With Amy Martin of Sustrans

“Ride my bike to work? You must be kidding… I need to turn up looking professional!”

If this is a concern you have, fear not, you’re not alone! At Sustrans we’re working with dozens of employers to encourage workforces across the country to travel to work more actively and sustainably, and this is a common concern we hear.

Of course there are plenty of other barriers we come up against, but this one isn’t insignificant.

What if rocking up in your padded Lycra shorts isn’t part of the office culture (yet)? How on earth do you deal with “helmet hair”?

The good news is that riding a bike to work needn’t mean a drastic change to your morning routine or wardrobe collection. With these simple tips cycling to work can be… well, as easy as riding a bike!

l What to wear The main thing here is comfort and safety. Beyond that, anything goes. There is absolutely no reason that you can’t cycle in a suit and tie, or skirt and blouse. Just make sure your clothing isn’t going to get caught in your chain. For this, you could use a slap band, elastic band or even a simple document clip to secure your trouser leg, or alternatively tuck it into your sock! For skirts, I’d recommend Googling “penny in your pants” for an ingenious solution.

  • What about showering?

    Contrary to popular belief you don’t always work up a sweat cycling. Just put in the same amount of effort as you would do walking (you don’t always have a shower after walking, do you?) and you can happily cover five miles – about a typical commuting distance in Swindon – in less than half an hour in “normal” clothing.

  • What about helmet hair?

    Firstly a helmet is optional. Cycling is an inherently safe activity, and although many people wouldn’t dream of jumping on a bike without a helmet, others don’t feel the need for one and this may be particularly true if they are using traffic-free routes (of which there are lots in Swindon). If this is an issue though, for long hair, just tie it back loosely into a low pony tail or bun – once you’ve arrived at work you can easily untie without it having lost its style. My top tip for an extra bit of volume is to use some dry shampoo. For shorter hair you could run a damp flannel through to freshen up, and/or keep a pot of gel or wax at work to style once you’ve arrived.

  • In next week’s article we’ll cover other practicalities including how to do the school run, and transporting items to and from your office . There is also lots of information available at www.sustrans.org.uk/ change-your-travel.