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... was the greeting I received, via a sellotaped post-it stuck to the clothes hanger where I hang my shorts/t-shirt/gilet, before changing for my commute home this evening. Along with an objection to my towel on the neighbouring hanger. And the advice that perhaps I could find somewhere close to my desk to hang up my gear. No name given.
Passive-agressive, pointless objection from an unknown 'colleague' who happens to share the same building, with nothing better to do in his/her life?
Or have I broken rule #1 for hanging my cycling clothes on a communal clothes rail in a corridor area every day for the last 3 years rather than stuff them into an under-sized locker with no hanging space?
Just people innit. Conversely, I used to dry my sweaty bibs on a radiator next to where a colleague sat. It was a grand old radiator so it used to put my soggy chamois about a foot away from her face. Those bad boys didn't get washed for days on end, I've no idea to this day how she put up with it.
You've been breaking the rule ya manky bastard. Don't leave your dirty stuff in communal place. Had one of your types in an office before, his clothes stank but only he couldn't tell. He thought everyone else was out of order, not him.
Leave another note in the same place 'if you feel it's an issue please raise it formally' and then deal it further if it gets raised.
Where was it hung up? Quite near to other people's desks in the office, but not yours?
You’ve been breaking the rule ya manky bastard. Don’t leave your dirty stuff in communal place. Had one of your types in an office before, his clothes stank but only he couldn’t tell. He thought everyone else was out of order, not him.
Being an angry nob and jumping to conclusions is breaking the rule too 🙂
Mine live in the corridor on a hook generally, out of choice I'd hang them elsewhere but there isn't really much choice beyond the boardroom or the canteen.
Where are these hooks op? In the loos or the kitchen?
i had no trouble when i used to hang up my commuting gear in the mortuary "dirty" area
"To the author of the passive yet aggressive note left here yesterday.
I'd would have appreciated the respect to have raised this in person. That way we could discuss the fact that I don't have a company provided storage space that is appropriate for those who cycle.
By cycling in, I get fit, physically and mentally, so improving my performance at work.
If we could work together, we would be able to find some storage and support for myself and other colleagues who do or would cycle in, if the company atmosphere was more supportive of sustainable and healthy transport.
My name is ........., and you can come and find me at my desk for a chat to address your concerns.
We need a picture.
Have you asked your colleagues about the note? Maybe they all talk about you behind your back and this is their way of raising it with you without having to do it face to face.
Do they walk past your desk spraying deodorant? 😂
Alternatively, it's just some arse that thinks it's untidy and that they own the place.
There are a couple of clothes rails in the corridor area between two open plan office areas. Nowhere near desks. Outside the shower/accessible loo, the aforementioned too-small lockers, opposite the prayer room and off where a couple of small meeting room are located. Footfall is passing rather than 'lingering' (or so I'd assumed!)
It's all hot-desking so don't have a dedicated desk by which to hang my gear.
I tend to wear underwear under the shorts for the commute (I know, rule-breaking in its own right!) which do go in a plastic bag in my locker, swapped for a clean pair, and taken home to wash. The t-shirt probably gets sweatier, especially when I'm taking a backpack rather than pannier, but no objection specifically to that!
Overall, I'm not convinced I'm being massively offensive ... but if I am, and / or being even a little bit of a dick, will find somewhere else rather than enter into an exchange of post-its!
<sniffs>
are the drains blocked again ?
“To the author of the passive yet aggressive note left here yesterday.
I’d would have appreciated the respect to have raised this in person. That way we could discuss the fact that I don’t have a company provided storage space that is appropriate for those who cycle.
By cycling in, I get fit, physically and mentally, so improving my performance at work.
If we could work together, we would be able to find some storage and support for myself and other colleagues who do or would cycle in, if the company atmosphere was more supportive of sustainable and healthy transport.
My name is ………, and you can come and find me at my desk for a chat to address your concerns.
Cheers for that. Not sure it will fit on one post-it, but 2 should do it! 🤣
No, no, no.
Don't get visibly angry. That will drive them into defensive mode.
Leave a note saying how much you agree with them and suggest a joint approach to the powers that be. They won't expect that so will either identify themselves to you or shut up altogether.
Either way you have flushed them out and they won't do it again.
To be fair, I wouldn’t leave my sweaty cycling gear anywhere communal at the office.
(I wouldn’t leave that post it note either though)
My locker is tiny (A4 folder fits flat on the bottom but it’s not tall enough to stand one up in)
But, I can still manage to fit my riding to work gear in it, how small is yours that you can’t fit a pair of shorts and a top in it ?!
Get your kit in a locker and let people breath freely as they walk past the coat rack 👍
But, I can still manage to fit my riding to work gear in it, how small is yours that you can’t fit a pair of shorts and a top in it ?!
Bigger than yours, admittedly. But not big enough to hang gear up to dry out, and if it's wet, there's no chance of it drying by the end of the day. Might have to resort to the coat hook on the back of the door of the only shower/accessible loo in the building, which isn't ideal either ...
If it doesn’t rain, then it’s not wet, put it in a locker.
If it rains, hang it in the shower room for a bit, then put it in a locker
Unless..,, you are drying it from sweating in it, in which case 🤮
Not in a communal area, that’s just wrong ! Bag it up in a locker. buy a second set of gear so you can ride home in dry kit
buy a second set of gear so you can ride home in dry kit
Really???? (I have other gear, but am not going to carry extra stuff into work so I can cycle home again clean)
I've 3 - 4 bikes at work at any one time, one permanently out on a turbo trainer, my tools and workstand so my muddy sweaty gear is easily overlooked.
Think yourselves lucky. My workplace has, no drying facilities, no showering facilities, no lockers, no dedicated rest room & a tiny sink in the same room as the toilet that only ever produces cold water. (the tap in the sink that is, not the toilet)
Not a hope in hell of me ever biking the 15 miles each way!
Really???? (I have other gear, but am not going to carry extra stuff into work so I can cycle home again clean)
So..... it is “sweaty wet” you are drying off your kit then ? Rather than “rain” wet
In which case. That’s pretty ropey. Get it in a locker ya minger!
No wonder someone has complained. 👍
Harsh.
I used to commute 16miles and would be 'orrible and sweaty when I got in. We had a shower, so I also had a towel to dry off + the wet kit. No-one seemed to mind that I scattered the kit around on various rads, albeit at the already smelly 'youth' end of the office, not the boss end. Yeah, I think only added slightly to the whiff so it wasn't a big deal.
Think yourselves lucky. My workplace has, no drying facilities, no showering facilities, no lockers, no dedicated rest room & a tiny sink in the same room as the toilet that only ever produces cold water. (the tap in the sink that is, not the toilet)
Not a hope in hell of me ever biking the 15 miles each way!
I have exactly those facilities, and the cistern leaks so the floor is cold and damp too.
25miles each way, MTFU!
I do more often than not just take the bibs off and go commando in baggies and cycling top though unless we have clients in or its rained, on those occasions I have an emergency set of clothes in my desk. No one complains.
Cycling kit only seems to stink if you leave it damp, wearing it seems to dry off any sweat quickly enough that it doesn't get time to be colonised by bacteria?
My colleague (and good friend) used to hang a stinking Windstopper jacket by my desk that was in the other side of the office from him. It was disgusting and I told him so.
It is a grim hanging used sports gear in (what I assume is) the same place as others hang their coats.
25miles each way, MTFU!
I forgot to mention I often start work at 06.30 & I'm 62, the roads are dark, narrow & twisty.
Good for you though, keep it up!
Pace yourself to reduce sweatiness. Wear thin under garments which dry very quickly (probably not padded shorts). If pacing yourself then outer garments won't pong. Use bike as hanger if not wet out (or bike under cover).
I can see why it might bother some folk but I'm not sure why it's unhygenic. Unless they can't resist sniffing them and gotta rash or something.
Carry on regardless I say.
Ok.
It's not a long commute (25-40 mins depending on route) and whilst sometimes brisk, not used as a training ride. Cycling gear is mildly damp from sweat when I get into work, but as others have said, dries relatively quickly and doesn't (I don't think) pong overly. I'd not inflict them near to desks etc, but figured as it's a place where people walk past rather than hang around in, it wouldn't be that objectionable.
However, enough people on here have expressed the view it's a bit bleuurrgghhhh, so on the basis of trying not to be a dick, will take note, wander off with my tail firmly between my chamois, and find somewhere else to hang them up. Toilets/shower probably makes most sense, or outside hanging over the bike is probably better still, although more inconvenient.
Cheers all ... Always worth checking out how others see you / view what you do ...
I don't think you should be inflicting sweaty riding kit on others unless there really is no choice. I wouldn't
There’s a prayer room but not a drying room? My work is the opposite- there is a room full of towel rails specifically for people to dry wet kit in. Absolutely honks, but it’s nice to have dry clothes to cycle home in all year round!
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...and make a few discreet holes in it!!
^^^ that was my wife's suggestion too!
(Before she complained about me leaving my sweaty cycling gear on the banisters!)
drying sweaty cycling gear - that's not a communal office area activity. Especially not next to a meeting room (and a prayer room).Acceptable in a random store cupboard only used by you or close workmates who are cool with it or the gents loos. Or a changing room.
Does the shower get used? Does the prayer room get used?
If not suck it up and carry a second set (and dry both sets at home for the next day) or wear it damp. It won't kill you.
But putting sweaty kit to dry on what is effectively a coat rack - nope, you are in the wrong I fear.
Were the shorts inside out and a bit skiddy?
If so ,maybe they had a point. 😉
drying sweaty cycling gear – that’s not a communal office area activity. Especially not next to a meeting room (and a prayer room).Acceptable in a random store cupboard only used by you or close workmates who are cool with it or the gents loos. Or a changing room.
My lead engineer used to get changed behind the filing cabinet in an open plan office, and have a conversation with people whilst doing it.
Not sure if that's scared me for life or just re-adjusted my ideas about what's acceptable office behaviour!
I've got changed in the office before when I'm the last one in. Hide behind a whiteboard in case anyone in the rooms.across the quad is looking 🙂
There's no way I would inflict my cycling kit on other people. Even on a steady commute my baselayer gets far too sweaty to hang in a communal area.
Maybe leave a note telling them there's no space in your locker because of the severed heads kept in there but HES are no longer taking your calls about when they'll remove them.
tend to wear underwear under the shorts for the commute
no wonder they are complaining, you've lost my sympathy now. if you ride with pants under bib shorts that's definitely unhygenic & must be uncomfortable too?
Merino base layer- guaranteed non-whiffy, and pretty fast drying. You'll still need to work out where you're going to hide your shorts though.
There used to be a guy worked in our office. He would cycle into work and hang his kit and towel up in the loo to dry, as we've no other facilities available. Thing is, he was completely oblivious to the incredible stench (he used the same kit and towel all week), coming from his kit. It ended up that I was voted to be the responsible adult who had to go and have a chat with him about it. We were both mortified, but he was truly oblivious to the foul, bacterial stench coming off his cycling kit, and particularly his towel.
Just saying like.....
Isn't this a note which should be presented to management/HR? Excuse me boss - I ride in (for the reasons mentioned by matt_outandabout) and I've had complaints about my gear... please provide an appropriate area.
I'd suggest the prayer room - surely that doesn't get used by anybody? (lol)
Must say, we luckily have lots of hanging space in our changing rooms - but some of the clothes hung there absolutely reek. I have no idea how you could wear that without smelling it yourself, so I guess some people are oblivious to their own whiff. I accidentally breathed in next to a runner's shirt the other day and almost passed out.
sorry but get over yourself and shift your smelly clothes.
The above is correct.
^^^ that was my wife’s suggestion too!
(Before she complained about me leaving my sweaty cycling gear on the banisters!)
I was actually verging on sympathetic, but as you've got form and your wife has had to tell you your stuff stinks then I suspect your co-worker is right!
I hang my cycling stuff up to dry after I've ridden to work, but in my last three jobs it was in the boiler room and in my current one, as the boiler is in the kitchen, in a store cupboard. It's not a thing that should be inflicted on anyone, and mine doesn't smell too bad!
Oh, man.
This thread brings back memories of my former boss, who was a regular bike commuter. He had one of those free-standing clothes driers installed in the office kitchen. It was the variety which basically resembles a coat stand enclosed in a miniature tent, into which an integrated fan blows hot air. Natuarlly, you're supposed to hang your wet gear inside to dry.
Well, he did indeed hang his wet gear inside to dry, but not because it had been raining; he was just a particularly sweaty ****er.
I can vividly remember blearily walking into the kitchen of a morning, only to be rudely brough to my senses by the sharp tang of his atomised bollock-sweat.
^^^ that was my wife’s suggestion too!
(Before she complained about me leaving my sweaty cycling gear on the banisters!)
I was actually verging on sympathetic, but as you’ve got form and your wife has had to tell you your stuff stinks then I suspect your co-worker is right!
She said that 'tongue-in-cheek' after I'd told her the tale. 😀
Update. Have removed shorts and towel to a hanger hung over the shower cubicle. Left a note on the clothes rail thanking the anonymous person for drawing my attention to the issue, but also pointing out the general lack of options. Did suggest that instead of the passive-agressive anonymous note, I'd welcome the chance to have a restorative conversation in which we could identify the problem and work together to explore possible solutions.
I suspect that offer won't be taken up, but in the meantime will hang my clothes up in the shower room.
We have a small corner of the cloakroom for exercise gear and towels. I'm pretty sure it would smell less if:
a) people didn't wear stuff for quite so long and/or wore a merino base layer
b) a larger area was given so that things could actually dry.
Putting it in a locker or a plastic bag is properly bleurgh, so is putting it chamois out. Putting it next to someone's smart suit isn't unhygeinic but it might whiff sometimes and on a rainy day everything nearby will end up damp. I would reckon therefore a post it note with "exercise clothing here" would sort the problem. Nobody needs to be hanging around chamois sniffing.
People need to get over their "eeew sweat" bollocks, half of those walking from the train station will probably sweat more than you, and mope about in their sweaty clothes all day.
My last workplace did have a shower room and I alway left my manky towel and sweaty bibs and stinky bike shoes in there.
There were adequate other toilet facilities available to other members of staff and this shower room was used by all cyclists and runners in the office.
The only issue we ever had was the occasional workshy colleague hiding in it as the furthest toilet from their desk and causing holdups for people expecting the facility to be available for its designated purpose.
I've had from no facilities (i.e. just getting changed in a loo) and leaving kit in your rucksack/pannier, to changing facilities and a drying cabinet - that was great until the motorbiker who smoked like a chimney left his gear in there - wet, warm fag smell isn't nice.
Had a room to myself once, radiator and desk fan to dry everything. The drying cabinet was best but it was a pain - go get changed, get key from reception, walk to other side of building, unlock room, then take key back - we weren't allowed our own keys. Cabinet was no-where near toilets or changing spaces.
I've also been 'told' I'm not having my gear in the office in the past. Currently one of the lads just drys his kit out on an electric radiator.
A mate takes his weekend mountain bike kit to dry in the nuclear power station. No odour or bacteria problems if you use a 100 mega watt drier.
Wowzers. You should have seen the office at Sustrans when I worked there. 50 people on our floor. If it was vaguely hook-shaped, it would have something item of rank cycling clothing hanging off it. Apparently, visitors could see a green haze oozing under the door before they got there.
Happy days.
A mate takes his weekend mountain bike kit to dry in the nuclear power station.
A good one I used to get was 'will you be holding up the traffic all the way home again?' This was from a fat **** who drove a car (4x the width of a bike) 30 miles each way (couldn't get a job near his place). Obvs unable to make a rational decision about overtaking.
The request isn’t unreasonable. The way the request was made however, would probably make me unreasonable.
The request isn’t unreasonable. The way the request was made however, would probably make me unreasonable.
This is how I felt at the time, but having taken soundings from the STW collective and having some time to reflect, think I responded a bit more maturely and considerately than I might have done if I'd reacted straight away.
Bit of an update ... The following day (yesterday), I hung my shorts & towel on a hanger in the shower room instead, left my helmet (oo-er) and jacket on the coat-rack, with a neatly typed note to the effect that I would endeavour to find an alternative place to hang my gear, but that the options/facilities were less than ideal. I further remarked that I thought her anonymous note was somewhat passive-agressive, and would have preferred if they had taken the time to contact me directly, and we could have had a "restorative conversation, working together to identify the problem and explore potential solutions". Left my name and contact details should they have wanted to chat further.
Fully expected that to be the end of it ... But that afternoon, her manager rocks up to my desk, agrees it's all a bit of a fuss about nothing, but the worker has been distraught by the 'passive-agressive' label, and now wishes to meet!
So, this morning, we had our 'restorative conversation'. Both said our bits. Both acknowledged the other point of view. Both bemoaned the lack of facilities. I agreed to hang my gear in the shower room/accessible WC, and her manager agreed to look into getting more hooks put up in there.
So, everyone's happy.
(Until someone complains about it being inappropriate & unhygienic leaving my gear in the shower/loo ... 🤔)