Help me eliminate excuses!

[are_you_stinky?]

I started cycling last summer, and commuted to work occasionally. I have an OK place to lock up my bike and access to showers at the gym in my office building, so I'm good there. The thing that held me back a lot last summer was my daily work schedule. I work for a hospital, but I work in an office building that is a little over a mile away from the hospital. I didn't commute on days I had meetings at the hospital, because I couldn't figure out how to ride the 1.25 miles each way and not arrive looking totally sweaty and unprofessional. My job role changed in the fall, and now I have a meeting at the hospital at least 3 out of the 5 weekdays, and even less leeway with my appearance (I am often meeting with physicians).

I have actually given thought to just walking; I imagine I could cover the distance in the same time it takes me to drive, which is a ridiculous 30 minutes from my office to the meeting location because of some walking + parking hassles. Somehow I'm afraid people would think that I was not using my work time productively if they found out I was walking, so that's held me back on that. I don't think anyone would care about the biking, but the sweatiness is a problem. I'm a runner, and my body figures out quickly when it's being exercised and starts to pour out the sweat. I also worry about greasing up my clothes.

Thoughts? I actually would love to commute to work every day of Lent, but I need to get these hurdles worked out first.

Thanks!

[mimitabby]

gee, 1 mile of walking would make me sweatier than 1 mile of bicycling!
You can ride leisurely for that one mile and do the workout before/after work.
You don't have to always hammer it, and your body WILL know the difference.

[Veronica]

My commute is 2 miles each way and I wear my work clothes on the bike. When it's warm I wear skirts with shorts underneath. Through the winter I wear jeans or chinos.

I ride pretty easy coming to work, to avoid sweating as much as possible. The trip home is a little harder since I climb a hill at the end. But even that can be done w/o sweating too much.

Ride like you're out for a casual stroll.

V.

[LadyinWhite]

Gee I hope not. My commute is about 10 miles and it hasn't even occurred to me that I shouldn't do it because I'm going to be sweaty.

Hmmmmm... remind me to put a bar of deodorant in my desk just in case.

[are_you_stinky?]

Well, maybe it's all in my mind... I just need to try it. My work hasn't been terribly supportive of my exercise... when I used to run on my lunch break, my co-workers whispered behind my back that I was running on work time. I later got busted for bringing my bike into my office, so now I have to lock it up in a city parking garage. I figure if I show up at a meeting looking like I did anything other than drive there, that'll be the next round of criticism.

I'll quit worrying and give it a shot.

[Eden]

When they all have diabetes and high blood pressure from inactivity you can whisper behind their backs!!! Sheesh has being fit become a crime? I would guess it is mostly just jealousy.
Please don't neglect yourself and your well being because tongues may wag
You know that you are doing what is good for you and your health and well being is much more important than other peoples pettyness.

A nice bike with a chain guard and an easy pace seems like it would get you to your meetings without anyone having to know you didn't drive. It probably wouldn't even take any longer than driving.

[MomOnBike]

You might be surprised at how supportive the docs are about biking. "My" docs have given me no trouble with my bike commuting. If they do, you could always look 'em in the eye and firmly announce something about preventive medicine.

Also, when you state that you are doing something - however wierd - for Lent, people tend to back off. After that, they'll be used to it. At least it's worked that way for me.

Finally, I agree with everybody else. Don't try to set any land speed records on the one-mile ride. A walking pace is fine. You are talking about walking the distance, after all. You can take your time and smell the roses, and you won't end up smelling like the fertilizer. (Did I just type that? )