A change of clothes will bannish the sweat patches!
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Those of us who've ever gone for a hard swim before work will know that walking around the office, or worse, turning up for a meeting with red goggle marks on your face is probably more undignified than the mark you get from a cycle helmet. Never the less there are loads of unflattering attributes that go hand in with commuting to work by bike, most of which we've found can be eliminated with a few careful tricks that we keep up our sleeves.
Don't fear - if you do choose to take the cycling option, you don't have to be a red, stinking mess all morning with frizzy hair and the brand of your helmet imprinted across your forehead. Read on to find out some tips that we've learnt along the way to turn up fresh and beautiful (if we do say so ourselves) after a ride to work.
Helmet imprints
If you come into work with a red mark, or as we've found the brand logo of the helmet, imprinted across your forehead it's not the end of the world. It will fade quickly, as will the sniggers of your colleagues when they get bored of the joke. However, there are some ways to make sure your helmet doesn't rub, which will leave you fresher in the face. If you wear a buff or a head-band of some sort you can pad your forehead but also the fit and choice of helmet will make a great difference.
We've used some designs that have always left a mark and some which have left no trace at all. Choose a good retention system and make sure the fit is snug but not uncomfortably so.
Hair Care
Hand driers work a treat for getting the hair dry
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We've found that one of the biggest concerns among women who are considering switching the public transport for a bike is how their hair will look. This becomes trickier during the rain or the heat. During the winter, freshly washed hair tends to stay pretty respectable if your commute is anything around an hour or under. When it's raining, a roadie cap, or thin thermal style hat/beanie can be used under the helmet with your hair tucked in to make sure it stays dry. Gore do a great Gore-Tex helmet cover that keeps out rain and wind and allows hot air out too. At £20 it's well worth it and it's safe too with reflective logos on all sides.
When it's really hot tricks to fight sweat and frizz include hand driers, alice-bands or head scarves… When it's hot it's only really your hairline which tends to get sweaty so give your face and roots a wash even if it's over a sink in the staff loo and then hand driers work a treat. If you feel your hair's a frizzy mess then accessorise! A head scarf of bandeaux can look good and cover up un-tamed hair. A buff can be useful to cut down on greasiness too if you wear one under a helmet. If all else fails take a pair of straightening irons to work to tame unruly frizz and look for a plug socket!
Gore Helmet Cover
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Smelling and sweating
As you get fitter, which will inevitably happen as your get into the routine of riding to work you will find you look less like you've been 'dragged through a hedge backwards' day on day. You may feel bright red and exhausted for the first few days but it will become much easier as your body gets used to it and the main thing is, don't treat the morning run like it's a race. Take it easy on the way in and if you desire, take the evening route as more of a training ride. That way you save yourself in the morning and you can jump straight in the shower when you get home. Let people overtake you and be smug that you'll be minus the sweat patches when you reach the office. As well as taking your time to get there, leave plenty of time to get changed when you reach your destination. If you're in a rush you're more likely to stay hot and flushed. Give yourself time to cool down and if you have a desk - invest in a small table-top fan for the hotter months. Don't forget to have a spare deodrant in your desk drawer!
Baby wipes
If you have a young child, you're sorted. If not, you'll have to put up with comments as to why you always have a stash of baby-wipes in the office but they really are the perfect solution for a quick freshen up. They work well to tidy up smudged mascara too!
Tuck your hair under a thin hat to avoid getting rained on
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Get changed
Find room for a small wardrobe selection at work and keep some spare knickers in the office, (it's not so handy going commando!) Leave bulky things like shoes, a smart coat and a hand-bag etc at work so you don't have to carry them back and forth each day. Leave smart clothes in the office and hang them up at the beginning of the week so you can take your lycra off when you get there and put on a neatly ironed shirt. Alternatively there are plenty of items that will travel well and aren't prone to creasing - that way you can carry a new out-fit every day.
As you get in to a routine you'll probably find that your skin glows, (in a good way!) and you'll feel much better about yourself as a result of all those extra miles. Plus you'll feel satisfied that you're avoiding the cost and hassle of public transport or the pollution of driving. All these benefits will quickly outweigh any concerns. So, no excuses - get on your bike.
CJ
