I hate Porta Potties

[PamNY]

Sometimes I annoy myself so much. I just hate having to use them. I am not squeamish in general; I've taken care of sick people and sick animals. I euthanized a rat with a hammer after my cat disabled it. I'm not delicate. But I hate Porta Potties.

In the park I'm cycling in these days, real bathrooms are few and far between. They do exist, but I don't like having to alter my route because I'm an idiot.

Somebody tell me something sensible, please.

[pumpkinpony]

Take a really deep breath before you go inside, and hold your nose...

There are some really nasty ones at the trailheads around here.

[Tri Girl]

I'm with you. I will only use one if it's a dire emergency. I'll happily alter my route by miles if need be to avoid one.

Throw a gas mask in the saddle bag.

[Zen]

The pots along the C&O Towpath are nice, but it's a national park if that makes any difference.

[OakLeaf]

Use enough of them and you'll get used to it? Carry one of those purse-sized bottles of hand sanitizer in your pocket? Get one of those funnel devices so you can pee facing the hole and not have to try to squat in cycling shoes on a slippery floor?

Oh, and make sure your phone is securely attached. DAMHIK.

[Crankin]

Wow, they don't bother me at all. It seems like a lot of them around here have some type of deodorizer inside, so the smell issue is gone.
Well, there was the one time I got locked inside of one, in the parking lot of some beach in Falmouth, MA. It was like 95 degrees out and finally, whatever had happened to the lock was solved by me kicking the door with my foot (and screaming rather loudly, I remember).

[Catrin]

Use enough of them and you'll get used to it? Carry one of those purse-sized bottles of hand sanitizer in your pocket? Get one of those funnel devices so you can pee facing the hole and not have to try to squat in cycling shoes on a slippery floor?

Oh, and make sure your phone is securely attached. DAMHIK.

Good ideas, I hate these contraptions myself - but better than going behind a tree!

My problem is that when I am riding country roads there are lots of corn/soy bean fields but trees/bushes away from the road where I COULD answer the call of nature are quite few and far between. I think this keeps me from drinking quite enough