Hey Everyone,

I joined this forum a while back but haven't been active. I am primarily a runner but love biking. I have a running related injury (piriformis muscle syndrome) that has sidelined me since Jan 1st and I probably will not be able to run again for a few months. So, now is my opportunity to cross train and do some serious biking and hopefully fix my sights on a century ride. I'm thinking about riding to work which will take about an hour. The main thing that holds me back is that for some reason I feel goofy doing it. Maybe it's my age - 41. And, the logistics. We have a shower at work but I'm not sure what to do about my clothes. We have to wear nice slacks and ties. Maybe bring in a week's worth?

Can someone push me over the edge and get me going?

You're down there in the warm, should be no problem getting going! My winter commute was about an hour each way (22km or 14 miles) and I never thought I would be able to do it, but once I tried, it was no problem (other than the weather!). The key is GET STARTED! , then things fall into place. I bring a change of clothes with me every day in my panniers, plus I have some stuff that I keep at work (coat, work boots) so I don't have to carry them back and forth. Showering at work has not been an issue for me, I leave very early in the morning (5:30 or 6:00 am) before it gets too hot, plus I drive for 30 minutes after I bike, so I'm cooled down by the time I get to work.
Age is no excuse, I'm 48, just started seriously commuting last August.

Do it!

I keep a couple of suits at work, with shoes, and carry fresh socks, underwear and shirt.

It's not a problem, though I do have access to a shower.

You just have to make up your mind to commit to the bike. I carry my office clothes every day in a trunk bag, I live in new england so the weather never is good, I have panniers on the bike with all sorts of clothing, parts and tool, I have a night rider on the bike because I'm always in the dark and fenders becuse it always rains. I go 18.5 miles each way, it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, I'm 48 years old this month and have been doing this for years. I don't bike because I need to, I bike because I want to, it brings life down to a speed the human mind can tollerate. Don't talk about , DO IT.

Its just a matter of biting the bullet and doing it. I toyed with it in my head for several months. After I finally decided to start commuting, and grinned and beared the first week, it was easy after. This forum has tons of useful information on bike commuting.

As for clothing, there are a few options. First you can drive once in awhile, and bring in several changes of clothing at one time. This works great in the first few weeks when you are learning the ropes. I found however, that I wanted to customize my clothes based on the weather of each day. So I bought a rear rack, and some panniers. Now I bring my change of clothes and shoes to work each day.

We are not required to wear nice slacks and a tie. However occasionally, I dress up and wear just that. (minus the tie). Its not too difficult to get your clothes to work wrinkle free if you pack them right. I use a rolling technique that works pretty good. There are very few wrinkles at all in my clothes. And I arrange them so most of them develop on the back of my shirt (where they end up anyways with wear).

The more you ride in to work, the more you will enjoy doing it. I actively look for extra miles to ride to and from work now. Then I found myself joining a bike club, and pretty much going nuts with the whole thing.

Remember if you bring your clothes daily, put them in the large two-gallon ziploc bags if you think you might get rained on. It's a life saver.

Here are some motivators that got me going in the first place:


Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips
Bicycle Commuting
Bicycle Commuting Guide
Bike Commuting and Transportation

How silly do you think a grey-bearded, fat, 53-year-old looks?

I prefer to take several changes of clothes at a time so I don't forget. If you are going to carry clothes in a pannier, you might look at a thing called a PackIt made by Eagle Creek, available at many stores that carry travel related stuff. It is an envelope sort of thing that keeps shirts (even starched dress shirts) and slacks great looking. Some shirts come out looking even better than they went in because they get "pressed". I had been using one for years for business travel. I have the 18" one which is a bit large but fits in a large pannier. If I were to buy another I would get the 15" model.

Just get started and come back here for advice about lights, panniers, raingear, etc., as you need them. You probably already have a backpack you can get started with. A waterproof messenger bag works very well if you don't want to ride a bike with a rack. I really prefer panniers so I don't have anything hanging on my body. If you really get into it you might look for an old Schwinn or other decent 10-speed to put rack, etc. on. You can often pick one up for $15-50 from goodwill type stores, garage sales, classifieds. Heck, I found an old Trek in fine shape on someone's trash pile! It's a great fixed gear. That and an old Schwinn I converted to single speed freewheel are my primary commuters now.

Regular unleaded $1.69 a gallon.

Wow, that's cheap.. That's what it was 6 months ago here. Now its at least $2.03 a gallon now. Some places as high as $2.30

don't feel goofy - having a shower at work makes it easy

bring in 2/3 pairs of pants and 5/6 shirts and get em dry cleaned near your office - you can stuff boxers, undershirts and socks in a bag on a daily basis

trust me, its alot of fun - I get grumpy when I can't ride to work

oh, and pinerider, while we may not be as far north as you, 'down there in the warm' doesn't quite do justice to our winter temps!! :-)

Don't get the Europeans started again!

Hey, Bean, there's nothing sexier than a mature, athletic man with the self-assurance to wear spandex in public.

Hey Everyone and thanks for the comments! I'm getting really psyched and am hoping to do it this Friday. The route I would be taking passes by Mt Vernon and is on the Mt Vernon Trail along the Potomac River. The more I think about it the more it seems like a great ride every morning with the sun coming up then in the evening...especially at spring time. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks!

I'm 41. Been at this for years. I am "customer facing", meaning that I attempt (at least) to look good at work. I take the clothes in with me daily. I leave shoes at work. I shower at work. I take anywhere from 45 mins to 1h15m, depending on course.

I run a lot and view the combo of biking & running as the ultimate cross-training. I had a nasty case of plantar f...itis from running last summar and biking saved me from turning into a marshmallow.

Biking affords you a level of anonymity, but I've been at it so long that everyone knows me and my bike!!

Glad to have one more person commuting in the metro DC area.

Personally, I wear my work clothing (slacks, jacket, and tie) and just treat the bike as a car -- hop on, and go. This works for me because

a) my trip is only 10-12 miles round trip,
b) my bike is an upright european city bike with fenders, chainguard, lights, etc., and (probably most significantly)
c) I'm not in training for anything, so my level of effort is about equal to walking.

I'm not sure how relevant my experience is to you, as I have a far shorter trip and don't ride very hard. Unless your company provides you with a reserved parking space in Old Town, the motivation to ride, rather than drive, should be easy to find.

Paul

I second the leaving your shoes at work idea. It frees up a lot of space in the pannier and why would you want to wear those stuffy dress/work shoes at home anyway? I have a pair of nice shoes at home and one pair at work so i am covered if I need to go somewhere nice when at home. Of course, showing up to work and changing my shoes makes me feel a little like Mr. Rogers (he never wore cycling shoes on his show that I am aware of though!) but it is a lot more convenient for me to do that. Maybe one of these days I'll start keeping cardigans at work and talking to my computer monitor like a real person.

I leave my dress shoes at work. When I want to wear sneakers or sandals to work, I have to haul them in. Does anyone have the shimano sandals? I know they are stiff, but are the comfortable enough to actually wear aside from biking (ie. sitting in a cube, going to lunch, walking to meetings)? I am assuming not.

HumanBean - Welcome to the forums


I have the luxury of a locker in the shower room at in my current job so I keep my trousers and shoes there. Shirt, tie and underpants are brought in everyday. I do though keep spares in my locker for the days I forget something.

In my old job I would leave my trousers hanging up at my desk and my shoes under it.

Enjoy the commuting and when the running injury heals you could always try and run in for a challenge!

You need motivation ?? I paid $2.15 for 1 gallon of gas this morning... I would commute by bike, but it is just over 30 miles each way with a few 6% hills between my house and work. My company is moving in June, probably make my commute about 10 miles each way... then I will save all sorts of cash... of course I will use that for new bike stuff...

so uhhh.... suck it up.. get on yer bike and move it !

Jeff

Do you know anyone that lives and works in the same vicinity as you? My wife and I work only 1/2 a mile apart, she drives to work and I ride. I put my bag in the car and ride to the carpark to pick it up. My office is across the road from the carpark, so I never have to carry clothes or food. I hope this helps.

CHEERS.

Mark

When I commute, I leave my shoes at work. I have found that toweling off with a wet washcloth is the most effective way to freshen up after your morning commute. Take a shower before you ride, and you won't smell. It sounds counter intuitive, but using a washcloth will cool you off faster than taking a shower. Something about the thin film of water evaporating faster and taking the heat away probably.

One last thing. Don't ever forget the comb .

PS. $1.85 per gallon of unleaded here!

Considering the showers at my office have little to no hot water, I get cooled down pretty quick with them

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Do you have a place where you can leave your biking clothes to dry during the day? If you do, you should be all set. Consider panniers, as a backpack tends to make you sweat more. Add other equipment (lights, raingear, comp etc) as needed.

Leave yourself with plenty of time for your first commute. After a couple of weeks you will know your riding time to the minute. You will also develop a personal relationship with every turn, hill and pothole in your route. Goofy? Yes, and lots of fun. Enjoy!

--J

Why not start gradually. Drive to work, leave some clothes there. Cycle in the next day, with minimal luggage, and get the feel of the routine.
The logistics of cycle commuting are not brain surgery and you will soon get the idea; things like leaving a heavy lock at work, or rolling up your shirt to avoid creasing. With a bike that can fit a luggage rack and pannier bags, carrying stuff is simply not a problem. Dont be afraid to spend some money on a cycling solution. Compared to any other form of transport, you will save money in the long run. Many people feel that cycling should be done on a budget of pennies, but it will be easier with equipment of reasonable quality.

When you ride on the road, ride like a vehicle, but dont necessarily use the car route. Get a good map and explore alternatives to save time, or avoid tricky junctions.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Inkwolf
[B]Don't get the Europeans started again!

Just noticed the price at the pumps, in my village has gone up to 83 pence a LITTRE about $1.30...yes that IS a ltr.

Do`snt bother me tho`. No car, and cycle commuted for over 30 yrs and loved every one of them (well almost )

Congrats, HumanBean! You're going to love this. The next best thing to riding in is riding home!

I have to wear a shirt and tie too. What I do is iron 5 shirts and bring them in Sunday night. I have a suit and a couple pair of slacks hanging on the back of my door. A couple of pairs of dress shoes under my desk. We also have showers and lockers here. And just in case, I keep some deodorant and baby wipes in my file cabinet.

When it's cool and I don't have a hard workout ride scheduled, I just shower and dress at home and ride in like that. If you take it easy and fix your helmet hair in the elevator, you look just like a normal person.

If you have clipless pedals it may be worth it to get a pair you can walk in easily if you have to keep your bike away from your office.

And most importantly: ENJOY THE RIDE!