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Soaked Clothes

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Old 05-22-12 | 04:33 AM
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Soaked Clothes

I have not really worked this part out in my commuting world yet. This morning it was pouring down rain and I wanted to ride so I did. And it was warm so it was a shorts and shirt weather. It was such a fun ride but I got soaked and not sure if the clothes will dry before I go home or not.

Wondering what you all do? Do you have an extra set of clothes you ride home in? Or just put on the wet ones? I can forsee doing this when it is warm out but perhaps not when it is cold out and you have wet clothes on to start.

Thoughts or suggestions?
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Old 05-22-12 | 04:36 AM
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We actually have a washer/dryer at work in one of the common areas. It actually gets used a fair bit on rainy/snowy days by the commuters.

If the clothes aren't that wet, we just lay them over a radiator and they usually dry by the end of the day (although the smell may bother your colleagues).
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Old 05-22-12 | 04:53 AM
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I have a place to hang them, they usually dry during the day, except for the sneakers, they're still damp at the end of the day. However, I always carry a rain shell so my upper clothes never get that wet. And if it's warm outside, then that means I wear just a t-shirt and shorts and that dries quickly. I also wear merino wool so drying it doesn't stink up the entire building
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Old 05-22-12 | 05:31 AM
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Many employers provide a desktop dryer for damp clothing. i think it also functions as some kind of typewriter thingy but it gets really warm.
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Old 05-22-12 | 06:38 AM
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I hang my soaked clothes up, they are dry by the end of my 10 hour shift. If it's really cold out I'll throw them in the blanket warmer about 1/2 hour before I go home. Mmmm, toasty.
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Old 05-22-12 | 06:49 AM
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I keep a spare set of bike shorts and some type of athletic tee at work just in case my clothes don't dry. I find that if they are only damp when I hang them, they'll dry...but if they're really wet, they won't. It also depends on wear you hang them. Whatever you do, don't hang your clothes in a locker...that seems to be the most guaranteed way to make sure they don't dry.
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Old 05-22-12 | 07:07 AM
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My jersey and shorts will dry pretty quick, worst case, I put them in front of a fan for a n hour or two.
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Old 05-22-12 | 07:13 AM
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Wear the wet stuff home. I have a friend who velcroes her clothes to her cubicle wall to hang them out to dry. I have a different hanging arrangement to spread them out. I don't just ball them up into a drawer for sure.

I actually do have a spare pair of winter gloves and a spare pair of socks that I keep around, but nothing else.
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Old 05-22-12 | 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by MichaelW
Many employers provide a desktop dryer for damp clothing. i think it also functions as some kind of typewriter thingy but it gets really warm.
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Old 05-22-12 | 08:04 AM
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Bike shorts and jerseys generally dry quickly. I put them on hangers in my office and they dry out.

It's cold weather gear that takes longer to dry. I'll bring dry clothes on those days.
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Old 05-24-12 | 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by MichaelW
Many employers provide a desktop dryer for damp clothing. i think it also functions as some kind of typewriter thingy but it gets really warm.
Unfortunately many are now replacing these useful appliances with some cheap, thin thing that doesn't do squat for drying clothes. (Loved that 21" CRT!)
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Old 05-24-12 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by pdlamb
Unfortunately many are now replacing these useful appliances with some cheap, thin thing that doesn't do squat for drying clothes. (Loved that 21" CRT!)
Yeah, those iPads are useless.


My stuff got pretty wet this morning. Jerseys and shorts will dry quickly. Socks won't. Maybe bring in a spare pair on wet days. Stuffing your shoes with newspaper and changing it part way through the day does a pretty good job of drying them out.

In this weather I'll usually wear a rain jacket but just let my legs get wet. It's warm enough.

Last night I was working late and kept hoping for a break in the storm. No such luck. Rode home in pouring rain amongst the thunder and the lightning. Traversed some sections of road covered in 4 to 6 inches of water.

It was a blast.

I hung my bike up in the garage after I got home (by its rear wheel) and water was literally pouring out of the head tube.

Last edited by tjspiel; 05-24-12 at 11:12 AM.
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Old 05-24-12 | 10:47 AM
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I work in a pretty industrial environment and it gets a bit warm there. There are a few really big boxes right behind me. I just hang the shorts & shirt over the edge of the boxes and they're invariably dry by the end of the shift.
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Old 05-24-12 | 10:49 AM
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Thanks all. After getting soaked and hanging my clothes up, my boss got pissed because it didnt look "professional" to hang clothes up so...... I looked all over for a dryer and found one in the basement where they do some work laundry. Not sure if I can use it or not but will try next time.
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Old 05-24-12 | 10:54 AM
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Wait a second . . . you're a chef, right? Aren't you surrounded by large applicances that are actually meant for drying things?
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Old 05-24-12 | 11:31 AM
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get one of these, put it under your desk, problem solved

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Old 05-24-12 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
Wait a second . . . you're a chef, right? Aren't you surrounded by large applicances that are actually meant for drying things?
Yes however we are in the manufacturing world where everything is very strict so to hand my clothes, for example, about the oven would not fly at all.
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by kgriffioen
get one of these, put it under your desk, problem solved

I cannot tell what it is.
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:18 PM
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I'd pack my work clothes. Ride with my T-Shirt, shorts, and poncho. Get to work and change into my work clothes...

What's the problem, again?

PS.

I would think that you could possibly have a change of clothes at work already....
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by chefisaac
I cannot tell what it is.

Yeah, what's that thing?
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by SlimRider
I'd pack my work clothes. Ride with my T-Shirt, shorts, and poncho. Get to work and change into my work clothes...

What's the problem, again?

PS.

I would think that you could possibly have a change of clothes at work already....
I do have work clothes I change into. I am refering to drying my clothes for the ride home. I do not mind in warm weather like this but in ocld weather, that doesnt really appeal to me.
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by chefisaac
I cannot tell what it is.
It's one of these: https://www.dryguy.net/drying.html

They were designed for drying ski boots and gloves, but they'll dry out anything.
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Old 05-24-12 | 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by tjspiel
Jerseys and shorts will dry quickly. Socks won't. Maybe bring in a spare pair on wet days.
Wool socks will help with that. My favorite wet weather socks are 60% Merino wool, 20% silk, 20% nylon that I knit myself.
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Old 05-24-12 | 08:15 PM
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I work in a hospital pharmacy. I don't own a car, so every day is bike day. my strategy is to stockpile clothing at work.

as to cycling clothing, I like wool, a showers pass jacket is another favorite.

you can roll wet clothing in a towel, and that will help absorb water. if you have enough towels, you can repeat this process to degree of success.
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Old 05-24-12 | 09:47 PM
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Hola Amigo!

For cold wet weather, just wear neoprene trousers with a poncho, in combo. Place a rainhat over your helmet. Either a rainhat or just slip a plastic bag over your helmet.

There! Problem solved!

....
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Last edited by SlimRider; 05-25-12 at 02:19 AM.
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