No showers at work

[rubysoho]

Any hints for freshening up if there are no showers at work? Thankfully I work for a park authority so hair in a ponytail is ok but I definitely want to be/feel clean! :eek:

[Becky]

I have a shower at work and never use it. It's just too far away from the hot water heater to be useful (unless you want to wait 20 minutes for hot water :eek:).

For most days, just a quick toweling off and some deodorant suffices. If it's really humid out, I might touch up with a baby wipe or two. Just putting on clean clothes makes me feel cleaner.

I keep a stash of all my toiletries and makeup in my desk, so it's easy to have the same "get ready" routine at work that I have at home.

[sfa]

I have a gym at work with showers, but never use it (at least not after cycling to work). I carry a ziplock bag with baby wipes in it and wipe down with them when I change into work clothes.

[Crankin]

Bath cloths. You heat it up in the microwave and it really makes you feel clean. I used to cool down while gathering my hygiene supplies for the bathroom while it heated up. I would wash my face and re-wet/gel my hair with my regular products and then clean off just the sweaty areas with the bath cloth. They are like baby wipes in texture, but bigger. They cost more, so occasionally I would just use a towel and regular soap. Then I would put my make up on and run a brush through my hair. I showered before riding to work, but my route was hilly, so I sweat, despite cool temperatures and not riding that fast.

[rubysoho]

great, thanks!

[Geonz]

Little plasticware leftover-holder thingy with soap and washcloth... and also *try* not to sprint :-)

[rubysoho]

Little plasticware leftover-holder thingy with soap and washcloth... and also *try* not to sprint :-)

Heh.... I will try to heed this. Yesterday was my first time on a nearby bike trail where I actually had people ahead where I could see them. It took a lot of mental effort to suppress the competitive feeling of either trying to keep up or pass the person (I won't kid myself into thinking I am the best, but I still wanted to make the efforts!). I was NOT expecting that because I have been very ... relaxed about biking and not thinking of it as a competitive sport. *sigh*

[Catrin]

What about hair? I've quite short hair and the helmet does a number on my fine hair...

[Crankin]

Well, I cut my hair really short when I started commuting and it was already short. I would just re-wet it and use wax/gel when I got to work and it looked perfect. I had already washed it before leaving. Another thing that helps is wearing a head sweat beanie under your helmet. They make really light weight ones that hold my pixie style in place, requiring minimum restyling.

[Becky]

What about hair? I've quite short hair and the helmet does a number on my fine hair...

I keep a spray bottle with water and a bristle brush in my toiletry kit at work. Spray, brush flat, let air dry, and style with hair goop of choice.

I also wear a wicking beanie under my helmet. It helps to prevent that "sucked through the vents" mohawk that we short-haired chickies get.

ETA: Darn, Crankin beat me to it :D

[malkin]

My hair sticks up and looks stupid all the time anyway, so it's hardly worse after a helmet.

Wet hands or a little gel can sort you out.

[Kerry1976]

I look at this a little differently....now I can blame my helmet on bad hair days. This is a tool that could come in very handy..... ;)

[Kerry1976]

a recent magazine mentioned Paper Shower (http://www.papershower.com/) as a "shower-free" shower option. Seems a little pricey to me. Has anyone used it?

[Melalvai]

I bring a small dry towel and a clean shirt & bra. I wait 10 minutes, then dry off and put the clean shirt on.

If I don't wait 10 min, I'm still sweating when I put the clean shirt on. May as well not bother.

I find that I don't need water, if I have stopped sweating when I dry off. It's not that I'm lucky to have sweet smelling sweat--honestly I smell like cat piss when I've been sweating. But once the sweat has dried I don't smell, maybe the shirt sucks up all the odor because the shirt sure smells!

[Tri Girl]

Ya know- I have a private shower at work (my office is where the nuns used to live at the school and I have a private bathroom). Anyway- I rarely shower at work. I don't ride fast to work, mostly because mornings are so quiet and calm on the streets and my life is hardly ever threatened on the way in (now on the way home, that's another story). :rolleyes:

Anyway, I will do what others have said: I will wait about 10 min. until I've cooled down (turn on my computer, unpack my pannier, etc), then change clothes, brush the hair, use a washcloth if I really need to, and generally freshen up.

This weekend I made my own deodorant (finally scared enough of the link between commercial deodorants and cancer and the natural brands don't keep me from stinking). My homemade deodorant creation works REALLY well- the last two days I have sweated a little on the way to work, but don't stink at ALL (and the odor protection lasts all day long, too).

[Kiwi Stoker]

Dry spray on shampoo does really work such as Baptiste. Just make sure you brush it out well. Also now there is foaming dry shampoo which probably doesn't leave a residue.

+1 baby wipes. I couldn't shower for 3 weeks after surgery (was allergic to the waterproof dressing) so used baby wipes to clean up when I couldn't do the wet face cloth thing.

[PscyclePath]

I shower before I head out, and ride a moderate pace. Hopefully you don't break much of a sweat, but summertime in Arkansas will often soak you down even if you ride easy.

On arrival, I stop by the cube, fire up the computer, check the overnight e-mail, and basically wait until I stop sweating. Then it's time to change... clean clothes from the skin on outward, and I keep a package of "Clorox disinfecting wipes" for a quick wipedown before getting dressed again.

[tulip]

For hair: use the bathroom sink to wet your hair. Then dry as usual--keep a hairdryer in your desk if you use one. If you have a very long, hot commute, you can shampoo in the sink, too.

[indigoiis]

I use a washcloth instead of wipes - I hate throw-away items and the washcloth dries during the day (I hang it in a locker along with my towel and bike clothes.) I use the washcloth on my hair, too, then stick in in a ponytail on my head, folded over wet, while I dress, so it "curls" the ends.

[rubysoho]

Thanks for all the replies! Tomorrow is going to be my first commute (24 miles!) since it was raining last week! I like the idea of showering first. I think wet hair will help keep me cool and I will just throw my hair up in a messy bun or pony tail for work. Today I am taking in a change of clothes and some toiletries so I don't have to carry much other than my lunch tomorrow. The afternoons have been hot and muggy so coming home will be the worst part but at least I can just hop in the shower (after hugging my boyfriend while being stinky! Lol!).

[soprano]

It seems to me that those of us who have either really short or really long hair have it easier. I have hip length hair, and have zero problem with styling it quickly when I get to where I'm going. I pack a travel brush and maybe a Ficcare hair clip so I can put it up. I occasionally get odd looks or questions when people see me carrying a helmet, but not dressed or looking like I rode in.

I'm going to say something that could be controversial: I think that wearing natural fibers really helps keep the stinkies away. The only times when I consistently have body odor problems after my commute is when I wear a synthetic shirt. Loose, light, cotton or linen shirts (usually sleeveless) get me through our Texas summers. I'm never stinkier than when I pull out the one (and only) CoolMax shirt that I own (and I'm never buying another one again).

[tulip]

Any stink that I had...and boy did I have some...has completely gone away with the use of crystal deodorant. I'm no health food/no chemical nut---the stuff works is all.

[Espresso]

I'm going to say something that could be controversial: I think that wearing natural fibers really helps keep the stinkies away. The only times when I consistently have body odor problems after my commute is when I wear a synthetic shirt. Loose, light, cotton or linen shirts (usually sleeveless) get me through our Texas summers. I'm never stinkier than when I pull out the one (and only) CoolMax shirt that I own (and I'm never buying another one again).

I have consistently found this to be true as well. All the synthetic shirts I've tried claim to have odor control, but I am always way, way stinkier than if I just wear a cotton shirt.

[jessmarimba]

I still stink in cotton. But as long as I wear a wool sports bra I seem to be tolerable in the office.

[FunSize]

I'm so glad this thread exists! Tomorrow is my first commute since my bf has to take the car to charlotte for two days. Its only 8.6 miles. But its hilly, I have to pass the mall, and get on one of the most dreadfully busy roads in my town.

But at least when I get there ill be able to clean up with all the good advice!

[Antaresia]

I don't have showers at work either, but my ride to work is mostly down hill - except for the ramp to get up onto the bridge.

I get to work early - not only does it give me more time to get ready for the day but it's a bit cooler, before the sun really gets going.

I wear a bandana under my helmet, it keeps my hair from getting wild.

a good anti-perspirant. I used my google-fu a while ago - and ended up reading back posts on a body builders form. They had the opinion that Certian Dri is the best brand - and I have to agree. Holy, that stuff workes 3X as well as any other I've tried (use as directed; you put it on at night, not when you wake up). I can even skip a day, which is CRAZY because I sweat a lot.

Oh ya, and I wear one piece no-seam spandex, uh, I guess "yoga bra" would be more accurate than "sports bra". They are much more convenient to put in the wash than normal, fancy lace-padded-underwire bras. And they dry overnight easily enough. I get them at mec.

[getting there]

There are no showers where I work either. I keep a bag of cosmetics and baby wipes at work. I also have a little electric fan to help cool me off while I am getting ready in the bathroom. Luckily, we have a stall with a make up mirror and a shelf. I usually wear a headband under my helmet to keep my hair back so it does not get sweaty. Some days my hair cooperates, others it does not. On days it does not, I try not to look in mirrors!!

[chincitop]

If you have access to a small locker at work, or somewhere you can lock down some belongings, you can do something similair to what I have set up: Package of baby wipes, extra socks & undies & change of clothes, deoderant, some makeup, body spray, hairbrush & product. Also, Secret Clinical Strength Sport deoderant is my best friend. EVER. You apply it at night before you go to bed, and it seriously is amazing stuff. :cool:

[Voodoo Sally]

Eh, showering / freshening up is overrated. I skip it. And my clothes dry out after an hour or so.

Mm, maybe I can say this because I have a private office far away from other people. :rolleyes:

[tulip]

I just got my hair cut very short, pixie. It's great!

[Blueberry]

Tulip - We need photos:)

[tulip]

Ha! No photos on the internet for me...I'll let you know when I come to town, though!

[Blueberry]

Understood - I'm right there with you! Would be up for a ride next time you're around, though.