them smelling
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Old 08-01-16, 02:27 AM
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i rigged up a drying line under my desk in my cubicle and hang my clothes there.
to address the odor issue i put a bag of bamboo charcoal and it works really well.

on days i get caught in the rain, i will put my clothes between a few layers of newspaper for an hour or so before hanging it up.

on a side note, on days when i my shoes got wet (rain or puddle splash) i find that stuffing them with newspaper help tremendously in pulling our the moisture for the insides of the shoes and help in making them dry faster.
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Old 08-01-16, 11:35 AM
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Are you folks saying that your body odor emanates from your cycling clothing? I checked mine, and it's not giving anything off.
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Old 08-09-16, 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
Are you folks saying that your body odor emanates from your cycling clothing? I checked mine, and it's not giving anything off.


mine aren't either. But then again they are frozen right now.

Maybe I should stick a box of baking soda in the bag with them.
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Old 08-09-16, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
Are you folks saying that your body odor emanates from your cycling clothing? I checked mine, and it's not giving anything off.
That's what I was wondering. I sweat rather copiously, but I wear my (not padded) shorts 3-5 times, and my shirt 2 times before replacing them. They're Target's "Duo Dry Max" athletic clothes; they really wick moisture and dry quickly. I've never had any problem with odor.
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Old 08-09-16, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by ypsetihw
get a coat hook and hang it under your desk, like they do at bars for ladies purses, that way you can hang your stuff without it being obvious. then, get a small fan and point it at your jersey/shorts, and they will be dry and odor free in like an hour (assuming you commute in cycling kit). I do this in my own office, and it works like a charm. as long as you wash your shorts and use a fresh jersey every day, you should have no issues. FWIW I also keep cologne, deodorant, and fresh clothes (especially socks and underwear) at work, and I've never had an issue.
I tried hanging my clothes up in my cube once. After about 3 days, several of my coworkers had complained to the boss. I now hang them in the locker. I have a fresh shirt every day and it's pretty horrible by evening.

Wool doesn't smell, but I can't afford a lot of wool even on sale. Also the only wool I owned got moth eaten about a month after I got it.
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Old 08-09-16, 01:55 PM
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my friend and I would commute together to the same government building for work. He used to hang up his shorts and have a fan blowing on them to dry them out. He got counseled that having the bike shorts / fan setup was unprofessional to look at and also caused a smell and to stop doing it...

I actually found that the easiest way to solve the problem was to lay my bike shorts on my office chair (the seat not the back) and sit on them while working... I guess the combination of my body heat and the absorbtion of my work slacks worked so that my shorts were dry by the time lunch rolled around without any extra smell...

oh and my shorts are the mountain bike variety (due to it having pockets and also my own modesty).
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Old 08-09-16, 02:31 PM
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Wear a wool undershirt, or bring a fresh undershirt to change into, and put the sweaty undershirt in a pannier or backpack. Even if your clothes don't have a strong odor, others in the office might not appreciate seeing you airing out your dirty laundry in an office environment. It's also possible that some find the odors more offensive than you suspect.
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