Sweaty cyclist seeks advice

August 12, 2008 9:47 AM

I've just started cycling to work, after four years of my bike living under a tarpaulin in the garden. Now it's serviced-up and going great, but I'm after some advice from more experienced riders on what to do about the fact that I'm soaked in sweat by the time I arrive at work. It's just a 4 mile ride, and I feel comfortable during the journey, but when I arrive I'm soaked through in a few minutes. Maybe I need different clothes? If so, any recommendations? Or would people recommend carrying a change of clothes and a towel? I don't have access to a shower at work, which would be just great, but maybe towelling off and changing would be a compromise.
posted by m4nju to Travel & Transportation (25 answers total)

I bring a change of clothes. Also, not sure if you're wearing a helmet but they vary considerably in air circulation.

Also, make sure that not only your bike has been tuned up but that it has been fitted to your body properly. Find a store that'll put you through a fit kit. It may seem silly but it can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your ride and therefore the effort (and sweat) you expend.
posted by dobbs at 9:53 AM on August 12, 2008

I towel off and change. (By necessity.) And if you're not soaked in sweat, you're not doing it properly.
posted by Kiwi at 9:54 AM on August 12, 2008

I bike 30 miles a day. No showers either. But I work at a place that doesn't even have a dress code, so I can wear whatever I want when I get there. I get away with a sink-water wipedown with a damp towel, a good face scrub, and some effective deodorant.

In terms of biking gear, go with what's comfortable. Wicking clothes are the best for dissipating heat and moisture, but more often than not I just wear cotton tank tops and running shorts which don't chafe. YMMV.
posted by mykescipark at 9:58 AM on August 12, 2008

My commute is a bit longer than yours, and I don't usually have any problems. Mornings here are pretty cool, and I allow myself a lot of time so I don't really exert myself any more than a pleasant stroll. I wear my regular clothes to work, but change for the trip home, when it's hot and I push myself harder.

If you keep your heart rate down, and the weather isn't hot, you shouldn't sweat any more than a quick wipedown in the bathroom can handle. If you want to push harder, then consider wearing a tank top or tee for the ride in, then change into your work shirt.

Also, I keep basic toiletries in my desk drawer, along with an emergency pair of jeans and shirt, just in case I get caught in a storm or have some other mishap.

There are also tons of webistes about bicycle commuting, with great tips from people all over the world.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 10:05 AM on August 12, 2008

There's a great commuting board you might enjoy over at the Bike Forums. Lots of info to browse through there.
posted by quarterframer at 10:14 AM on August 12, 2008

Yeah, even a towel off is better than nothing. Change at work. I use panniers as putting the clothes in a backpack makes the sweatiness worse.
posted by GuyZero at 10:17 AM on August 12, 2008

Change of clothes & towel: yes! Plus a deodorant, and bring your stuff in a pannier instead of messenger bag or backpack. One also hears good things about baby wipes.

Dress cooler/lighter than you think you should. I'm often a little chilly in the morning when I get started and yet quite warm when I get to the office. (5 miles) Some of the "technical" fabrics can be quite helpful as well, especially shirts. Possibly a helmet with better venting? (I have long-ish hair, and find I stay cooler if I keep it in a PT. Depending on your hair, YMMV.)

Try taking it a little easier. Also try a cool-down walk before you go inside, and a big drink of water, to avoid the shock of going into a warm building.

For more tips, I like http://commutebybike.com/ and http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/
posted by epersonae at 10:35 AM on August 12, 2008

Covered in sweat after 4 miles? Hm.....

If it's super hot where you're located, you're in luck! It's cooling off (if you're in the Northern hemisphere) and that'll definitely help with the sweat.

Are you wearing a backpack? Even on the coolest days, even when I take it easy, I'll still arrive with a sweaty back if I'm carrying a backpack. If you absolutely have to carry stuff with you when you ride, consider getting a rack so that your bike carries the load rather than your body. It's not about the weight, it's about the airflow.

Are you over dressed? If you're drenched in sweat you definitely shouldn't be wearing pants. Shorts are in order. I always commute in cycling shorts because I've got a pretty far ways to ride, but for a four-mile ride I'm comfortable with cargo shorts or board shorts. Are you comfortable riding without a shirt? If not, experiment with different cuts in wicking fabric. In the summer, I prefer my cycling jerseys to fit much tighter than in the winter. A tighter jersey wicks sweat off my skin much better than a looser one.

Are you riding a lot of hills? If so, lower gears and a higher cadence is going to be easier and more efficient than higher gears and mashing the pedals.

Also, consider that while you may be in reasonably good shape, cycling uses some specific muscles that you might not be used to using. It'll definitely get easier over time.

Keep a few outfits at work that you can change into when you arrive. Make sure you cool off before you put on your clean clothes, or you're just going to continue to sweat in those. Go to the bathroom, strip down in a stall, and wipe yourself down with a moist towel. Rocket Shower is a good product for this. Do you have access to ice? Wrap some ice in a towel or sock and put it on the back of your neck and the insides of your elbows, and that'll help you cool down a little faster.

Your body adapts pretty quickly to the added stress. It also takes a while to adjust to the heat. With the heat fading away, if you keep at this your commute should be much much easier in a month or so. Good luck!
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:37 AM on August 12, 2008

Nthing the "technical" or "wicking" fabrics. My entire workout program changed when I got three or four of Under Armour's 'heat gear' shirts. I used to sweat profusely working out. Now, I still do, but all of that moisture gets routed to my Under Armour shirt and my outer cotton shirt. Now, I can finish a hard workout, peel off those two layers and be *slightly* damp underneath. It's a godsend for a heavy sweater like me.

So, given that, also include a change of clothes and some deoderant, and you should be good to go!
posted by Spyder's Game at 10:46 AM on August 12, 2008

I've heard that some people keep baby wipes (or some comparable product) at their office for clean up.
posted by wfrgms at 10:58 AM on August 12, 2008

Fresh clothes and a PTA bath (P*ssy, Tits and Armpits) and deoderant.
posted by raildr at 11:02 AM on August 12, 2008

Reiterating the suggestion of wicking clothes on the bike. Bring a change of clothes (or two and keep them in your office). I keep deodorant and a box of generic, unscented baby wipes in my file cabinet. As you ride the commute more and become more fit, you'll find that you sweat less.
posted by Heretic at 11:17 AM on August 12, 2008

From when I was commuting by bike:
- you may be comfortable during the due to the breeze you generate, once you get to work, indoors, that is no longer there, so naturally you'll heat-up, or notice the sweat which is just trying to cool you off
- change of clothes, either in a pannier or backpack, or if you drive once a week, drop-off a load sufficient for the days you expect to ride
- shoes can get stinky too, might want to keep a pair of those at work as well
- re-apply deodorant
- make use of the washroom sink and soap to rinse exposed skin
- towel couldn't hurt, but if the washroom has paper towels, they can work too
- the more often you ride, and get in shape by doing it, the sweat issue might go away, unless you're really pushing it and riding fast
- a really cold water bottle might help lower your body temperature
- minimize cotton, you need synthetics to wick the moisture so it can evaporate, but don't need to dress like a roadie either
- slow-down the last mile, same as runners walk for a bit after the run to cool-down, if you're sweating and/or panting, save it for weekend rides or gym, slow-down for the commute until your body is used to it
- rain jacket and an eye on the forecast (which is usually wrong)
- helmet with better ventilation?
- be sure to carry some sort of tools (allen keys, chain tool) and tire puncture repair kit
- good for you to make the decision
posted by hungrysquirrels at 11:42 AM on August 12, 2008

I commute on my bike every day. It's only a mile at the moment, so sweat generally isn't a huge problem, but I head across town occasionally, which can get quite sticky. I agree with most of the suggestions here, particularly about using panniers instead of a backpack. You'll almost certainly soak through your shirt when using a backpack, even on cool days and short distances.

One thing I would add is the possibility of not necessarily changing when you get to work, but adding more clothes when you get there. For example, I leave a sport coat hanging on my door, so I never have to wear it on my bike but always have access to it when I need one. You can also do something similar for dress shirts. Stick the one you're going to wear in your pannier, and either wear a shirt designed for biking--not only do they wick better, but the decrease in wind resistance is quite dramatic--or no shirt at all. Then towel off and put on your shirt for the day.
posted by valkyryn at 12:20 PM on August 12, 2008

I do the same distance as you. After a few months moving house and having the longer commute, I wasn't getting half as sweaty and now I only bother with a change of shirt+underwear if it's really hot (Or raining). I usually go for a bit of a wash immediately after chaining my bike, and expect that a few minutes spent relaxing before going straight to the desk helps.

But you'll probably find you adapt in a month or so. Until then, the other advice above is good.
posted by handee at 12:42 PM on August 12, 2008

Take it easy. Don't commute like it is a workout or a race.
posted by JJ86 at 1:18 PM on August 12, 2008

Take it easy
Change of clothes
Sponge bath in the bathroom sink if possible
Talcum powder to absorb excess perspiration
Deoderant applied after the ride

I bolded change of clothes and talcum powder because they were the things that made the biggest difference in my opinion.
posted by Doohickie at 1:21 PM on August 12, 2008

Oh yeah.. and if you work in a laid back place, you can get away with leaving some smart clothes in the office for a couple of days, and cycling in the same skuzzy cyclers, which saves on carrying and laundry.
posted by handee at 1:24 PM on August 12, 2008

Ride slower.
posted by fixedgear at 2:07 PM on August 12, 2008

towel and/or washcloth and a bottle of iso alcohol. wiping yourself down with that will cool and dry you (assuming you have the privacy) possibly at the expense of your skin getting unhappy.

as suggested above, spare shoes or even better open sandals of some sort.

deodorant etc. hungrysquirrels pretty much nailed all the things to do.

gold bond (or off-brand e.g. target, so much cheaper) powder is even better than talcum powder. sometimes I use that stuff instead of deodorant and it works well.

make sure to wipe your bike down every once in a while too, it will thank you for it. er, not with the same towel.

I keep an extra rain jacket in my office in case weather was nice in the morning but not in the evening.

this is the basic stuff I do every day. my work has lockers and showers in the building next to mine, but I've never really needed to take advantage of them.
posted by dorian at 2:38 PM on August 12, 2008

Once you arrive, immediately start fanning yourself off. Something like a large manila envelope (or even one in each hand) or a stiff piece of cardstock, or stand in front of a fan. 5 minutes of fanning immediately on arrival really makes a big difference.

You're sweating all the way there but because you're moving through the air the sweat just evaporates, keeping you cool as it is supposed to.

But once you stop, your body is still warm so it still produces the sweat. Without the breeze to dry it off it starts to build up and you notice it.

Also, besides riding slower, particularly ride slower the last 5 minutes or so before you arrive--use that part of the ride as a cooling off period.
posted by flug at 4:00 PM on August 12, 2008

I ride 6 miles to work and 6 miles back. I wear wicking shirts that wick the sweat away from my body. I always have two washcloths in my desk - one to dampen with water to wipe off too much sweat and one to dry with. I also keep deodorant and perfume in my desk. I keep my work shoes at work and carry in my pannier clothes to change into. And flug has it right - I ride slower the last five minutes or so before I get there so that the breeze can dry off a bunch of the sweat.

I like the workout, so I will ride harder on the way to work if it's cooler outside. But usually I save the hard ride for the way home, or if I'm running late.
posted by cachondeo45 at 5:04 PM on August 12, 2008

What flug said.

Also, depending on the temperature, layer your clothes if possible. I find that as soon as I get off my bike I instantly feel far too warm (no more breeze etc) so I take off my outer layers to compensate.

(it's quite funny walking into the office in midwinter in little more than a singlet top, when everybody else is in overcoats & scarves etc)

disclaimer: I then go & shower off anyway, as I am lucky enough to have a gym & showers at work.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:30 PM on August 12, 2008

I'm a sweaty bastard, and where I used to work there was a dress code and there weren't showers. I left clothes at work, and changed in the handicapped bathroom.

However, the most important thing: Wet Ones. Moist towelettes are a shower in a can, and a damned decent one at that. For excess dampness, use some talcum, and take a hairbrush with you as well.
posted by awenner at 2:53 AM on August 13, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks to all! 1 week in, I'm sweating less as I get used to cycling again after several years out. I have adopted a few of your suggestions.

So, I wear a light cotton t-shirt in the morning, take it easy, and when I get to work I towel off in the disabled cubicle (my bad), deodorise, and come out looking and feeling better than when I used to arrive off the bus and walk 10 or 20 minutes to the office (I work in 2 different offices on different days of the week).

The problem with the journey is that the steepest hill (on either route) is just before I reach the office, so that's where I build up the most sweat. Nevermind, I'm doing well - and am grateful for all your suggestions.
posted by m4nju at 5:31 AM on August 19, 2008