Fear of Sweat
It’s been hot and humid in Boston. So there have been a few uncomfortable bike rides into work recently.
Okay, so riding a bike in summer is a bit sweaty. But it seems a lot of people really worry way too much about sweating.
I admit I have a job where a few beads of sweat or wrinkles in my clothes don’t matter so perhaps I have it easy. But still seems some people have no sense of scale. As if a single bead of sweat warrants immediate separation from decent society for a vigorous scrub and wardrobe change.
So I’ll stick to my routine of one shower in the morning and a casual bike ride to work. But I do keep emergency moist towelettes in my bag. Because July.
I work in a warehouse shipping small parts. My work station is in a far corner of the building, I can walk in looking like I was just rescued from a deserted island……and nobody cares, haha. I ride 5 miles each way to work, I love the reaction of the front office people- “Good God Man, you didn’t DIE attempting to get here in this humidity????” Hahahahahaa!!!!
Just had the warmest & humid days of the year in Chicago. I usually don’t sweat much (travel at a normal pace, no backpack or excessive clothes) but with this humidity I was dripping all the way, so I just wet a paper towel at work and wipe my pits, plus wash my face. No one ever says anything about my clothes, odor, etc., so I assume it’s okay.
Fun fact: It’s more humid in the Midwest in the summer because of the corn. The corn ‘perspires’ (transpiration) and the moisture goes into the atmosphere. Not sure why we don’t smell like the corn factory (if you’ve ever smelled the corn industrial area, you’d never forget it). The corn factory is also where we get our fructose/soda sweeteners!
Then, on the way home Friday, I took the bottle of water I filled up at work and poured it on my head. Totally works!
Cooling off by pouring water on your head is pretty sweet.
But of course, it works a lot better if you don’t wear a helmet!
Yet another reason to ditch the silly things.
THIS! I’m know exactly how you feel! I’ve been a bike commuter in Florida for 13 yrs. “Aren’t you worried about sweating? ” It’s Florida! Everyone sweats! You’re supposed to! Thanks again Bikeyface, you always know what’s up!
It is funny to be discussing the humid summer after the winter we’ve had! (I live in Montréal). When I cycled a long way to work, I’d just take an extra top. Fortunately one of the jobs was language teaching at a local YMCA,which obviously had showers. Most places I’ve worked here in Montréal have been downhill from my neighbourhood, meaning I don’t get sweaty early in the morning. I do in the afternoon, of course, but that is what showers and a change of clothes are for. And the shower to remove sweat isn’t a long one that consumes a lot of water.
I do wonder who on earth voted me down for such an innocuous comment?