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They're a little pricey, but I think it may be worth it. I would def take one since I'll be doing a self-supported tour.
Siiigh...I guess I'm one of those gals who has to pee often. After two hours on my bike, I'm ready! :o I don't like to hold it too long b/c of bacterial build-up...I got a UTI last fall and sure don't want another.:eek:
I have a Freshette, and it's pretty convenient for hiking, where I typically have on pants or shorts with a zip fly. I can unzip the fly, pull down my undies, hide behind a tree, and go standing up. I have a small bottle of hand sanitizer for after (as well as TP in another small ziploc). But with bike shorts, which you have to pull down anyway, I'd just as soon squat - normally in the woods on our rural rides. It's just not worth the trouble of having to keep a clean and dirty bag for the Freshette and carrying it along. The whole purpose of it is to avoid having to pull down your pants completely, which just isn't really an option with cycling shorts!
Emily
You guys really make me laugh, I have never heard of a 'freshette' or similar.
Had to find out what one looked like, the site even has detailed info on how to use one!
http://www.freshette.com/usage.html
Go pee.............I mean go see! http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Missbe/4.gif
Sally
I'm a fan of the travelmate when in the kinds of situations where one has to be very neat about it i.e. where you can't do the wide-shorts-pantleg freehand/standing maneuver... It takes practice either way. There's a definite learning curve with either method... and even after you get 'good' you can still slip/drip sometimes. :o Not good. Everyone's anatomy's different but I find the best leak-free use is between the labia minora, right over my urethra. (I'd say TMI but how else does one word these things?)
When at outdoor fairs and the like, I use the travelmate and the portapotty urinal. I carry a bottle of alcohol with me (or vodka? depending on the venue...) and of course a camelbak of water (those outdoor venues are hot...=P) so after use it gets a quick flush with alcohol then a rinse with water, a shakeoff and goes into a baggie.
Bear in mind- urine is essentially sterile *to you*- HOWEVER due to the mineral/salt/sugar/protein contents, it breeds bacteria quickly... so you don't have to act like it's poison or anything, but be sure to give it a decent rinse-down.
yeah that's what I hear...today I did my 21 miles in the park, and again, I wanted to do just one more lap, but the sun was going down, the air was getting chilly...and yup, I had to pee!!! I scoped out some bushes, but because there are no leaves on the trees yet, things are pretty bare.
Liz,
we have planned more than one ride around toilet stops..
Knowing that every 10 miles we have a bathroom waiting for us takes a lot of
anxiety out of the ride for me at least!
LOL i can last around 25 miles...but I make sure I drink some cranberry juice at the end of it, you know, to flush things out. But yes, doesn't it provide anxiety? It's like sitting in a crowded movie theater, and 45 minutes in the movie the urge to go hits you like a ton of bricks. So you either sit there in misery so as not to disturb anyone around you, or get up and have everyong huff and sigh. :p