First Time Commuting Tomorrow!

.DarDarBinks

Not by choice, thanks alot lizzie.

Can anyone help me prepare for this im going into college to study and its roughly over 22k what should I wear considering theres no showers or anywhere to freshen up? Should I just bring a fresh shirt and some lynx or whats the jist?

and would an hours travelling time be reasonable considering il be new to the route and also wary and apprehensive?

Any replies would be appreciated

petethedrummer

For 22 kms you'd need a change of clothes unless you take it very very easy.

I use a face cloth, towel and deodorant after my commute and change my clothes

If you don't have cycling clothes wear a sports top. Cotton t-shirts are a disaster for cycling in.

If you are cycling anywhere near the barriers that have been laid down, watch out for the protruding legs.

The time will depend on your fitness, the wind, your bike and the number of traffic lights you encounter. It could be 45 mins and it could b 1hr 20m depending on those factors.

What's your route?

mikemac

Babywipes are your friend

seamus

.DarDarBinks wrote: »

Can anyone help me prepare for this im going into college to study and its roughly over 22k what should I wear considering theres no showers or anywhere to freshen up? Should I just bring a fresh shirt and some lynx or whats the jist?

Wear shorts and a tshirt on the bike, or a light jumper if you think you'll be cold. Bring your wearing clothes in a backpack along with a fresh tshirt, jocks & socks.

You'll also need a small towel (like a hand towel), some baby wipes and deodorant.

When you get into college, go into a loo, strip off, wipe down your smelly areas liberally with baby wipes and then dry yourself off with the towel. Cover yourself in deodorant and then put on the nice fresh clothes.

When repacking your bag, stick your sweaty tshirt, jocks & socks at the bottom, put the towel on top of them to cover them, and then everything else goes on top. Stops a smell from bursting out every time you open the bag.

and would an hours travelling time be reasonable considering il be new to the route and also wary and apprehensive?

If you're going through the city, then an hour at least, giving time for lights and other types of stopping.

.DarDarBinks

petethedrummer wrote: »

For 22 kms you'd need a change of clothes unless you take it very very easy.

I use a face cloth, towel and deodorant after my commute and change my clothes

If you don't have cycling clothes wear a sports top. Cotton t-shirts are a disaster for cycling in.

If you are cycling anywhere near the barriers that have been laid down, watch out for the protruding legs.

The time will depend on your fitness, the wind, your bike and the number of traffic lights you encounter. It could be 45 mins and it could b 1hr 20m depending on those factors.

What's your route?

Hey Pete, thanks for the reply

My proposed route is along the N4 but as im only new to cycling on the road I think im best to just stick going through Lucan, Palmerstown and Chapolizod and on into town.

I might wear my training gear in and get changed in the jacks, as I know of no dedicated changing area or showers, but i dont like the thought of getting changed in the jacks, especially the state of them, but im also aware i dont want to be smelling like a bum all day, not nice.

I have avoided cycling beside the barriers so far but tomorrow i will have to, hopefully the traffic will be kind to me for once and it wont be another thing to worry about.

petethedrummer

You should have the wind with you on the way in tomorrow, if it stays like today and not too many lights. The rain hasn't been too bad in the last few days. The occasional light drizzle.

The N4 is ok, but I haven't used it much myself. Drivers may not give you much leeway at the slip roads. They leave and enter fairly fast, so stay vigilant if you do use it.

And bring a good lock for your bike. It's a tougher walk.

.DarDarBinks

So wear sports gear, get changed in the jacks, baby wipes and deodorant!

Great stuff lads!

Yi Harr

Once you're past the N4 roundabout between lucan and palmerstown it's a fairly handy cycle into town.

You'll have bus lane all the way in on the N4. The bus lane is rarely used at off peak times, even in rush hour it's only used by the odd taxi etc.

dave.obrien

Yeah, the jist of it's right there, babywipes are class!

Also, most colleges will have changing facilities; I'm in Bolton Street, and over in the Linenhall there's a place to get changed up beside the old gym. That's now, conveniently enough, an architecture studio, and I happen to be doing architecture... In that studio!

.DarDarBinks

dave.obrien wrote: »

Yeah, the jist of it's right there, babywipes are class!

Also, most colleges will have changing facilities; I'm in Bolton Street, and over in the Linenhall there's a place to get changed up beside the old gym. That's now, conveniently enough, an architecture studio, and I happen to be doing architecture... In that studio!

Is there any facilities in Aungier Street?

Ricky91t

Once you get to where you're locking your bike, just stay outside for a minute and wait. Chances are your clothes will absorb the sweat(horrible but true! :pac:) and you shouldn't be as sweaty when you get into college to change.

.DarDarBinks

Ricky91t wrote: »

Once you get to where you're locking your bike, just stay outside for a minute and wait. Chances are your clothes will absorb the sweat(horrible but true! :pac:) and you shouldn't be as sweaty when you get into college to change.

Oh jesus :eek:

Khannie

.DarDarBinks wrote: »

Is there any facilities in Aungier Street?

There's showers around the corner in Kevin Street. In near the pool. Also, the jacks in Kevin street are more spacious (because they're older ). I went to both colleges.

dave.obrien

.DarDarBinks wrote: »

Is there any facilities in Aungier Street?

EDIT: Khannie beat me to it.

dave.obrien

Ricky91t wrote: »

Once you get to where you're locking your bike, just stay outside for a minute and wait. Chances are your clothes will absorb the sweat(horrible but true! :pac:) and you shouldn't be as sweaty when you get into college to change.

Don't do this! For the sake of your classmates!

fletch

Well how did it go?

tomasrojo

If you do wear a t-shirt (and, as said already, cotton t-shirts aren't the best, as they retain sweat and press it against your skin), you can wipe off any sweat with the t-shirt you just wore and put on a fresh t-shirt.

It's important to get the sweat off before it dries.

Some good advice here:
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/commute/solution.htm

.DarDarBinks

fletch wrote: »

Well how did it go?

Was brilliant, great feeling after getting into college (especially after beating the xpress bus), the only part i didn't like was getting changed in the jacks, which took awhile but other then that it was great, baby wipes are magic!

I decided to use the cycle lanes provided but as I realized other cyclist were ignoring them and with me constantly having to dodge sticks, twigs, rocks etc. I went into the bus lane.

Got the train home and had a nice 6k cycle back to my house, reflecting on a brilliant days cycling.