Elbeinlaw

I was talking to some cyclist friends who live in a SWern city that has long bike trails, no trees, not much terrain variation and no public bathrooms. Given how spread out the city is, there are long stretches without any semi-public spaces: no stores or restaurants. So this leads me to start wondering: when a person gets to be the age where one thing they're always keeping an eye on is where is the next bathroom (or bathroom equivalent ), what do you do on a long ride when you know the issue is going to come up and there's nof going to be anyplace to go ?

This is not my issue... yet . But I want to do some bicycle touring in the spring and I know it's going to be something I need to plan for. So what do people do? Heck, they must deal with it in the TDF, right? (Feel free to tell me what people you know do, rather than whatyou do , and I'll tell my " friends. ")

caloso

Find a tree.

JohnDThompson 

Hmm. Assuming male, maybe this? https://www.google.com/search?q=texa...texas+catheter

skidder

Maybe no trees, but there's usually some type of brush/bushes over almost all areas in the southwestern USA deserts to use as 'cover'. Look up some outdoor websites (or library books) and you'll be able to earn how to 'relieve yourself' and cover it up in these types of environments. Males and Females can both get good at it. I've got a long history of backpacking and mountain climbing, its become second nature to me,

_ForceD_

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/l...-a-race-382175

Dan

Carbonfiberboy 

It's called the Green Room. Both sexes can use it with care. Sometimes it takes a scamper down an embankment.

Hondo Gravel

I just P on a tree or shrub. I keep wet wipes if the ya know has to go. I go off road behind some cover and just go. But I ride in a rural area so it is easy to do.

CAT7RDR

Pro Tip: Have the wind at your back.

woodcraft

I had a friend who would point to the sky while he was taking a leak,

& onlookers would look where he was pointing- seems to work...

jppe

Look both ways, if nothings coming the side of the road or trail works for me. I also carry wet wipes like Hondo Gravel.

Skullo 

Where there’s a will there’s a way. I always find a place.Fence lines behind a shrub a shed. Just act like you know what your doing.

locolobo13 

You have to pay attention to things as you ride. I look for likely places both for "bio" breaks and others. On the city streets learn which stores and parks have open restrooms and which are closed. On trails along desert areas there are plenty of bushes. Try to remember where the "good" ones are.

One thing to watch for in the Phx metro area is homeless camps. Several times over the years I've stopped, walked behind some bushes, getting ready to unzip.. And there's 4 or 5 people camped out. All looking at me, not smiling. Que sera. Go somewhere else!

Elbeinlaw

What's so interesting about this is that I live in a place that has lots of terrain: forests, hills, streams ... so lots of places to "go" if you can't find a rest room. But my friends who started all of this off were talking about riding in Houston along the bike trails along the bayous. There, the trails mostly run alongside major busy streets. There are trees--but planted, stunted, solo trees that offer no privacy. No bushes. Not much in the way of walls or fences. Noplace to duck into for a quick moment of privacy. And we're talking miles and miles of open trail. That doesn't mean there aren't buildings, but much of the structure is warehouses and office buildings and so forth: places where there is no real "public" bathroom. It's really quite a problem.

I appreciate all of the responses. Sometimes it's good to know that there really are no options. Except, of course, for that condom-catheter that someone posted. [Shuddering in horror.] Or staying home.

berner

When there is a question of propriety, look to the ancient cultures of Europe. When you gotta go, just go and don't mack such a big deal of it. This mind set works, not only for cyclists, but on boats also.

Velo Mule

Hold your phone up to your ear like you are on a call. At first glance, it looks like you're talking on your phone. Or you could hold the phone in front of you and look down at the screen. Then on second glance, it looks like your on a phone call while peeing. I have done it though. I don't know if I fooled anyone. I actually don't think anyone saw but I don't really know. "Oh look hun, is that guy peeing?" "It looks like he just talking on his phone." "But he is just standing there with his legs spread apart. He's not moving. I think he's peeing".

I always learn something on BikeForums. I never knew there was a Texas catheter. I could have used that when I was on a plane flight and we hit a rough patch that lasted a long time. I waited and waited and finally tried to make it to the bathroom only to be turned back by the flight crew.

Is there a cloaking app. for Apple phones? Android?

OldTryGuy

Geeze, , everybody knows if you pass a guy off to the side of a road and he doesn't have a dog with him, YOU KNOW unless he's flying a kite.

CAT7RDR

Just make sure no kid or Karen sees you. Then, before you know it, you are a registered sex offender. This does happen in CA. No BS.

jadocs

Find a secluded spot and go.

Bald Paul

If you're with a small group, everyone just take a 'water break' at the same time. One faces a wall or tree, the others stand in front, facing away, to block the view. Take turns.

jadocs

No that's too obvious....you have to put both hands on your hips so you look like superman admiring the view....LOL

Velo Mule

You guys are good. Next time I have to go in an area where I might be spotted, I will put my hands on my hips, then point at the sky. Misdirection, as the magician's call it.

It shouldn't be such a big deal, however, as CAT7RDR points out some people see this as "Urinating in public" and therefore you are a menace to society.

decotriumph 

I've read that Tour de France riders sometimes pee in their chamois. I've also seen TDF riders hop off their bikes and go into a spectator's camper.

Homebrew01

Pull over to the side of the road. Right hand pedal at 9:00, right foot out of the way, ground sloping away, pee, clip in, ride.
It helps to have practically no traffic.

jon c. 

I'm fortunate to ride on empty, well treed country roads.

Quite apparently someone needs to event an app that highlights places cyclists can pee in urban areas with insufficient foliage.

downtube42

It can be problematic.

In areas where there's a sizeable homeless population, everyone including the housed population, the police, and businesses are all on heightened sensitivity about people needing to use bathrooms. Urinating in public, use of public restrooms, and access to business' restrooms is going to be challenged. Hell even if you want to spend a day downtown shopping, you've gotta buy a cup of coffee to use the coffee house's restroom, which leads to need for another restroom in 45 minutes. But I digress.