What to wear - commuting only 3 miles

What to wear - commuting only 3 miles

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Discussion

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

176 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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Once the weather improves a bit I plan on cycling to and from work now that I'm based closer to home. However I'm interested in what other people would wear for such a short trip?

Most of the trip is uphill and it's on one of my favourite strava segments so I like to hammer it up and therefore get a it of a sweat on. I wear trousers and a short for work and there is no shower.

Would u bother putting all bib shorts and jerseys etc on for a 15min ride?

47p2

1,502 posts

160 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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Bibs and shorts and take a long route to work thumbup

okgo

37,860 posts

197 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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I would just wear a pair of football type shorts and a t shirt for anything that short.

uncinqsix

3,239 posts

209 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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My commute isn't much longer that that (only 5 miles), but I tend to treat it like a sprint most days (and often take a detour on the way in). I just wear running shorts or baggy mountain bike shorts and a merino t shirt. I do have a shower at work, but if I didn't I would probably wear the same thing and just take it a bit easier so I didn't sweat as much. IMO, a Merino top is essential - they don't get nearly as smelly as synthetics and do a good job wicking away moisture.

j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I wear a full set of the cheapest Lycra gear from decathlon for my 3 mile commute. Its cheap and does a good job. I try to go as fast as I can and get far too sweaty to wear normal clothes. I used to buy running gear from sports direct before, but I was never really happy with it.

warp9

1,583 posts

196 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Anything your comfortable in, don't hammer it too much, wet wipe at the end!

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Brogues / trousers / shirt. Like 99% of the worlds population would for a short ride to work!

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

176 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Jimboka said:
Brogues / trousers / shirt. Like 99% of the worlds population would for a short ride to work!
Yeah but usually u flick a load of dirt all over yourself especially if its wet / damp, and it's up a steep hill so will be sweating. Lastly I've got spd's so will need cycling shoes on.

I see ur point tho - I think ill go steady and wet wipes after like somebody said.

Other option is leave work clothes at work and get changed if its going to be wet

j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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My previous place had no showers and was 5 miles each way. I had a shower before I left for work and then would just fill a sink and have a wes bath when I got to work. You'll be fine with baby wipes as new sweat doesn't smell like old sweat. I also heard that witch hazel wipes are really great for a post ride sweaty wipe down but I never tried them.

Nobody ever complained that I had B.O. but, I am a web developer and we don't have great track records in that department.

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

176 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
j00pY said:
My previous place had no showers and was 5 miles each way. I had a shower before I left for work and then would just fill a sink and have a wes bath when I got to work. You'll be fine with baby wipes as new sweat doesn't smell like old sweat. I also heard that witch hazel wipes are really great for a post ride sweaty wipe down but I never tried them.

Nobody ever complained that I had B.O. but, I am a web developer and we don't have great track records in that department.
What did u wear? Did u have something lightweight to put on to cover ur trousers and shirt?

j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I used a full entry level Decathlon Lycra get up (shorts in summer, tights in winter) with a cheap base-layer (£8 from Primark - but I like it almost as much as my £30 base-layer) and a thin wind-proof jacket for when it is very cold. I keep my clothes and shoes in a backpack. That is still what I do now, but I have a shower when I get to work rather than at home.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I'll have a much better answer for you next spring, once the business has launched, but in the meantime I'd echo what's been written above. 3 miles is a short ride that would be a warm up distance for a training ride, so you wouldn't want to be going too hard anyway. Regular clothes with the addition of a merino base/T-shirt would be my call. And full, permanent mudguards. Probably some shorts, trainers and a backpack for rainy days.

ecs

1,222 posts

169 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Are you on a road bike? I've found that lycra is the only option in the shorts department - I've tried riding mine in my MTB gear and the bottom of my shorts sometimes gets caught on the ends of my handlebars.

Kermit power

28,635 posts

212 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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uncinqsix said:
IMO, a Merino top is essential - they don't get nearly as smelly as synthetics and do a good job wicking away moisture.
I once followed someone's recommendation on that. The bd didn't tell me that fking Merino is a type of fking wool!!!! irked

Therefore, to amend uncinqsix's statement, "a Merino top is essential so long as you're not allergic to bloody wool!!!". hehe

If you are allergic to wool, then even getting remotely in the same ballpark as breaking into a sweat will make you feel as though you're wearing a top made of knitted brillo pads soaked in salted Tabasco. yikes

Synthetics, however, don't have to be smelly. After years of binning them after a year or less because of the stale sweat build up, and having tried every laundry product known to man to try and remedy the situation, I found on google the suggestion to put a decent glug of vinegar into the fabric conditioner compartment in the washing machine, and then just washing them on a normal wash. The results are amazing! The tops come out smelling like new, and I can happily commute in (15 miles in my case) and put the thing back on for the ride home without it stinking. smile

Given that you can buy spirit vinegar for 50p a litre, and that's enough for at least 20 washes, it's one of the cheapest miracle products I've ever come across! biggrin

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Keen to try the vinegar trick as most of my kit smells like a tramp's undercrackers. But doesn't it make your washing machine smell like a chippy?

ecsrobin

17,025 posts

164 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I'm going to decathlon this week I'm currently trying to commute 4 miles to work on my F/S bike in mountain bike gear but the cold is killing me especially my feet so overshoes some leggings and a base layer I think I'll easily get for under £50 which is all I need for commuting.

j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I'd go for the Shimano overshoes from Decathlon. The Decathlon own brand overshoes developed a hole after just one 75 mile ride. They replaced them without fuss but I was surprised as their gear is normally excellent.

scherzkeks

4,460 posts

133 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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3 miles? Normal clothes, work shoes in your bag. Rain jacket and pants for the rain. Done.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Usget said:
Keen to try the vinegar trick as most of my kit smells like a tramp's undercrackers. But doesn't it make your washing machine smell like a chippy?
I think the trick is to use white / clear / spirit / glacial vinegar. Avoid the brown malt vinegar, or the stuff you have left after a jar of pickled onions. (Pickled onion vinegar is the best on fish and chips!)

thumbup

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

176 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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scherzkeks said:
3 miles? Normal clothes, work shoes in your bag. Rain jacket and pants for the rain. Done.
Sounds good - would a pair of these over my work trousers do the job or will try just get sweaty inside?