Cycling to work

adi_clarke85

I have a new job and as the office is 5 miles away, I'm planning on cycling as often as I can. What I want to know is how do you cyclists stop yourself arriving at work in a sweaty heap?

Strider590

Wear layers, remove layers as you get warm..... You'll sweat less the fitter you get.

Showers at work help too

5 miles is 1 hour brisk walk or around 15mins cycle at a good pace (20mph average).

rodenal

I drive in at the start of the week and leave work clothes for the days I plan to cycle in. We also have showers etc here but for 5 miles you should be ok (unless its all uphill) just have a quick clean up when you get there, take a few towels etc.

benjus

I do arrive at work in a sweaty heap. Even if I take it fairly easy while cycling. Fortunately we have showers at work.

If you're not lucky enough to have showers at work, is there a gym nearby that could be a viable option? If not, baby wipes are your friend...

Wear light, breathable clothes while cycling and change into office clothes when you arrive.

adi_clarke85

Thanks for the replies!

Not sure if there are showers, something to investigate on my first week there! Think possibly taking work clothes in at the start of the week maybe my best option.

DCodd

I take clothes to work and also, I just have a wash in the hand basin in the toilets at work.

cardinalbiggles

Strider590 wrote: »

Wear layers, remove layers as you get warm..... You'll sweat less the fitter you get.

Showers at work help too

5 miles is 1 hour brisk walk or around 15mins cycle at a good pace (20mph average).

To be fair 20mph is an extremely fast average for commuting and not what 99% of cyclists are going to be doing.

thescouselander

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

To be fair 20mph is an extremely fast average for commuting and not what 99% of cyclists are going to be doing.

I was thinking this too. My route to work is about 5 miles but the number of lights and hills mean you'd have to be seriously flying at attain that sort of average.

Weird_Nev

thescouselander wrote: »

I was thinking this too. My route to work is about 5 miles but the number of lights and hills mean you'd have to be seriously flying at attain that sort of average.

Yes, 20 is very fast. I only averaged that on rural roads after a year of doing a 26 mile a day cycle commute ,and when I was much younger and fitter.
I'd allow 30 mins for 5 miles if you're not that fit/used to cycling.

as for sweatyness: It depends! Hopefully you'll have showers, it's lovely to have a shower after the commute, you feel very alert and fresh. I used to take all my shirts in on day one, and use the lockers for stuff.
If not, you can cycle below the 'sweat threshold' but if you have just one decent hill on your route it may not be possible.

good luck! Best way to get to work by far!

Strider590

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

To be fair 20mph is an extremely fast average for commuting and not what 99% of cyclists are going to be doing.

Yeah... I guess. I'd never do that these days, I'm thinking back to when I cycled 4.5 miles to work each day and was at damn near competition level fitness for XC mountain biking.

I'm not sure what a road bike would be like though, so I guestimated fit person on MTB = not so fit person on road bike.

geri1965_2

I only cycle 2 1/2 miles and I do arrive in a sweaty heap - my office is up a hill! We don't have showers so I just sit at my desk and cool down for a bit before I change into my work clothes (skirt/shoes are left in the office, I take clean undies and top each day). I have a selection of toiletries at work in case I need them, but I normally only use a bit of talc to freshen up, and straighten my hair (also have straighteners in the office).