Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 19, 2014 at 10:17am

This is a constant topic of discussion.  One of the sessions at our April Day of Dialogue . . . was dressing on the bike for different purposes.  As many of us as there are, there are just as many different ideas.  And lots of us do go almost everywhere on our bikes.

So, to get this conversation moving, do you wear casual clothes for work and then need to change into dressier clothes?  Do you have the problem of a longer commute and no where to change?  No where to store clothes at work?  What kind of bike do you ride?  How easy is it for you to carry things?

I have the ability to store clothes at work, and access to a bathroom although not a shower.  I don't like to ride in skirts and dresses, so I wear cycling clothes to work and change when I get here.  I shower before I leave, and just need to clean up a bit if it was a hot ride. 

There are lots of resources on the internet, but it is nice to talk to "real" people.  Ladies of Women Bike Chicago, your thoughts?

Permalink Reply by Ja Coba on June 20, 2014 at 6:23am

thanks! That is exactly what I had on mind, hear as many different ideas as there are. I don't have to dress fancy, I can change on the office, but honestly sometimes I don't have time for a shower. Do people use any specific clothes? baby wipes? my commute is an hour each way, on autumn I dont get to sweat that much but now in summer....jeeebuussss....I ride a road bike...I have a basket.... do people use powder? do people move stuff to the office beforehand? I don't care much about my hair, but as my head sweats a lot it feels like I need to clean it every day....its not even about make up and fancy stuff, Im very very simple, it's more about feeling refreshed and not feeling stinky nor .. I never had to bike in the city like this, and I love it...I just wish I could be more clever about details. I appreciate any advice!

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 20, 2014 at 6:51am

i like non cotton clothes. And I don't use baby wipes, if I really need to just some water and a paper towel under the armpits. sometimes an extra set of clothes if i'm prepared.

Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on June 20, 2014 at 8:57am

I bet you get sweaty with an hour commute in the summer!

When I had a long commute and a job where I had to dress super nice I would:

1-Leave a couple of clothing items at work, especially tops because that is where the sweat odors seemed to linger.

2-Leave a pair or two of shoes at work so I didn't need to transport them (I ride clipped in).

3-Avoid cotton because it would get to wet from sweat, become uncomfortable, smell too bad

4-Wear wicking materials. If you don't like synthetics try summer weight wool.

If you can't leave clothes at work and cannot carry extra clothes:

1-Try wearing skirts instead of pants. Skirts are cooler than pants and you can wear bike shorts underneath.

2-Loose lightweight button down tops...air will circulate through as you ride.

3-Slow your ride down once you are within the last 1/2 mile...makes cooling off an enjoyable part of the ride.

As for hygiene:

1-I tried Julie's approach of paper towels and water for a while but it was never enough so I would use baby wipes. Worked like a charm!! If you go that route, look at ingredients to get ones that aren't full of alcohol.

2-Hair being sweaty...maybe try that powder shampoo stuff? I haven't tried it but my hairdresser is always telling me it would make sense since I ride so much. 

Stop in at BFF Bikes on Armitage Ave! They cater to the woman rider and have very knowledgeable staff. (Disclaimer...I also work there...but the shop is a great place to get clothing ideas and recommendations for all sorts of riding!)

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 20, 2014 at 9:11am

What Liz said! Especially about BFF bikes.  I don't work there, but I am a customer.  Besides the cool (but not inexpensive) clothing, there are always other women around besides Liz and the owners, Annie and Vanessa. Folks are always happy to talk about cycling in general and women's issues in particular!

On the baby wipes--never tried them.  I use the paper towels and water method and it works for me.  On the other hand, my commute is at most a half-hour.

Hair--mine is pretty short and I do wash it every other day.  With the warm weather I have been wearing my BFF cycling cap under my helmet.  It does not stop the sweating but seems to wick away a lot of the moisture.  With clean hair, I don't think the sweaty hair is a problem.

Permalink Reply by Anika on June 25, 2014 at 6:36am

My work cycling and dress is a lot different from the typical office work. I move from job site to job site (people's homes) and do not have access to a bathroom to freshen up. I need to arrive looking professional. My typical ride is 40 to 90 minutes between sites depending on the day.

A lot of the suggestions above are typically things I do as well. I wear skirts 99% of the time and most of that is summer wool or silk. I do wear bike shorts under them. I carry baby wipes for particularly hot days and have short hair. For me, I got a hair cut that allows me to take my helmet off and simply run my hands thru it. I am fortunate to not be a very sweaty person.

The single most helpful change I made was to switch to a different type of bike. I used to ride a commuter but found in the summer I would go a bit faster and end up a mess. Now I ride and English upright bike. It is heavy and slows me down enough to arrive looking presentable. I do have to accept that many people will pass me as I ride but usually it is not that much of an issue. Besides, if my solution is to take more time and be outside longer rather than drive, it is a reasonable exchange for me.

Permalink Reply by Ja Coba on June 25, 2014 at 12:46pm

Anika said:

My work cycling and dress is a lot different from the typical office work. I move from job site to job site (people's homes) and do not have access to a bathroom to freshen up. I need to arrive looking professional. My typical ride is 40 to 90 minutes between sites depending on the day.

A lot of the suggestions above are typically things I do as well. I wear skirts 99% of the time and most of that is summer wool or silk. I do wear bike shorts under them. I carry baby wipes for particularly hot days and have short hair. For me, I got a hair cut that allows me to take my helmet off and simply run my hands thru it. I am fortunate to not be a very sweaty person.

The single most helpful change I made was to switch to a different type of bike. I used to ride a commuter but found in the summer I would go a bit faster and end up a mess. Now I ride and English upright bike. It is heavy and slows me down enough to arrive looking presentable. I do have to accept that many people will pass me as I ride but usually it is not that much of an issue. Besides, if my solution is to take more time and be outside longer rather than drive, it is a reasonable exchange for me.

Permalink Reply by Ja Coba on June 25, 2014 at 12:50pm

These are all great ideas, they all make sense, as some of them I can actually do. Ive heard about BFF a lot, and yes, I was considering changing to an upright bike, or at least buy a 2nd one as my friend has one and recommended me that. I knew it was going to be different once I heard from people's ideas. If there is ever a workshop or something let me know, would love to attend! Thank you all very very much. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 25, 2014 at 2:49pm

Ja Coba, if you are thinking about an upright bike I have this in black: http://www.linusbike.com/products/dutchi-8 that I am thinking about selling because I don't ride it very much anymore.  Mine is two years old.

Permalink Reply by Ja Coba on June 30, 2014 at 12:01pm

wow lovely but too pricey for me now. Thank you!

Permalink Reply by DrivenToBike on August 17, 2014 at 6:38am

Just saw this thread, wanted to give my input as I am a woman bike commuter and I routinely travel 20 miles using the bike-train-bike method.  It took me almost two years to figure out what really worked for me, it just took patience and frustration along the way.

http://www.driventobike.com/2014/08/04/logistics-of-bike-commuting-...

Permalink Reply by Beth Binkovitz on September 1, 2014 at 6:52am

I find the most helpful things are: 1. When I commute in my work clothes, I wear dark colors so any road dirt or chain grease are hidden, and 2. I leave plenty of time and ride slowly and comfortably.

When it's really unbearably hot out, I put my work clothes in my panniers and ride in a tank top and shorts, and add the skirt and button-down shirt after I've walked into the air conditioned building.