SPONSORED POST

“Do I smell?” It’s a question I’ve asked my colleagues in earnest several times this week. I cycle to work every morning, five miles across London with a few hills and near-death experiences thrown in to get the heart rate pumping a bit faster.

I shower before I leave my flat because, although my office does have a shower I could use, I prefer to use the one I have at home. My shower has my things in it and none of my colleagues knocking on the door for me to hurry up.

A lot of people have no choice. They aren’t able to shower at work and this puts them off cycling altogether. To those people I say pffttt.

Unless you’re cycling really fast (which in London or most cities isn’t really possible or wise) you’re unlikely to work up much of a sweat. Simply change your clothes when you get to work – or even just your top – and you’ll be fine.

To prove my point I’ve embarked on a highly scientific experiment. Armed with a can of Vaseline Active Fresh, a spare t-shirt and some reluctant but very honest colleagues and friends, I cycled to and from work, sometimes via the pub, and asked people: ‘How do I smell?’

Responses ranged from ‘like a newborn baby’ to ‘fresh as a daisy’ and, ‘fine but please get your armpit out of my face’. Nobody compared me to a wet dog, a pile of rubbish or a swamp. So all in all, I think this is conclusive proof that you can cycle to and from work, go to a yoga class, go meet a friend for dinner and return home 10 cycling miles later without smelling.

Still not convinced? Here’s a few of my cycling tips:

• You don’t have to wear head-to-toe Lycra to be allowed near a bike. Where what you want, just avoid long floaty skits that will get stuck in your wheels.
• Sweaty back from carrying your rucksack on your bike in the summer? Try panniers instead.
• It may be tempting to get your feet out when it’s hot, but cycling in flip flops is not a good idea.
•  Next time you’re on a hot sweaty tube or bus on your way to work, think how much cooler and enjoyable it would be to commute by bike.

Post sponsored by Vaseline Active Fresh Deodorant with ProDerma™, a unique blend of ingredients that help to protect underarm skin and make it less prone to irritation.