When ya gotta go ...

[Lizzy]

So the other day I'm on my way home in 38 degrees, in the space of 15km I've already downed two full bottles of water just to keep going, so inevitably my eyeballs start to float.

I reached the Exceloo at the Narrows and ran at it. But as the door opened, ... just ... nope. Now I'm no princess but I wasn't even going in there. It was like a controversial and provocative art installation. Somebody had backed in there with a stick of dynamite between their cheeks or something. So I had to grit my teeth, think hard about things other than white water rafting and keep going, I made it to the busport but I wasn't happy.

Got me to thinking: how many of my other preferred ways of spending time involve extended periods away from khazis of acceptable standard? Basically all of them; on long hikes I've really been on edge having to go full moony to get it done, then on the dive boat once there was also a "pressed ham" incident up against a hatch I'd forgotten was there, which the skipper never let me live down ...

Basically this train of thought led to me to order one of these.

Anyone else tried this? I have my doubts but looks worth a crack ...

[Tornado]

If you can still find somewhere private to engage your plan it could be a good alternative. Those exaloo's can be very very dodgy at times.

I'd be getting the technique down at home first

[foo on patrol]

Bibs would still make things interesting though.

Foo

[zebee]

I've tried a couple of such things. Being not very skinny I found http://www.freshette.com/ worked best. The short fixed tube mount and the long tube meant a wider variety of angles and ease of positioning.

Whichever one you get (and there are a few out there) get one with a tube so the flow is away from you. Important in cycling shorts cos it's a long way from the waistband to the start of the liquid's journey... The ones without tubes mean you have to have your shorts just about off.

It isn't ideal as there's a certain amount of um.... dampness hanging about after you remove it, but they all have that problem.

Trick is finding a place you can have a slash. Wherever you are, there are people when you are in that situation!

[beanspropulsion]

38 degrees, in the space of 15km I've already downed two full bottles of water just to keep going, so inevitably my eyeballs start to float.

You downed 2 full bottles in 15km?

I sympathise that you have "nowhere to go", but I think you are drinking too much.

[Tim]

Ahh, it's good being a bloke.
Just like being a dog.
Nearest tree, that'll do.
By the way, I live in the country, trees everywhere, not so many people.

[zebee]

Oh forgot one important thing... practice!

It takes practice to get the thing in the right place and at the right angle, and practice in letting loose while still clothed.... I started in the shower without clothes then used it a few times at home in the loo to work out the best method with clothes on before venturing outdoors.

I also suspect that was too much water, I think that you were drinking because your mouth got dry in the heat, not because you were thirsty as such. I find that when I'm pushing so I'm breathing with open mouth that I get very dry in the heat. Try not drinking but swishing a sip or two around in your mouth.

[Lizzy]

Ahh, it's good being a bloke.
Just like being a dog.
Nearest tree, that'll do.
By the way, I live in the country, trees everywhere, not so many people.

Yes this is the state of being I hope to get that little bit closer to And thanks for the pro tips zebee, will see how I go (snork) after a bit of practice. I have done a fair bit of offshore sailing so have trained my brain to overcome stage fright when nature calls when the boat is crashing through big waves at a 45 degree angle in the dark so hopefully it's not too much of a quantum leap to use this thing in extremis.

And yeah, my water consumption was definitely OTT that particular day, it's not a regular issue for me - probably explained both by zebee's theory and also having been a bit head-down-butt-up at work, and not keeping hydration up enough through the day.

[Eleri]

Where would you keep it on the bike? In your back pocket? I reckon it would be kind of annoying and I wouldn't carry it with me myself.

[isabella24]

I don't think it's such a bad idea! Thanks for posting Lizzy.

As for where I would keep it... Surely in jersey pocket for short rides or a pannier for longer ones should be fine? Maybe carry a ziplock bag or similar to tuck it in to?

[Summernight]

Oooo. It comes in pink.

[kenji44]

Shewee works but definitely need the extra tube... & definitely practise at home first! & u still need some privacy... Have not tried while out on the bike yet but has come in handy for caving.

[ovie68]

I've got to ask, what do you do with it once it's wet? Can't say I'd fancy carrying it around once it's been used.

[Lizzy]

I have a rack bag most of the time (& you'd be surprised what I can cram into it) so I figure this could be worked into the emergency bailout kit easily enough. Apparently the surface of it is hydrophobic so if you give it a good shake it gets reasonably 'clean' but hmmm, yeah still a bit of an ick factor there

Will report back when it gets here (if you really want to know ...)

[newie]

Yep, I really want to know!
Finding a discreet option for having a roadside wee would be really great.
And glad the someone else is going to give it a roadtest for us.

[Summernight]

I've got to ask, what do you do with it once it's wet? Can't say I'd fancy carrying it around once it's been used.

Use some of your drinking water to wash the rest out???

[zebee]

I've got to ask, what do you do with it once it's wet? Can't say I'd fancy carrying it around once it's been used.

It doesn't stay "wet" as much as "the odd drop". The Freshette comes in a sealable bag, I've found that once it's back in the bag I notice neither dampness nor smell. I have never been out long enough to need it twice!

[gorilla monsoon]

A gay friend tells me that some of the more hardcore L and T folk have some interesting aids that allow them to stand at urinals. Maybe you could look at one of those interesting adult shops? Just a thought.

[Lizzy]

Maybe you could look at one of those interesting adult shops? Just a thought.

Oooh, any excuse!

Well, I've given it its first "sea trials" in the safety and comfort of my own home and so far its a piece of ... erm, well, it's a snap! It looks alarmingly narrow but nothing went where it shouldn't have.

The only cons are it is probably going to be a bit fumbly and awkward with form fitting clothing, depending on stretch factor, one would probably have to drop trou to 3/4 mast. Also took a bit of 'mind over matter' to get started (...and my BF seems to have a complicated set of feelings about it ...)

[kb]

(...and my BF seems to have a complicated set of feelings about it ...)

Doesn't like you leaving the seat up?

[trailgumby]

(...and my BF seems to have a complicated set of feelings about it ...)

Doesn't like you leaving the seat up?

[LG]

As an aside, Shewees are also popular with the Australian Antarctic Program, for obvious reasons...

[gorilla monsoon]

(...and my BF seems to have a complicated set of feelings about it ...)

Doesn't like you leaving the seat up?

He sees other possibilities.

[Graeme H]

I don't know whether it's useful in this context, but Dutch professional racer Marijn de Vries wrote an illustrated blog about roadside peeing technique in bibshorts:
http://marijndevries.nl/?p=4123

I think her other articles are also worth reading.

[BaldPatch]

http://justadventures.org/2014/03/08/pee-like-a-pro/