Rainy rides to meetings

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  • June 23, 2016 at 9:00 pm #918331
    wheelswings
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    I’m always a bit uncomfortable on mornings like today, when it’s storming outside and I have to go to important external meetings. It’s hard not to appear a sopping-wet spectacle, and I don’t like to make the seat cushion look like I’ve got a bladder-control problem.

    So the goal is generally to get there early and find a place to change. But this can be tricky, especially at federal agencies with elaborate (though often irregular/unprofessional) security procedures for non-feds like myself. Sometimes there’s a Starbucks nearby where I can slip into the latrine for a quick Superman transformation (important to bring a change for every single garment, and lots of plastic bags!). Other times I rely on sweet-talking the fed agency security guards into letting me into the restrooms before the designated escort arrives to take me to the meeting room. But you can’t always count on the guards’ good will.

    For females it helps to wear a big flashy piece of jewelry…I did that this morning and got a bunch of “you look great”s, even though I’d just rolled up ten minutes’ prior looking like a wet sponge. If you have a cute dress and a big shiny necklace, people sometimes don’t realize that your hair is matted down, too tangled to comb, and your cheeks are pink from the rain rather than anything by Maybelline or L’Oreal.

    I’ve been doing this soggy-meeting-business for years, but still I find it a challenge. I’d be curious if folks have other tips on how to look “normal” at meetings despite the drenching rain. Thanks! w&w

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  • June 24, 2016 at 4:29 am #1054273
    KLizotte
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    Hmmmm….I say carry your helmet proudly into meetings. At least that provides an obvious, but subtle, explanation for a slightly disheveled appearance. Makes you look badass too.

    For women, sometimes a headband works to tame unruly hair. Pushes it back neatly and allows it to dry. A camping microfiber towel is lightweight and absorbs a lot of water. I suffer from frizzy hair so I now keep a flat iron at my desk.

    If your pannier or backpack isn’t waterproof, try Hefty’s Jumbo Slider Bags (essentially huge ziplock bags). I use a packing cube for my clothes; helps keep them from getting wrinkled.

    I agree that security at the different fed buildings is a problem; even if you don’t show up on a bike. I suppose you could just inform your escort that you will need 15 minutes before the meeting because you need to change out of bike clothes and ask that they escort you earlier than expected? I expect any “important” person would simply send someone lower ranking to fetch you and show you the nearest bathroom. But maybe not…

    What I absolutely hate is having to change in a non-handicapped stall. Now that requires some gymnastics at times. Always good to ask for a bathroom with such a stall.

    I wonder how the Dutch do it?

    June 24, 2016 at 1:25 pm #1054277
    mstone
    Participant

    @KLizotte 142014 wrote:

    I wonder how the Dutch do it?

    They’re more realistic in their understanding of human bodies.

    June 24, 2016 at 1:29 pm #1054278
    Steve O
    Participant

    @KLizotte 142014 wrote:

    Hmmmm….I say carry your helmet proudly into meetings. Makes you look badass too.

    +1

    I can’t speak for the hair issue, except this pro-tip: Have really short hair.

    The other universal pro-tip I would suggest is give yourself lots of time. If your Plan A falls through you won’t be stressed or freaking out that you need to devise a Plan B of some kind.

    Sometimes this works nicely in your favor. Once I rode to the Bolger Center where I had never, ever been (hadn’t even heard of it). It was about a 20-mile ride. When I got there I discovered they had an enormous gym and exercise facility with showers and towels. I’d come prepared to do the restroom sponge off/clothing change, but since I had built in lots of extra time, I took a nice shower instead. FTW! Even though I had ridden my bike 20 miles to the meeting, I was undoubtedly the freshest person there.

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