• Wear a helmet, remembering that there are many comfortable styles that won't give you total helmet hair.

• Make sure your bike is equipped with a small tire-change kit, front and back lights, reflectors, some sort of bell and possibly lightweight fenders to keep your tires from throwing things onto your clothing.

• When possible, travel along less-busy secondary roads rather than busy main streets.

• Wear a brightly colored shirt, jacket or vest or something with reflective material or tape so that you're more easily seen by motorists.

• If you wear long pants, wrap and tie them against your legs so that they don't get dirty against the bike or caught in the spokes or chain.

• Wear clothing that's a little looser so that your body can breathe, even in winter when layering.

• Bike in sneakers or comfortable shoes with grips on the soles, and stow some work-appropriate shoes at the office.

• A messenger bag is a good carry-all that drapes across the body and is more comfortable than a backpack.

• Keep a set of toiletries and other grooming supplies at your work station for sprucing up when you arrive at work. Baby wipes are a quick, easy and effective essential.

• Wait until you get to work to apply makeup.

• Ask about lockers and showers in your building. You may be unaware of some available facilities, and sometimes you may need more than a simple wash-up.

• If you for whatever reason must ride in what you'll be wearing at work, choose dark apparel because it tends to camouflage sweat spots and dark stains better. There also are golf shirts and other comfortable, appropriate business-casual clothing made with lightweight wool blends or special performance fabrics and treatments that wick moisture away from the body and allow it to evaporate.