General Discussion Triathlon Talk » For those that ride to work???? Rss Feed  
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2010-05-07 9:35 AM

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Expert
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Alabama
Subject: For those that ride to work????
What do you wear?  I live about 2 miles from work, so my ride wouldn't be much of a workout, unless i stretched it out.  It seems almost worthless to get decked out in my biking gear to ride two miles to work.  

Do you wear your work clothes for a short commute?  I don't want to mess them up (residue, grease, road muck?).  What do you do for a short commute on the bike?


2010-05-07 9:42 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Master
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Columbus, Ohio
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Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
My bike commute is 10 miles, so I wear bike gear. I shower and change when I get to work.

When I used to live really close, I would sometimes wear a business shirt and bike shorts. Or bike shorts under a skirt I was going to wear.  Some combination where I was mostly wearing my work clothes, but had some modification so I didn't catch any nice pants in the chain.

Good luck! Enjoy saving all that gas money! You will probably eat healthier, too, if you don't already. I found riding my bike forced me to a pack a lunch, and I usually ate better and cheaper as a result.
2010-05-07 9:42 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Science Nerd
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Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
When I had a short commute, I still wore different clothes from what I wanted to wear to work today.  A few times of getting mud on the back of my work clothes made that decision a lot easier.
2010-05-07 9:52 AM
in reply to: #2843508

Veteran
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Griswold, Connecticut
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
My straight line commute is 7 miles, but about half the time I take a 10 mile route instead.  I always ride in biking clothes.  I usually leave my uniform (military) hanging up at work and use my Zoot transition bag as a commuting back pack.  I frequently need long sleeves on the morning ride and short on the afternoon. It also lets me take undershirt/underwear/socks back and forth if needed. 

I do use my commuting rides as part of my training plan.

I never commute 5 days a week, so as it warms up in the summer, I probably won't need the backpack.
2010-05-07 9:57 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Master
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Lexington, KY
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
My commute is about 12 minutes one-way on a beat-up mtn bike.  Pack work clothes in a backpack and change at the office.  Then I can ride in almost all conditions.  Wear older clothes for the ride; no cycling gear except a helmet and glasses.

If it's warm, I ride easy on the way in.
2010-05-07 9:58 AM
in reply to: #2843583

Expert
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Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
When I get to my commute is about 14 miles so I wear normal cycling clothing and ride with a backpack.  If I know I'm going more times that week I'll just leave stuff in one of the lockers we have connected to the shower room in our building.


2010-05-07 10:00 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Pro
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MA
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
My one-way commute is 18 miles.  Dont' commute every day.  I would leave a set of clothes at work the day before.  We have showers and locker rooms we can use.  So I would ride in my bike gears.
2010-05-07 10:05 AM
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Master
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Knightdale/Raleigh
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I sometimes do short trips around town on my hybrid bike. For some town meetings I'm dressed in khakis and a golf shirt. I use a velcro strap around the paint leg on the chain side and the front chain ring does have a guard. I only do it in nice weather. If I did it more I would get fenders.

Edit: And my hybrid bike has platform pedals on one side and a clippless system on the other so I can wear regular or bike shoes.

Edited by DMarkSwan 2010-05-07 10:07 AM
2010-05-07 10:06 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Expert
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Central Mass
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
My commute is 1.5 miles one way.
When it's chilly, I wear jeans and the polo I'm going to be wearing that day.  If I'm going button-up shirt, I just wear a T that I'm going to wear as an undershirt that day.  I throw a fleece jacket over top of that.  When it's really cold (that would be under the mid 50s here), ear warmer and hat.  If it's really, really cold (under 40), I'll layer a hoodie in there too.

When it's warm, I wear my every-day shorts and the same top as when it's chilly.

It does get wicked hot here, but with the lack of humidity, even days when it's going to be in the mid 100s, it'll still be in the 70s in the morning and I don't have a problem getting to work sweaty.

Oh, and I stash work shoes and some slacks in my backpack (panniers when hot) on monday and leave them at work for the week.
2010-05-07 10:11 AM
in reply to: #2843508

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Master
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Bellevue, WA
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
8.5 miles / half an hour away from work. I wear bike gear. I don't push it hard enough to sweat it up too badly, so I generally don't shower at work I just cool off and change. My work attire is casual so it's easy to bring them in my backpack.
2010-05-07 10:23 AM
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Member
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Athens
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I wear bike gear or gym shorts and a tech shirt if all the bike clothes are too nasty.  A change of clothes goes in a backpack along with my lunch.  If it's really hot out I'll bring along unscented baby wipes and go after the sweaty areas since the only shower at the lab is the emergency shower (it's cold, public, and there's no drain).


2010-05-07 10:49 AM
in reply to: #2843709

Regular
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Noblesville, IN
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????

I got shorts from Sugoi that look like trekking shorts, but have like a bike shorts inside. So, spandex without looking like spandex. 12 miles, about 2 times a week so far.

I don't dig on backpacks so got panniers for clothes and a laptop specific pannier. Makes good excuse to get more gear too.

Cheers
2010-05-07 11:17 AM
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Expert
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Bend, OR
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I've commuted to work for about 3 years now.  Its just under 4 miles for me.  I average about 85% commuted by bike (even through the snowy winters!). 

From October to May I usually wear my bike shorts with a wind resistant bike pant (that I got as a gift from REI) on bottom and a Under Armour type long sleeve under a long sleeve tech shirt.  This works for anywhere from 32 degrees to about 60 degrees.  If its warmer than that I'll just wear shorts w/ a t-shirt.

I pack my clothes, laptop, and lunch in my backpack and I'm off.  I don't shower when I get to work, but I do keep a pack of wipes that I just wipe my arms, neck, face, and chest off with when I'm changing to my work clothes.
2010-05-07 11:21 AM
in reply to: #2843870

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Expert
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Alabama
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
n.k - 2010-05-07 11:17 AM I've commuted to work for about 3 years now.  Its just under 4 miles for me.  I average about 85% commuted by bike (even through the snowy winters!). 

From October to May I usually wear my bike shorts with a wind resistant bike pant (that I got as a gift from REI) on bottom and a Under Armour type long sleeve under a long sleeve tech shirt.  This works for anywhere from 32 degrees to about 60 degrees.  If its warmer than that I'll just wear shorts w/ a t-shirt.

I pack my clothes, laptop, and lunch in my backpack and I'm off.  I don't shower when I get to work, but I do keep a pack of wipes that I just wipe my arms, neck, face, and chest off with when I'm changing to my work clothes.


It stays hot down here thru the summer.  I have such a short commute right now, that I wanted to see what everyone did.  My commute may increase if we end up moving this summer, and we will be farther out.  This sounds like a workable solution.  I'll have to find a good backpack for my clothes...

Thank for all the responses....  been looking at bike commuting, but needed to get all the logistics together for my currently short commute.
2010-05-07 11:48 AM
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Regular
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Odessa
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I have just started to commute myself... 5 miles each way.  On Mondays, I take a bunch of clothes to work and store them in the closet, which saves weight on my backpack.  Invest in some baby wipes and an extra deoderant stick to leave at work.  I do a quick wipedown then dress up.
2010-05-07 12:40 PM
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Extreme Veteran
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West Hartford, CT
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
Guess I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to clothing.  My commute is about 1 mile each way, and I just wear my regular work clothes (and a helmet, of course.)  No need to change when I get to work.  I'm riding a Trek Belleville, though, so it's kind of made for this sort of thing (i.e. chain guard, fenders, comfortable seat, etc.).


2010-05-07 1:06 PM
in reply to: #2844061

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Expert
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Alabama
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
cthoops - 2010-05-07 12:40 PM Guess I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to clothing.  My commute is about 1 mile each way, and I just wear my regular work clothes (and a helmet, of course.)  No need to change when I get to work.  I'm riding a Trek Belleville, though, so it's kind of made for this sort of thing (i.e. chain guard, fenders, comfortable seat, etc.).


Unfortunatly all i have at the moment is my road bike.  I've thought about investing in a commuter, but it's not in the cards right now.
2010-05-07 2:40 PM
in reply to: #2843508


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Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
About 3 miles round trip for me. I ALWAYS wear my dress clothes.  Dress pants and button up shirt, but I do take care of my pant legs..  If its cold, heavy sky jacket gloves and hat under helmet.  I then have a 30 min train ride so I can cool down or warm up.  NEVER wore special stuff.  Just not worth it for me...PLUS I save 4 dollars a day in parking fees..  Now that's a real win...  20 per week, 80 per month..960 a year...new bike every year.. ;-)...
2010-05-07 2:47 PM
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Veteran
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Austin
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I'm about 1.5 mi and I usually just wear my work clothes and tuck my sprocket-side pant-leg into sock to prevent greasing and tearing. Looks a little goofy, but spares the slacks. Just remember to untuck prior to entering premisis. Usually the mornings are cool enough that I dont get too sweaty on the way in. I take the MB so I can wear normal shoes. I prefer not to wear a backpack or saddle bags with a change of clothes. Travel light. Of course this is weather permitting. If its raining I drive...
2010-05-07 6:42 PM
in reply to: #2843508

Coltonville,Illinois
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
I got it easy. My work clothes are shorts and t shirts.So I commute in shorts and a t shirt. I do wear a
wind breaker or rain coat if necessary. I commuted this winter so I wore a warm up suit. Over you guessed it shorts and a t shirt.
2010-05-07 7:00 PM
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Master
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PNW
Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????
Honestly, a super short commute can be harder to manage logistically than a long one.

I had a 1.5 mile commute (each way) for about 4 months when we first moved here.  I used  my road bike with a back pack until I bought a $75 mixte frame as an 'around town' bike and put a basket on the back.  In both cases, I wore work clothes and just used a velcro strap to keep my pants out of the chain ring.  I carried my work shoes in my bag and changed once I got to work.

The hardest thing to figure out was rain.  I felt like a wimp when I drove in the rain, but I was never able to figure out how to make it work on the bike.  I even had fenders!  Putting on rain gear kept most of the rain off me, but made me sweat enough to be unpresentable.  Skipping the rain gear wasn't going to work.  Changing into special clothing for a 1.5 mile commute seemed like a colossal waste of time.  My best option in the rain?  I walked.  I still had to change shoes, but at least I wasn't soaked with sweat or drenched with wind-blown rain.

A commute where you pretty much have to wear biking specific clothing actually makes it a lot easier!


2010-05-07 7:00 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: For those that ride to work????

sorry - dble post



Edited by GLC1968 2010-05-07 7:01 PM
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » For those that ride to work???? Rss Feed