image by livestrong.com

 

You arrive to work after your commute and your boss walks up  to you and says,

“If you could come to work cleaner tomorrow, that’d be great.”

Cycling is a great way to commute to work. The wind in your hair, the feel of the road beneath your bike, the weight loss benefits, and the sweat you expel. Okay… maybe not that last one. Although the toxins you sweat out are beneficial, sitting down at your desk next to that sexy co-worker (that you’ve thought about asking out for coffee) drenched in sweat is a definite drawback. Unfortunately not everyone’s job is at the bottom of a hill to which you can coast directly to your desk. The simplest way to arrive at work clean is to stay hydrated and cool down.

Don’t forget the anti-perspirant

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The parts of your body that secrete odor can be shielded. For underarms, deodorant is the obvious solution. Try to wear a deodorant that is specific to athletes. For areas below the belt use a baby powder like substance. This helps block sweat down there. For men we recommend chassis. Chassis is a powder with a manly scent that helps keep you dry.

Invest in fenders

image by mec.ca                                                           As you are riding, every bit of dirt that your wheel hits is thrown up to meet your body. To avoid showing up to work with mud on your legs it is a good idea to buy yourself a good pair of fenders. Fenders hover over your wheel and block the grime from reaching you. To learn how to install fenders watch the video below.

Wear technical clothing

image by biemmeammerica.com

Riding to work in your formal wear is a recipe for stained underarms and soaked shirts. Instead, wear technical fabrics. Technical fabrics are great for wicking away sweat. If you’re anything like me you’re bound to sweat even on cold days. Technical clothing does not have to be tight lycra.

Cycling specific clothing has more benefits than just wicking sweat. These include helping to prevent chafing, temperature control, and visibility. An alternative to tight road biking clothing is mountain bike clothing. Mountain bike clothing tends to be looser fitting and looks more like regular clothes. Also look into commuter specific clothing. All cycling clothing will be more fitted but you can choose your look.
Invest in a good bottle

A good bottle will keep your water cold, makes your water accessible, and has the capacity you need to stay hydrated on your ride. We recommend an insulated bottle with a jet spout. A jet spout means you can squeeze the water bottle and it gives you a good flow of liquid.

Arrive to work early

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Arriving to work twenty to thirty minutes early will give you time to cool down and get dressed for the day. Use cold water to clean up. Exercise raises the body’s core temperature. To counteract this, drink cold water and put cold water on your face. If there is a shower available opt for a cold shower. This will bring your core temperature back to a comfortable level.

Leave as much at work as possible

Bikepacking technology has really improved over the years. From panniers to backpacks that allow airflow to cool your back. Although this technology is great, no technology can make your clothing and laptop weigh less. Hauling a ten-pound backpack to and from to work every day is a useless expenditure of energy. If you can, store all of the clothes you need for at work. That way you can travel light and therefore waste less energy. The best technique is to bring all of your clothes to work on Monday. Whether you drive in or carpool. On Tuesday, arrive to work and get dressed in clothes that are already there. At the end of the day, pack that outfit and ride home with it. Arriving home sweaty is perfectly fine. Your shower awaits you.

If it is not possible to leave your clothes at work you have options. As mentioned above, bike packing technology is plentiful. It is a good idea to get a quality product to carry your outfit.
Whether a backpack or panniers, you’ll want them to be waterproof. As for a backpack you want a bag that is light. You’ll also appreciate a backpack with good airflow panels for your back. Great straps are also a huge plus for commuting. We at beginningspinning.com recommend this backpack
If you decide to go the pannier route it’s worth it to spend the extra money for quality. What are panniers? Panniers are in essence saddle bags like on a motorcycle. (Although if you search cycling saddle bag you’ll most likely find yourself looking at the little bags that attach to your seat.) While these are great to keep spare tubes and tools in, there is no way your favorite pair of pants is fitting in there. For panniers, you’ll need a rack.

Racks come in different varieties. Some only attach to your seat post, while some attach to both the seat post and the frame. Before buying a rack, make sure the rack can attach properly.
There are two different types of racks. The first will attach to your seat post by a clamp and is shown in the picture below.

The second type of bike rack has mounting points that are near the dropouts of the back wheel. In order to mount this type of rack, your bike will need eyelets near the axle of your back wheel. Learn how to install a bike rack by watching the video below.

     Racks that are mounted only at the seat post typically can handle less weight. Also, these are more suited to a bike trunk bag. The reason for this is panniers that hang down tend to rub against the wheels if there is nothing to block them. On the other hand, racks that mount near the dropouts can handle more weight and can accommodate the bags that hang down.

If you need more space, you can also opt for a front rack. This will allow you to essentially double up your storage.

Have a shower

image by barkpost.com

There are many options for getting a shower before work. If your company is trying to be more accommodating to eco-friendly commuters you might luck out. All you have to do is ask. If this doesn’t work you might have to get creative.

Ask your company to make there building more cyclist friendly. This can range from designating a room to store bikes, to putting in a shower and lockers. In this modern age, more and more people are leaning toward jobs that provide better options for eco-friendly commutes. You can be the one to start the revolution.

Another option is to look for a gym near your office. Most gyms have locker rooms with showers. Check your area for gyms close to your office. It’s cheaper than you might think to rent a locker and get a full membership. The Ymca usually will have a branch in the urban part of cities.

Create your own shower

image by cuteness.com

If you cannot get a shower at work and a gym is not accessible, you can use baby wipes and dry shampoo. If you use the tips above you shouldn’t have to wipe down your entire body. Drink cold water and wipe away the excess sweat. Good as new.

CONCLUSION:

photo by zimbio.com

Biking is one of the best ways to commute to work.  It will help you lose weight, be more awake, and overall feel better.  Arriving to work dirty is no fun.  However, if you follow the instructions above you’ll arrive so fresh and so clean.