Taking Care of Basics.
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Taking Care of Basics.
OK, so I'm riding along a "not so empty" road out in the middle of the Great Plains somewhere and my digestive system sends out the notice that it's down to download a brown file! Unless there's some wooded area or shrubbery a guy could end up really embare-assed! Does anybody carry some sort of biker's portapotty and cover up with a rain parka? Whatta ya do?
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Usually, I'm just slightly dehydrated on rides so this sort of situation has only ever happened to me once in the past 24 years of cycling.
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good cup of coffee in the AM with breakfast and all's well in time. Like most folks I have toilet paper with me but if I were to take off for a long stretch knowing there was no possible break... I'd probably wait before leaving until I knew I was OK to go. Never had it happen and I would never carry a port a potty or anything like that...
#4
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It sounds like you are looking for things to worry about I have crossed the country a couple times and done other long tours and it has never been a problem. 90% of the time I even manage to use indoor facilities. I guess if you really had to you could gain some level of privacy with a poncho.
#5
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How tall is the grass? Seriously, a few years ago, on the BRAN ride through the Nebraska Sandhills, there was a guy about 25 feet off the road in the catchers position. The bluestem was about 2 1/2 feet tall so that helped. When you gotta go, you gotta go I guess.
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Plenty of long stretches out in the western/mid-western states that are without ANY trees or bushes, just low scrub...best you can hope for is a ravine or gully....and best keep your eyes peeled for rattlers while you're at it.
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Emergencies can happen, and when they do vanity becomes less important than other considerations.
#8
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do we all carry Portapotties? sure we do, ever since I got my carbon fibre one, I've dropped 35lbs from my Portapotty weight alone, nothing to sneeze at!
(its also waaay more aero than my old fibreglass one, so I no longer have those moments after high winds of finding myself in Munchkin Land)
(its also waaay more aero than my old fibreglass one, so I no longer have those moments after high winds of finding myself in Munchkin Land)
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Peeing is a different matter--it can get creative.
#10
apocryphal sobriquet
Maybe something like this:
plus this:
Yep. Would not arouse any suspicion at all.
plus this:
Yep. Would not arouse any suspicion at all.
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In additon to ravines and gullies, look for bridges.
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If there is a drainage ditch along side the road like almost all roads have, a bike with four panniers on a kickstand in the ditch will likely provide good visual cover. If it really is an event that can't be delayed, it will likely be over in a very short time.
And if hiding behind the bike is not practical, you probably will not know any of the people that drive past and it is unlikely that they will stop to get to know you.
And if hiding behind the bike is not practical, you probably will not know any of the people that drive past and it is unlikely that they will stop to get to know you.
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OK, good info. I'm sure it's a matter that I'm too concerned about, I just don't want to leave too many stones unturned being a rookie and all.
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And turning stones is exactly what you'll have to do if the need strikes in the middle of nowhere ... turn some stones, dig a hole, squat ...
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#16
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And turning stones is exactly what you'll have to do if the need strikes in the middle of nowhere ... turn some stones, dig a hole, squat ...
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I'm blessed with extreme regularity. Within a couple minutes of my first sips of morning coffee, downloading brown as you say is done for the next 24. Get between me and my hole at that moment and there will be words or a messy outcome. Otherwise it's all #2 for the rest of the day.
#19
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i believe this is what you're looking for:
https://thegreensource.files.wordpres.../sdc112393.jpg
this sorta thing happens. i was riding through henan province last summer, stopped
for noodles at a less than sanitary road-side stand, it didn't end well.
being china, with 1.3 gazillion people, there's not much empty space. people are
everywhere. sure the locals just squat and poop in the rice paddies while working,
but a 6-foot foreigner (wearing bright red jersey) would tend to attract attention.
made it ten minutes on the bike getting desperater and desperater, with pressure
building for a massive eruption of "ole faithful." in the end (haha), found a small
pile (haha) of gravel, maybe 2' high, on the side of the road. set the bike on the
kickstand, squatted, and sorta hoped any passers-by would assume i was fiddling
with the wheels or gears.
https://thegreensource.files.wordpres.../sdc112393.jpg
this sorta thing happens. i was riding through henan province last summer, stopped
for noodles at a less than sanitary road-side stand, it didn't end well.
being china, with 1.3 gazillion people, there's not much empty space. people are
everywhere. sure the locals just squat and poop in the rice paddies while working,
but a 6-foot foreigner (wearing bright red jersey) would tend to attract attention.
made it ten minutes on the bike getting desperater and desperater, with pressure
building for a massive eruption of "ole faithful." in the end (haha), found a small
pile (haha) of gravel, maybe 2' high, on the side of the road. set the bike on the
kickstand, squatted, and sorta hoped any passers-by would assume i was fiddling
with the wheels or gears.
#21
Banned
Dig a Latrine, Use your entrenching tool, soldier ..
you dont have to lower a Kilt in those situations ..
you dont have to lower a Kilt in those situations ..
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Drop your pants and go. Fertilize the earth The corn will thank you.
Though one time in Australia I was doing the deed in a farmers field that was a bit on the open side and some locals called the police on me after seeing my bike on the side of the road. Police 'investigated" me while I was wiping… HAHA.
Though one time in Australia I was doing the deed in a farmers field that was a bit on the open side and some locals called the police on me after seeing my bike on the side of the road. Police 'investigated" me while I was wiping… HAHA.
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Here you go ... a blog that recently appeared on the MEC site ...
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
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#24
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Bikes: Surly LHTD with a YAK trailer. I may have to ditch the trailer and go to panniers but I'll give it a try and see what happens.
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Here you go ... a blog that recently appeared on the MEC site ...
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
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Here you go ... a blog that recently appeared on the MEC site ...
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
How to S#&t in the Woods? the Leave No Trace Way | MEC Blog
In thousands of mile of touring it has never been an issue.
Many of the mountains that I have got permits to climb require packing "it" out as a condition of the permit. It is affectionately called the "blue bag" system, even though all the bags are not blue anymore. Yep, just double bag it up and pack it out.
The bags even come with instructions. A small amount of cat litter in each bag makes the task easier.
While I have pictures a a lot of things, I don't have one of a blue bag in use--sorry
Last edited by Doug64; 04-12-14 at 05:32 PM.
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