arbeiter

Does anyone cycle to work but doesn't have access to a shower?

do you have any weird or useful ways ot working around this? I was thinking maybe of switching my gym membership to somewhere near my office (lower Manhattan) and just using the shower. Does anyone do that? I might just wear my cycling gear and keep changes of clothes in my desk, but I am not too thrilled with the idea of having to groom twice.

my bosses are supportive of my choice to ride my bike daily, but the building I work in is really rude about it. They make me take the freight elevator to store my bike indoors, and there's never anyone at the freight elevator to let me in. Sometimes I have to wait 15-20 minutes...

urbanknight

The I would take the regular elevator. If they don't like it, THEY can take the freight elevator. Carry deoderant spray with you I guess.

DataJunkie

Visit the commuter forum. Or...use baby wipes, wet paper towel, shower in the toilet, etc
Just kidding about the toilet part.

caloso

There's a huge sticky thread in the Commute forum. Therein lie the answers to your questions.

bigskymacadam

i've never needed a shower at work. deoderant and a fresh change of clothes does the trick.

lame building though. that's just wrong. same with bike couriers? weird. i never heard of that.

seriously. post this to the commuter forum. they'll help you out.

arbeiter

i had meant to post it to commuter, sorry, i wasn't payin' attention

DataJunkie

is okay.
We forgive you. No chopping off of body parts or calling you names.

chipcom 

Take your shower in the morning before you leave, clean up at work with a sink and/or baby wipes, then apply deodorant. You'll be fine all day, until after your afternoon ride when the folks at home will have to deal with your sweet scent.

gfrance

I commut on a fixed gear about 10 miles each way to work. No shower, but don't feel all that more sweaty than a really hot day taking the subway. I try to keep my heart rate down and the sweating to a minimum. And I have no problem using the freight elevator. Beats locking it on the street. There are ways to keep/stay fresh.

samal

normally i don't need to since it's only a 2 mile ride
on the days when I take the long way in (22 miles) i just towel off (if needed) and use some wipes

Hambone

is your employer a big tenant?

There are federal laws set up to make alternative commuting more "user friendly" but it is more than six years since I have been involved with that info so it could all be gone now...

Chuck J

have someone open the door after you call on a cel phone.
I commuterd for 25 years and never had a shower at work. Rode hard year round and never a problem, cool down before going in, wash up in the john, hang your cycling clothes in the janitors closet on a hook and cary your work clothes in panniers, Did this and rode a Merkx with a rear rack and never a problem with odor from BO, Take a shower or bath daily. before going to work. Also did 15-35 miles on lunch hour rides.

Pablo Pinchasso

Ih8lucky13

The smell of baby powder makes me ill. We have a few women at work that reek of the stuff, some reason it reminds me of dirty diapers.

bigbossman 

That's cuz they're using it to mask nasty odors. Baby powder does NOT mask odors, it makes them worse and the people round you sick.

Don't do it.

oboeguy

Folding bike

/thread

Oh wait, clean-up... this has been discussed 2^n times in the Commuting forum. We're nice over there, pay us a visit!

DataJunkie

It makes me ill as well. Mainly due to a childhood prank were a group of my friends hazzed me by dumping it on my face while I was sleeping. Another night was foot powder.
Never fall asleep first with a group of rowdy teens.

Sinfield

Shower before you go, try to wear breathable clothing so you don't sweat TOO much. Once you get to work, a quick towel off in the bathroom followed by deodorant and my personal favorite Gold Bond for the balls and you outta be good go for the rest of the day. Plus you get the sensation of a thousand tiny fairies puffing on your sack for at least 15 min into the day.

rob999

I used to commute 12 miles to work each way...I got in at about 7:30 am so I was usually alone.

I just got on usually got settled, did a little work and then when I was done sweating i would change my clothes put on deodorant and go. Never many issues.

As for the building, I would be jerk about it and force the issue...but thats me....

dogpound

man, a building in NYC that lets you bring your bike in at all is amazing.

Wurm

Commute only on rainy days, and on sunny days call in sick and go riding.

botto 

+1

also surprised

galen_52657

First, commuting is not training. Take it easy and don't exert yourself on the way in anyway. Then, all you need is a few toiletries at the office to freshen up. If you took a shower before leaving the house, it is doubtful that you will smell bad anyway.

catatonic

I do a 3mi commute everyday, and we have no showers here...actually, we have all of jack for bike facilities...we lost lockers since last year, despite the amount of bike commuters going up.

Shower in the morning with a soap which has good deodorizing properties. I use Old Spice shower gel...it holds it's scent for a good part of the day.

Then deodorize well. Use an anti-perspirant type if you use stick. For spray, don't....anti-sperspirant does raise doby temperatures, and since some people spray onto their chest and back, that can cause problems.

Carry a few paper towels to do some light drying when you arrive, as well as some wet-naps, in case you feel really grungy.

Oh, and most important of all....pace yourself so you minimize sweat factor. It's not just how much you sweat during the ride, but how much you sweat after as well....so keep that heart rate in mind.

Bob Ross

Another New Yorker here who is fortunate enough that my building allows me to bring the bike in...but still hampered by their fascistic "Use The Freight Elevator" policy. Oh well, beats locking it to a parking meter.

And it wasn't until I started to commute that I recognized the true value of those free pocket-size deodorant samples that Performance throws in with every order! A quick wipe-down with paper towels, dab on the Speed Stick Supreme or whatevertheheck it's called, and I am sweet & cool for the entire day.

Doesn't hurt that my office AC is cranked to Antarctic levels.

acape

Does anyone remember those Old Spice Sport Wipes (or Fresh Wipes, Cool Wipes, whatever) from a couple years ago? They were great...cool and lightly scented, perfect for a little cool off on a hot summer day. But they were only around for one summer I think.