How do I carry a shirt?
 

I thought I had everything figured out for this weeks commuting when I was ferrying my work clothes, and then realized I had left a shirt (the traditional button down collar Oxford cloth) at home. I'm able to get my lunch and other stuff I need in this, yet I can't think of how I could fold a shirt to fit in there and not have it come out wrinkled. I've got a laptop bag I've never riden with before that would probably work, but I'm hoping that someone else on this forum has the answer to yet another one of my questions.

Looks like you already have a rack on your bike, to carry that trunk bag thing...so your best bet is to get a set of panniers to hang on it. (Or just one pannier, for that matter.) That will give you more than enough space for a change of clothes, and lots of other stuff besides.

The more you commute, the more you'll be glad for the extra space, both for times when you need to carry extra stuff for work, and when you want to do errands or shopping before you go home.

Get something like this http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-Pa.../dp/B00007FB59, or do something similar, like folding your shirt and then sandwiching it between two .... plates??? And then strap it to the side of your trunkbag... or just wear the darn thing and don't ride fast enough to get all sweaty.

panniers.

there is one set by jandd (i believe) that is dressier cloths friendly, will explore links for you. all in all, pannier set (front/rear or both) with rack pack, should be more than enough to carry what you need!

Fancy work shirt? Have it cleaned at a cleaner near the office and store it there?

Roll it.

Panniers are on the wish list. I've had hard bags on my motorcycles, and got spoiled by being able to carry so much stuff in them. But I'm wondering how to do this for one day here, and manage to work up a sweat just walking downstairs to get to the bicycle. I can shower when I get to my girlfriends house and finish my commute, but I can't wash the shirt and have it look good if I wear it over there.

My dress button down shirts roll up and fit most anywhere. If you fold it narrow enough (and you're smaller than a 3x, you can even roll it in a ziplock and stand it on end in the waterbottle cage.

I could try that before I run out, would it work best if I folded the sides in like I was going to fold it and then rolled it?

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple...0151-1,00.html

then you can roll it to make it even smaller

jandd #FCGBP "commuter garment bag pannier" $197.00 plus s/h @ jandd.com ...

i personally think you have better options for garment transport, as other's have suggested,
but here is another option!

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Roll it like the others said, but then put it in a 1-gallon Zip-Loc bag and squeeze all the air out as you seal it. The shirt should come out relatively wrinkle-free (or close enough), and it'll take up the least amount of space in your bag. It'll stay dry, too.

+1

I considered the trunk bag option but opted for a single pannier instead. I'm a high school administrator and in the summer the kids and teachers are gone so we're very casual - shorts and a polo are generally OK.

Occasionally, I've needed to look a bit more presentable for doing interviews or meetings. I have found that a single TransIt DX from Performance holds a pair of khakis, work socks, a white undershirt, and a polo shirt (all rolled) along with my small planner, a belt, and a thermos of coffee. They're quite spacious and the price is right!

I'm not sure how/if I'll get a dress shirt in there when we start up in the fall - I know it will fit, but I'm not sure about the wrinkling... I'll give it a try, but I also have my eye on this garment pannier from Performance.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

Their way is to easy to flub up. When I need a really good fold job, I do their steps and fold it around a National Geo. After the last fold, slide out the Geo and Presto Perfect!... yea then roll it...careful on the collar.

Roll it for sure. Also, consider shopping at travelsmith.com or other places that cater to people who have to wear clothes right out of the suitcase or wash things on the fly--wear no-iron shirts, crinkle fabrics that don't show wrinkles, micro-fiber stuff, etc. A lot of travel clothes are less than chic, but if you are only shooting for unobjectionable they work fine.

Another vote for rolling. That's what I do with my pants and shirt.

I iron the shirt the night before and let it and the trousers stay on regular hangers overnight. In the morning when I get up, I roll both. For the shirt, just take some time make sure that the 4 panels of the short are laid out flat and wrinkle free before you start rolling. By the "4 panels", I mean the fronts from the side seams and the 2 panels that the back turns into. Neatly fold the arms over onto 1 side. Start rolling at the bottom because that will wrinkle, but the tails get tucked in anyway.

I've got a 30-35 minute ride, so the shirt is in the backpack for an hour or so. I pull the pants/shirt out when I get to the fitness center where I shower and hang them up. It takes me a few minutes to cool down before I can shower, but by the time I'm out of the shower, any "ride wrinkles" are pretty much gone.

I use a backpack. I've thought about getting a rear rack and garment bag, but I'm not convinced that clothes will stay dry in a garment bag.

I folded it like it showed in the link, then rolled it up and put it in the big baggie with a rubber band around it to keep it from unfolding. There are a few wrinkles in it, but those might come out before I need to wear it. I can get them out with the iron if needed. Thanks for the tips!

I'm thinking of creating my own solution for this. Two pieces of plywood with the shirt between, bolted together with wing bolts and nuts. Should keep it quite neat I guess.

yes

I have been using these for 6 years and I work in a shirt and tie office. I have no problems..with them. It fits nicly into my backpack, messenger bar or a pannier with no problems.

Roll it

I always keep one shirt and pair of pants at the office on hangers that I change into after commuting. For commuting to work, I roll a shirt and pants, put them in my messenger bag and put them on hangers upon arrival.The pants and shirt I just unrolled have a day to unwrinkle on the hangers before I need them the next day.

Garment pannier, if you get your shirts done professionally. Rolling a professionally pressed shirt makes it look like you slept in it. Starched shirts look even worse if you roll them.

If you have someplace to use it at work, one of those handheld clothes steamers is a great way to get your stuff wrinkle free after folding/rolling it for your commute.

How long is your commute? If you just gently fold (or roll) it and put it on top of your bag it should be fine. I've slowly been switching all of my dress shirts over the the wrinkle-free kind. They're great for commuting.

Edit: By "on top" of your bag I don't mean shock-corded to the outside. I just meant put it on top of everything else you've got inside.