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Permalink Reply by Shay on March 9, 2011 at 10:10am

Case in point: here is their web page on bicycling, and pretty much every link they give you goes nowhere:

 

http://safety-security.uchicago.edu/transportation/alternatives/bic...

 

 

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Permalink Reply by J on March 9, 2011 at 10:13am

Oh well. I'd have to generally concur with you about the university unfortunately. For a neighborhood and campus that is so easy to bike around -- it's a little surprising that the structural and program stuff hasn't been really thought through -- to wit, the shower (and secure night time bike parking) issue. Part of the problem is that there aren't enough folks clamoring for it. In fact there are plenty of serious commuters -- but so many of them have alternative resources (labs, offices, hospital) that it doesn't come up.

 

At least there are more and better (outdoor) parking facilities and the campus police have become much better in recent years... evening security though, not so good.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 9, 2011 at 10:19am

I am going to ask at mbac today about this. Even some psas to universities could help.

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Permalink Reply by Shay on March 9, 2011 at 10:19am

Yes, and it also depends on how much clout you have.  My boss, the director of our program, bikes from Wicker Park and uses some showers that have extremely limited access.  As a so-called "big wig," he gets to do this.  I, on the other hand, asked if I could use the the locker room that that medical school has for their students (I work closely with the med school, so they know me very well) and my request was completely ignored.  So...I'll be paying.  :(

And I also think you're correct in that probably not enough people were taking advantage of the programs, so they were scrapped. 

J said:

Oh well. I'd have to generally concur with you about the university unfortunately. For a neighborhood and campus that is so easy to bike around -- it's a little surprising that the structural and program stuff hasn't been really thought through -- to wit, the shower (and secure night time bike parking) issue. Part of the problem is that there aren't enough folks clamoring for it. In fact there are plenty of serious commuters -- but so many of them have alternative resources (labs, offices, hospital) that it doesn't come up.

 

At least there are more and better (outdoor) parking facilities and the campus police have become much better in recent years... evening security though, not so good.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on March 9, 2011 at 10:24am

Like the others said, just ease in.  Go for progressively longer rides, and ride more frequently.  Last March a 15 mile ride was enough to nearly kill me, by the end of the summer I did 75 miles and stopped mostly because it was getting dark and I ran out of snacks.  I didn't do any real "training", I simply went for more and longer rides because I was enjoying the time outside.  I'm not fast, competitive, nor would I win a race in anything; but I can sit in the saddle and just go without worrying now.

 

- If you go grocery shopping by bike, go to a store in the next neighborhood -- see new things and you add a few miles to your daily routine.

- Similar to what Druppie said, find a way to take your bike to work via transit, and just ride home.  If you are exhausted and a sweaty mess the first few times, who cares, you're home for the night anway.

- Ride for fun. Go for long, slow rides on the weekend.  Just putting in miles builds your endurance.  Promontory Point is a decent spot to stop and relax with a book while you rest.  

- A less fun option is to make your current ride harder.  If you have a rack and panniers, strap on some extra weight.  If you are used to hauling around an extra 30 pounds of junk, suddenly your unencumbered ride feels super easy.  Similarly, throw on some fat, heavy, knobby tires for a couple weeks.

 

Becca said:

Anyone have a suggestion on how to ease in?

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Permalink Reply by Becca on March 9, 2011 at 10:27am

Thanks to everyone on the biking to work advice!  I think I'm going to start driving half way, then biking the other half.  (Sadly my workplace is very difficult to get to via public trans.) 

 

All your suggestions and encouragement have really inspired me to go for it.  My girlfriend seems to think the idea is crazy, so the positive reinforcement from this great community has helped a ton!  Tomorrow I'll ride part of the way!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 9, 2011 at 12:20pm

This works well, followed by baby powder and/or deodorant.

Melanie said:

Wet wipes. I know it sounds weird, but they work if you do not have access to a shower or don't have the time- just run in the bathroom with a package of wet wipes (I like the antibacterial kind) wipe yourself down with a few of those, and change into your work/school clothes. Even in the hottest summer, they seem to do the trick, and I get them at the dollar store, so a very cheap alternative to a gym membership just to use a shower.   (Sorry that this is off the original topic-just trying to be helpful).

Shay said:

I'm gearing up to start commuting by bike - I'm thinking April when the weather is a bit better.  I live in Logan Square and work in Hyde Park - about 15 miles each way.  The biggest issue for me, being a sweaty biker, is finding a place to shower.  I did some asking and the best I can do is pay $115 for a 3-month gym membership solely for the purpose of using the showers.  It's another $50 to rent a locker for 3 months.  I'm not happy about paying so much (The University of Chicago is not terribly bike friendly), but I'm gonna try it and see how it goes.  

 

We'll see how what happens, but I have visions of riding along the lake on beautiful spring mornings.  Sounds better than being crammed on the CTA, and at this point I've all but given up driving to work unless I have to work late.  

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 9, 2011 at 12:23pm

Great suggestions.  I can tell you from experience that the "weight training" approach (riding with extra weight on racks or in panniers) can really help you get into better shape for riding faster/longer. 

Joel said:

Like the others said, just ease in.  Go for progressively longer rides, and ride more frequently.  Last March a 15 mile ride was enough to nearly kill me, by the end of the summer I did 75 miles and stopped mostly because it was getting dark and I ran out of snacks.  I didn't do any real "training", I simply went for more and longer rides because I was enjoying the time outside.  I'm not fast, competitive, nor would I win a race in anything; but I can sit in the saddle and just go without worrying now.

 

- If you go grocery shopping by bike, go to a store in the next neighborhood -- see new things and you add a few miles to your daily routine.

- Similar to what Druppie said, find a way to take your bike to work via transit, and just ride home.  If you are exhausted and a sweaty mess the first few times, who cares, you're home for the night anway.

- Ride for fun. Go for long, slow rides on the weekend.  Just putting in miles builds your endurance.  Promontory Point is a decent spot to stop and relax with a book while you rest.  

- A less fun option is to make your current ride harder.  If you have a rack and panniers, strap on some extra weight.  If you are used to hauling around an extra 30 pounds of junk, suddenly your unencumbered ride feels super easy.  Similarly, throw on some fat, heavy, knobby tires for a couple weeks.

 

Becca said:

Anyone have a suggestion on how to ease in?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on March 9, 2011 at 12:47pm

Hmmm . . . if it comes up that I don't have a car in my daily intercourse with coworkers and clients, generally the response is "that's smart, you save a lot of money."  Maybe I'm lucky, but I wonder if there's some missing context to the comment in the OP.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on March 9, 2011 at 12:50pm

I'll second the wet wipes as an alternative shower.  I get very sweaty in the summer riding to work.  As long as you shower in the morning, and sweat after that, there is very little odor involved in the sweat itself. 

 

I usually wear a work out outfit, and then whipe down, apply deodorant, a roll stick perfume, and put on my work clothes.  The best thing for my hair is not to dry it before I ride and to style it once I get ot work, I also keep a travel hair dryer and wet-to-dry flat iron in a drawer at my desk. 

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Permalink Reply by Davo on March 9, 2011 at 1:44pm

daily intercourse...Nice

H3N3 said:

Hmmm . . . if it comes up that I don't have a car in my daily intercourse with coworkers and clients, generally the response is "that's smart, you save a lot of money."  Maybe I'm lucky, but I wonder if there's some missing context to the comment in the OP.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 9, 2011 at 3:58pm

Thanks for posting that Judy.  I got a good belly laugh out of it. 

 

How does a question like that even enter someone's mind without part of the brain going, "Wait, that makes no sense!"  Let him know I enjoy the occasional 4-mile walk home from downtown Evanston to Rogers Park - by choice. 

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