Hi, I would like to start bike commuting by going to church. It's a 15-20 minute ride, but I'd like to do it in a suit. Does anybody have any experience commuting in a suit, or other "street" clothes? Is there a decent way to store a jacket on the bike without creasing it or getting it dirty?

>AI sloppa
kys

>>2041949
this image is from 2014

>>2041947 (OP)
Make sure the suit is 100% wool.
Then you can fold the jacket in half twice, put it in a pannier, and it will come out without any wrinkles. Never even need to iron it.
You'll need something to keep your right pants leg away from the chainring without damaging the pleat. Traditional trouser clips are best!
Wear the lightest dress shirt you can find, and you MUST wear something underneath that wicks up your sweat.
Take your time on the way there, and avoid a helmet if you can do so without getting murdered by cagers.

>>2041952
thanks, I didn't know about trouser clips. I think those could be a big help. I have a couple wool jackets, so I'll give that a try

>>2041947 (OP)
>>2041952
also, use a bike with upright seating position. A road bike gets more comfortable the harder you pedal cause that takes weight off your hands and ass. So you'll automatically go fast and sweat like a pig.

Commuting in street clothes is trivial, just hop on your bike and don't exert yourself. You can ride a bike without working up a sweat and still be 3-4x faster than on foot.

>>2041951
I see. Well in any case I've ridden citibike now and then while wearing a suit or a sport coat. Citi bike is what poor people ride if they're losers who are too poor to buy their own bike according to the urba/n/ists here

Basically just don't take off your jacket and you're fine. Obviously your feet don't grip as well with leather soles so don't ride too hard (I learned this the hard way)

Here for exampke I was on my way to a dinner party in the next larger town, its 50 km to get there. No way you can ride in your suit and arrive there in decent shape.
Put the jacket in a clothesbag, without a hanger, lay the trousers on top and then the shirt and vest. The goal is to develop some bulk here. Because you want to roll it up next, from the bottom, without squeezing the shoulders at the end and you want the bulk to make sure the bend radius is consistently large.
It always comes out close to perfect, just let it hang for 10 minutes while you wash and it will be good. Put the dress shoes in a bag in a basket.

>>2042009
And just to make sure this doesn't sound like you cant ride in your suit at all, of course you can. Having fun on some app bike. In the city, where theres paved roads and distances are always short, theres no reason to change. Also the rentals are way undergeared. Wear an appropiate ciat when its raining but be prepared to fuck up your shoes.

>>2042010
The shoes and weather issue is simply a part of life that goes wrong when you least expect it. Carry a drybag and shoes, preferably a set of clothes even, at all times.

I'd be soaking wet with sweat for about 8 months out of the year. There's just no way to get anywhere in the clothes you intend to wear at your destination in my climate. It sucks. I should move to Vermont or something.

>>2042009
>>2042010
>>2042011
pretty based, my man.

>>2041947 (OP)
I've been commuting in smart-ish clothes for years now, with a foldable bike. Not full suits but at the very least chinos and polo shirts, often shirt and jacket.
You will need fenders front and back, ideally with a rubber skirt if you can find one for the front. Not so much for puddles but for tiny debris that can end up on the lower hem of your pants and get it spotty and dirty.
Look for a bike that will have you ride upright.
Ideally, something that has a chain guard as well so you don't risk staining the end of your pants' right leg. Clips as mentionned by others are a good idea. You have some velcro bands out there for this purpose. I see a lot of people using these while dressing in your typical business casual attire so I guess if you fold your pants in correctly as you put the band on, you should be fine and not create creases.
Depending on how hilly your area is, maybe you'll need to look for something with a few gears in order to deal with climbing without breaking too much of a sweat. You can also wear some armpit protectors if you know you tend to get sweaty quickly. It's not the most comfortable thing, sure, but it can save your shirts if you know you tend to get sweat rings quickly.
Also, ALWAYS carry some gloves and a handkerchief or two in case you derail or whatever. Just trust me on this. It will eventually happen and you'll be glad you can protect your pants with the handkerchief and remove the gloves "inside out" so you don't get guff all over yourself.
Oh and keep a comb somewhere, in case it gets windy.