CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

To shower before or after commute?

(24 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by cubecommuter
  • Latest reply from hippetyhop
  • poll: When do you shower when commuting by bike?
    Before commute : (9 votes)
    39 %
    After commute : (12 votes)
    52 %
    Neither : (2 votes)
    9 %

    23 votes


  1. cubecommuter
    Member

    Hi,

    First post, so please be gentle! :-)

    So, this morning, it was a lot milder than I've been used to the past few weeks. So much so, that I ended up all sweaty before I'd even left the house. Not a good situation when I've already showered and I'll just be changing clothes when I get to work.

    This started me thinking whether it might be better to just get up and go in the morning and shower when I get to work. This would mean I could cycle as vigorously as I want, and the weather wouldn't be as much of an issue as well. The downsides are obviously more crap to carry to/from work unless I'm organised and keep things at work.

    What does everybody else do?

    cubecommuter

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. splitshift
    Member

    I need a shower to get awake enough to put my socks on ! besides, am on my own all day so dont really care about odours ! Change out of tights etc before work though ! Lorry drivers in tights......... a different website entirely ?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. 1lesscar
    Member

    If you are fortunate enough to have showering facilities, I'd go with that every time. I suppose it depends on the distance you travel as well though, but any perspiration at all needs to be washed off before spending day in a suit I think. I commute 10 miles each way and am Lucky enough to have showers at work. Not everyone is as fortunate though.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    Welcome cc (oh we've already got one of those!)

    Welcome cubecommuter

    Well if you can you might as well - especially if fast riding is your sport (formal or otherwise) or fitness regime.

    There have been plenty of discussions on here about 'sweat'.

    Most people cycle in fairly normal clothes and don't see the need to shower/change.

    'Nowhere to change/shower' is seen as a reason/excuse by some people for not cycling.

    However there is little doubt that people new to cycling have more problem with basic fitness - which can lead to sweating. Also they don't have the experience to judge number of layers and when to take them off.

    (The unpredictable temperatures of recent weeks makes this even more difficult.)

    There is of course the option to slow down - though many cyclists seem to specialise in 'late', even though cycle commute times tend to be more reliable than car or bus ones.

    Then there's the question of smell in the workplace (mentioned here fairly recently too). This can give 'cyclists' a bad name.

    But it's not just cyclists! Some people seem to think that jackets never need cleaning!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. steveo
    Member

    Some days I get ready in the house and ride in at a lower pace but most I get showered in the office. It saves congestion in the bathroom (in the house), it saves my gas, if you get really rained on its nice to warm up. I don't find I need to be that more organised since I don't cycle in my work stuff I still need to take a change of clothes any way.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. amir
    Member

    For me, definitely after (both ways). I tend to get skin rashes if I don't.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I'm in the before camp. I would have time to shower at work, but to be honest I'm just more comfortable at home. Clean-up + deodorant for the office. At my old place I was really good friends with a guy I shared a room with, and he would have told me if I ever started honking in there (and at one point in time I told him to complain if it ever happened).

    I don't find, even when it's really warm, that I sweat so much that it's an issue. And I time getting to work so I can sit and cool down for 20 minutes or so before needing to get changed.

    This morning I started in long sleeves and fast realised they'd be better tied round my waist. T-shirt commuting weather on October 31st, who'd a thunk it?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    Hi and welcome! My commute is pretty hard work so I like to shower when I get to work. It is great when the weather is bad to get a shower when you get in as well. It does mean carrying more stuff of course but for me it is worth it. You are also at risk of leaving key components behind. I'd say give it a go and see which you like best.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. SRD
    Moderator

    I started showering at work when I started back after maternity leave in the spring, and find it much better. Helps that my start time not to firmly fixed, and that home/bathroom very busy/stressed.

    So, for me its less about the cycling and more about the time/stress angle, and (sadly) at work my time is more my own than at home.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Just noticed -

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=643#post-5419

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Fall out of bed, get things together, get on bike, arrive at work, shower, put on my civvies.

    I like the unlimited supply of free hot water on offer at work.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. wingpig
    Member

    Though a profuse sweater, my minimum distance is such that I can get away with showering before. At the moment my window of possible house-exit times would mean that by the time I get to work the shower room would have become a toasty and humid >25°C, which would make getting dry after a shower almost impossible. I think I've showered at work twice in ten years, both times when the shower at home was broken. I always look forward to the cooling of autumn (this morning's irritating mugginess hopefully being a brief exception) as it means I can, by choosing a route with a bit of air-cooling downhill towards the end, arrive in a non-overheating and unsweaty state. Fortunately I have a locker for keeping work-clothing in and haven't had to wear a tie for five years.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. cb
    Member

    Before for me. I'm heading either for a train or car share, so arriving sweaty is something I try to avoid. Commutes of four or two miles means that's usually fairly easy, even in summer.

    Heading home it's more uphill than down on really hot days I try to slow down a bit, doesn't always work.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. mgj
    Member

    I'm a 'before' showerer because my commute is short and mainly downhill. Exception is really wet days. Fortunately I keep my suit etc at work, and we have showers.

    Was different when I was doing 6 1/2 miles, but 1 1/2 doesnt get me that sweaty (or not so that a quick blast of Lynx cant cover for the day)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. Dave
    Member

    "This morning I started in long sleeves and fast realised they'd be better tied round my waist. T-shirt commuting weather on October 31st, who'd a thunk it? "

    Red long sleeves as well, if I remember right? (Can't be bothered to find the spotted thread!)

    It depends for me. Usually I will not shower at work because I'm only going 5 miles downhill. However, if I've worked up a right sweat, I jump in the shower here.

    When I used to commute to Fife, there was no shower, but I still blasted it to work. Wipes and a change of clothes = no complaints after almost 3 years :)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. cc
    Member

    I don't shower after cycling to work, probably for the same reason I don't shower after walking to work - I go slowly. (And I only have to go a mile and a bit!) If I was more hell-for-leather on my bike then I'd probably shower afterwards, just as I do after jogging.

    We do have fabulous showers in my office building though - kind of like a waterfall with adjustable temperature. Bliss.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    So, for me its less about the cycling and more about the time/stress angle, and (sadly) at work my time is more my own than at home.

    I hear you. Same here.

    I shower at work. Nearly all uphill on the way in so sweat can be an issue, despite the lack of huge distances. I keep a towel, shampoo, toiletries etc. in my office so no need to carry extra until the towel needs a wash.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. cubecommuter
    Member

    Thanks for all the replies and advice. It's really appreciated.

    My commute is pretty short compared to some (3 miles) but is mostly flat, and usually into a strong headwind on the way to work, so I usually have to put in a fair amount of effort to keep a reasonable pace. I'm not unfit by any means, but I do tend to start sweating fairly easily.

    It's a nightmare at this time of year, because the temperatures vary so much from one day to the next, so I struggle to get the right number and type of layers. It's much easier in the Summer (short sleeved t-shirt and shorts) and in Winter (two layers and jacket on top, full length longs on bottom).

    I've always showered at home first, and then wipe down and spray on deodorant when I get to work. This is usually fine, I've never had any complaints about smells, but I always feel a bit icky (only word I can think to describe it) for the rest of the day. On days where I've misjudged the layers e.g. today, it can be a bit worse.

    Anyway, it's been interesting to hear what others do.

    Thanks again,

    cubecommuter

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "LEARNING the art of layering is like mastering origami"

    http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/opinion/analysis/lynne_mccrossan_lay_it_on_thick_to_make_the_most_of_autumn_days_1_1939947

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. DaveC
    Member

    "LEARNING the art of layering is like mastering origami"

    I think I'm getting the hang of this. I sweated lots last week but took my Merino Wool top off this morning and was fine arriving at work for my morning shower.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin

    Another 'I had too many layers' day (?)


    Posted 13 years ago #

  22. ruggtomcat
    Member

    on my old 6 mile commute I showered before hand, then moved to a job 16miles away, there I showered at work. Now its only about 2 miles and my work clothes smell worse than anything a cyclist could produce!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  23. spitters
    Member

    I side with with the after getting to work camp for all the reasons previously stated - it saves my electricity and time in the bathroom in the way of everybody else trying to get ready for school run. The facilities at work are superb (well they could do with more space and lockers but it beats my last workplace hands down) and I find the chat with other cyclists can be a good start to the day. Also I am a profuse sweater - I don't like cycling slowly (partly as I like to show drivers that I am in front of them at every opportunity. I like to get to work in the shortest space of time possible so I can finish my 7 hours and go home as soon as possible. The ride home I take my time a little more and go a more pleasant route (Water of Leith) at a pace that suits walkers.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  24. hippetyhop
    Member

    I shower before the commute, then mop off the nice clean sweat with the t-shirt I've stripped off to change into the clean clothes I've brought with me. There's a shower at work, but eeeewww.... it's verruca city in there!!

    Posted 13 years ago #

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