Commuting to a dressy office

[kweber]

I commute about once to twice a week on my bike. I wish it was more, but I love wearing my high heels and dressing up at work and I haven't found a practical way to carry heels and lots of clothes in my backpack to work yet. I usually pack flats and a casual outfit for the days I ride to work. We don't have a shower so I usually just pack deodorant and a towel. Anyone work somewhere where they have to dress up everyday or prefer to dress up?

[Crankin]

Bring your clothes for the week in on the days you drive. Buy and leave sample sized or extra toiletries and make up there. I did this for 4 years. Always have an emergency bra, black shoes, and white top and black jacket there for emergencies.
The only thing I ever carried was my lunch and papers.

[Catrin]

Bring your clothes for the week in on the days you drive. Buy and leave sample sized or extra toiletries and make up there. I did this for 4 years. Always have an emergency bra, black shoes, and white top and black jacket there for emergencies.
The only thing I ever carried was my lunch and papers.

Thanks for this Crankin, I was thinking this might be a better alternative than worrying about racks... Just trying to think about the most simple approach - and on Fridays I only work 4 hours anyway :)

[Tri Girl]

How long is your commute? If it's not too far, what about just commuting in your dressy clothes?

I work 3 miles from home and commute daily in dresses/skirts/heels, etc.
I have a road bike that I sometimes use, but for the most part I just ride an old cruiser bike that I converted to a commuter. I have flat pedals and my heels work just fine.

Check out this site: http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2010/04/how-to-bike-commuting-in-a-suit/
She's an attorney and bike commutes to downtown Chicago on her Dutch Oma bike daily. I'm not exactly sure how long her commute is, but I think it takes her somewhere around 40 minutes to ride each way.

But if that isn't an option, then for sure drive your dressy clothes once a week and then ride the rest of the week. I did that for a year before I just decided to start riding- much more slowly so as to not sweat and work up a smell- in my work clothes (thanks to tips from the site above).
Granted, now that I ride to work in my nice clothes, it takes me twice as long now to get there (20 min. as opposed to 10 on my fast bike), but I arrive sweat-free and still smelling nice. I've had to totally change my bike riding mind-set to ride to work this way tho; rememering that the fun is in the journey and to stop and smell the roses (sometimes literally). :)
Good luck!! :)

[shootingstar]

During the first 10 years of returning cycling and cycling to and from work nearly daily spring, fall and summer, I did dress up alot more at the office. Meaning at least 3-4 work days weekly.

I was cycling a 30 km. round trip between home and work, during my work cycling commutes, which included summer days @ 80-85 degree weather in summer.

Most days I did cycle with my dress clothes. I had no place to lock up/store some business clothing except for a pair of dress shoes ...in a filing cabinet drawer.

I did not shower, because there was no shower. But used wipes when I absolutely needed to which wasn't often.

I just got used to packing carefully, changing etc. out of my cycling clothing.
I guess I chose this "harder" method of cycling commuting to work and changing business clothing because I wanted both worlds: improved fitness but also to look fresh and have longer lasting business/dressier clothing.

I still change into my dress pants at work, even though I have only a 15-20 min. bike commute one-way. There is no way I will cycle even in my dress pants: I paid almost $80.00 for them...after hunting down through petite wear shops.

[Melalvai]

I love hearing about how people get creative so they can bike, whether the problem is dress, distance, cargo, kids.

I would add the suggestion of getting more cargo space, a rack & panniers or a basket, something like that.

[shootingstar]

I should clarify that I packed my dressier business clothing in my bike panniers and cycled in my cycling wear.

[Groundhog]

I normally wear suits or dresses w/heels in a "business dress" environment (as opposed to "business formal" or "business casual"). I have commuted year round at a previous job and during good weather at my current job ~17 miles away. Looking forward to a Sunny Seattle Spring (cross my fingers).

I have a two-wheel-gear brand garment bag pannier which I've used a lot and it's held up well. It attaches easily and firmly to my back rack. twowheelgear dot com I normally put my suit/dress into a drycleaner's plastic bag and then into the pannier, which keeps the wrinkles down and protects from a downpour, as the pannier is water-resistant but not water-proof.

My problem now is that I need to carry my laptop back and forth, so I may have to have a messenger bag in addition or switch to the jandd garment bag pannier, which is one side and a laptop sleeve on the other side of my rack.

[shootingstar]

Don't know your cycling distance, but if short, I would tend to carry the laptop on my back like a knapsack if you are not willing to put computer in a bike rack pannier.

[Melalvai]

I believe they make panniers designed to carry laptops. I know someone who has front panniers for that purpose. Unless I misunderstood him they are designed for laptops. (But it is entirely possible I misunderstood and they are just convenient for his laptop.)

[Groundhog]

I believe they make panniers designed to carry laptops. I know someone who has front panniers for that purpose. Unless I misunderstood him they are designed for laptops. (But it is entirely possible I misunderstood and they are just convenient for his laptop.)

Hmmm front pannier. I wonder if it would interfere with my headlight (on flat bar)? Do you know what brand?

[Melalvai]

I don't know what brand it was. His headlight was on his handlebar.

[SallyRides]

I don't have a long commute - it's only 3.5 miles, BUT that's mostly uphill, so I don't want to wear work clothes and sweat in them. I also am not fond of riding with a back pack, as it seems to limit my rear vision when it sways back and forth as I ride. Anyway, I use smaller, front panniers, on a rear rack to carry my clothes for the day. (I pack my bags the night before.) Most days, I need to carry dress shoes, and appropriate clothing. I roll the clothing to try and avoid wrinkling. I put the shoes in the bottom of the panniers. Once you start planning ahead, it gets easier. There are definitely days when I look out the window and think - WHY am I riding my bike??!! BUT, by the time I get to work, I am always glad that I chose to ride. I start the day in a much better frame of mind. (BTW, there certainly are days when I don't ride. It's a COLD winter here, and during those days, I am in my car.)

SR

[NbyNW]

When I bike commuted, I could put my work clothes in an Eagle Creek packing folder. That fit inside inside a front pannier bag, along with shoes and lunch. One summer I also would go swimming before work so I also fit bathing suit, small towel, toiletries and breakfast (oatmeal in thermos, cup of yogurt, maybe an apple) in there as well. I would also keep shoes at the office with a small toiletry bag & wipes. I used a front pannier bag b/c I was commuting on a folding bike, and the rack was too low for a regular rear pannier.

[Becky]

+1 for the Eagle Creek Pack-it folders. It's the easiest way that I've found to pack clothes in a pannier without them falling to the bottom and getting rumpled.

[lovelygamer]

I commute 4-6 miles to a dressy office. I tried to wear my work clothes twice. I sweat like a beast so that just isn't possible. Plus, I don't care what that pretty lady in her lovely suit says, it's not comfortable and did I mention that I sweat like a beast?

I carry a backpack every day with my work clothes and shoes in it. I also have stashed at work, travel size toiletries and a washcloth so I can freshen up. It's definitely a challenge some days. I like some of the alternatives mentioned here. I may have to try them myself. Good luck and don't give up! Just keep trying different methods.:D

[NadiaMac]

I don't commute to a dressy office, but I do commute in cycling clothes and carry my work clothes in a pack. To reduce the amount of stuff that I carry while riding, I leave my work shoes at the office (I ride with my cycling shoes) and change when I get to work. I also leave a small blowdryer at the office so I can dry my hair after showering. I leave a couple of nice sweaters/blazers at my office for use if needed and occasionally I stash some additional clothing at the office over the weekend for use during the rest of the week. Also, I keep spare undies and socks at the office in case I forget to bring these.

When I lived in Washington Dc and had a suit-only job, I had use of a closet at work and I kept most of my suits at work. I'd commute in part of my outfit for the day (blouse, sometimes my suit skirt/pants), then change into the rest of my suit when I got into work.

[Giulianna23]

I have my own office plus we have lockers in our break room ..so what I do is just leave a pair of shoes , a few of my shirts and pants for work in one of my drawers in the office and also keep some body lotion,baby wipes and one of my favorites perfumes in there too .....so the only things I carry are my keys, my phones, my wallet and my lunch in a small backpack. This was one of my concerns when I was thinking of commuting to work.