who here cycles to work in a suit?

[subaqua]

yes, but not from home into the city. I do between offices once I am in the city. slow and steady or you end up a sweaty mess. still quicker than the tube /bus/walking/cab

 

[mick1836]

How about one of these?

 

[MichaelW2]

If you ride in a suit, get a suitable suit. Polyester fibers in the mix help durability, wool/polyester is OK. Get a suit with several pairs of identical trousers.
You can wear a wicking T shirt underneath your office shirt. For 1 mile, a normal cotton t shirt works for me.
Do everything to make your bike run clean and easy. Fit Marathon Plus tyres. Hub gears run cleaner and you can use a better chainguard. Run a belt drive if you can. Dynamo lights prevent faffing around with dropped lights, just grab and go.

 

[fossyant]

If it's just a mile and a bit, then walk. I wouldn't be faffing getting on my bike and locking it up and stuff at the other end for a mile.

 

[Trickedem]

I often ride Boris biles across London. I just need to resist the temptation to race people

 

[mcshroom]

Not a suit, but I've cycled in my choir uniform (blazer, shirt, tie and suit trousers) a few times. The jacket is annoyingly restrictive which means I end up sat upright usually. Also it's a good idea to back off the speed and just pootle so you don't arrive as a sweaty mess.

I've often wondered whether we were more accepting of people being a bit sweaty/rain soaked when they arrived at work in the past. More people used to cycle, it was more common to cycle in your normal clothes and clothing was less weather resistant.

 

[vickster]

If it's just a mile and a bit, then walk. I wouldn't be faffing getting on my bike and locking it up and stuff at the other end for a mile.

This...or do people really get that sweaty in a mile of cycling?

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

I once rode to a job interview in a suit, felt very weird and uncomfortable. It was about 2 miles and I took it quite steady so I didn't sweat too much then got cleaned up in the loo before I was called in. If it's only a mile and a bit I'd walk to be honest but I think once you got used to cycling it you'd be fine.

 

[jonny jeez]

I often ride Boris biles across London.

No you dont.

 

[jonny jeez]

If it's just a mile and a bit, then walk. I wouldn't be faffing getting on my bike and locking it up and stuff at the other end for a mile.

That's a really good point, plus walking would likely be better exercise.

 

[vickster]

That's a really good point, plus walking would likely be better exercise.

Indeed, especially if cycling is the other primary activity. Good to walk, not least for muscle balance and bone density apparently

 

[T4tomo]

A fairly common sight here in Cambridge....

I rode down to my finals in sub-fusc (suit gown bow tie) on a BMX! Raised very few odd looks to be fair. Can't remember whether we were obliged to take the mortar board to exams or not, probably not on reflection.

 

[Red17]

I have a pretty short commute and leave a couple of suit jackets at work and cycle in in suit trousers and either bike jacket or fleece. If its hammering it down I tend to walk.

 

[burntoutbanger]

I cycle two miles to work, not in a suit admittedly, I've never had any trouble with sweating over such a short distance.

 

[fossyant]

This...or do people really get that sweaty in a mile of cycling?

I only have to look at the bike and start sweating and my heart rate goes up.