Hair is holding me back

**Offthegrid** · 10-09-2006, 12:23 PM

I've enjoyed reading these forums! I've been a recreational rider off and on for several years. I'm quite overweight, and want to begin bike commuting in the spring to lose weight and to end my 40-minute car ride to work 9 miles from my house.

I'm fortunate that a bus does stop on my street, but I can't take it to work because it doesn't run after 5 p.m. (I'm required to stay late at a moment's notice). So to start I could take the bus in the morning and ride home at night. I'm also fortunate that my company has bicycle lockers available. As far as I know, showers are not available, but I will find out.

I also am required to take a laptop home every night, so was wondering if any of you have tried this pannier: http://www.twowheelgear.com/features.php

But the thing that is really making me nervous is trying to figure out what to do with my hair. I have a very hilly 9-mile ride to work, and I sweat a lot. Do you wet your hair in the sink then blow dry? I have short hair and have to dress professionally.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-09-2006, 12:47 PM

How about wearing a good wide sweatband around your head under your helmet? That might help keep the sweaty head thing in check. If your hair is short (like mine)- you have less to fuss over to get it looking normal again. I never get any "helmet hair" that can't be fixed with a hand or washcloth quickly run through it. About just running a damp washcloth over it and then a brush and/or dry washcloth?

**Squeaky** · 10-09-2006, 12:52 PM

Keep toiletries and a blow dryer at work and leave yourself enough time to freshen up. If I didn't have a shower at work, I would wet my hair down and then dry & style it. I'd also have some wipes to freshen up with (arm pits, etc.). It's totally doable with some coordinating, so don't let that hold you back.

Mondays I will usually drive to work, and I'll take all the stuff (clothes, food, etc.) I need for the week.

You are gonna have soooo much fun commuting!

**Aggie_Ama** · 10-09-2006, 01:31 PM

When I was in college and had to take gym I always ran into this problem. I had longer hair but a bandana kept the sweat under control. Then dampen with COLD water and blow dry. I also found getting a cold towel to lay over my shoulders helped bring my core temperature down.

I wish I lived close enough to commute!

**mimitabby** · 10-09-2006, 01:44 PM

coworkers i know that run, swim and bike routinely walk around with dampish hair. You just explain to folks that you were exercising on your time, and they will be impressed!

**Geonz** · 10-09-2006, 03:19 PM

Excuses, excuses... Do it first and figure it out as you go!!!

http://www.living-room.org/slackers.htm has a little guide for riding without sweating - "for slackers"

It is part of my mission to redefine normal, and I want "normal" to include riding a bicycle to work, so I don't mind if people can tell that's what I did (basically by that helmet on my shelf over my desk

)

**lph** · 10-09-2006, 11:43 PM

Yep, redefining normal is a good way to go

People no longer ask me if it's raining out when I join them for morning coffee with wet hair (I have curly dry hair that dislikes hairdriers), they know by now that I just got out of the shower.

But then - I don't have to dress very professionally.

(Heh - and if anybody does comment on it I pass it on by asking my fellow bike commuter why HIS hair isn't wet. He's 60 and his hair is max 2 mm long...)

**Mimosa** · 10-10-2006, 01:01 AM

Just when I was thinking about commuting from and to work the landlord of the office I work in removed the showers because it is to expensive for him to keep them bug free. We (the people in the office that do sports) are royally pissed about that.

**Offthegrid** · 10-10-2006, 04:34 AM

Thanks for all the encouragement, everyone! I'm looking forward to it.

One more question* -- do you eat before you leave or when you get there or both?

My office has a fridge with freezer as well as a full-service cafeteria, so eating at work is no problem. I just wonder if I should have a small something before I leave (I'm estimating it will take me 45 minutes b/c of the hills).

* for today

**SouthernBelle** · 10-10-2006, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by Mimosa

Just when I was thinking about commuting from and to work the landlord of the office I work in removed the showers because it is to expensive for him to keep them bug free. We (the people in the office that do sports) are royally pissed about that.

Is access to them a part of your lease?

**lph** · 10-10-2006, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Offthegrid

One more question* -- do you eat before you leave or when you get there or both?

* for today

Both. But I have the metabolism of a wood stove and get VERY hungry VERY fast, so the only way I can cope with morning exercise is a medium size breakfast (orange juice, coffee, 2 slices of bread) before, and a morning snack after (cup of tea, apple and a biscuit). And lunch 2 hours after that again

(Oh, and having a snack will give your hair time to dry :-)

**mimitabby** · 10-10-2006, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by lph

Both. But I have the metabolism of a wood stove and get VERY hungry VERY fast, so the only way I can cope with morning exercise is a medium size breakfast (orange juice, coffee, 2 slices of bread) before, and a morning snack after (cup of tea, apple and a biscuit). And lunch 2 hours after that again

(Oh, and having a snack will give your hair time to dry :-)

well put! a metabolism of a wood stove!

**lph** · 10-10-2006, 08:40 AM

Thank you. My friends call it "feeding the monster"

**Mimosa** · 10-10-2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by SouthernBelle

Is access to them a part of your lease?

No, the finance manager (he has the contacts with the office landlord) looked into it since he also comes regularely to the office on a bicycle. But it was never mentioned anywhere, it was just something extra we never specifically paid/asked for. But he did manage to talk the landlord into installing a decent sink and warm water in one of the larger toilets. So when in need there is the possibility to wash yourself with a handcloth.

**Mimosa** · 10-10-2006, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Offthegrid

One more question* -- do you eat before you leave or when you get there or both?

Well, for me personally, it sort of depends on the time I spend on the bike. For just an hour, no then I don't to anything extra besides a normal bite to eat. For 2 hrs, yes I would eat well first, like a bowl of cereal or a stack of sandwitches. On longer rides (3+hrs) I would also add some food with me. And I normally prefer to eat my warm meal after the excersise ... it tastes much better then

My 'stove' (very well put lph we use a simular word in dutch) also burns high and fast. So I need to eat regularely to keep away the hunger. I watch what I eat but eat the quantity I feel that I need.

Thread: Hair is holding me back

Thread Tools

Display

Hair is holding me back

Posting Permissions