Comments on: Commuting 101: Cleaning Up Your Act

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:40:57 +0000

I carry a change of work clothes with me when cycling to the office. The best way I have found to keep my work’s shirt crisp and unwrinkled is to put it in a square biscuit tin.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:40:20 +0000

Enjoyed the post. Thankfully more and more cheap gyms are springing up and employers listening to their workers who appreciate alternative methods of commuting. So more showers in more work places. Most bike or run commuters seem more productive after their morning exercise as well

By: E Avila

E Avila — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 21:50:01 +0000

Thanks for the tips, all. I’ve petitioned for quite some time now to get showers at work – can’t afford a gym membership. Just decided to start riding in anyway.

Challenges for me – sensitive skin, allergic to antiperspirant, work in a business environment, and will need to put my makeup on at work. I expect to try some of the tips you all left and develop a system – hopefully I can make it work.

By: Doug C

Doug C — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:45:25 +0000

I usually get my clothes done at the dry cleaners, there I ask for my shirts to be folded instead of on hangers and this keeps the shirts looking good and I don’t have to do it (I’m not good at ironing)

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:27:49 +0000

Down to a science:
~a good pannier
~cycling clothes and cycling shoes
~a bar of soap
~a wash cloth
~a change of clothes, shoes and underclothes
~ deodorant

All that’s needed is a bathroom.

I commute 5 miles to work in the hot and humid summers of NYC. I wear a cycling “uniform”, and when I get to work, I go into the bathroom, strip, soap up the sweaty areas, rinse with a wash cloth, wipe down my entire body with the damp wash cloth, reapply deodorant, change, and am ready to start the day fresh.

This may not apply to everyone, but if you have a bathroom for one, and a place to store your belongings, it works like a charm.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:49:03 +0000

Having a supportive boss really makes a huge difference. I am glad you found a solution, and also glad there are sites like this out there to reinforce and communicate how many bike commuters there are! There is certainly strength in numbers. Perhaps you could invite your boss to join you for your post-work workout?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:45:38 +0000

Roll, don’t fold. If you are lucky enough to have casual attire at work, and can get by with jeans or khakis or knits, then try this: lay the knit items along the jeans/khakis lengthwise, and then roll them all up together with the pants on the outside, like a pinwheel sandwich. Oh, and socks and undies can go inside too, to keep the knit material from being too compressed or wrinkled.

By: celia

celia — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:35:54 +0000

A good tip that was given to me: Soak your shirt in cold water before your ride, and wring out most of the water before putting it back on. It will be damp and cool through the ride and basically dry once you get there.

I tried it today, have a 5 mile one way trip. A little chilly at first, but was only a little sweaty once I got to work.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:25:34 +0000

For drying jerseys and shorts use the towel roll technique. Robbie Ventura (Versus Commentator and Coach) has a youtube video of it.

1) layout your towel.
2) lay your jersey on your towel.
3) roll the towel up like a cinnimon roll.
4) twist the roll very tightly
5) fold it over on itself and stand on it (great for stretching your feet out too.
6) unroll and hang to dry the rest of the way. (this compares to 15 minutes in a electric dryer)

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:23:16 +0000

Febreze … really?

Here are some side effects:

* Possible mild gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
* Inhalation of high concentrations of ethanol vapor may cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, drowsiness, and fatigue.

(source: http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/11/19/greenwash-of-the-week-febreze-its-a-breath-of-fresh-air/)

This product can contain:

ACETALDEHYDE – Chemical on California’s Prop 65 List for cancer and reproductive
toxicity

ETHYL ACETATE – Chemical toxic to the brain and nervous system
89 Air Contaminants Detected

(source: http://www.ewg.org/schoolcleaningsupplies/cleaningsuppliesoverview?id=219)

Try Tea Tree oil instead …