I recently moved, bought a house, and started a new job, so the summer has been....hectic. I FINALLY think I figured out a bike commute route to my new job that looks doable (according to Google maps...testing it tonight to be sure!) It's about 4.5 miles, through neighborhood roads. There's a few not-great apartment complexes I'll be cutting through, but I've just decided to be confident that safety is not an issue, since it's not particularly secluded.

My husband used to bike commute, so I have his panniers to use, and a trusty hybrid, and bike parking at my office building. Beyond that, though, I'm a little overwhelmed by the details. Given a 4.5 mile commute and the need to look professional at the office -- would you wear bike shorts and an athletic shirt and just change into office wear at the office? Or wear some of your professional wear and just roll up the leg? I imagine I'd probably need a fresh shirt. I'm hoping I won't get too sweaty during the ride, because there's no shower at work, or even a one-person bathroom -- I'd just need to wipe down with baby wipes in a bathroom stall. Do you just do makeup at work as well?

I'd have to lock up my bike outside, and then walk through a very public area before getting to my desk and the bathroom where I can clean up. I'm pre-emptively a little self-conscious about doing that in bike shorts. And I guess since I'm parking my bike outside I should only ride on days they're not really calling for much rain, for the bike's sake, right?

I'm overwhelmed and nervous about this. I'm worried I'll get a flat and not be able to change it (theoretically I can change flats, but I have more practice on my road bike, and only when my husband is right there). I'm worried I'll show up sweaty and my thighs will look like sausages in my bike shorts (this is not normally something I am self concious about but everyone else looks professional all the time at work). Mostly I'm worried this will end up being too much a pain in the ***, and I'll go back to my 7-minute, 3-mile drive. I just feel like a bit of a clown driving when biking is obviously so doable.

One benefit is I'm a fed in HHS so I can take advantage of this: http://www.hhs.gov/travel/bike2work/index.html

Sorry for this unorganized mess of a post. I don't know where to begin. I welcome any tips you have!