Cycling 2 work - they have no showers

xcmad

No showers for me, just sink. 9 very hilly miles each-way around the Chilterns and every day is a training mission. The routine:

Disabled loo, strip down, wash face with exfoliator, wash top half bod with shower gel, dry down, brush teeth, wet shave, deodarant, fresh shirt, wipe down surfaces & floor.... 13mins. Ready!

Only thing that annoys me is having to wash legs, always seems to get messy. So I use full length bibs as often as poss. Good luck mate! Sure you will enjoy it.

Initialised

AndyManc wrote:

Drysuitdiver wrote:

AndyManc wrote:

Initialised wrote:

I find a desk fan sufficient, I wouldn't expect a firm the size of mine a spend thousands to cater for one employee's habit.

It's NOT a habit, it [b (1)]DOESN'T cost thousands[/b] and employers have a [b (2)]moral duty[/b] and, dependent on interpretation, a l (3)egal duty to consider the health of their employees and the environmental damage caused by their policies.

Employers that consider their policies and encourage cycling amongst their staff will soon recoup any costs by having a (4)fitter healthier workforce that's far less likely to have time off work on the sick, and therefore they will be more productive.

You're not a blinkered 'employer' are you ?

.

I work for an employer who is fairly forward thinking and is the UKs greenest construction company


1 it can be over £1000 for a room to be fitted out to basic standards and if there is only one cyclist then thats not a good return, once you get more than one then the cost rises .

2 moral and legal are 2 very different things sadly employers MUST do what is legally required, they have no obligation to do what is morally correct.

3 only whilst at work, they are not responsible for the commute to work. travel for work purposes yes. but certainly not the commute.


4 in an ideal world yes but as for people taking less sick time , nah a straw poll across the office of time off this financial year points out the cyclists have had more sick days off. strangely in early July , i dunno why this is at all ( I do actually TDF)


luckily i have a good employer who on the last 3 jobs has provided very good shower rooms and was most apologetic when we moved site ofices and the showers were OOA for a few weeks.

It can cost over £100,000 to build a shower room , gold fittings etc.

It can also cost as little as £100, companies are offered many grants to enable staff to use green transport , the purchase and fitting of a shower can be done with minimal outlay.

Facilities doesn't just mean a fitted shower, my company throws away' nearly new 'lockers by the skip load, most companies waste finances with disturbing regularity.

A straw poll , of what .

Research has clearly exhibited and proven time after time cyclists have on average a fitness level 10yrs younger than their actual age, cyclists suffer from far less illness.

Any company worth working for would always take an interest in how their staff commute, they need a reliable workforce that uses reliable transport.

There is legislation in place that companies MUST consider environmental issues, most are quite happy to maintain large car parks for staff at a cost of many thousands, but far too few are prepared to consider basic facilities for cyclists.

That needs to change, either voluntarily or through legislation.

Once again there too many 'cyclists' that are taking far too much time making excuses for a society that fails to cater for and promote cycling instead of spending more thought why that should change.

There was some debate, I think the threshold for taking action about facilities would be three cyclists, so far I'm the only one so I don't expect facilities or C2W schemes.

If you can point me at legislation that demands they provide a shower be my guest.

Drysuitdiver

AndyManc.

a straw poll across the ofice i work in. it shows that days off sick in the cyclists as much as those who don't

not debating people will be fiter, but they will still get sick and take time off. just as much as somebody who isn't a self righteous cyclist.

The Rookie

My company rent an office, so no real option but to use and put up with the facilities we have!

Simon

Drysuitdiver

The Beginner wrote:

My company rent an office, so no real option but to use and put up with the facilities we have!

Simon

do they rent a floor in a block etc.

it mifght be worth putting a poster up if there is multiple occupation as the landlord might do something if there are a number of you requiring it.

Tom Butcher

There has to be a point where it's more time efficient to slow down and not sweat and not have to wash when you get there - I'd have thought for 4 miles that's the way to go. Nobody would think you had to wash after walking to work so cycling at an equivalent effort should not be any different - especially as you get more of a cooling breeze while cycling. A decent anti-perspirant should help if it's really a problem.

bakerstreet

Mine is 7 miles each way and I only have a couple of small hills. I give it the beans for most of the journey, but take it easy for the last mile.

Like others, I also use a microfibre towel and wet wipes when I get to work. Of course I also spray a bit of deodrant on too. I also try and keep my tousers and shoes at work, so that minimizes the amount of kit I have to carry in my rucksack.

Getting the layers right is also critical. I am really struggling on that one. I'm currently using a Altura long sleave jersey and an Altura waterproof jacket with Karrimore Cycling leggings. I also use a buff tube thingy and I am getting too hot. May loose the buff kneck thing and take it from there.

jeremyrundle

AndyManc wrote:

Initialised wrote:

I find a desk fan sufficient, I wouldn't expect a firm the size of mine a spend thousands to cater for one employee's habit.

It's NOT a habit, it DOESN'T cost thousands and employers have a moral duty and, dependent on interpretation, a legal duty to consider the health of their employees and the environmental damage caused by their policies.

Employers that consider their policies and encourage cycling amongst their staff will soon recoup any costs by having a fitter healthier workforce that's far less likely to have time off work on the sick, and therefore they will be more productive.

You're not a blinkered 'employer' are you ?

.

Are you real, whilst it may be good if an employer provides such things it is not a legal requirement, next you will be saying that because an employee choses to drive to work the employer must provide parking, or perhaps a bus stop, hello :!:

mutantllama

Same position, 11 miles to work 3 days a week, and no showers. Here is what I do...

Keep a full set of several days work clothes at work in a suit bag (shoes, shirt, trousers etc), saves carrying them around and getting them creased. On the Tuesday and Wednesday that I do not ride, I take the clothes home, wash and iron them and bring them back to work.

At work I have deoderant, several packs of Extra Large family Wet Wipes and shampoo. Wash my hair in the toilet sinks and clean myself down completely with Wet Wipes. Deoderant on, bit of aftershave and finished.

Totally clean and never smell stinky!!

fossyant

+1 with wet wipes where no facilities.

If you intend on using your commute as 'good training' then you will get sweatty within 4 miles. I've got a couple of sites I visit regularly that are 4 and 5 miles from my office - I'm usually pouring in sweat when I get there (this is on top of my usual commute)

Use proper cycling clothes, wipe down with baby wipes, deo, and get changed into work stuff.

Graeme_aberdeen

thanks again to all who gave advise.. didn't want to "go there" regarding legal and moral stuff....I would just like to ride a bike and have advice on non sweaty bit!

peejay78

i ride 15 hilly miles to work and back.

i find that if i wash my hair the night before, by the time i get to work in the morning it's nicely conditioned and manageable.

i take it a bit steady on the way in. i have a wash and rub down with a towel in the gents toilets. we have some shelves and hooks to keep clothes and things.

shouldbeinbed

Graeme_aberdeen wrote:

thanks again to all who gave advise.. didn't want to "go there" regarding legal and moral stuff....I would just like to ride a bike and have advice on non sweaty bit!

Well said, unfortunately for 'some of us' (noted AMs use of inverted commas for cyclists he obviously disapproves of i.e. everyone not engaged in perpetual warfare against the internal combustion engine) cycling isn't a means of getting about, or getting fit or having fun, it's a political manifesto against reality

Oh and +1 for keeping spare clothes at work, I do a car run once a week with food & clothes & to pick up my washing. less rumpled + healthier & cheaper for lunch than daily impulse shopping.

whitestar1

walkingbootweather wrote:

As anyone with kids will tell you Wet wipes are the answer to many a hygiene problem. Riding 4 flat miles is probably comparable in effort to walking about a mile and I'm not sure I'd need to change or shower after that. I do however carry one of those micro towels 'just in case'.

The secret is getting your layers right and pacing yourself to include a warm up and cool down phase. If you get it right you'll have a nice glow not a wild sweat.

Thanks very much for this. I am just starting - next week actually! but I hadn't given any thought to what state I would be in when I get to the office. Wipes and a towel will do fine for me!

whitestar1

walkingbootweather wrote:

As anyone with kids will tell you Wet wipes are the answer to many a hygiene problem. Riding 4 flat miles is probably comparable in effort to walking about a mile and I'm not sure I'd need to change or shower after that. I do however carry one of those micro towels 'just in case'.

The secret is getting your layers right and pacing yourself to include a warm up and cool down phase. If you get it right you'll have a nice glow not a wild sweat.

Thanks very much for this. I am just starting - next week actually! but I hadn't given any thought to what state I would be in when I get to the office. Wipes and a towel will do fine for me!

whitestar1

Hi All
I have done my very first communte to work 4.4 miles and with 2 small hills. I took it easy with a heavy backpack. 30 minutes and not even a decent sweat!

MyPace

I cycle 10 miles each way and can confirm you really don't need a shower.

I go a bit slower, use a pannier and sit down for a few minutes before getting changed and never had any problems with BO or strange rashes appearing etc. Not going flat out helps too, and anytime you'd save by going faster is taken away by the fact you'll need a shower.

Its the fat people who do no exercise that seem to smell more!

whitestar1

MyPace wrote:

I cycle 10 miles each way and can confirm you really don't need a shower.

I go a bit slower, use a pannier and sit down for a few minutes before getting changed and never had any problems with BO or strange rashes appearing etc. Not going flat out helps too, and anytime you'd save by going faster is taken away by the fact you'll need a shower.

Its the fat people who do no exercise that seem to smell more!

Tell you what MyPace aint you afraid that the last comment will start a flame war :shock:
Though 10 miles must be hard work to cover, how long does it take you?

Makker

It varies from person to person, but I for one do not think I could cope without a shower at the end of my 7 mile ride to work. Even more so in the summer.

Not sure if it has been mentioned yet, but merino wool is pretty magic stuff. I didn't believe it until i tried it, but a merino base layer has a real stay fresh quality. And breathable outer layers are key.

I second that employers should be compelled to have showers. Maybe not retro fit, but if there was a law that all new office fit outs had to have showers it would hardly be noticed on the whole cost of the build.