Do you ride a bike (not motorcycle) to work?

[AtheneNoctua]

If so, and if you have an office job where you must look professional (suit jacket, nice trousers, sit at a tdesk in an office environment, etc.):

How far is it?
Do you ride in the rain? dark? cold?
Do you have a shower when you get to work?

I'm just wondering where I fall in the spectrum of laziness. I'd love to get more exercise, but I don't think showing up to work all sweaty is going to be a good career move.

There are other other people who ride a bike to work. But, they are men and it takes them all of three seconds to shower and get ready for work. I, on the other hand, and partial to things like make-up.

Anyway, feel free to tell me if you think I'm a lazy sod who should get off my fat arse...

my fantasy (not reality, you note) is that I go to work by train, pushing my bike, then cycle home. this would be if I got a job that doesn't actually exist, about 8 miles away.

but would this compromise work for you? ie tidy to work, active to home?

what I really do is cycle to the station (10 mins) then leave my bike there. I wear suit trousers, carry jacket in bag, have wash-and-go hair, put on makeup on train. that's not too far to get all sweaty and dirty. I have been know to wear waterproof trousers in heavy rain, and change on train, but it isn't really good. But if there is a shower at your office, you could try it. Could you arrive a bit earlier so no-one sees you before you emerge all fresh and lovely?

I would run to work if I could athene. I don't own a bike and the last time I went on one I fell off big time

But we have no showers and I would need one.
I have to carry a laptop.
I need to get to my office in less than ten mins from the DCs school.

Quite a few people here do cycle and I've not noticed them being smelly or sweaty.

Hum, not sure if you only want to hear from women? If you join the Cyclists Touring Club I'm sure they have info sheets to help women professionals who want to ride to work.

You could drive to work on Monday, bringing all clothes you need for the week to work, and cycle the other 4 days (bring clothes home wrinkled on Friday in pannier bags).

DH has done a mix of cycling-train-driving for years. Now does 10 miles round trip, lacks a shower at work, but he'll often shower in the morning before he leaves, & can do a bit of a wash in the disabled toilets before starting work (if necessary). He tends to neatly fold his work clothes into the panniers, bring them in on Monday, home on Friday -- he cycles in Lycra.

He is supposed to be banned (my rule) from cycling when it's icy, he'll brave any other type of weather, though.

He has terrific lights, including spares, effectively, in case the batteries conk out in any single light. He's always carrying on about what high lumens they generate. Check out the Audax community for lights options.

But I would think, just see if you can organise it for one day next week, then one day the next week, then 2 days the next week, etc. If you can take to doing it in summer on good weather days, then you can start to consider how to organise winter and bad weather cycle commuting.

I used to, in all weathers and in the dark too even though there was a car in the garage. T'was fab. I'm crap at actively setting out to get excercise so got it without trying (was as fit as a friend who used to drive to an aerobics class every day!). It's also cheap. I didn't have to be particularly smart though (that's academic jobs for you) but didn't get very hot and sweaty anyway. There was a shower and I used it occasionally. Tbh if I were you, I'd just learn to some short cuts to showering etc. if you feel you need one.

We have now moved and I can go to my current job in my pjs if I so choose, (quick amble to hoome office) but I really miss the enforced excercise and the 'being out' that cycling imposed.

I think that it really depends on the distances involved. I cycle to my nearby station and then from kings cross to my work, but each of these is only 5/10 minutes so at my leisurely pace I don't get at all sweaty. I usually dress reasonably casual but if I need smart clothes then I take them with and get changed in the disabled toilet which has loads of room and a full length mirror . My laptop goes in a rucksack. I'm a bit a wimp when the weather gets bad. Yesterday I asked DH to pick me up from the station . My argument is that if I don't make myself miserable by cycling then I'm more likely to carry on for longer. I used the same argument to justify drinking while BF but that's a different thread...

I do sometimes.

Tis not far though, 3 1/2 miles so 7 miles altogether, along a properly surfaced canal towpath. I wouldn't do it if it was on the main road because although it has a cycle path it's just too busy for me.

I work in a school office so have to be fairly presentable. I don't shower; have a bit of a wash, full change of clothes and put my hair up as it looks like a bird's nest by the time I get there.

My work is 9.5 miles from my house in heavy traffic. I would deffinitely require a shower when I got here. I don't really think it's feasible. I get up at 5:00 as it is to get to work for 7:30. If I left any earlier I would not get to see my kids in the morning. There is a shower here, but I am partial to my bathroom lighting, my mirror, and all the stuff that sits on the counter in my bathroom. Oh, and I don't own a bike so an investment would be required.

I think I could do this if I lived in a nice warm climate. Maybe if global warming changes our climate to that of say southern Italy then I'll have a rethink. Or maybe if everyone else start showing up for work all sweaty then I'll join them.

For now, I think it's going to be the gym after work.

You could compromise. Buy yourself a floding bike. Take it in to work with you on the train in the morning. Cycle home.

Problem is I drive so if I packed up the bike and then rode it home, I'd have no car there in the morning to drive back to work.

I cycle SW13 to EC4 and back almost every day - just under 20 miles round trip. I am actually more motivated to cycle in poor weather as the tube goes up the spout.

I have a proper shower at home and put my make up on. I cycle in old clothes and shower the grime of the journey off at work. This takes me about 4 minutes longer than travelling by public transport, all of which time is the quick shower and change downstairs. Panniers not a rucksack reduces the sweat, though it might add to your initial cost.

I roll my clothes up and bring that in each day. Cotton shirts do not travel well but I can wear other tops, and everything else is ok lightly rolled - I am a solicitor so I need to look pretty presentable in conservative clothes. Shoes live in my office. If I really need to scrub up I have spare make up at my desk.

I had no bike, nothing, when I started cycling in. I think the bike plus essentials cost just over £200 new - you do want a half decent bike for 100 miles a week - and then over the couple of months after that I upgraded my panniers, and got a dayglo jacket. Say another £100. I cancelled the gym membership and saved train fares, and it had paid for itself within 3 months.

Oh - and I lost half a stone and went down a dress size. What did you say I was free to call you?

dp does and he wears a t-shirt under his shirt to soak up the sweat, then takes it off in the loos when he gets to work
it seems to work, he doesn't come home whiffy

Dh cycles too (across London, about 34 mile round trip) and he has no showers at work either. He wears proper cycling gear (those tights are indecent, but he looks pretty hot ) and then changes everything, pants and all, at work after having a wash. His cycling stuff gets pretty rank despite having a clean set every day but strangely enough he isn't. However, he works for a Council and wears jeans and t-shirts so it doesn't matter if it's a bit crumpled - I don't know how he'd cope with suits, maybe keep a set or two at work and get them dry cleaned at lunchtime?

It's much more fun to ride a motorbike to work though :D

I have an electric bicycle as its very hilly where I live. It means I can arrive at work not too sweaty, but still get a bit of exercise.

I put on the top half that I would wear at work, keep a jacket on my chair and change from my cycling stuff into a smart skirt or trousers.

I see myself as a trend setter , but means I get fresh air, don't pay parking fees and it takes the same time to get it as it would do to drive. If you want to buy one go to www.50cycles.com. I'm not on commission, honest.

I do sometimes - six miles each way and very hilly - a good workout and better than going to the gym. I'm in a managerial job so need to look smart.

This is how:

1. I bought an excellent suit-carrying pannier bag from twowheelgear.com (sorry I can't insert a link). It's 150 us dollars (has gone up a bit since I bought mine). I can and have put a laptop in it if necessary.
2. I keep as much as possible in my office drawer - hairdryer, gas straighteners, shampoo, towel, mirror, hairbrush etc.
3. Shower is essential - my employer has good facilities, so that makes it easy.
4. I change everything too - the bag means my suit doesn't get creased.
5. Good lights and reflective gear are essential.

I would now feel guilty about driving to the gym rather than biking to work...the fitness builds up very quickly through cycling.
I'm a fair weather cyclist though, and it's not always practical if I need to get home quickly to run the dds around.

Just seen this thread!
I cycle to work 3 days a week, which is every day I'm actually in the office. It's 7 miles each way. I love it, and brave nearly all weathers! The times I've driven instead I have been stuck in traffic and regretted it!
We don't have a shower at work so I just have a wash, and keep a few changes of clothes at the office. I don't need to wear a suit though - my job isn't client facing, so my boss isn't all that bothered
dh also cycles to work along a busy road, but it hasn't put him off yet! My route is better than his.
My dad is a serious cyclist - I now have 3 bikes, 2 of which he did up for me!

9.5 miles sounds like a lot to me Athene. When I lived in Cambridgeshire I used to cycle to work. At first about 2 (maybe 3) miles across the city - which was fine, I don't ever cycle fast enough to get sweaty anyway. Mostly I wore trouser suits & put the jacket in my panniers, plus kept a full set of waterproofs in there.
Then my work moved and it was 6 miles outside the city and I found it really hard going - just too tired when I got home after a long day.
Now - no need to cycle to work as I work from home and have to commute about 20 meters to our workshop/office

I feel like a wimp now! I do 3 miles each way, I keep my jacket and shoes at the office, bring skirt/trousers in rucksack. I don't go very fast, so I shower before I set off. Don't seem to be smelly!

9.5 miles sound like a lot to me, but it may still be quicker to cycle than walk and you do feel fab when you get to work/home - the exercise clears your mind somehow. How long does it take you, door to door, to drive?

Maybe you could do it once a week in summer and see how you go?

Oh and I tend to clip my hair back on the days I cycle in

This is very weedy, but I do cycle, from the station to the office. Its about 1.5 miles, so 10-12 mins on a bike. I leave the bike at the station overnight - its a cheapie but I haven't had any problems.

I like the convenience - would love to try cycling the whole way, but not nice routes (although I may be seeking advice from fridayschild as roughly same route, I think).

I did and have done for years. Until I hit a bump three months ago, had a freak swervy-losing-control incident and fractured my tibia, fibula and knee joint into loads of little pieces.

I really hope I can get back onto my bike one day, but atm I can't even bend my knee to 90 degrees, so it aren't going to happen for a while.

I loved my bike.

I cycle every day no matter what the weather. The only time I have just not been able to bike was when there was just too much snow.

In one of my previous jobs I used to bike 1 hour to work and 1 hour back. In my present job it takes me 15 minutes each way, which is pretty good considering that I had an operation for a prolapsed disc in November 2007.

There are showers at my work but I don't need to use them. However, this hot summer might change that.
I did use to bring a change of top, and then just do a sink wash and change when arriving at work. My boss did the same (solicitor, him not me).

Come on get on yer bike woman

frogs, that is so unlucky, poor you!
My dad was brought off his bike by a dog running out into the road. He had to have his hip pinned and plated. He did get back on his bike, then 2 years later he came off on some ice and did the other hip! Fortunately all mended ok and he can now cycle again, nearly as much as before. As soon as he was allowed he used training wheels to get fit again.
I have been lucky so far. I hit a bump ages ago and went over the handlebars, but just got a split lip and some bruises. I hope your knee improves!

sorry I meant not !

I cycle, 4-5 (hilly) miles each way. There are showers at work, also a swimming pool, but I usually just change my clothes. I don't cycle particularly fast partly so that I don't need to always have a shower and change. On hot days I tend to go in a bit earlier before it gets hot.

The nice thing for me is that it's actually quicker to cycle than to drive the 4-5 miles in rush hour, and a lot more pleasant. It's a nice route, not too trafficky. But I used to cycle similarly on a busy route too. I have always cycled so it doesn't seem a big deal.

and I love the way you don't have to bother joining a gym etc or making time for exercise, it just fits into your day. That's very time-efficient.