This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Bidon whilst commuting is down to hangoverzzz, innit?

Seriously? I know you were making a general statement, not speaking to me. But I work in an office where I have to wear a suit, like a great many people who work in London. Do you genuinely think I should get up, shower, put on a suit and freshly ironed suit, then cycle extremely slowly the 15 miles to work so I don't get sweaty? Presumably buying a new suit every month or so when I wear through the arse of it? I guess wearing head to toe waterproofs whenever it rains? Why the fuck wouldn't I wear lycra and shower at work? It's the only option that makes any sort of sense to me. It's a totally different sort of journey to just popping down the shops in jeans and a T-shirt. And I'll drink water whenever I'm thirsty thanks.

Clearly a cunt.

My cunty tone may be linked to my son waking me up at 4:30 this morning, but I stand by my cunty sentiment.

I was making a cheap joke.

Yeah I know. I was attempting to be light-heartedly self-deprecating, but clearly missing the mark. Shit, maybe I am a cunt...

don't worry about @Skülly he is just getting a little grouchy with old age. he's still a kid at heart who skateboards, but he doesn't like people going faster than him on bike. he has perfected these old man rants, and has a bee in his bonnet about well toned people in lycra while he is using technical garments from the 1940's like double ventile.

Ben - it's been far too long, do hope you are well

I know there is this whole schtick about no-one wears lycra in the Netherlands etc... But I'm with @jimmy_james here.

If it's above 10 degrees, I sweat a lot. My commute is only 7 miles but it would still be impractical for me to do this in a suit and shirt, spend all day in same suit and shirt, and then ride home in same suit and shirt. Should we be wearing our leather soled Barkers shoes as well?

rinse, repeat etc.

The Dutch thing is a bit of a red herring, distances commuted are far shorter than in London. That said, the original point was about showers at work, and it is perfectly feasible to ride 10 or 12 miles without getting into a state that requires you to shower at the end. Carrying a change of clothes and leaving the suit in a hangar at work all week, with a wet-wipe and a dab of deodorant, is a fine solution if you are happy to forgo 5 minutes out of the hour on the trip and can resist the urge to contest the sprints between traffic light.

By the same token, if you have a nice shower at work then feel free to "smash" your commute, riding fast is fun, and so long as you're not directly being a cunt to others, there is no single right way to cycle.

Generally,it involves moving some cranks. On a thing with wheels. Periodically.

No leaning though.

Just don't go to work.

Ha! It was, until I took the bottle cage off the bike.

Sometimes I'd just leave the bottle on from the weekend and it wasn't because I was fighting off the need to projectile vomit over the bars...

Bidons on the commute is laaame.

I don't get why one can't cycle in a suit. Seems rather comfy to me.

@dj no skateboarding for 18months, too many broken bones.

Bidons on the commute is laaame.

Bet you hide one of these away on your bike.

15 mile rides in suit trousers would destroy them fast.

Mohair vs saddle...

I had a job for a bit that was about 2.5 miles from home, so I just rode in on my regulars.

Then I got a sweat rash on my balls.

Never again.

I saw how much @Skülly sweated at the first forum Bodeans trip. I reckon he's on a wind up and he has a shower everywhere he goes.

Cape, boots and gaiters this morning, and my trousers still got wet, and annoyingly one sock (hope the boots aren't leaking). Might have to revert to waterproof trousers under the cape. Still probably less sweaty than a jacket. Probably should be in the cape thread.

@NurseHolliday hahyeah I'm sweaty alright... I guess I would ruin decent suits just with sweat alone ... I've only ridden in a suit once (skeleton lined cavalry twill, so very light) and it felt great. But I guess 15m a day, five days would make the bum area particularly lightweight.

Anyway I won't be using work showers any time soon, or mucking around with changing clothes on any commute less than 10m.

Drenched from head to foot this morning. Flooded road with a lorry coming the other way generating a bow wave taller than me. Saw the funny side before it hit then had to ride 9 miles cold and wet. Not sure mudguards would have helped me.