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Cycling to work

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maskerade
maskerade Posts: 193 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
So it would be a 4 mile cycle to work and there is no shower or private loo where I could wash - it's a set of loos and shared basins. Is it possible to do this without being disgustingly sweaty and smelly all day at work? Currently I cycle in old joggers and t-shirts but I may invest in new clothing.

I'd love to ditch the car altogether but being asthmatic there's days when I just can't cycle :s

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  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Pack of baby wipes or similar to wipe yourself down at work as well as a can of deoderant.
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  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My first job was a 6 mile bike ride from home. I used to cycle at normal cycling speed, wearing my work clothes, arrive and start working. Just cycle normally, it's not a race.
  • JQ.
    JQ. Posts: 1,919 Forumite
    It all depends on your pace. When I cycle to work I'm really going for it and arrive a sweaty dribbling mess. A couple of times I've taken it easy and it's no different to walking and arrived completely dry and unsmelly. If you feel yourself getting too hot, just slow down. And use your gears properly, it makes a massive difference to how efficient your legs are and therefore how much energy you have to use.
  • boyse7en
    boyse7en Posts: 883 Forumite
    It's only four miles, so a pack of wet wipes in the office drawer should do. I used to cycle 5 miles to work, including a big hill, and it was never a problem. Now it is 15 miles each way, I keep a change of clothes in the office and wear cycling gear on the bike - but it's still wet wipes as there is no shower.

    If you've got a locker, keep a spare pair of pants and trousers in case you get caught in unexpected rain - nothing worse than sitting in wet shreddies all day :)
  • I cycle 11 miles to work most mornings, no shower at work. Baby wipes work fine, together with a wash down in the sink and deoderant.

    Wear cycling gear and keep your clothes in the office, my suits live in the coat rack together with my shirts. Dry cleaners up the road from the office so never need to take them home :)

    Over the distance your describing then you shouldn't be too hot and bothered in decent cycling clothes, shorts/bib and a base layer/jersey. Gloves and a helmet are also required.

    Try and avoid carrying too much on the bike, I can't be bothered with panniers but a rucksack does become a pain sometimes. As summer approaches so you need just to carry basic emergency kit and spare tubes, phone and keys.

    Its great fun and should save you a bit in communting costs.
  • Strider590
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    boyse7en wrote: »
    If you've got a locker, keep a spare pair of pants and trousers in case you get caught in unexpected rain - nothing worse than sitting in wet shreddies all day :)

    Or incase you ride through dog poop and give yourself a brown Shelby stripe ;)

    Spare clothes are a must!
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

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  • maskerade
    maskerade Posts: 193 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks everyone!

    I think I just need to get some decent cycling clothes then :)
  • jedimonkey
    jedimonkey Posts: 110 Forumite
    decent advice above - I cycle 6miles to work at an easy pace.... and arrive perfectly dry, baby wipe work wonders.
    I hammer it home and arrive all sweaty, ready for the shower.
    I am a Jedi Monkey
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Jedi Monkey, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow the Jedi Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as monkey madness.
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