4 June 2009 | Posted inBlog News & Updates
Cycling in Style
It’s no lie, I am a hot mess when I get to work after my 14-mile bike ride. Fortunately for me and anyone who has to interact with me during the day, HOK has a shower (and my gym is right next to the office and has an even nicer shower).
One thing I struggle with is how to dress appropriately for work on cycling days. One solution is to drive in the day before and leave a bag of clothes. The other is to cram everything in a backpack and roll on in. Either way, there are two major risks: 1. forgetting a critical wardrobe element (from recent experience, I can tell you that a sweaty pink sports bra under a boatneck top is not a very stylish look); and 2. wrinkling.
To combat item #1, well, fortunately the office is right next to the mall, so I can always go purchase whatever I’ve forgotten (not so sustainable or economical, but definitely functional). Another cyclist also suggested leaving an entire outfit at work as well as a pair each of black and brown shoes, “just in case.”
To combat item #2, wrinkling, I’ve been carefully selecting my wardrobe – sweaters and wool slacks seem to work best, but are heavy (and can be hot). I also found a stretchy houndstooth print dress at the back of my closet that works well (and looks professional as long as it’s not paired with the aforementioned pink sports bra).
I was super excited when one of my colleagues sent this article from the New York Times: Project Bike Lane. This article and video discuss a competition to create fashionable bikewear at Fashion Institute of Technology. I’ll definitely have my eyes open for this collection, especially the envelope bag.
Image source: Costumes.org
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Diggin’ this post Jodi. I keep a set of clean essential undergarments/socks and a pair each of black and brown shoes. I then choose to roll my clothing in my back pack and ride in with it. I however, tend to ignore the wrinkles. Luckily I look like so much of a slacker everyday, that a few wrinkles are not so bad!
You might want to take a look at the garment bag from http://www.twowheelgear.com/ – its durable nylon fabric makes it a little heavy, but it does a pretty good job of keeping things free of wrinkles and fits well on a rear rack.
Performance Bike also sells one, but I have not seen it in person: http://bit.ly/AE6ab
I too have a long communte and can relate to just about everything in your post, except in my case it was white ankle socks in black loafers…nice look!
I prefer to bring in extra clothes on a day I drive in order to lighten my load, and I leave my shoes (and sometimes a blazer) at work. When I do pack my clothes I simply choose clothes that do not wrinkle easily and pack carefully.
Ooohh…nice look with the white socks!
Clean socks are definitely a must…especially a clean pair of athletic socks for the ride home (the other gear seems to dry out fairly well during the day…but not the socks).
I have had all of the above problems and i once grabbed a pair of my girlfriends cakis instead of mine after our family vaction. Its not a fun feeling unrolling a pair of cakis and realizing they are a girls size double zero, whatever that means. Luckily i had an extra outfit at the office that day.
@Mark – awesome – definitely going on my bday list!
@Jeremy – hilarious! i’m totally sending your gf some cookies or something to fatten her up, though!
I biked in with shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt today, and am still wearing them…only because it’s so hot in Seattle right now that we’ve declared it “casual Thursday” to celebrate summer. This probably doesn’t help with your issue, but, just sayin’…
I know a few people who keep their complete office wardrobe at the office and just get it all dry cleaned when it’s dirty. So they never bring it home.
I myself would like to say I have probably the shortest bike commute of anyone I know. It takes me less then 5 minutes and that’s if I do hit the one and only light.
DOH, wardrobe malfunction day!