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Before you start, take a spare set of clothes to work and leave them there.
Then when you forget to sort out clean clothes overnight/leave something at home/find that your bag wasn't as waterproof as you'd hoped/realise you packed a short sleeved top and it's freezing, you have clothes waiting.
If you have to use your spare clothes, make sure you replace them the next day...
middle of winter: i find it reassuring to carry a warm extra layer (£5 skiing base layer from decathlon), and maybe a energy bar in the bottom of my bag.
If you get knocked off you will be really cold, standing around waiting etc; the extra layer will be really handy. I got knocked off on a wet november morning, the only thing i wanted was a warm top.
energy bars last well, and the wrappers are robust. just knowing there's a bar is enough to keep me going 99 times out of 100 (my commute's only 14km each way though).
Decathlon is great for cheap warm kit. Don't be afraid to look in ski/ running depts too.
On the washing front I do a strip wash on my top in the toilets hand sink with soap and flannel then baby wipe posthalf. if I was not comfortable with that I would keep a small washing up bowl at work and take water into cubical. It is 90% as good as a shower.takes about 10 min from locking bike, grabbing stuff from draws to being washed and changed.
The idea that you will do 16 miles slowly enough not to sweat is a joke! Better to have a good solution.
middle of winter: i find it reassuring to carry a warm extra layer (£5 skiing base layer from decathlon), and maybe a energy bar in the bottom of my bag.
Good idea. It's also good for when you have a mechanical. Makes it easier!
The idea that you will do 16 miles slowly enough not to sweat is a joke
Not too hard to do at all. What's meant by "sweat" is not dripping in the stuff, you'll get damp clothes almost whatever, you just don't want to be lathered when you get off the bike. Easing off for the last five or ten minutes is enough to get me cooling down even in summer. At this time of year averaging 26kmh for the ride in doesn't get me sweaty.
Still need a wash at the end if you don't want to smell