Call of nature while riding?

[Flowrider]

You know you're out in a mixed group on the tracks or on the road and you just gotta go...and there are no toilets available.🙄

What do you do?

Males: Is it good manners or ethical to pop out around behind a tree?

Females: What do you do?

[Jesper]

Regardless of gender and whether modesty is your thing or not; you need to consider who else might be around, be they other cyclists or traffic. I certainly use a call of nature break to do more than just that. Check your bike, eat/drink, bring down the heart rate for a spell. Racing is a different story.

I do carry some TP for just in case since it takes up very little space, and I have been stuck with the leaves alternative in the past.

[GirishH]

Very relevant topic. As a guy, I never felt comfortable 'just watering' the plants. I would wait for a gas station/store restroom. Eventually, I learned to answer nature’s call when it actually called, instead of holding it in and suffering.

Like Jesper suggested, I now time these breaks to fuel up, hydrate, take a nap, or cool down if the terrain has been tough. And, I always carry TP and hand-sanitizer/soap-bar.

The definition of modesty varies depending on where you are. In South America and India, people often just step behind their vehicles and handle nature’s call. So, I learned to do my thing while holding my bike, especially when there are no trees or supports to lean it against.

In mixed groups, we’d split up, with some acting as 'lookouts' while women and men relieved themselves in separate areas along the route."

[rydabent]

At 86 my tinkle mileage has gone down. I have pretty much located all the restroom thru out the city. Almost all the the baseball fields in the city has them. And of course all the city parks have some sort of restrooms.

[Annegb]

(10-15-2024, 12:35 PM)rydabent Wrote:  At 86 my tinkle mileage has gone down. I have pretty much located all the restroom thru out the city. Almost all the the baseball fields in the city has them.

Great tip!

[GirishH]

This is a great tip. As a rider and a runner, I used to "map" bathrooms in case of emergencies. One improvement I have seen here in India is that most gas-stations have "clean" toilets and "potable" water. So, as I am currently bikepacking I "visit" these places quite often..

[Crystal Weiler]

(10-03-2024, 06:25 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  You know you're out in a mixed group on the tracks or on the road and you just gotta go...and there are no toilets available.🙄

What do you do?

Males: Is it good manners or ethical to pop out around behind a tree?

Females: What do you do?

Anyone heard of or use Kula Cloth?

[GirishH]

It's a truly interesting yet simple, Idea.

Sadly, I have seen so much sanitizing wipes that are NOT biodegradable in the Himalayas. On my last trip in the Himalayas, I collected some 20 kgs of trash, the most being the wipes. People don't care..:-(

Kula cloth looks very interesting. I spent some time reading through their website before realizing their use. As a man, I never had to use TP when "water the woods"..

(10-19-2024, 11:40 AM)Crystal Weiler Wrote:  

(10-03-2024, 06:25 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  You know you're out in a mixed group on the tracks or on the road and you just gotta go...and there are no toilets available.🙄

What do you do?

Males: Is it good manners or ethical to pop out around behind a tree?

Females: What do you do?

Anyone heard of or use Kula Cloth?

[TrailJoe]

I usually try to find a decent spot on Google Maps, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. I've done a few behind a tree disappearing acts!

[enkei]

When I was a kid, we lived across the street from a big park. Every year, the city's marathon kicked off on the main road that bisected the park, about 200m from our house.

We were always treated to a full view of runners that sneaked 'behind' the bushes opposite our house to hide from the crowd while having their final pre-race pees.

[Flowrider]

(10-23-2024, 06:30 PM)enkei Wrote:  When I was a kid, we lived across the street from a big park. Every year, the city's marathon kicked off on the main road that bisected the park, about 200m from our house.

We were always treated to a full view of runners that sneaked 'behind' the bushes opposite our house to hide from the crowd while having their final pre-race pees.

That's unfortunate. Where there any portaloos?

[enkei]

(10-24-2024, 06:02 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  

(10-23-2024, 06:30 PM)enkei Wrote:  When I was a kid, we lived across the street from a big park. Every year, the city's marathon kicked off on the main road that bisected the park, about 200m from our house.

We were always treated to a full view of runners that sneaked 'behind' the bushes opposite our house to hide from the crowd while having their final pre-race pees.

That's unfortunate. Where there any portaloos?

This must have been over 40 years ago, but I don't remember any portaloos. Hence the bush whackers.

[GirishH]

Not sure if the portaloos will be enough.

During the Paris marathon, I saw runners ‘watering’ the road dividers at the starting line—this was all ‘pre-race’ peeing! Again, thousands of runners had handfuls of portaloos..

By the way, if you get a chance, check out the Incomplete Guide to Runners. It humorously tackles the ‘pee and poop’ challenges of running. I’m sure we could adapt some of it for cycling, too.

Speaking of which, about five weeks ago, I was on a bikepacking trip in 42°C heat and extreme humidity. Over those 2-3 days, I'd drink about 8-10 liters of water everyday and didn’t need to pee until around 6 p.m. after riding all day (from 7 a.m.). So, here’s another trick—ride on hot, humid days to avoid frequent bathroom stops..:-(

(10-25-2024, 12:31 PM)enkei Wrote:  

(10-24-2024, 06:02 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  

(10-23-2024, 06:30 PM)enkei Wrote:  When I was a kid, we lived across the street from a big park. Every year, the city's marathon kicked off on the main road that bisected the park, about 200m from our house.

We were always treated to a full view of runners that sneaked 'behind' the bushes opposite our house to hide from the crowd while having their final pre-race pees.

That's unfortunate. Where there any portaloos?

This must have been over 40 years ago, but I don't remember any portaloos. Hence the bush whackers.

[Talha]

Nature sometimes takes over i guess

[Flowrider]

Being discreet is very important as I've read if you continue riding there is potential health issues. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3138851/

[froze]

When I ride I take about 24 sheets of biodegradable Scotts Rapid Dissolving backpacking/RV toilet paper, fairly neatly rolled up and in small zip lock bag so it can't get wet for obvious reasons. That backpacking toilet paper will decompose in about 3 weeks to 2 months at the most, vs regular toilet paper that will take 2 to 4 years, but eventually regular toilet paper will break down, and white paper breaks down a bit faster than colored and it's better for the environment vs colored. Then go off into the woods if there is one, and let it rip, if there is no woods, welp either find one or go far into the weeds, or corn field, or behind some large rocks, but take your bike with you so that someone doesn't take it while you taking a crap, or you'll have a crappy day, in more ways than one! I've only had to do that 2 times in the 50 plus years of riding, but you never know, both of my occurrences came from trying a new drink, oops, I know, you're suppose to try it at home first, but unless you are riding and drinking it you might not find out if there is a problem; I live in an area where there's always been woods around, so I just ride and see what happens! Once you left your pile behind then cover it with leaves, weeds, and or rocks. That Scotts paper is easy to find, Walmart usually carries it especially when spring approaches; and if your on a septic tank, it's a good idea to use that paper for home use. When bikepacking I carry a packpacking shovel and dig a hole first, then when all done fill the dirt back in over the pile, put any leaves, weeds, and or rocks over all of it.

Peeing is not an issue for me, just find a tree and go.

[GirishH]

Thanks, @froze for that info. I didn't know regular toilet paper takes that long to disintegrate..

I always carried a shovel or used hiking pole while backpacking but not sure what I can "re-purpose" when bikepacking. That's because I might use that "shovel" so fewer times..

I usually use a stick or something to dig a pit before doing my business..

During my current bikepacking trip, I am carrying some TP and hand-sanitizer. But, a local tribal friend pointed me to a big leaved plant and said that's what they use when no TP..

My friend and his folks are even more environmentally-friendly..

(11-29-2024, 12:34 AM)froze Wrote:  When I ride I take about 24 sheets of biodegradable Scotts Rapid Dissolving backpacking/RV toilet paper, fairly neatly rolled up and in small zip lock bag so it can't get wet for obvious reasons. That backpacking toilet paper will decompose in about 3 weeks to 2 months at the most, vs regular toilet paper that will take 2 to 4 years, but eventually regular toilet paper will break down, and white paper breaks down a bit faster than colored and it's better for the environment vs colored. Then go off into the woods if there is one, and let it rip, if there is no woods, welp either find one or go far into the weeds, or corn field, or behind some large rocks, but take your bike with you so that someone doesn't take it while you taking a crap, or you'll have a crappy day, in more ways than one! I've only had to do that 2 times in the 50 plus years of riding, but you never know, both of my occurrences came from trying a new drink, oops, I know, you're suppose to try it at home first, but unless you are riding and drinking it you might not find out if there is a problem; I live in an area where there's always been woods around, so I just ride and see what happens! Once you left your pile behind then cover it with leaves, weeds, and or rocks. That Scotts paper is easy to find, Walmart usually carries it especially when spring approaches; and if your on a septic tank, it's a good idea to use that paper for home use. When bikepacking I carry a packpacking shovel and dig a hole first, then when all done fill the dirt back in over the pile, put any leaves, weeds, and or rocks over all of it.

Peeing is not an issue for me, just find a tree and go.

[rydabent]

And then there are the cross state huge rides like RAGBRI. Fortunately it happens when the corn in the fields are high. Just go in a few rows, and you will have all the privacy you need!!!

[GirishH]

@rydabent , it's funny you mention about RAGBRAI. I did it in 2016 or so. And, I did the extra 40 or so miles on second day to do their century or gravel. I forget exactly what.

But, I remember one rider searching for something along the side of the road/fields.

I stopped and found out that he'd stopped to take a snap of a street-sign and then went to pee. He put his phone in the grass and wasn't able to locate it. Sadly, it was on silent mode and calling him didn't help either..

So, answering Nature's call led him to misplace his phone..:-(

(11-30-2024, 10:24 AM)rydabent Wrote:  And then there are the cross state huge rides like RAGBRI. Fortunately it happens when the corn in the fields are high. Just go in a few rows, and you will have all the privacy you need!!!

[Flowrider]

......and on another note...women in my riding group just say. " Back in a jifff, just going for a squat" 😅