What to wear for 4.5 mile commute? General commuting tips?

[lph]

Ooh I do like those relaxed fit shorts, although they're not quite in the budget right now. Today I wore an old pair of running shorts -- they rode up a bit, but I didn't look too spandexy for the ride/the workplace.

Mzone -- do you use the hair dryer just to help dry your hair from sweat? My hair got a little sweatier today than I anticipated. Luckily I have long hair so I just threw in a little corn starch and brushed it out, I don't think it's too noticeable, but I am the slightest bit worried about odor. I'm also the slightest bit worried about foot odor (not that my feet usually stink, but I wore a pair of keen sandals for the ride and am now wearing open toed shoes). I'm sure no one will notice either of these things but I'm just curious what you ladies do!

I would like to make my routine a little more efficient. I left the house around 7:20 and got to work at just about 8, which I was happy with, but then took a solid 20 minutes to lock up my bike/cool down outside, carry all my stuff up to my desk, and to clean up, change, and put on makeup in the bathroom. I guess even if I don't make that more efficient, biking in is worth it!

Do you all still ride after work on days you commute? I suspect I only will on days the weather is nice, although if we're being honest I pretty much already would only ride after work on nice days.

Congratulations! I would say you're pretty efficient already. It takes me 20 minutes from when I arrive until I'm showered, changed and at my desk, and I have it all lined up, and don't apply make-up.

Can't help you much, since I have the option of showering. But in my opinion fresh sweat is hardly noticeable, only clothes where bacteria have time to develop smell much.

[Crankin]

There may have been a few days I washed my feet.
I rarely , but occasionally rode after work when I had the 6.5 mile commute one way. To me, 12 miles, with a hill, was a ride.
When I moved, it was just under 28 miles rt, with 2 big climbs, so I did not feel the need to ride after that! My commute was suburb to suburb, and no one around here looks twice at lycra. However, my experience on my bike errand days now, are the same as Murienn's. If I wear commuter shorts, or baggies/look like a city rider, even out here in the almost country, I am given more overall courtesy. I guess the pannier helps, too. I once had someone I met socially ask me if I was car-less, as she had seen me riding around town, shopping in the winter, during the years I was going to grad school.