Cycling – Pleasure or Pain?

[threebikesmcginty]

I like it, can't cycle every day but certaily prefer to come in by bike even though we have no showers or bike parking.
About a 28 mile round trip and 90% of it is on back roads with very little traffic. It's a real pleasure although I'm slightly jeaslous of John Ponting as he's given up work, the lucky swine!

 

[fay144]

I love it - it is by far the most pleasant, easiest, and fastest way to travel the 5 miles to work.

I have started to dread it though, due to the shower situation at work. I have no access to a female shower any more, and am expected to use the one in the gents toilets. I am really growing to hate the process of having to bang on the door, wait for the guys in there to finish, and then close their only toilet block while i shower. Often, people ignore the sign on the door, and come in to use the toilets anyway, so then I have to wait for them to finish before I can come out of the shower cubicle... If there was a gym nearby I'd happily pay £50 a month gym membership just to use their shower, but there isn't anywhere close, so I don't have any options really.

 

[jonny jeez]

I'm firmly in the "love it "camp.

but to be honest, I do wish my route was not as long as it is. I rarely look forward to the homeward journey as much as the journey in (which I always enjoy massively) as it just feels like a bit of a slog when I hit the 15 mile mark, knowing I have another 5 miles of slow uphill before I get home.

oh and yes, I feel just like that today...ho hum

 

[Arch]

I love it - it is by far the most pleasant, easiest, and fastest way to travel the 5 miles to work.

I have started to dread it though, due to the shower situation at work. I have no access to a female shower any more, and am expected to use the one in the gents toilets. I am really growing to hate the process of having to bang on the door, wait for the guys in there to finish, and then close their only toilet block while i shower. Often, people ignore the sign on the door, and come in to use the toilets anyway, so then I have to wait for them to finish before I can come out of the shower cubicle... If there was a gym nearby I'd happily pay £50 a month gym membership just to use their shower, but there isn't anywhere close, so I don't have any options really.

Really, you shouldn't need to shower after 5 miles. Just moderate your pace, especially in the last half mile or so to cool down. If you really feel you must, then a quick wipe over the sweatiest bits with baby wipes will do fine - you can do that in a toilet cubicle.

Wearing cycling wear designed to 'wick' sweat away from your body will probably help, although I just wear a t-shirt and either craghoppers or jeans depending on which job I'm going to - in other words, I wear my normal work clothes. Nearly everyone I know cycles to work, in normal clothes, and none of them shower when they get there.

Don't let the the lack of a shower get in the way of cycling. This idea that you have to shower after the slightest effort is just tosh, and one of the things that make people think they can't cycle to work. (or at least, gives them an excuse not to).

 

[fay144]

Really, you shouldn't need to shower after 5 miles. Just moderate your pace, especially in the last half mile or so to cool down. If you really feel you must, then a quick wipe over the sweatiest bits with baby wipes will do fine - you can do that in a toilet cubicle.

Wearing cycling wear designed to 'wick' sweat away from your body will probably help, although I just wear a t-shirt and either craghoppers or jeans depending on which job I'm going to - in other words, I wear my normal work clothes. Nearly everyone I know cycles to work, in normal clothes, and none of them shower when they get there.

Don't let the the lack of a shower get in the way of cycling. This idea that you have to shower after the slightest effort is just tosh, and one of the things that make people think they can't cycle to work. (or at least, gives them an excuse not to).

I know what you are saying, and have started doing that on cooler days... but the last 3 miles of the journey is all uphill, with the final section being particularly steep (there is a quarter mile with a steady 15% climb at one point). Not a lady-like thing to admit, but I do seem to sweat an above average amount. If you were the person sitting next to me, you would probably agree that I do need a shower after 5 miles.

It doesn't help that I work in a hot office with rubbish air conditioning, so I sit there all day, roasting, and feeling like I'm stinking the place out. I have been thinking that I might get less hot if I moved the stuff in my rucksack into panniers, and I guess the cooler weather will make a difference.

Also, I alternate running and cycling, so cycle in, run home, run in, cycle home, etc, so really do need a shower on running days. I sometimes cycle the long (18 mile) way round, so again, would definitely rather shower after that.

I guess if I was told that I was no longer allowed to use the men's showers, I could happily not shower, guilt free...But since I have that option, I feel like I have to sure it for the sake of everyone else! I wouldn't let it stop me from cycling to work, but it is starting to make me hate it a bit.

 

[Arch]

Definitely ditch the rucksack!

I still think you might make do with baby wipes - and/or perhaps a wet flannel rubdown - you can easily wet a flannel in the sink in the ladies, then take it into a toilet cubicle. You can freshen up a great deal, without a full on shower. It might take some organising, but it sounds a lot better than your current situation! Even if it's just the cycling days.

Oh, and I think the correct term for a lady is 'glow' Ladies glow, men perspire, horses sweat...

 

[skudupnorth]

I love it with a passion ! I cannot stand driving nowadays even though i work in the motortrade and thankfully my kid have got the same mind set when it comes down to going to school because they also rather walk the mile than be driven.I try to do a good run on a Sunday if time allows or pile the bikes on the roof of the bus and do a trail with my little darlings.

Bad weather is seen as a challenge now and not a hinderence after all i have all the right clothes so there is no reason to shy away from a ride,for some reason i enjoy riding in the rain now !!!

 

[davefb]

I love it - it is by far the most pleasant, easiest, and fastest way to travel the 5 miles to work.

I have started to dread it though, due to the shower situation at work. I have no access to a female shower any more, and am expected to use the one in the gents toilets. I am really growing to hate the process of having to bang on the door, wait for the guys in there to finish, and then close their only toilet block while i shower. Often, people ignore the sign on the door, and come in to use the toilets anyway, so then I have to wait for them to finish before I can come out of the shower cubicle... If there was a gym nearby I'd happily pay £50 a month gym membership just to use their shower, but there isn't anywhere close, so I don't have any options really.

'any more'... sounds a bit rum .... in fact, it all sounds pretty rubbish.. going into what is now a ladies while someone is showering ? ?

 

[Hacienda71]

I cycle to work when I can because I like it. Car, fuel the lot provided by my firm, but I have still commuted winter spring summer and autumn 18 mile round trip. Love it

 

[hackbike 666]

I must admit I didn't enjoy it during my two years of illness (and loss of form) recently but im better than I was though now.

 

[normskirus]

Best part of the week is my 2 day bike commute. I dont even mind the road bits now - Im far more confident on the road now. And to be honest I dont have many incidents with my fellow road users.
But to my fellow edinburgh commuters, smile a bit more!

Normskirus

 

[Bay Runner]

Love it, Love It

7.5 miles home, around the Bay and up the Clyne Valley at 0730 this morning.
It's Sunday morning and there will be very little traffic around.

People pay to holiday here and cycle my commute route

Ps it's getting close to trackie bottom weather!!

 

[iZaP]

Fun and pleasure!