I hate Porta Potties

[tiva]

I have to laugh--I loathe plastic porta potties as well (there's something about the greenhouse effect of all that plastic, heat, fermentation events--blech). But I don't mind wooden outhouses or the composting toilets that the Forest Service puts up at trailheads now. As a field ecologist, back in grad school I used to go 6 months at a time without coming anywhere near a real flush toilet. (Actually, I still do: my summer field site has a composting toilet, but no running water, and I spend 4 months each summer up here.)

When I got back to Seattle from my field sites, I always had a few days where I had to remind myself that I couldn't just step behind a tree in any park and let 'er fly.

What's bad is the combination of dry suit and long kayak crossings. I tend to drink far too little, because you just can't hop out of your kayak on a crossing. And even when you do get to shore, wiggling out of that damned drysuit is no fun. It's easier (and dumber) just not to drink enough water.

[tzvia]

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

I've seen porta johns that were so bad I would rather (and have) gone off behind the trees. At least, the trees don't smell bad and the view doesn't look bad.

The worst one was just outside Raton NM. I was camping, and the porta potty was infested with Yellow Jackets. I did not know this when I entered, but I sure knew before I left!

Best tip I can give is this: If you are out in the boonies somewhere and this is the only john around it's going to be a mess. This is a given. So if you can get behind a big bush or some trees or a boulder, this would be better. I always have a paper towel packed in my camelback, (inside a ziplock bag- pack it in, pack it out), so I can make a choice of the lesser of two evils. If you have no other place to duck behind, stand back and open the door wide - give it a few moments to air - or better yet, pump the door a few times to force in some fresher air, which also may be cooler. Watch for unhappy large black and yellow insects . Make sure you can do squats well because you should touch as little as possible with as little as possible. You might also want to carry a 'wet wipe' with you to clean your hands after- they can also be used to clean up road rash. I take alcohol wipes.

[snapdragen]

Make sure you can do squats well because you should touch as little as possible with as little as possible. .

This is where good strong biker legs come in handy!


/snap, who never learned to "pee in the woods", just on her shoes.....

[ny biker]

For those of you peeing in the woods, alls I can say is -- my sister once got poison ivy that way. Make sure you know what you're squatting in.

[HoosierGiant]

For those of you peeing in the woods, alls I can say is -- my sister once got poison ivy that way. Make sure you know what you're squatting in.

Been there, done that. Used it for toilet paper during a 22-mile training run. Had already used the TP I kept stashed in my hat -- the leaves were NOT a good substitute! Still had 10 miles to go, it was 90 degrees and humid, and I made the mistake of wiping sweat off my face. The oil from the poison ivy spread everywhere. Covered from head to toe. In my ears, in my eyes, my lips were a blistered disgusting mess -- absolutely the worst thing I've ever experienced... and I'd still rather rely on trees, bushes, soybeans, etc., than have to suffer through a disgusting port-a-john.

[ny biker]

Been there, done that. Used it for toilet paper during a 22-mile training run. Had already used the TP I kept stashed in my hat -- the leaves were NOT a good substitute! Still had 10 miles to go, it was 90 degrees and humid, and I made the mistake of wiping sweat off my face. The oil from the poison ivy spread everywhere. Covered from head to toe. In my ears, in my eyes, my lips were a blistered disgusting mess -- absolutely the worst thing I've ever experienced... and I'd still rather rely on trees, bushes, soybeans, etc., than have to suffer through a disgusting port-a-john.

Wow. I've had poison ivy all over my face 3 times, but at least it wasn't on my lips. Still I couldn't eat anything that required chewing because any time I moved my facial muscles the blisters broke. (Couldn't laugh, either. )

But my other sister once hid in a patch of poison ivy while playing hide and seek. She was covered from head to toe, and the blisters behind her knees were like baseballs. They almost hospitalized her.

BTW, I'm still mad at the Livestrong people for deciding a couple of years ago that they would no longer provide a locker room or other place to change into clean clothes after the Philly ride. When you ask them where you can change, they say to use the porta johns. Holy cow, no way. It's hard enough changing in a regular public bathroom, and there's no way I'm risking having any of my clothes touch the floor of a porta john after thousands of people have been using it for 7-8 hours.

[Zen]

Now we've reached the point in the discussion of learning how to 'shake it off'.

[Aggie_Ama]

As a newcomer to being outdoors - even at my age I've never "gone" outdoors...

That is going to change with my new-found love for biking and hiking!

Total TMI but I went outside for the first time in my 29 years recently, after looking for poison ivy it was shockingly liberating. No waiting for a bathroom and outside doesn't smell as bad as a porta potty sitting baking the Texas sun. Oh and I learned what poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac looked like when I started mountain biking. One of the best things I learned. I pack a baggies of TP or baby wipes in my camel back though so I am not looking for leaves.

I too hate the Porta Potties, if the smell weren't bad enough they are often out of paper or the paper is on the floor. Oh and there is one trail here with something worse - composting toilets. I have used some that are okay but these smell so awful.

Oh and secure your phone, it is expense and no one lets you live it down if you lose your phone to a porta potty. Trust me.

[TsPoet]

I'm finally getting used to them, not because of bike events, but because of dog events. I hate to say this, but they are cleaner at dog events. No idea why, in fact, since people/dogs are staying in 1 local, I'd expect them to be dirtier. Maybe it's because dog events are 90% women, and bike events are 90% men?
Took this photo at an earthdog trial last year, just thought I'd add some "amusing" to the thread. (and note the business name for the port-o-potties, yuck!)

[Tuckervill]

What a cute little dog! I'm wondering if they're cleaner at dog events because dog owners are used to cleaning up poop and it's on their mind already?

Karen

[Selkie]

NY - Your sister must be a "low squatter!" LOL

I'm highly allergic to poison ivy, so I'm careful. Once had it on my entire back, thanks to my DH.... My immune system went whacko and the madness started spreading to my legs. Ended up having to take steroids!!

[Bike Chick]

Incline skates??? in a porta-pottty??? That's tricky!

I don't mind them too much I suppose. I'm pretty well used to them but hate it when it's 95 degrees out and you are sweating so bad you can't get your bike shorts back up. Be careful that the contents of your jersey pockets don't spill into the hole also! Friends of mine in Wisconsin refer to a porta-potty as a KYBO----Keep Your Butt Off!

I much prefer a tree or a corn field.

[ny biker]

NY - Your sister must be a "low squatter!" LOL

This was back during our misspent youth, so it's quite possible that she'd been drinking...

[Biciclista]

I'd rather use a portapotty than the toilets in the park on Mercer Island that don't have doors!!
At least you get to be modest a little.

I've traveled in Italy and have learned not to be fussy about toilets.

Having said that, there have been SOME porta pottys that i left without using...

[OakLeaf]

All y'all haven't lived until you've hiked a leg up like a dog to pee in a urinal, because you had no change, and in France the urinals are free but the sit-down toilets cost money...