I cycle quite a bit (500-1000km / month), but my recreational routes have all been near areas where I know I’ll have access to public toilets and clean drinking water.
I’d love to venture out onto more rural roads and areas, way outside of areas that might normally have toilet access, but that’s quite literally the only thing holding me back from doing so.
What are your strategies? Piss by the side of the road and hope nobody sees you? Squat out in a heavily forested area and risk ticks?
This is not a topic that ever gets talked about with cycle tourists, endurance riders, and other long-distance cyclists, so I’d love to know how to approach this!
I don’t typically ride in the middle of nowhere but if I did, I’d probably just find a secluded area and go about my business. If I was planning to go riding where there was no infrastructure at all, I’d definitely bring a trowel and some wipes + sanitizer to bury the dookie and clean up. Basically try to leave no trace like in regular camping.
For me, middle of nowhere = rural (50-75+ km away from any populations over 1000). Not totally isolated, but enough people for me to care where I do my business.
Yeah, I was hoping it would be like “regular camping”, but logistically, I can’t see how people do it.
Like, some of these areas are either pure farmland or private property for pretty long stretches, turn after turn.
For example:
There doesn’t seem to be any place to just duck into a forest and do your business. LOL
Those bushes look nice lol
Someone’s house is like 30 feet behind there! haha
So many properties are lined along these rural roads, so you’re always too close to someone’s home/land/bushes, etc.
Meh, for pee, if it’s adjacent to a path, I’d just go for it. Maybe go around the corner if there’s better privacy there.
For poop, find somewhere with dirt and try to bury it somewhat. But ideally go before you leave home and you should be good all day.
I’d keep an eye out for abandoned houses. They seem to be everywhere around the Iowa countryside at least. Just watch out for trail cams lol you can usually spot them with your phone camera
That’s an unusual, out-of-the-box idea! Not sure if I’d ever do that, personally, but options are options!
Those trees on the right looks pretty private