Commuting rules my wardrobe. There are
several ways to deal with the “what to wear on the ride to work”
dilemma. You may be one who likes to leave clothes at work to change
into. Others take clothes with them. (you had best not forget your
shoes or bra) In these cases you can commute in kit or whatever
you're comfortable riding in. There are even special suit panniers
for keeping your clothes looking fresh and wrinkle-free. Some of us,
however, can't or don't want to change when we get to work. Telephone
booths are no longer available (what would Clark Kent do?) and
restrooms are not always an option. I don't like having to slink past
receptionists looking for a place to change for maybe only a one hour job
after which I have to change back, repeated several times a day. In
the face of these options, commuting in my work clothes is the best
choice. So what to do to arrive in a presentable state? This varies
depending on the time of year, but there are some some things that
are constant.
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zip-open pleat |
The first being sweat. Pack a tiny towel. Summer,
winter, it doesn't matter. If you are putting on some speed or
have hills, or any kind of distance, you're going to get a little,
or a lot, sweaty. Wicking fabrics are a big help, especially
in winter, as you don't want damp fabrics next to your body to chill
you. It's actually a big deal in Summer too, with air conditioning
turned down so low you always need a long sleeved shirt or even a
light sweater or jacket to put on over your first layer, after you've
cooled down. Also, prints show sweat less than solids. I wear light
weight fabrics that dry quickly in summer, and try to avoid very
light pant colors too. There's just too much bike grease and dirt out
there to stay looking clean. Of course you want to wear something
that gives you good freedom of movement. Avoid
anything that constricts movement, or gets caught in your chain or spokes. If wearing wider pant legs, you'll want to roll up your right leg, or use a pedal strap. If very wide, use on both legs. I've never had much luck with skirts, as they always work their way up my thighs unless I clip a weight on, or get damaged in my spokes if very full. Some people do manage to do this well, but I haven't figured it out to my liking.
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reflective side seam |
Be aware that if you commute a lot, you
may wear out the seat of your pants.
I've worn the fuzz off of the back side of at least one pair of
corduroys that I live in in the winter. I wear them a lot as they are
warmer and I don't like to wear long underwear (too hot indoors). If
it's very cold I wear windpants over the top. As far as wear and
tear, you may have to launder those sweaty clothes more. Don't
think that you won't be sweating in cooler weather. One of the the biggest
mistakes people make in cool and cold weather commuting is over dressing. (Exception: hands) Remember the mantra- dress for
10-15 minutes into your ride.
Wear breathable layers and a lighter weight jacket. Few things feel
so awful on the bike as being overheated and sweaty in the winter.
It's nothing like how you might dress to go on a walk. You might feel
a little cool to start out, but it won't last long if you're working
up a sweat. Finally, there is more bicycle specific clothing being
developed all the time. Pants with reflective seams to seen be
rolled up, skirts with zip open pleats, more stretch. I've even worn
chamois liners under my pants when I've known I was going to have an
especially long day on the bike.
I have two skirts with the zip open pleat. They're great. Well worth the cost.
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