Dear Prudence,
I (she/her) have a friend with benefits, Sarah, who loves to spend summer cycling as her primary mode of transportation. It brings her joy and is an efficient way to navigate our city. It also leaves her sweaty and stinky. To me, at least. I recognize that my sensory issues make me extra sensitive and that I’m the problem here.
The issue is that I’ve come to dread when she cycles to meet me. Summer is short here and asking her to stop cycling to see me seems rude. Waiting for her to cool down doesn’t solve the smell issue, and asking her to carry deodorant and a change of bra/shirt feels unbearably rude, even if I make it clear that it’s a me issue, because who wouldn’t take that personally?
Should I continue to suck it up or address the issue? If so, how?