No showers at work - any tips?

Mike400

Hi all - this is my first topic!

Recently got back into cycling after a five year break - during that time I have accumulated a fair bit of weight....

anyway ive been building the fitness back up on my (homebuilt) MTB and now feel im at a level where the 9 mile commute (18mile round trip) wouldn't be too much of a push for me.

The bike is perfect as I built it up with commuting in mind (light frame, road tyres etc etc), my fitness is at a level whereby I can cope with the journey, ive even done a few "trial runs" in the evening. Secure storage for the bike at work etc etc

The only thing holding me back is the lack of showers in my building. How do others cope in this situation?

Ive heard that with decent wicking cycling clothing you could get away with having a quick wipe down then put on clean clothes?

bluesacs

I cycle very slowly.

Mike400

bluesacs wrote:

I cycle very slowly.

problem is I dont think I could ride much slower at the minute!!!!

I currently commute by train, and amazingly when I first tried cycling into my office (one evening) it was a good 15 mins quicker!!

biondino

Mike400 wrote:

Ive heard that with decent wicking cycling clothing you could get away with having a quick wipe down then put on clean clothes?

Yup. That's what I do. There are days when it's properly hot that I wish I could de-sweat properly, but working in an air-conditioned building I soon cool down and dry off.

Cleanliness is the key - be clean, wear clean cycle kit and change into clean clothes. Clean sweat doesn't really begin to smell over the course of a working day, though if you're a dentist or gym instructor or some other profession where you have to get very close to people, this might make a difference.

Cafewanda

My sympathies. A combination of wet wipes and a small handtowel should be fine, not forgetting the deodorant .

Cycling slower is an option too

Levi_501

One of my previous offices I had the same problem.

Get hold of a small plastic mat, yoga one or something than stick your head under the tap and have a 'strip' wash at the sink.

Try and use a quiter toilet though !

Kieran_Burns

Levi_501 wrote:

One of my previous offices I had the same problem.

Get hold of a small plastic mat, yoga one or something than stick your head under the tap and have a 'strip' wash at the sink.

Try and use a quiter toilet though !

+1

worked for me when i was in the old building.

If you take a clean shirt to change into and shower well before you leave, you can wipe off the sweat when you get to the office.

Mike400

I would be one of the first in the office, and there is a fairly large seperate disabled toilet-room on my floor that no one goes near, so I could just use that.

So, shower in the morning, clean cycle clothes, don't push too hard on the way in, quick wash down and changed into clean clothes.

Im more or less desk bound, so public interaction isnt a big issue!!

I think ill have a go some friday when the dress code is usually pretty casual in here, that way I can get away with changing into Jeans and a T-shirt - more comfy!

Slurp

Much the same as you've heard, though I certainly tend to break a sweat on the way. I keep a flannel and quick-drying microfibre towel in the office. I also keep my shoes and trousers in the office and bring in a clean shirt, underwear and socks in a backpack. (I've also seen recommended here a once-a-week car journey to drop off a week's worth of shirts so you don't have to schlapp them in daily.)

Into the disabled loo, slosh around a couple of gallons of water, dry, deodorise and once I'm dressed, I'm ready for work. Some of the other cyclists here pay for gym membership so they can use the showers, but I'm too much of a cheapskate for that.

Matt_westmids

Mike400 wrote:

I would be one of the first in the office, and there is a fairly large seperate disabled toilet-room on my floor that no one goes near, so I could just use that.

So, shower in the morning, clean cycle clothes, don't push too hard on the way in, quick wash down and changed into clean clothes.

Im more or less desk bound, so public interaction isnt a big issue!!

I think ill have a go some friday when the dress code is usually pretty casual in here, that way I can get away with changing into Jeans and a T-shirt - more comfy!

Thats sounds just like what I do.

nation

I do basically the same as well. The only tip I have to add is that Batiste dry shampoo is helpful if you have long hair (It's an aerosol, it dries to a kind of powder that you can then comb/brush out).

Mike400

Ive heard others saying baby wipes are handy too?

camerone

when i was young my Dad insisted on demonstrating what he called a 'stand up bath'
I am still emotionally scarred from the hidious sight of a wet flannel interacting vigourously with his knackers but to be fair very effective!

prawny

I use babywipes on sensitive areas, splash my face deoderant up and take a clean shirt with me.

I haven't has any stinky issues so far and I tank it in as fast as I can

admittedly this isn't very fast at all :oops:

NGale

Sit there and stink for 8 hours, then they'll put s shower in

Mike400

NGale wrote:

Sit there and stink for 8 hours, then they'll put s shower in

No chance - a few of us have already made a fuss about showers, saying as its company policy to provide showering / changing facilities on site to encourage cycling, however the powers that be were very quick to point out that the policy applies to premises owned by the company and as we are currently housed in a shared rented office block theres no chance.

We did speak to the people who own the building and they said they would look into it (which probably means no!)

always_tyred

Follow the one sweat rule - not more than a single ride, or a night's sleep, between a shower and work.

Don't go to the extent of using vast quantities of wet wipes every day. Just use soap and water and a disabled loo, and dry up after yourself.

Personally I ride like stink and go to a local gym in town for a shower.

coffeecup

I tend to move from client to client every 6 months or so. You sometimes have to be creative, but generally I do this:

- leave a small bag either near my desk, in the disabled toilets or have managed to get a key for a spare cleaner's locker.
- leave a small hand towel, flannel and a few toiletries - soap, deo, toothbrush.
- use a disabled toilet or similar in the morning to have a bird bath
- find somewhere to hang cycle gear and towel during the day and hang my suit trousers there at night (Useful if you can borrow/acquire a coat stand and leave it in corner of said toilet with a few hangers on it)
- bring shirts every 4 - 5 days in a folder thingwhich keeps them smart. (I then only have to carry a backpack once or twice a week and if you travel light, you travel fast)

After a while it becomes 'normal' and other people in the office tend to be supportive.

cjcp

Always Tyred wrote:

Personally I ride like stink and go to a local gym in town for a shower.

+1. I have off-peak membership to keep the cost down.

JonS123

I just use a bar of soap, some warm water, stand next to a sink... luckally im always first in, and the room with the sink has no window. Keep a weeks worth of work clothes at work.

Mike400

coffeecup wrote:

- bring shirts every 4 - 5 days in a folder thingwhich keeps them smart. (I then only have to carry a backpack once or twice a week and if you travel light, you travel fast)

That shirt folder thing looks just the ticket - does it fit easily into a rucksack as Im trying to avoid panniers?

coffeecup

It fits into my rucksack which is a fairly standard 25ltr pack, but I would imagine it won't fit all rucksacks. There's a smaller 'Folder 15'which you could try. I used one of these happily for a couple of years, but I find the 'Folder 18'is easier to fold the shirts

Folder 18 - 46 x 30cm
Folder 15 - 38 x 25cm

coffeecup

oh and a top tip... double pack it in plastic bags. You'll only forget to do this once...

Nothing worse than getting to work with 4 wet shirts

Headhuunter

cjcp wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Personally I ride like stink and go to a local gym in town for a shower.

+1. I have off-peak membership to keep the cost down.

I'd agree, join a local gym and use their showers. Cycling in+gym membership is probably cheaper than public transport or cost of a car anyway and you get fit into the bargain.

Mr_Cellophane

I go in with a backpack with shirt, trousers, socks and pants, deodorant and a microfibre towel. Head straight for the loos and strip off towel down and get dressed. My cycle clothes are wet and stink through the day (fortunately I have an empty desk one side) I am fairly dry before I strip off as all the sweat has wicked into my clothes and I don't have expensive tops.
I usually take in a frozen ready meal for lunch so my day clothes are quite cool which probably helps a bit.

highwaymunky

In my 2 years plus of commuting by bike I have learnt the following [it may help]

Baby wipes are the biz for cleaning the delicate areas.

Strip off in the disabled toilet wash down from the sink and then dry and get dressed.

I keep a full change of clothes at work as well as all toiletries.

Try asking the building manager if you can have a locker in the disabled toilet / empty broom cupboard to keep all your toiletries and spare clothes in.

Chairs make fantastic airers!

I go for the trousers and 5 shirts once a week and just bring underwear in the backpack each day but experiment and see what works for you.

Just try asking if they will install a shower? I used the sustainability / being green / environmentally friendly line with my office to get things improved.

Good Luck

DonDaddyD

Wash/wipe over the sink in a disabled toilet. Facial wipes (tea tree oil facial pads from Superdrug) for the face. Dry. Spray. Moisturise the face and hands with baby lotion. Get dressed. walk into the office.

jedster

Facial wipes (tea tree oil facial pads from Superdrug) for the face... Moisturise the face and hands with baby lotion.

DDD,

I'm sorry but it has to be said

MTFU!



alright, I admit to using the occasional bit of moisturiser but only when the weather gets proper bleak

DonDaddyD

jedster wrote:

Facial wipes (tea tree oil facial pads from Superdrug) for the face... Moisturise the face and hands with baby lotion.

DDD,

I'm sorry but it has to be said

MTFU!



alright, I admit to using the occasional bit of moisturiser but only when the weather gets proper bleak

Yes, but I have the boyish good looks and soft supple skin....

woodford2barbican

test

artaxerxes

If you don't like using disposable wipes and assuming you have a microwave at work. Get a couple of small face towels, wet them, then stick in the microwave at full power for 30 seconds (don't get them too hot mind).
Use one for face and upper body, the other for 'down below'.

Use another towel to dry off.