Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Commuting: How do you transition between ride and desk?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Commuting: How do you transition between ride and desk?

Old 08-07-08, 12:50 PM
  #26  
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 33
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I post a sign that says "Don't come in unless you want to see me naked" on the bathroom door, and wipe myself down airport-style with wet paper towels. Pretty effective.
ehron is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:01 PM
  #27  
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 25

Bikes: Trek 7.2 FX and an old mountain beater

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got a gym membership one mile from my office. I shower there and ride the last mile in my work clothes. I still don't fully cool down, but at least I smell pretty.
MrBri is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:03 PM
  #28  
Longing for a Tail Wind
 
Stickney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: I wish I were in South Dakota
Posts: 461
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Skimming over the entries -- it really helps if you have an employer or boss that is supportive of commuting by bike to work. Showers are nice, places to store bikes good, but without a bit of flexibility by your employer it can be difficult.

That said, I have a good employer, but I frequently say thanks for the flexibility, while also making sure I don't abuse the privilege. Thankfully, these rising gas prices and poor economy have really made more and more people stop thinking I am a bit of loon and start thinking that I am pretty smart.
Stickney is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:04 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
 
rando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 2,968
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have a desk fan I bought and I just turn it up all the way and aim it at my head. works pretty well. cools me down in about 15-20 min. make sure any papers on your desk are weighed down though. I set mine up in my comapony's library and surf the web a bit while I cool off.
__________________
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen

Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
rando is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:07 PM
  #30  
Strong with the Fred
 
Big_e's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 970
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I get to work early enough to cool down and take a duck bath. I ride in my biking shorts and either a t-shirt or biking jersey. I bring my clothes rolled up neatly in my messenger bag and change after my small bath. It gets kinda hot here in TX too but suprisingly, I don't sweat much as long as I keep a brisk pace and keep a breeze going on myself.
Ernest
Big_e is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:17 PM
  #31  
peaced out
 
deez's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 669
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm usually pretty sweat soaked when i get in. We've got an old office building and all the offices have window AC units (no central air) and I've got a desk fan in mine as well. I hang my shirt up and blast myself with the fan and AC for a minute or two until i'm dry and cool then put on a dry shirt, then do the same with my shorts. I hang my wet clothes on a hangar in the corner and go wash my face and grab a cuppa and get down to work.

I keep a pick in my desk draw so I can put my hair in some kind of order rather than helmet head.

I'd love it if we had a shower, but I'm pretty OK with my setup.
deez is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:36 PM
  #32  
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 Marylandnewbie
When I get to work I put my bike in a trainer and spin pointlessly for 15 minutes. I find this helps me transition from a purposeful, goal oriented behavior to a pointless, repetitive one more easily
Dude, that's a keeper!

To be perfectly honest, as I have gotten older, my cool down time seems to consist of sitting on the crapper before washing up or showering. No matter if I go before leaving or not, I really gotta go by the time I get to work.
__________________
"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; 08-07-08 at 01:39 PM.
chipcom is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 01:47 PM
  #33  
Barbieri Telefonico
 
huhenio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 3,522

Bikes: Crappy but operational secondhand Motobecane Messenger

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
dismount

get in the building

open two main gates

push more or less 10 500 pound motorcycles and lay them out neatly

push my bike inside

change clothes

.... I don't sweat on the way in. Check where I live.
__________________
Giving Haircuts Over The Phone
huhenio is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 02:11 PM
  #34  
Senior Member
 
tarwheel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,900

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
When I bike commute, I leave home about 30 minutes earlier than when I drive. The last mile of my 10-mile commute, I take it easy and spin. When I get to my office, I boot up my computer, launch several applications, and read some email for a few minutes while I cool down. Then I take a shower and put on my work clothes. When it's really hot and humid, I sometimes will take a cool shower. Then I go get a cup of coffee and sip it while I read more emails.
tarwheel is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 02:23 PM
  #35  
dabbler
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Somerville, MA, USA
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
- 4 mile commute: I cruise slowly the last half mile, then have a fan on my desk to bleed off the bit of excess heat for 5 mins when the air has stopped moving around me. Works very well.
sping is offline  
Old 08-07-08, 07:29 PM
  #36  
Comfortably Numb!
 
BA Commuter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Jabip
Posts: 943

Bikes: Jamis Commuter 3.0

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I wear wicking t-shirts, which make a big difference compared to wearing cotton Ts. I also keep a few button down shirts in a coat closet to change into. I wash my face in the men's room and bring a fresh towel to dry off. I cool down with a fan on my desk and use a little body powder. By the time my PC is booted up, I feel ready to start my day and have a lite breakfast.

It does get pretty hot/humid around the Philly/Absurdistan border. In addition, we have showers in the gym, but I haven't felt the need to use them...
BA Commuter is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 04:20 AM
  #37  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 194
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
1) I work in an office that requires business casual (button down shirts, slacks, dress shoes, tie optional)
2) I commute daily by bike 7 miles in around 25 minutes
3) I live in Gainesville Florida, home of The Swamp, so I know hot and muggy
4) I do not have shower facilities at work (yet, but I'm working on it).

I leave my shoes & belt at work, so that's less to carry. I also pack my lunch considering weight more than what I want to eat . Less weight=less work=less sweat. I starch my shirt and slacks and roll them up tight in my pannier. I generally arrive to work 30 minutes early, and just sit at my desk and cool off while replying to emails, etc. About 5 til, I'll make the walk to go change in the bathroom (which for some reason is not A/C at the same level as the rest of the building). Splash water on face and anywhere else that may need it, paper towel off. Change and back to the desk to cool off in stage 2 for another 20 mins or so. At this point I'm pretty much good to go.

I like the recommendation of cooling off for the last mile. My commute for the last mile is generally downhill, so this would work great, except I have to turn left across 6 lanes of traffic and there's a very short window of opportunity to take the lane usually. I tend to treat this as a field sprint, and that I'm Mark Cavendish (to the point of holding my arms out when I'm in the turn lane and pointing at my imaginary sponsors on my imaginary jersey, mostly to amuse my wife who's probably 20m behind me still cruising along ;-) ). So this tends to get my heart rate up, but it's fun and necessary, so cooling off the last mile doesn't work for me.

A fan might help cool off quicker. I used one for a while but I don't really need it. So that's what I do, and it works well for me. Hope this helps.

Last edited by pinkpowa; 08-08-08 at 04:25 AM.
pinkpowa is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 04:49 AM
  #38  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 987
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
huh?

I wear a merino wool T shirt and Rivendells MUSA, nonpadded, quick drying, shorts so I am pretty dry but I change to my work shirt and a pair of jeans plus my shop apron. I wear the same
Teva sandals and wool socks as when I am riding. I asked and everyone says I do not smell so this is all I do after a ride, except drink some more water.
charles vail is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 05:28 AM
  #39  
Member
 
iflyskyhawks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 49

Bikes: 2006 Felt F75, 2005 Gary Fisher Tassajara

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Commute to work in bike clothes. Lock bike in bicycle rack at my employer. Drip sweat like a waterfall for the first few moments after stopping (so I usually take my time while locking up my bike to get over this initial "rush of sweat" - finish off my sport drink, etc. while in the parking garage).

Hit the showers in the gym at work. Change into work clothes. Grab some breakfast and sit at my desk fanning myself with a file folder for about 20 minutes.

Arrive about 45mins to 1hour earlier to work than when I drive. Leave work about 15-30 minutes earlier than when I drive. The modified departure times help avoid the worst traffic on the road.
iflyskyhawks is offline  
Old 08-08-08, 07:57 AM
  #40  
Golden Member
 
JR97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Salt Lick City
Posts: 599
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I tried a new routine, today. Showered at home per usual but didn't wash the hair.. btw, occassionaly I use some of that Axe body wash and that stuff stays with you all day damn. Got to work and wiped down with a wash cloth and washed the hair in the sink. I feel as good as freshly showered.
JR97 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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.