Hello All,

I'm pretty new to the Clydesdale forum having only bought my bike this past Saturday. Decided to commute to work this morning. While commute may be a strong word for only a little over a mile ride.......but I figure if I do it at last three times a week, that will add 7.2 miles on my weekly total. Figure some additional mileage when I decide to take the long way home. You should have seen everyone in the office when I rolled it throgu ht the doors today ( there is no rack outside nor anything appropriate to chain it to to.)

I have a few questions now that I made the trip. I don't have a rack system yet....had to use a back pack to haul the necessities, but I am wondering for those with short trips if you ride clothed in work attire or biking attire. If the latter, how do you manage to get your clothes to the office w/o them becoming a wrinkled mess?

Sorry...just a few questions from a newb.

Congrats, I always feel better when I ride to work. I would probably ride in my work clothes at that distance, as long as you can keep from sweeting. I take my work clothes in a few days early and leave them at the office, and change when I get there. I ride 14 miles each way so riding dressed isn't a good option for me.

Welcome to bike commuting -- fun, ain't it?

I like wearing mtb style shorts and a jersey because I sweat a lot so I never look tidy when I arrive after a bike ride. Never. If you have bike clothes already then you could always try mix of bike shorts under your work pants. Or wear a jersey or tshirt and pack your work shirt in the backpack (or even leave a few work shirts in the office it possible).

Wet wipes, small travel towel, clean socks, extra deodorant, and a comb is handy to leave at work to let you freshen up when you arrive. Unless your workplace has a shower and lockers -- then you're golden!

Have fun and don't forget, we like pictures of your commute.

For short rides in moderate temps, I wear my work clothes. If I decide to take the train, for example, it's only a couple of miles total on my bike. Most of the time I ride the whole distance and in that case I bring my work clothes. I find rolling rather than folding when packing helps keeps the wrinkles away.

Welcome to the world of bike commuting. Be it one miler like yours, seven miles each way like mine, or farther, a bike ride to work counts as a bike commute! And, as you seem to have already realized, even a one mile commute can become a ten mile commute if you know the right roads/paths!

My $0.02:

+1 for rolling up clothes as opposed to folding. I don't car so much about wrinkles, but if nothing else, I do find it easier to pack clothes in my panniers that way...

For a one mile ride, I'd just wear my work clothes. There's no need for speed on a one mile trip like that, so pedal soft and take your time... I go seven miles each way for work, so I bring a change of clothes with me.

BTW, Make sure to tuck our right pant leg into your sock or get an elastic band to hold you pant leg so you don't get grease all over it.

I also think a backpack is probably fine for a one mile ride, especially if you're not having to change clothes. A lunch and whatever else you might need for the day would fit easily and not weigh too much. I used one for the first eight or nine months commuting, and that was with change of clothes, shower stuff, etc. I have since gotten a rack and a rack trunk for my commuting needs, and they're GREAT!!! Something like I've got would certainly be more comfortable and convenient, but it's far from necessary and if it breaks the bank right now, then don't even think about it. If you stick with the commuting, have the dough, and want to get more equipment, go for it. Buying bike stuff is fun!

Anyway, welcome to the ranks of the bicycle commuters! Keep it up!

Thanks for all the input!!! We'll see how things go once it warms up. I am definitely a sweater so it may be necessary to bring some clothes up in advance to change into once here. I figure the bad weather days I can do that.

I will definitely get a band for pant legs. My son had an unfortunate issue yesterday during a family ride. His cheap chain gaurd broke off his single speed. 1 minute later he was hollering for us to slow down. He was doing the hippety hop with one pant leg caught in the crank wheel.....LOL.

I do look forward to stopping by some parks on the way "home" to get some bird watching in. I can definitely see melding the two hobbies together.
Thanks again for all your prompt replies......looks like I have to take some commute pictures now....LOL

If I had a short commute like that, I would just wear work clothes. When I ride to church, a little over 2 miles, I wear my church clothes and even on hot Texas days I can get away with it.

That said, I have a 17 mile commute one way. I have a shower at work now, but last year when my commute was 7 miles each way, I didn't. I carry my clothes with me each day I ride to work. I have a rack and pannier bags. You can get an amazing amount of stuff into panniers. When I didn't have a shower available to me, I took a shower at home and freshened up using deoderant and baby powder upon arriving at work. Some people prefer baby wipes to clean up (or whatever the adult equivalent is).

I've found that riding a bike has reintroduced me to the natural world around me, even in the middle of the city. I've spotten rabbits, heron, ducks, other kinds of birds, opossums, coyotes, and.... bugs. Way too many bugs.

LOL...bug season is a wek or two away here in MI. I figure it will be a good way to get my protein intake up, though.....lol

I commute a litte over 7 miles one way in work clothes (business casual) except in summer, where -conveniently- our company does casual. Needless to say, I'm not racing.

Well.......after reading some more in this forum I can se there really should be no problems even after it warms up. I'm going to get some of those wipes as we don't have shower facilities at our building. I put my trip into one of those online trip planners and found it is actually 2 miles each way. It's not a big difference from what I thought it was, but in the long run if I am averaging at least 3 days a wek of commuting I go from 7.2 miles to 12 per week just in commuting. The planner is awesome as it allows me to pre plan different routes and see how long they are with elevations even before trying them. The only issue is that the workout / calorie calculator doesn't go up to my weight for its calculations.....LOL.

congrats

Mapmyride.com's calculator allows you to enter any weight, IIRC. Also allows you to map, see elevation, etc., before riding the route. I tend not to worry about those calculators too much. I don't think any of them are that accurate. Besides, I'm not necessarily interested in how many calories I burn, but rather in:

1. Getting to work;
2. Generally getting a some exercise and being more fit; and
3. Losing weight and inches.

In that order.

If I'm doing all three of those things, the actual number of calories I'm burning is trivial.

Good luck with the commute, though, and congrats! I think the wipes will do ya fine. Before you know it, you'll commute 5 days a week and look for a longer route, at least on the way home where a shower awaits. It's a slippery slope

Well....it's been a few weeks and I continue to get in at least 3 days a week of commuting.....weather being the deterring factor. Like you said EKW, I found myself contemplating longer routes home using the mapping site you shared. It is a great tool. Mapped a 4 mile trip home doubling the mileage on the way home. It should only increase my time by 15 minutes. I'm sure it won't be long before I am increasing that. Thanks for the advice and motivation all.

Great job! Keep it up!

Next stop - touring? (It's a slippery slope. Don't say you weren't warned.)