Riding the bike to work

[Catapult]

Currently I use my R strictly for weekend blood pressure reduction. I would like to start riding my bike to work but don't know how to handle/protect the business attire, any ideas?

[iowabeakster]

Can you leave some clean shirts and a couple suits-n-ties at work?

[DSKYZD]

Wear bike gear that fits over your clothes. Store you suit jacket in a saddlebag. I use Aerostich Darian Pants. A full Roadcrafter suit is the perfect solution to your problem.

http://www.aerostich.com

P.S. We're doing Hungry Mother again this year. [/url]

[12bar1]

I work in a "corporate" environment and have found the aerostich one piece roadcrafter to be the best solution for me. I have a pair of dress shoes at the office and where my office clothes under the stich.

[challey]

If you've got system cases, you can easily put a suit, shirt, shoes & tie in them and change at work. Alternatively, you can use a one-piece suit like an Aerostich and carry shoes in a backpack.
My company now is "business casual", so I ride in with what I'm wearing that day with my jacket and boots on and shoes in the cases.
Charlie

[Catapult]

Did not know about the aerostich one piece roadcrafter. Very expensive but I can see how useful this type of suite could be. Thanks

[Sit]

I ride to work nearly every day I can, all year long. For work, currently, I am required to wear a dress shirt, some times I can get by with a polo shirt, dress pants and shoes. I wear my Olympia Jacket and Olympia overpants and boots. I put in a bag my dress shoes and off I go. I just carefull fold and tuck my pants into the top of my boots so they dont wrinkle. Get to work, put gear away, put shoes on and no one knows any different. During the summer when it gets hot, I just wear my Draggin Jeans and change into my dress pants once at work. Just roll your pants so they dont crease.

I highly recommend riding to work, parking is usually cheaper and what better way to start a work day than to ride and what better way to end it!

[Sunbeemer]

I ride to work every day - there's just no better way to arrive than with a morning ride smile on... I ride the bike up the sidewalk and park in the shady breezeway, walk into my office, grab a cup of coffee and I'm ready for anything. It doesn't get any better than that!

[Spookymonster]

Also check out the Olympia Phantom one-piece:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/olympia- ... s/phantom/

A few pennies less than the Aerostitch, but comparable in quality (supposedly).

[wncbmw]

An Aerostich one-piece Roadcrafter was made for exactly what you need. Check the ibmwr.org site in the classifieds for used one at 1/2 the cost. I use the Olympia stuff (2-piece) and it is good. The new one piece Olympia is getting good press but supposedly takes a little longer to put on. Definately worth looking at.

[dragonmojo]

I ride whenever I can (including back and forth to work), but not as fanatical as someone I know who has not had a cager in 3 years. But, I'm not doing too badly: over 10,000 mi/yr on 2 wheels, and about 2800 mi/yr in my truck.

Fortunately, we have a casual dress code, but if I had to dress up, I would consider those riding suits and pack the dress shoes.

[ruddy]

I wear a pair of REI windproof over pants and my leather riding jacket. The pants are also waterproof and have full length zippers down both legs, so they're easy to put on and take off while standing next to the bike. If you can, wear roper, Wellington or cowboy boots, and you won't have to change shoes. I used to keep two pairs of shoes (one black & one brown) in a desk drawer at work. Now I can wear boots.

[riceburner]

Ride every day. (it's 30-40 mins faster than by train).

Just keep a pair of trainers and jeans in the desk drawer and get changed when I get here (luckily it's casual wear).

Have done the same in a "business-wear" office, I just kept a decent pair of shoes/trousers at the office and bring a new shirt each day.

Can HIGHLY recommend the BMW Soft-case Tail packs (the grey ones), my full interview kit (dress shoes, shirt, suit etc) is in mine right now along with a small "ski-bag" to put my bike kit in when I get to the interview. .

I prefer NOT to compromise on protective riding gear though so don't wear normal clothes (boots/trousers/jacket) when on the bike.

[Boxer]

Just quit work. Who needs it?

[chris]

I wear shirt and trousers under my textile armoured jacket and pants. Shoes are left in the office.

[hirsty]

+1 for all the above, particularly the Aerostich Roadcrafter one-piece.

I almost always ride to work & we have a semi-smart environment - it's almost impossible to know what time you'd arrive by car anywhere around London, but the bike introduces some certainty & it's always a lot more fun than standing up on the train. You do have to put some more planning into it, but the payback is good.

If you have a fixed workplace then it's very easy, my situation is more difficult in that I rarely go to the same office every day & also go out a lot to meet clients with varying dress codes. For my regular office I'm often able to wear plain black Altberg boots & I find suit-days the only nuisance (hopping about changing into smart shoes).

It's also tricky going smart into a client building, so I bought a PacSafe bag which I can bundle my Aerostich / Boots / Helmet & Gloves into and secure to the bike. This keeps it all relatively safe, and always dry & I can carry it in my tankbag with the smart shoes on the way there & back.

[Brady]

Okay, probably by asking this I don't meet the qualifications to wear them, but what the heck are smart shoes [/code]

[dnat928]

Like others here, I'm able to wear "business casual" - slacks, dress or polo shirt. Over these, I slip on textile/armor "overs" (Tour Master) and an "airflow"/armor cycling jacket. In cooler weather, a heavy windbreaker goes over the jacket...all is well. Lastly, the office shoes stay at the office.

PS: just bought the BMW "Airflow" boots - they work great! Air flowing through the boot vents keep the feet and socks dry and cool.

[R4R&R]

I wear shirt and trousers under my textile armoured jacket and pants. Shoes are left in the office.

That's exactly what I do, and have been for the past 10 years! I wear 'business casual', like dress pants and a button shirt with an occasional tie. It gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day - a great ride home!

[NCPadgett]

I put the dress shoes in the side bags, loosen the collar, and wear my jacket. Just be careful wearing pants with cuffs though, they have a tendacy to catch on the bottom of the pegs. But like some of you have said, riding to and from work is a great way to start and end the day. I seem to arrive at both less stressed. Be safe.