Shower before you leave home, duh. And then change into the clean work clothes in your bag–the one I said you should carry–once you get to work.

Since this is apparently difficult, I’ll break it down.

1. Wake up, get coffee. Maybe breakfast if you eat in the morning.

2. Pack your work clothes in a messenger bag (I used a Chrome Kremlin for a decade, but ended up switching to a Trash Bag). Pack lunch if you want to; make sure lunch is in a leak-proof container.

3. Shower. Change into cycling clothes appropriate for the weather.

4. Carry your bike down three flights of stairs to the street.

5. Ride to work.

6. Lock bike to a heavy, immobile, hard to destroy object (I was partial to light poles when there wasn’t a city rack available; I used a Kryptonite Evolution chain and lock for about a decade with zero bike thefts.)

7. Change into work clothes and shoes. Comb hair again to minimize helmet hair.

8. Stow backpack under desk, get to work.