Yeah baby, I love it when I get to work and my coworkers are outside, shivering while they smoke their morning cigarettes. I pull off my hood and drips of sweat freeze on my eyelashes. Hell yeah.


but seriously though....is there any cure for overactive sweat glands? Is there even any such thing? Or does everyone else keep a reasonable body temperature? If I salt myself down every morning or rub antiperspirant over the top half of my body, will that help? In the summer, I'm a freakin' waterfall. Right now, my back is just damp. Not like I'm ever going to stop riding because of unsightly sweatiness, but I'd rather be dry sometimes. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!!!!!!

antiperspirant helps just rub it all over, get the good stuff and smell like baby powder all day.

No, you're dirty... face it... thats why no chicks replied to our CL ad... all cuz of your sweaty ass...

A recommendation from the folks in the commuting forum. It's pretty weird stuff, you put it on at night when you go to bed (it's a liquid roll-on). I don't know how it works, but it does...it was the only thing that would keep the 'pits dry when I was commuting in the summer. If you put it on your back, I think you might explode.

You should be wearing a wicking baselayer. That'll pull the sweat off of your back.

It is freakin cold outside but don't put on to many layers. People think I am crazy cause my Jacket isn't that heavy for winter, but when you are riding, you don't need to the clothes to keep you warm. I do two shirts and a spring jacket and that keeps me fairly dry.

Some people just sweat more than others. I'm in the more category. I don't know of a way to stop it, and it's probably not healthy anyway. I just wear lots of layers so I can shed them as I warm up, and I usually wear a bandanna on my head to soak up the sweat. When I'm hiking or on a long ride in the summer I keep 2 bandannas and rotate them when one becomes drenched.

Wool/synthetic baselayers will help the sweat away from your body. Layering your clothes will help you regulate heat. If you feel too warm, take a layer off. Find a good jacket that allows some air in but isn't flimsy.

I wear a wicking base layer that just wicks my sweat onto my other layers.

Just consider your baselayer and whatever you keep directly on top (cotton) as a unit. Sweat --> through baselayer --> absorbed in shirt. Remove shirt at work.

You can't make your sweat disappear...you've just got to manage it.

it's the sweatshirt, man. dump that for something windproof (breathable if possible) then something wicking under it.

I like my new jacket, it's from EMS, it has a bunch of Technology in it (goretex, primaloft, ???) but the best part is the zippers in the armpits and along the sides. I start zipped up, then as I warm up I unzip. By the time I get to work I have the front open and it does a cool wind-sock effect... I end up dry and not stinky, if I do smell so myself.

i sweat a lot too. there is no stopping it. don't get that stuff chicagoamdream posted. if your body is sweating like that, it's because it needs to. Right? Shouldn't try to stop it. The only thing i've found that works is the cold. Like shishi said, I don't need to wear too much because I'm a friggin' sweat/heat factory while i'm riding. Today, I wore a Capilene (synthetic) long sleeve shirt and my dorky PI neon yellow jacket. That was all. When I take that stuff off, I'm nearly dry. However, if I were wearing a lot more clothing, I think it would be the opposite.

With a messenger bag, for people like us, your back will always get damp b/c of the waterproof material. There's nothing you can do about it but switch to paniers.

PS - Do any of you new yorkers have a shop recommendation for winter bike clothing??

I do believe it's your medulla oblongata!





bike shop prices are still a bit high, like paragon. try checking the various army & navy stores around town (8th ave, 42nd st, 6th ave, b'way) or modell's for an occasional item

go online to nashbar, they seem to have a good sale on right now too.

Yes, and also don't shave, because your face needs to grow a beard.

Not trying to get into a big thing here, but I think leaving the armpits untreated, especially on the way to work, is a mistake for reasons other than sweat (odor-causing bacteria, which doesn't evaporate). Again, I suggested not putting this on your back. Anti-perspirant haters should read
this...the take-home message is that it will do you no harm. Stink in the office surely will.

Sid's on 34th has a pretty extensive clothes section. But check EMS, Paragon, etc. .. .sometimes you get lucky (e.g. my jacket has long sleeves and tail, perfect for biking).

As someone who works in the outdoor industry I am filing a complaint with the general public:

Please stop describing things as 'wicking.' Everything wicks. Cotton wicks. *head explodes*

Everyone - just buy 1 or 2 patagonia lightweight tshirts as your baselayer and shut yo moufs

I'll check out EMS. Paragon usually infuriates me, for whatever reason. I would love to order stuff online, but with expensive jackets and the like, I want to be able to try stuff on and if it's not too ridiculous of a mark up, I'll buy it at whatever LBS happens to have something I like.

As far as the anti-perspirant issue goes, whatever. I just don't think you should stop your body from performing one of its natural processes. It's totally different than shaving. I use deodorant. It probably has antiperspirant in it too. I'm just weary of a "super" anti-perspirant. You gotta sweat a little, right?

Now let's talk about genetically engineered produce .

nycvelo has a pretty good selection of clothes, and the folks there are way more friendly and helpful than any other shop i've been in in NYC. it's on second ave b/t 3rd and 4th

edit: craft also makes some really nice base layers and they have em at NYCVelo

I use hippy dippy (Tom's) deodorant liberally under the arms, but antiperspirant is another thing entirely, and I won't go there. Sweating is natural. I may shave off my hair, but I wouldn't try to stop it growing, any more than I would try to stop myself from sweating, pissing or defacating. Sweat happens. Deal with it.

But don't certain materials "wick" better than others?

I agree that it's a silly word...but, c'mon, like it's not in your copy all the time?

You want to regulate your temperature so you are on the brink of being sweaty, but still warm. It's a fine line.

Many layers help with this. A jacket that you can vent/unzip/take off help a lot.

If you start your ride and you feel comfortable before you start moving, you are over dressed. If you start your ride and feel cold not moving around, you are probably dresssed more sensibly.

Don't skimp on the feet hands. Those are the main trouble spots for me.

Craft has the best base layer products. I haven't tried their jackets but if it's anything like the undershirts they make, it should be pretty good. I would recommend going to EMS for somethings because they are cheaper and still work right. Paragon's too expensive. Their shop's in Soho!!!

Anyone know where in the city can I get smartwool stuff? mainly socks?

But yeah, layering is important.

when your body is overheating it will cool itself down by sweating. so, if you keep yourself cool(er), then you won't sweat as much. how much water do you drink on a daily basis?

by drinking more water and taking in more potassium (bananas and avocado), your body will be able to keep cool, retain water for when it's needed and flush out any impurities.

Craft wool is part polyester part wool. It's smart stuff, and distributed by QBP, so if your shop doesn't have it, they can get it. I swear by it.