The shower problem
#1
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The shower problem
Finding a shower when you are on the road can be a pain in the ass, and i mean a real shower not out of a squirt bottle, have you thought about just pulling into the local swimming pool? they give you a discount for just using the shower or you can pay full price and get a swim as well
#2
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We did just that pretty often on the TA. Quite a few times they didn't charge us at all, other times it was a few bucks. I have not done it on other tours though.
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Huge community center in Ft. Collins, Co. Heated pool, hot tubs, sauna, weight room, and, of course, showers. No charge and 1/2 mile bike path from town center. Perfect. On US 160 enroute to Durango from Walsenburg. Speak nicely and they'll let you pitch tent behind the building.
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My last two big tours featured 'grubby' days. In August 2008 I had a night at a free hiker/biker site without water, and I wasn't brave enough to wade into the Potomac to wash. In June of this year I camped in a backyard in Trappe, MD, and I left before the household got up. In the former instance I rode to the next hiker/biker site and washed under the pump. In Trappe I cleaned up in a chemical toilet and later in a gas station bathroom. It wasn't fun, but it was part of the adventure.
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Swimming pools are great. Hotels will sometimes let you have a shower for a couple bucks in one of the rooms as well. Or you could tour in Tasmania where we often found showers at tourist bureaus. Now that was great for wild camping!
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I forgot to mention truck stops and campgrounds too. Both will usually sell you a shower for a couple bucks.
#7
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Since most Calif. parks are now closed, I"d have a problem.. But, riding the Calif coast had been a pleasure because it was rare that some state park was not within a day's riding time.. And their policy had been. There is always room for one more cycle tourist. We even had our own section..
.With Calif. state parks closed, guess I'd go to Oregon for a bike tour..
.With Calif. state parks closed, guess I'd go to Oregon for a bike tour..
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Finding a shower when you are on the road can be a pain in the ass, and i mean a real shower not out of a squirt bottle, have you thought about just pulling into the local swimming pool? they give you a discount for just using the shower or you can pay full price and get a swim as well
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I carry a sun shower. It's my pillow at night, just slip it into a pillow case and a shower when I can't find a "Real" shower. I fill it with water when I make camp and take my shower after dark and out of sight. If getting out of sight is not realistic, then I shower in swim trunks (after dark). Much better than a squirt bottle.
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Shower/dp/B00266BMOY
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Shower/dp/B00266BMOY
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All but the cheapest brothels have showers and can be found on most large trucking routes.
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We've showered anywhere and everywhere on tour. Lakes, rivers, ponds with ice floating around, campgrounds, pools, motels, people's houses. One time in Baja we were so desperate for a shower that we asked the owner of a restaurant if we could possibly use hers!
#13
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In Mackay, ID (pronounced Mackie) I showered at a coin-operated shower in a laundromat. Locals told me about it.
Ray
Ray
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Some Calif. parks are closed. Those along the coast where I live in Socal are as open as ever. Best thing to do is check on the specific parks of interest to you.
#15
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When I did RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), hundreds of us took a shower in an enterprising car wash which installed a couple of rows of shower nozzles for the occasion.
#16
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Ha! Great thread. Never would have thought to use a community pool, if you come across one.
Re: showering in a hotel room. Would love to see the look on the person's face behind the counter if they've never been asked this before.
I plan to do my first tours in State Parks in Texas, which all have showers.
Re: showering in a hotel room. Would love to see the look on the person's face behind the counter if they've never been asked this before.
I plan to do my first tours in State Parks in Texas, which all have showers.
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During my 2004 tour of Australia I often went up to 5 days without a shower. Not a big deal. In fact, I'm doing it again now that I live here!!
But when I wanted a shower I stayed in a campground with showers, or used the truck stops (the showers there are free), or if I was cycling along the coast where all the beaches are, there were usually showers at every beach. Some were outside, others were inside buildings and offered a bit more privacy.
I was probably my cleanest during the month I spend cycling along the coast in Queensland ... there was either the ocean to hop into, or these beach showers.
But when I wanted a shower I stayed in a campground with showers, or used the truck stops (the showers there are free), or if I was cycling along the coast where all the beaches are, there were usually showers at every beach. Some were outside, others were inside buildings and offered a bit more privacy.
I was probably my cleanest during the month I spend cycling along the coast in Queensland ... there was either the ocean to hop into, or these beach showers.
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On my 2004 tour, for example, I was quite pleasantly surprised by the presence of a vase of fresh flowers in the ladies toilet at the campground in Mt Beauty ... and a heat lamp which made showering in their immaculately clean showers a very pleasant experience on a chilly spring morning. And that's just one of many such examples.
So yes, if an Australian wanted to do a combination of bush camping and campground camping on an extended tour (like I did in 2004) it would be quite possible to get a shower at least once a week ... or more often if desired.
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#19
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Showers are a big problem for me. I hate it when my touring buddies decide to take a shower, then I'm the only smelly one left...I thought we had a deal, guys!
The Historian's comment reminds me of my first ever bike tour, in the Loire Valley in France...one day I waded into the Loire itself for a bath (soap and all!), and quickly got swept downstream. Big rivers have a lot of power!
The Historian's comment reminds me of my first ever bike tour, in the Loire Valley in France...one day I waded into the Loire itself for a bath (soap and all!), and quickly got swept downstream. Big rivers have a lot of power!
#20
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>So yes, if an Australian wanted to do a combination of bush camping and campground camping on an extended tour (like I did in 2004) it would be quite possible to get a shower at least once a week ... or more often if desired.
Just to add to that, yeah, commercial campgrounds in Australia are as described. But camping areas in national/state parks are generally very bare bones - just a flat space, and a toilet if you're lucky. A shower would be very rare.
My bike touring buddies used to mostly stay in commercial campgrounds, but now we've switched to mostly camping in the bush. My main objection to camping grounds is it feels like the only reason you dragged your tent all the way there is to save a couple of dollars. I'd rather camp in the bush for the scenery, or stay in a motel, for the convenience and comfort.
Just to add to that, yeah, commercial campgrounds in Australia are as described. But camping areas in national/state parks are generally very bare bones - just a flat space, and a toilet if you're lucky. A shower would be very rare.
My bike touring buddies used to mostly stay in commercial campgrounds, but now we've switched to mostly camping in the bush. My main objection to camping grounds is it feels like the only reason you dragged your tent all the way there is to save a couple of dollars. I'd rather camp in the bush for the scenery, or stay in a motel, for the convenience and comfort.
#21
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If I get a shower every other day then thats is a pretty luxurious tour in my book. That being said, I think my upper limit would be about 5 days before I would start considering paying for a shower at a hotel (that I was not going to stay in) or some other such thing.
#22
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I think shower frequency also depends on what type of temps you are riding in.
90+ degrees during the daytime, I can't imagine anyone would want to go several days without a shower. But a tour where you wear arm and leg warmers and don't break a sweat, sure.
90+ degrees during the daytime, I can't imagine anyone would want to go several days without a shower. But a tour where you wear arm and leg warmers and don't break a sweat, sure.
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It's probably a good idea for one to spend at least one night a week in a hotel/motel, if you can get there by early check-in, have a good shower, resort all your gear, do your laundry. Have a good sleep in a bed, then head out the next morning. Your ready for another week on the road. You could use a full service camp ground as well.
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>So yes, if an Australian wanted to do a combination of bush camping and campground camping on an extended tour (like I did in 2004) it would be quite possible to get a shower at least once a week ... or more often if desired.
Just to add to that, yeah, commercial campgrounds in Australia are as described. But camping areas in national/state parks are generally very bare bones - just a flat space, and a toilet if you're lucky. A shower would be very rare.
Just to add to that, yeah, commercial campgrounds in Australia are as described. But camping areas in national/state parks are generally very bare bones - just a flat space, and a toilet if you're lucky. A shower would be very rare.
It was a galvanised bucket with a pipe, tap, and showerhead attached the the bottom (with a hole drilled into the bottom of the bucket, of course), and a chain attached to the handle of the bucket. You filled the bucket with water, then used the chain to pull the bucket up and attached the chain to hooks in the wall to keep it up. Then I assume you'd turn the tap and have a shower! I liked it.
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I'm considering one of these....
https://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/59
I could imagine heating up water while I'm eating dinner and then taking a warm shower just as it was getting dark. If people were around I'd wear tri shorts and clean them at the same time.
https://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/59
I could imagine heating up water while I'm eating dinner and then taking a warm shower just as it was getting dark. If people were around I'd wear tri shorts and clean them at the same time.