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...ing-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.