Packing Business Clothes

[shmily]

I'm leaving in a couple of weeks for a week-long course. Attire is business casual, which in this case means dress pants with open collar shirt. A sport coat will be required for two of the sessions. The campus is about 450 miles from my home and I'd like to ride there.

 

Soooo, any pointers on packing this type of clothing so it isn't in a knot when I get to the other end?

 

The route is beautiful and I'd really like to do it on the bike. I don't want packing to be a show-stopper.

[etcswjoe]

I usually fold everything the best that I can and Iron it out in the hotel. With the jacket I lay it on top folded loosely in the trunk, if it is cool enough you can always wear the jacket under a light windbreaker.

[ReinyRooster]

schmily, I have that issue about half the time I ride to work..I fold my sports coat in half the long way and then roll it up and put it in a bag.......once at work, just unroll and hang and it seems to be O.K.

[Freebird]

I travel every week but unfortunately not on the bike. Even in my work car though, things can sometimes get wrinkled. An old trick that works very well is that if your jackets, slacks and etc. are wrinkled, hang them on the shower rod at the hotel. Turn the water on full hot and direct it where it doesn't hit the clothes that you have hanging. Close the door and let them steam for about 20 or 30 minutes. The wrinkles will be gone for the most part. Do this before you go to bed and then remove them from the bathroom and they will be dry by morning. They will get a bit damp from the steaming but not wet.

[beltfed50]

I travel every week but unfortunately not on the bike. Even in my work car though, things can sometimes get wrinkled. An old trick that works very well is that if your jackets, slacks and etc. are wrinkled, hang them on the shower rod at the hotel. Turn the water on full hot and direct it where it doesn't hit the clothes that you have hanging. Close the door and let them steam for about 20 or 30 minutes. The wrinkles will be gone for the most part. Do this before you go to bed and then remove them from the bathroom and they will be dry by morning. They will get a bit damp from the steaming but not wet.

 

Works for me with dress uniforms...been doing that ever since I was on the honor guard at Luke AFB.

[videoarizona]

Folding trick from my better half:

 

Button shirt.

Place face down on bed with sleeves out.

Fold sleeves back over themselves in the direction of the other sleeve.

Fold bottom third of shirt up unto middle of shirt.

Now fold next third of shirt up on top of shoulders.

Turn over and pack that way. Should fit in saddlebag.

Do that to all shirts and jackets.

This folding minimizes wrinkles.

Most hotels now have steamers available for free and irons as well.

Have a nice ride!

david

[djh3]

If you know where your staying either look up on web or call and see if they have a hand steamer. If not I have used the bathroom trick a couple of times with a Tux.

[speakerfritz]

I use a hanging wardrobe bag, hang my formal wear, then roll that up and secure with bunge cords, put it in a large garbage bag to water proff it, strap it down to my truck lid rack.

 

When I get there, hang the closes in the bath room, and when I shower, the steam seems to relax any wrinkles that did occur.

[shmily]

Thanks all...seems pretty simple. I guess I was making this more complicated than it needs to be.

 

I'll post some pics after the trip.

[Dragonslayer]

I'm leaving in a couple of weeks for a week-long course. Attire is business casual, which in this case means dress pants with open collar shirt. A sport coat will be required for two of the sessions. The campus is about 450 miles from my home and I'd like to ride there.

 

Soooo, any pointers on packing this type of clothing so it isn't in a knot when I get to the other end?

 

The route is beautiful and I'd really like to do it on the bike. I don't want packing to be a show-stopper.

Hang it on the bike antenna maybe?

[BG Hawks]

I always hang my clothes in the shower and turn the hot water on. They come out looking great!

[shmily]

Just a follow-up to let you all know how it turned out.

 

I ordered a set of saddlebag liners. Rolled the pants and folded the shirts in accordance with a video I watched on YouTube. I kept the trunk relatively empty so I could fold the sport coat loosely inside.

 

Bottom line: after a little ironing of the shirts, five days worth of clothes were good-to-go. I didn't need to iron the pants at all.

 

Thanks for all the tips.

[bamico]

shmily,

 

I too have had great luck with the steaming proposal.

 

Here's another thought... whenever I have multi-city trips that extend over a week or two, and/or large amounts of materials to transport, I'll ship clothing/items to myself to the hotel I'm staying. Most hotels will accept shipments from arriving guests. It'll be there when you arrive.

 

Good luck with the trip.

 

Bob

[Mike G in SC]

Just wear them on the bike,,, least wrinkles.

[RedRider]

If you are going to a specific destination (as compared to riding somewhere else every day), pack them in a box and ship them. I've done that when I had a 4 day meeting in NC. Was riding the Smokey Mtns for a couple of days on the way down. Worked great. Pack all the dirty clothes back in the box and ship back.

 

This is really handy when you need to ship dress shoes. With my big feet, they take up way too much room in the saddle bags.

 

RR

[IronMike]

Mail them in a flat rate USPS box to the cleaners in the town you are going to. Have them do them up. You can get them to the room from there. Either on the bike or one of the people who has a car that is doing the same meeting.

 

Or chance it and buy local at a second hand store. Haha I've done that. Ride in. Stop at a thrift store. It can be a treasure hunt. Its so cheap, when your done you donate them back. Can even be cheaper than the cleaners. LOL