Cycling to business meetings-what to wear?

[shootingstar]

I don't cycle in streetwear to work. I don't like sweating lightly or rumpling/ accidentally staining clothing. I do it for cycling gear so can't see how I could avoid it for streetwear.

And I have to save money to pay mortgage so investing in streetwear just for biking, forget it.

Keeping all above in mind, what would you do:
I will be trying to set a business meeting at one of our other work locations which is a pleasant, longer bike ride that does have some areas of gravel, dust along the route, etc. It will be a 2 hr. meeting..

We do have people that dress ranging from business casual (which I am 50% of the time because my job is primarily internal. I dress better for group and management meetings.) to abit more formal business attire.

My practice when I attend meetings with people who I haven't worked with before or if I am the only woman, I will dress 1 notch better than just business casual (or even better than that if I know all men will be in shirt and tie): I am not a Girl Friday / clerical staff and don't want to give that subtle impression to be ordered around. My role will be conducting business analysis during part of that meeting.

What would you wear to bike there /at the meeting? Then I have to bike back to headquarters....where I work.

[Becky]

Are there facilities at the meeting site where you could freshen up and change clothes?

If it were me, I wouldn't want to soil any of my nice work attire.

[Backbone]

I have very similar issue like you.

I wear spandex and change after getting to my destination. If not too hot, a quick wipe down in the washroom and a squirt of parfum, along with a change of clothes, does the trick for me.

[Reesha]

+1 for sneaking in and changing into some lightweight but lovely clothing that you carried with you.

[Trek420]

Looking for cycling fashion advice? I always look here:

http://www.velovogue.com/2011/04/new-hire.html

[lph]

+1 for sneaking in and changing into some lightweight but lovely clothing that you carried with you.

Yup. That's what I do when I have jury duty. I get a kick out of the superhero feeling of ducking into the washroom all tricked out in skintight spandex, and emerging ten minutes later in a demure skirt and make-up :D Obviously I wouldn't carry anything that wrinkles easily.

Actually I find where and how to keep sweaty bike gear so it's not too gross in the afternoon a bigger problem. Somebody here had a great idea about paper bags and towels once. Roll the dampest stuff in a dry towel, and put it all in a paper bag, it's then reasonably dry and non-stinky for the return. I also stuff paper towels in my bike shoes if I have to carry them around. And I have to remember a plain backpack or bag to put it all in that looks a bit less sporty-garish than my usual stuff.

Making friends with anyone who might be at a reception desk and could stow away this stuff or point you to an empty broom closet is always a good idea, btw ;)

[Reesha]

That reminds me, I once asked Cadel Evans over Twitter whether he has multiple sets of cleats for when one pair gets soaked in the pouring rain. He answered me (squee!!!!) and said that he just stuffs newspaper in the cleats over night and that takes care of it.

[shootingstar]

Great advice on the smelly clothing problem.

Interesting site, Trek.

I guess everyone else wears cycling gear or streetwear not worth talking about here? :confused:

[Trek420]

My work attire is casual. I'm not customer-facing so any neat yet casual wear will do. My ride to work is not long or hard enough to really neeeeed jersey etc Still I like the visibility the gear affords.

I experimented with wearing bike gear, bringing or storing a change of clothes and found it a bit much unless I want a longer ride on the way home.

Lately I'm liking capris such as Columbia Titanium. They have enough room in the seat and thighs that riding's a breeze, handy pocket for the cell and keys on the thigh is positioned just right. Feels dressier than jeans too. And they're comfy on my short ride.

One of my favorite jerseys is one my sister gave me, does say "Norge" on the front but otherwise logo free. It's bright red with gray on the sides and under the arms. The gray goes perfectly with those capris.

The fabric is technical but has a nice texture to it, short front zipper. So a jersey but with the look of a nice dressy but comfy shirt. With this I really can ride to work, take the arm skins and vest off, clean up a little and pop into a meeting if I need to. :)

'Cept I have helmet hair. I've got one of these (different colors, mine is mostly blue, gray, green and a tiny hint of purple)

www.swrvestore.com/servlet/Detail?no=186

Not a baseball cap so I don't feel like a 10 year old boy feel. Not a cycling beanie either although I love those and have many. Just a cute little cap. And it's handmade in usa ;)