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Again another comment from a coworker and given that he has a college degree and relatively young.  " How far do you live from work?" my response is 5.1 miles his response is "Well if you live so close why don't you drive"? Wow the stupid comments are still coming. When will it all end.

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Permalink Reply by Vilda on March 9, 2011 at 4:50pm
Ryan that is LUNACY! The ambulance is on the way! Go peacefully!
Permalink Reply by Vincent on March 9, 2011 at 5:20pm

This has absolutely nothing to do with the subject of this thread but it is an incredibly stupid comment story...A guy walks into my bike shop,  and says verbatim "you know, I'm from new york and when I see pavement and I drive on it.  There's this huge empty lane so I drive there.  Does it make me an asshole to drive in the bike lane?"

 

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on March 9, 2011 at 7:40pm

File a complaint for transportation harassment. 

 

But seriously, did your co-worker cringe after they asked that?  Duh.

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 9, 2011 at 8:02pm
Haha  Sorry, it's 4.5 miles. :)

Gabe said:
Ryan that is LUNACY! The ambulance is on the way! Go peacefully!
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on March 9, 2011 at 8:36pm
Fun post-- post more!

Dereck Woodward said:

When we lived near DC, my wife was some 15 - 17 miles from her various offices. The best one was the new Red Cross National building, with not only dedicated bike parking in the garage, it also had a baby workout room with lockers. She did commute by bike, though she's not the sort to arrive sweaty and let folk live with it - partly herself, partly that she's high up the pile for that.


But - it took about the same time by bike on most occasions and was quicker if the traffic bogged down, which it often does in DC.  All you need is some flap on around that big public housing building on PA Ave, or someone in the big dometop building sends out for a coffee and DC goes into to paralysis.  She used the same roads as a car commute for much of the way too.

 

Here in Chicago, we didn't think her slightly over a mile by bus would be a problem - until some PooBah had the bright idea to dig up Wacker Drive in the middle of winter...  Her office has a bike park room, but its not very big for a pretty big building. Naturally, many of the spaces are snagged by folk who want to brag about them, not actually use them.  Am still trying to convince her that walking is the best of the lot, but she's not into that overmuch.

 

You native Chicagoans might find this funny - but this town is way more bike friendly than the nation's capital city. In DC, you're mostly at the bottom of the barrel - I mean, how can people tell how important you are if you're not in an expensive car?

 

D

Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on March 9, 2011 at 11:09pm

Shay,

You should get to know the people at Experimental Station:

http://www.experimentalstation.org/

This is an amazing community resource just across the Midway on Blackstone. Blackstone Bicycle Works is part of the organization, and Connie Spreen, who created the facility, is very committed to the Hyde Park/University of Chicago community. There may be showers there they can let you use. It's not exactly on campus, but it is close enough that you could conceivably clean up there and ride the couple blocks back to campus. Otherwise, you might want to seek out some of the more bicycle-oriented students (or just make friends) and see if they could help you arrange to use communal showers in one of the dormitories on campus or near the Regenstein. If you could make due with a sink (assuming you can travel with shampoo and towel in a pannier or handlebar bag), there are individual locking bathrooms on the 5th floor of Cobb, which is the home of the German in the College department. I can assure you that no one will bother you there or ask you what you're doing using the bathrooms (trust me, I spent years there). Lastly, before they built the new sports facility, the student gym was in the Henry Crown Field House at 56th and University and there was a pool in what is now the Bartlett Dining Commons at 57th and University. I would just enter these buildings and look around for showers and locker rooms. They may still be completely accessible.

Permalink Reply by judy s on March 10, 2011 at 6:03am
Yes i get cranky to, i just thought that was me.  5 miles is really nice and i can take several routes depending on what scenery i wish that day.  Thank You all and good luck Becca on going your distance, that is a long way but You Can Do It !!!!!!!
Permalink Reply by Laura on March 10, 2011 at 6:40am
Doesnt the CTA cost you about 80 a month. so you will actually be saving money

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.  

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on March 10, 2011 at 8:17am

Agreed.  My commute is 8 miles one way.  I use a garment pannier since I wear a suit & tie almost every day (yuk).  I do have the convenience of my own office, but the larger washroom stalls work as well.  Bring a COMPLETE change of clothes; underwear & socks included. Take a "bikers bath" with the wet wipes/deoderant/powder. Hang your riding clothes to dry during the day. This does work year round, even on the hottest days.



Anne Alt said:

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.  

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on March 10, 2011 at 10:08am

Shay,

I'll get my two cents in.  First, I shower at home before leaving on my bike.  I bring my work clothes, shoes and food everyday.  I take a bird bath in the private bathroom.  If I had to, I would take a bird bath in the shared bathroom; I would fill a small bucket with water and use a wash cloth in a stall for some privacy (I think wet wipes are a waste), some deodorant and some cool down time, and I'm fresh as can be. The towel I use to dry off is a thin, fast-drying camping towel.  I let my quick-dry towel, quick-drying shirt and other clothes dry under my desk, hanging over my pannier. 

Permalink Reply by Shay on March 10, 2011 at 10:30am

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions!

 

Moc Artsy, I sent an email to the Experimental Station folks.  We'll see what they say.  I'll check out the Crown Fieldhouse and see how easy it is to sneak in.  That's the place I was going to join solely for the showering facilities - it's even more expensive to join the Ratner gym.

 

Mark - I'm seriously considering doing something like you suggested.  My biggest problem is that my hair will be all sweaty and disgusting after being mashed down in a helmet and sweated on for an hour or so.  If I can find a private restroom with a deep sink where I could potentially wash my hair, I think I'd be fine with a wipe down for the rest of the body (after initially showering at home).  

 

I have a "professional" job, so I can't be semi-grubby or smelly.

 

Thanks, guys!!!  :)

Permalink Reply by Liz on March 10, 2011 at 12:02pm

Shay,

 

I wash my hair first thing, but don't dry my hair before riding and use a spay in "dry" shampoo to keep the smell fresh when I get to work,  towel it off, I then style it quickly in the washroom at work (using hair dryer and flat iron).  My work doesn't have private bathrooms, but thanks to a male dominated business, very few women use the washroom and there are handicap stalls that give plenty of room for changing.

 

I have a VERY hot head, and my hair usually gets soaked with sweat, this method allows me to look/smell professional with no more effort than if I styled my hair at home.
Shay said:

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions!

 

Moc Artsy, I sent an email to the Experimental Station folks.  We'll see what they say.  I'll check out the Crown Fieldhouse and see how easy it is to sneak in.  That's the place I was going to join solely for the showering facilities - it's even more expensive to join the Ratner gym.

 

Mark - I'm seriously considering doing something like you suggested.  My biggest problem is that my hair will be all sweaty and disgusting after being mashed down in a helmet and sweated on for an hour or so.  If I can find a private restroom with a deep sink where I could potentially wash my hair, I think I'd be fine with a wipe down for the rest of the body (after initially showering at home).  

 

I have a "professional" job, so I can't be semi-grubby or smelly.

 

Thanks, guys!!!  :)

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