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Commuting Advice Please

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  • September 29, 2015 at 8:39 pm #24870
    jova54

    Hi,

    I cycle to work 1 week in 4 but I’d like to cycle more often. It’s only a couple of miles or so but by the end I have a bit of a sweat on, even in t-shirt and shorts. Problem is, even though I work in a NHS Trust, work does do not have enough lockers or decent showers so I end up having a ‘wash’ and getting changed in the staff loo and hope for the best.

    Does anyone have any suggestions of personal cleansing products that can be used where showers aren’t abundant? I have about 30 minutes between arriving and starting my shift.

    Thanks

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Viewing 14 replies - 16 through 29 (of 29 total)
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  • October 1, 2015 at 5:08 pm #860959
    0
    Manchestercyclist

    Start cold, also add a
    Start cold, also add a pannier or large saddle bag to the bike. That way you can remove layers every time your starting to warm up. If you stay cold all the way there at least you can reduce the amount of sweat.

    Failing that, is there a gym you can join just for the showers? or a municipal sports centre. Surely a hospital has showers for patients, is there one you can ‘borrow’.

    October 1, 2015 at 5:08 pm #860957
    0
    Manchestercyclist

    Start cold, also add a
    Start cold, also add a pannier or large saddle bag to the bike. That way you can remove layers every time your starting to warm up. If you stay cold all the way there at least you can reduce the amount of sweat.

    Failing that, is there a gym you can join just for the showers? or a municipal sports centre. Surely a hospital has showers for patients, is there one you can ‘borrow’.

    October 1, 2015 at 5:06 pm #860955
    0
    Manchestercyclist

    Start cold, also add a
    Start cold, also add a pannier or large saddle bag to the bike. That way you can remove layers every time your starting to warm up. If you stay cold all the way there at least you can reduce the amount of sweat.

    Failing that, is there a gym you can join just for the showers? or a municipal sports centre. Surely a hospital has showers for patients, is there one you can ‘borrow’.

    October 1, 2015 at 4:47 pm #860953
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    CXR94Di2

    You need a wick layer on the
    You need a wick layer on the skin and breathable fabrics on top. Obviously a change of clothes everyday.

    October 1, 2015 at 2:55 pm #860951
    0
    Carton

    Extra deodorant and some kind
    Extra deodorant and some kind of light aftershave are always requisite for french (water-less or nearly water-less) shower.

    I’m another member of the “if it’s over 80 degrees I’ll start sweating like a stuck pig even before I get on the bike” club. So I don’t even consider a second layer for cycling unless it’s under 50.

    September 30, 2015 at 9:42 pm #860949
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    Flying Scot

    I used cheapo baby wipes
    I used cheapo baby wipes before we got the showers put in at work, that and trying not to break a sweat!

    September 30, 2015 at 6:47 pm #860947
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    jova54

    Cheers guys.
    Like a couple of
    Cheers guys.

    Like a couple of others I just have to get on the bike for the sweat to start.

    Yes I could do with losing a few kilos and training more but at 60 life’s too short so thanks for the clothing and cleansing advice.

    September 30, 2015 at 3:09 pm #860945
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    vonhelmet

    I sweat like a monster if I’m
    I sweat like a monster if I’m doing anything more than 10mph. I can get a sweat on just walking briskly. It sucks.

    September 30, 2015 at 2:51 pm #860943
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    sergius

    brooksby wrote:sergius

    brooksby wrote:
    sergius wrote:
    If you can work up a proper sweat in 6-7 minutes of riding I’d probably suggest a little more practice/training.

    That seems a little unfair. Some people just do sweat more than others. I do 16-20 miles per day (depending on which route I take) and couldn’t possibly wear ‘normal’ clothes as I sweat too much. I’ve been doing that for the last four years. Gosh – do I need to train more :?

    All fair comments, my original is a little crass re-reading it.

    I personally have to ride quite hard for upwards of 20 minutes before I warm up (especially @7am when it’s nippy out). Even on the spin bike at home in the warm with no moving air around me, it takes me 10+ minutes to break a sweat. Obviously everyone is different in this regard.

    I would still contend that for a 2 mile ride (6 minutes @ 20mph, 12 minutes @10mph), I wouldn’t have thought it’s that hard to find a pace that is sufficiently comfortable to avoid too much sweating/exertion, it’s a very short distance.

    I’m obviously assuming he doesn’t work on top of a mountain ofc…

    September 30, 2015 at 2:23 pm #860941
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    brooksby

    sergius wrote:If you can work

    sergius wrote:
    If you can work up a proper sweat in 6-7 minutes of riding I’d probably suggest a little more practice/training.

    That seems a little unfair. Some people just do sweat more than others. I do 16-20 miles per day (depending on which route I take) and couldn’t possibly wear ‘normal’ clothes as I sweat too much. I’ve been doing that for the last four years. Gosh – do I need to train more đŸ˜•

    September 30, 2015 at 10:03 am #860939
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    jasecd

    The amount people sweat
    The amount people sweat varies – if you’re unlucky like me then you will sweat almost immediately once you start putting in any serious effort (I’ve got a resting heart rate of 50bpm so I think I’m fit enough).

    Definitely agree with the recommendations for technical clothing – ensure that your winter gear is breathable otherwise you’ll probably end up wetter on the inside than out. Also agree with the baby wipes but as you arrive early give yourself fifteen minutes to cool down and stop sweating before you clean up.

    September 30, 2015 at 8:29 am #860937
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    sergius

    If you can work up a proper
    If you can work up a proper sweat in 6-7 minutes of riding I’d probably suggest a little more practice/training.

    When I commuted into work on the bike I made a point of joining a gym near work. I tended to get up early, jump straight on the bike and ride to work and have a shower at the gym.

    I use a gym every day anyway, so having one near work and going at lunchtime was an additional convenience for me.

    September 29, 2015 at 9:35 pm #860935
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    PonteD

    Muc-off sell “dry shower”
    Muc-off sell “dry shower” it’s a foam you rub on and then dry off, it smells nice (if you like coconuts) and does a good job of keeping pongs at bay. There’s also the old faithful baby wipes to have a once over with.

    I find technical clothing does a better job at minimising sweat as it is designed to wick moisture away and keep you dry/cool. If you don’t fancy wearing cycling gear a technical sports tee shirt (like a dry fit running top or even a football/rugby shirt) might help as they are also designed to wick away moisture.

    Of course the alternative is to just go a little slower and not work up such a sweat (easier said than done).

    September 29, 2015 at 9:19 pm #860933
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    Shades

    Slow down a bit and perhaps
    Slow down a bit and perhaps wear some lighter ‘tech’ clothing (e.g. lightweight merino). Winter’s coming so the one advantage when cycling in normal clothes is that keeping warm is more of a problem than sweating. Start the ride with just enough clothes that you feel a bit chilly; you’ll soon warm up and keep below the sweat threshold.

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