oxologic

I seldom pee on rides, but there are still times that I do. Do you guys take time off to pee, or do you guys stay on the bike every single second? I usually drink a lot of water and end up having to rush to the toilet when I get home after a 2hr ride. What do you guys do if you need to do your business? By the road? In a bush? Find a public toilet?

SinGate

Ok, I was in a Time Trial race last month and I had to Pee real bad during warm ups. Well I'm shy as hell to start with, so I looked and looked for the perfect place. I settled on a partially concealed hillside (in view of only1 persons house). That was the best I could do.
But here is the kicker. One of the time recorders needed to pee as well SHE calmly walked across the street and pee'd in a cornfield. There was a "DJ" of sorts at the race and he announced her migration to the field and back. There were hoots and hollers from all in attendance. Now that's my kinda chick! Powerful and bold!!!

Cycliste

During a race I used to wait for an easy down slope, then stick it out and go, no need to stop. Many road racers have done it

webist

Circle K, Gas Station or behind a bush.

bman

Hmm, well I'm still new to bikes so I haven't ridden my than 50 miles yet, but there have been some times I almost felt like taking a pee by a tree and waited. A few other times I was able to take a leak in a public bathroom at the beach/park.....of course the bike came in there with me as I dont carry a lock... Very interested to see what the others have to share.

khuon

I've never urinated while on the bike but I know people have done it... especially in races. I usually manage to find an appropriate facility to use although once or twice in the past, I've had to resort to shrubbery. this subject often comes up around TdF time and here's Bicyclling Magazine's take on it from one year.

Chuvak

Only once had such a need came upon me. Thankfully I was passing by some public restrooms so I used my chance while I had it. That's why I love mountain biking cause the bushes and trees are everywhere.......

khuon

You know... as far as that goes. I wish the horses around here could somehow find a way to also use the bushes alongside instead of depositing directly on the trail itself.

asinus

I usually do it in some hidden bushes.

There was this one century ride I did, at a rest stop all the port-a-potties had long lines, so the ladies & gents in mized company did their thing on the side of the road.

It was quite an unusual sight.

ClevelandGuy

I pee in my spare water bottle and just let everyone think its gatorade...omg

BigFloppyLlama

I'm usually good for 3 hours or so, but then I try and find a park or something. Never had any rides too far away from a bathroom, but I suppose bushes would work fine.

oldillini

Very, very seldom does nature call on a ride. But when it does it is usually because I have hydrated too much before the ride.

Let's see ... trees work well. In the midwest plenty of corn fields ... beans are to short for proper privacy. Corn stalks are actually strong enough to hold your bike while occupied.

pointyhead

Well, that's vaild one point for not drafting!!!

tom cotter

About a month ago I picked up a deer tick on a pit stop. First Lyme test was negative, next one in about 4 weeks. Just one more thing to consider.

shokhead

Ouch! Did you have to dip it in anything?

cyclezealot

Every couple years we like to go to Europe. My bike always goes along with.. I have ridden through Spain. Italy, France. Those Italilians are not modest people. Usually people try to find a somewhat discreet place, somewhat away from the road. Not from what I saw. Right off the curb. At least they did not pee towards the cars. Of course, some motorists deserve to be peeded upon.
Last year's tour. About 20 percent females.. Outback Nevada has no trees.. The guides count them, between Carson City and Utah there are said to be only 3 trees between those destinations. Except for in the Mountains.
Anyway , No trees.... Look for big rocks to get behind. But in the desert parts of the rides, no big rocks. It was called the Loneliest road..So if modest, not a problem. Might be 15-20 minutes between cars. You could see them coming from great distanaces away. Plenty of time for a pee. Space yourself out, did not have to pee in front of the ladies.

Phatman

I just pull over, looking for a relavitly empty spot, then just pee. no biggie.

Stinger9oh

I think that getting off the road and going into bushes is a bad idea. Around here the poison oak is everywhere. Your tires can pick up thorns. All kinds of burrs can get into the vent holes at the bootom of your shoes. I just stop at the side of the road, wait to make sure that no traffic is coming, pull down my shorts and let it go. BTW, I ridealmost exclusively on mountain and rural roads.

Squeamish people beware of the following quotation from the current issue of Velonews. The article is called "The Opposite of Mediocrity." "Speaking of [John] Wordin, at a stage race in Colorado, his shorts were covered in mud during the road race. I was wondering how he could crash into a mud puddle in the desert until I could smell the chunks he was relieving from the elastic band on his thigh. That's dedication."

Kind of puts being embarassed, in perspective, doesn't it?

Rich

Ohio Trekker

There is something to be said afterall for riding at night!! :-)

Montag

Well, I come from the "drink-all-the-water-that-you-can" camp, so I usually have to go during a ride. On my weekend rides, I generally try to plan so I pass a few convenience stores or friend's houses .

I was riding in a charity event one time and there were two rest stops...neither one had a porta-john. My buddy and I asked where the johns were and the volunteers stared at us like we had just spoken Greek! So, we just walked behind some neighboring pine trees and did our thing. We wrote them a letter and commented that it might be a good idea to provide a place for business. They must have heeded our advice...plenty of "stops" the next year!

cAPSLOCK

My usual route is a strip of paved trail that connects a series of parks and a lake in a 25 mile circuit. There are porta-potties and bathrooms all along the way. I suppose I am spoiled. I have found myself wondering the same thing though.

In the summer here it gets so hot it's a real challenge to even drink enough water on a ride... peeing is about out of the question. Different story in the colder times though of course.

cAPS

Chris L

Behind a big spanky gum tree usually, and I make sure I don't do it near any watercourses - although that's becoming less of a problem as this drought goes on. As far as the post above about drinking enough water on a ride goes, the trick is in how much water you drink before and after the ride as much as during it. In the lead up to Saturday's slaughter, I was going through around 10 litres/day.

Laggard

Many years ago in Velo a rider was talking about LeMond having diarrhea during the TDF. LeMond had the team car hand him a towel which he proceded to shove down the back of his shorts so that he could relieve himself. Now THAT's dedication. I recall the rider (I'm pretty sure it was Allen Pieper) saying that if it would have been him, he would have quit.

pointyhead

For LeMond or the team that had to get the towel back?

mrfix

The world is my toilet.