Is there a gym between the barn and work where you could shower? I have never had a gym membership, so I have no clue as to the monthly cost I am suggesting, but if it were cheap enough???
I used to bike nearly 10 miles (one way) to work and think I did ok in cleaning myself up without a shower. (I work in a professional office setting.)
My strategy:
- go straight to bathroom and basically immediately remove all clothes to cool down! wash your hands/arms thoroughly, then use a wetwipe or wet paper towel (or actual towel, whatever) to go over your entire body
- while your body is drying, fix your hair with dry shampoo, do your makeup routine
- your body should be dry enough now to re-dress with all clean clothes
Of course, I also wouldn’t do this on the hottest/most humid days because like everyone else is saying, some days you are just not going to get away without a shower!
How long is your drive from the barn to work? Could you wet your head with a hose at the barn? Not a full wash but I think with curly hair, I’d do that
My office is moving this summer so I’ll be trying the riding before work thing myself. I hope I have better success with this plan than going to the gym before work…ha
Will dry shampoo fluff up helment hair?
I commute by bike, so I also need to get clean and presentable/remove sweat before I start work.
Honestly, I find a change of clothes + application of deodorant + baby wipe or deodorant wipe to remove sweat does the job just fine. If there is a gym in between the barn and your workplace, you may be able to buy a showers-only membership for cheap (many gyms offer this option).
The other thing I find important is to just avoid getting sweaty in the first place by not working too hard. If it’s a billion degrees out, I ride slow & steady and save the faster riding for the commute home. This isn’t always possible (I’ll always work up a sweat riding into a strong headwind, for example), but if this is an option for you, I’d strongly suggest it.
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only if you work with patients. Plus there’s the whole subway issue…
Update: it was in the low 80s for my 25 minute walking ride today (first ride after hock injections.) I didn’t sweat too badly. Also discovered that the bathroom is air-conditioned! That really helps with cooldown.
At this point, we’re not trying to build fitness for competition or anything, so walking rides in hot weather are fine.
I often hose the horse off after riding, but didn’t have time and she barely broke a sweat anyway. But when I do, it will be a good start on cleaning up because I’m a klutz and always end up getting wet, as much as the horse does.
I still have some things to try, so thanks everyone for the ideas.
Yes! It’s wonderful Fair warning - it can’t work miracles but if your hair is relatively clean to begin with and just flat/a little grubby from the helmet, a good brush/ dry shampoo/ upside down root scrub/ brush gets it pretty nice again
When I have a horse boarded, I take a gym bag, have a washcloth and hand towel, and basically take over the half bath for 10 minutes while I fill the sink with hot water and use soap and do a washcloth bath, using water, not wipes. Then have my travel bag of moisturizers and deodorant. So long as I don’t forget something…like shoes, it works well. The worst part is leaving the gym bag full of gross, sweaty clothes in the car.
I tried dry shampoo, and it is ok. I have crazy hair anyway, so I rarely have a good hair day, I just shrug and add a bit of anti-frizz product and scrunch my hair after finger-combing.
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I thought of another thing (although funny enough, I’m usually cleaning up from being AT work and sweaty and gross to go out to dinner or something)- The floor of the work bathroom is always filthy because everyone is working in dirt all day long, so I have a plastic trash bag I lay out to stand on so my clothes etc don’t pick up dirt from the floor.
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Wash at the wash bay in swimming suit? That is what I will do, with the limitations you have. There is no way I can get into my work clothes without taking a head to toes shower after riding horses…
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Like Saddle fitter and Tabula Rashah mentioned, it really is possible to do a whole body cleansing if you have access to a sink (or water source). The Dr Teals that I mentioned in my last post do not require rinsing off completely, so it is more forgiving for spot bathing than traditional soaps.
I also forgot to mention that I would wash off in sections. I would remove my bra and shirt, then wash my face and upper body, then dry off with sports towel, put on deodorant, fresh bra and top. Next, remove breeches, socks and underwear and wash and dry off. As mentioned, it is a good idea to have some sort of mat on the ground to keep your feet and clothes clean for changing.
I was able to get completely clean (I have thick hair in a maintenance free hairstyle so no worries there) by washing up in the dressing room of my trailer when I boarded my horse near where I worked last summer, and I rode in the mornings on some hot days. It is possible, and I agree with the gym bag of sweaty clothes in the car-that was the worst part haha!!
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Me too! Gel nails that don’t chip at the sight of a horse and in a solid colour so no-one can see if there are small bits of horse dirt!
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Near miracles are possible, but I’ve never gotten it to work more than three days in a row. Tresseme (sp?) makes a volumzing version.
Disclaimer: My hair is in a ponytail or bun every day for work
You guys are lucky. I got the sweat gene. I sweat just existing, let alone exerting any physical energy! lol I so want to be the person who’s eye make up does not sweat into their eye, or who has long flowing hair, just slightly flat after an 80 degree ride…sigh. Very jealous here. Carry on!
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This is what I use…
I bring two washcloths. One gets soaked and I use to to sort of “wash” my hair and body. The other wash cloth I use to dry my hair and body.
Then I bring deodorant, body powder, lotion, dry shampoo to clean-up. I bring a complete change of clothes (chonies too!).
I think the washcloths make a difference. If I don’t do that, I notice the difference.
I love riding before work. It’s a great way to start the day, but does get a little lonely at times.
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I am a mad sweater. I thought it was just being out of shape but even after losing a lot of weight and getting more in shape I still have this issue. Embrace it.
But the riding before work thing is still completely possible. Washcloths are your friend.
I go from the barn to the hospital several times a week. Dry shampoo. Hair dryer to flatten out ponytail crease. Really good anti-perspirant/deodorant. Always wear gloves, more important when grooming then riding but same pair works for both. The newer sun shirts keep me a bit cleaner this time of year. Agree shoes stay in the car. And relish you can do it. For me the flexibility/proximity is a HUGE win.
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This was my suggestion. I know that my hospital offers shower facilities. Was great when we lost power for almost a week this winter. I would just leave the barn early enough to get to the showers at work.
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I’ve posted about these before, but I started using Action Wipes when I was bike commuting, and also use them to clean up after morning rides at the barn. They have some scent to them but it’s not perfume. I get migraines and am sensitive to perfumes. The scents are from some of the essential oils in the wipes, and they are more anti-bacterial than the average baby wipe. You can also collect a bunch of used wipes, put them in a lingerie bag and throw them in the washing machine to be repurposed. They used to sell a spray that you could use with the laundered wipes, but I don’t think they do that anymore. I used my recycled wipes as rags. Cleaned a lot of bicycle chains.
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Instead of just plain cornstarch body powder, try the Anti-Monkey Butt powder for women. It is very lightly fragranced and has some calamine lotion in it.
If I get caught having to go somewhere and not having time for a whole shower, I clean up with the baby wipes and I also like to use the Aveno calming body lotion. I love the smell and it is very light. I am sensitive to strong scents and this is just deliciously light.
