Some Answers to the Questions Girl Travellers would love to ask
 

I would like to start a thread on women stuff:
Underwear/Periods/Hygiene etc...

I will start with the very good tips published by my friend Sandy who has just be riding from London to Cape Town via middle East.
Her adventures are on her website: ::A girl, a bike, a dream...the adventure of a life time

She kindly allowed me to publish it on the HUBB to help others:
Quote: "

I spoke to a woman friend of mine on the phone recently and she asked me how I coped with sanitation. I said that the toilets were filthy or we just did a bush pee but then she asked more specifically about how I handle “that time of the month”. This is a very valid question and one I would have liked to ask before I left… so here is some information just for girls.

Underwear

I have five pairs of comfy knickers. They are cotton, big, saggy and don’t creep up my butt or chaff my legs but are really unattractive. Sometimes the seams can dig into by sitting bones if it’s a really long day on the bike. I don’t know if a seamless option is available but that would be even better. I think less than five pairs and I’d really struggle – considering it can be more than 10 days before I’d be able to even hand wash a pair.

I have one sports bra-top that is extra strong anti-bounce for doing off road and am thankful for it. My second bra is a push-up black girlie one. This is for easy days and just to remind myself that I’m a girl after all.

Periods and Sanitary Stuff

My period has been completely erratic since travelling. This is totally normal but annoying. I guess we just have to be ready to expect any thing.

Panty liners are available in supermarkets and in cities even in Sudan and Ethiopia. It’s easiest to find a store with a woman shop assistant if you have to buy some. I have lots of the extremely thin panty liners and they are proving to be great. I also use them when unable to clean knickers. Tampons are not easily available (actually, I haven’t seen them about). I calculated approximately how many I used in a cycle and have enough to last 4 months. Important: keep all your bits in plastic bags and in a fabric bag so that the package won’t rip or get wet.

When on the road it’s hard to find toilets and so I have found that if you use a tampon that is for heavier flow than you need it lasts longer and then a panty liner too will let you get through the whole day. By the evening you can use the comfort of your tent or darkness to sort yourself out. (By the way, guys hate this subject so much that you don’t even have to so much as hint and they will give you space and back off for the whole week.)

The icky side of things… you can’t throw these items away as they are not biodegradable so in your kit keep small plastic packets that you can seal and dispose of when you find an appropriate bin or fire.

My last and final resort is a mooncup that I bought off the internet. Don’t bother trying to find a stockist – you will just humiliate yourself even trying to ask for one – it’s not on the shelf (believe me). I hope I never have to use this but it’s there if I’m utterly desperate.

Another option a woman friend of mine discussed is taking the pill and skipping the pills that allow you to menstruate. I would fear turning into a hormonal psychopath but apparently it’s a safe option.

Clean and Moisturised

I have disposable face wipes that exfoliate and clean pores – they are brilliant and perfect for when I was unable to wash for days on end.

I’ve also used a lot of wet wipes. The Detol ones are particularly good. I can wipe down most of my body using one of these and feel surprisingly fresh. I use them like a cloth and add water and soap if needed.

Sometimes I’ve hung my Camelpac (water carrier with hose and a nozzle) on my bike and used it as a mini shower. By doing this I could at least dousch the basics with soap.

I use a good face cream with sun protection factor 15. I have a darker complexion and would suggest that this is the absolute minimum for anyone. In addition I use a factor 30 on my face and arms while riding. I have a night cream too that is rich and moisturising because I don’t want to finish this trip ten years older. I use lip balm with a high factor too.

I decanted all the creams and toiletries into smaller plastic containers to save weight and stop them breaking. I have had to use pieces of plastic as ceils because the vibrations can open and spill anything.

My best advice here is that you get used to being dirty – don’t worry!

Toilet Business

I have a tough plastic bag that is labelled “loo bag”. It contains:

A small, light trowel in a plastic bag

Toilet paper in a plastic bag

Matches and lighter

Wet wipes

Please note that the desert is a dry environment and preserves remarkably well! This means that toilet paper will stay there forever – it has to be burnt. This sounds like an awful ordeal but its quite fun when you actually get to do it. As for the more rained on terrains, it is possible to bury toilet paper in a hole and it should degrade just fine.

Bush peeing is fine. Sometimes it’s hard to find a bush or rock to hide behind but guys are really easy about this because they do it all the time… so it’s just up to us girls to take it in our stride. I find it best to announce loudly that I’m taking a pee and indicate which way I’m going so that the guys know not to go there or look. As for any strangers who might see me… well… its all part of the big travel thing. I’m sure they are more traumatised than me.

Girlie Luxuries

I have a few luxuries that I’ve really appreciated and made me feel REALLY GOOD.


Disposable leg wax trips. I honestly don’t know what I would do without these but not easy to find.

Sachets of intensive hair conditioner – planned as treats for Khartoum and Nairobi.

Tiny make up kit of a foundation, eyeliner and waterproof mascara… For special occasions - I feel so much less scruffy when I’m slightly made up.

I hope that helps!
end of Quote "

About Mooncup: I saw them at Nomad clinics, ask the nurse. Never tried them though!
Another brilliant idea: Baby wipes. Ideal for everything: to clean yourself, for toilet business/periods, to remove make up (!) , clean you hands etc... A must have.

women bits an bobs
 

Amazing!! you got any room for anything else!! Sorry, didnt mean that, just trying to sort out the missus for a week-end away never mind a round the world trip, everything but the kitchen sink she want to take, i cud persuade her tho, an get a slap round the head or kick in the ...... for trying, any way good on you Maria. Take care an happy trots oops!! travels lol
Roi.

What a fantastic idea Maria. This reminds me of a party I went to in January where all the women were talking about bra sizes in the kitchen, and none of the men dare to enter for fear of being drawn into the conversation - it was a hoot.

I always carry vodka. It makes a fantastic face cleanser apart from anything else - I've even converted my husband. Pour it neat onto a cotton pad and clean away - you will be amazed!!! You can also use it for a multitude of other things (aside from drinking!!)

How many lady riders suffer from thrush or jock itch on long journeys? Me and my hubby did 10 days travelling through a very hot Europe last September wearing all our protective gear and boy was I suffering by the time I got back. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for the men in our lives, they don't suffer the symptoms, but they are carriers and we all now how much those nether regions get sweaty, even in cooler weather. So a tube of Canesten helps, or a Diflucan tablet (and if there are any curious/sensitive men reading this, please take note).

Not long now before you leave - I'm so jealous. If you need a contact for your mum in Cordoba you have my email address. If she's not on the internet you can send emails to me and I'll either post them on via snail mail, or we can ring her. Look forward to meeting up with you next year.

Interesting.
I've never heard this before.

Hi there, I'm kind of sad that my first post on the Hubb is about this, but I guess I have to start somewhere...

re:the Mooncup, (also a similar item known as Divacup). I can vouch for these as being great. I lived in South Korea a few years back and tampons etc were very poor quality/hard to find/expensive, so I used to load up with a year's supply on my annual holidays back home, which was such an wasted use of limited luggage space. I heard about the Divacup through an 'expat in Korea' website. I was initially very sceptical and extremely dubious, but decided to order one and try it out and it has proven to be the best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps a tad fiddly to get used to, but really easy to use once you've got it sorted. And now I'm just really annoyed that I didn't find out about it ages ago.

Of course they may not be for everyone, but for me, it's been well worth it.

About ten years or so ago I ran my own busines, which involved me delivering and installing computer systems allover the UK. To help deter car theives I always put the computer boxes inside the large cardboard boxes for sanitary towels. I never had my car broken into. I gues only literate theives looked into my car :)

Good stuff..
 

Thanks for the tips Maria ;)

more ideas
 

Excellent thread! I've often wondered what the great women explores like Freya Stark etc did. Great idea about the vodka.

I like to live my life as simply as possible. Here's what I've done or do.

Underwear. Five pairs of undies last 10 days if you turn them inside out. This great idea courtesy of a reality tv show. Best if they're cotton obviously.
The longer you're on the road, your cycles become regular.
Mooncup is just another version of using a diaphragm, maybe need to change slightly more often.
Sponges were all the rage in the 80's after toxic shock syndrome scares. Another alternative is regular napkins, tp, or my favorite, paper towels scrunched up. This is what a tampon is, just not as compressed. Obviously, ones without colourful designs as the dye is probably toxic. I'm sure cotton wool works too.
When peeing in the desert, large flat rocks word fantastically instead of tp. Or use the tp for firelighting later if paper/kindling is in short supply.
Learning to pee in more public places like villages is an art form. You don't want to moon the world. Learn to pull pants down minimally, and do a half squat facing towards your audience.

I've heard from skin specialists to not bother using sunscreen unless it's 30.
Women in Africa use Vaseline on their skin and it's available everywhere. Easier than lugging your favorite creams all over the world.
In terms of 'feeling clean' even if you're not, I've found if nothing else is clean, going to sleep with at least clean feet and face does wonders.

To eyeliner pencil and mascara, I would add lipliner pencil which works as well as lipstick and lasts longer. And doesn't melt in the heat.

Clothing
I've found a few lightweight cotton/rayon mix long dresses can be multi-functional for day and evening. They MUST be patterned so to hide the dirt! They'll wrinkle when you're on the road, but splash them with water and the wrinkles will fall out quickly, even as you wear them in hot climates. Long pants which used to be called culottes work great in traditional societies where you don't want to show a lot of skin, and also double for an evening out. If they're really, really big, when you need to pee in semi-public, just pull the material to one side when you squat. ;-)

What I want to know about is shampoo. If I don't shampoo every third day all of me feels dirty, unless I'm in a dusty area and then the oil is absorbed. Or if I go for a long, long time. Shampooing sometimes involves more water than you can afford to use. Any ideas????

And has anyone noticed how many views this thread is getting??? All women of course. ;-)

Lorraine

Shampoo??
 

Hi everyone,

With regard to the shampoo issue...very drastic but very effective solution would be to cut hair short. Am thinking of doing this myself. Have always wondered whether short hair suits me and if not...I have 8 months to grow it back!

Lotty

Shee wee
 

Hi

I only discovered these about 6 months ago but WOW every woman should have one. They are basically a anatomically designed funnel that allows women to pee standing up - gone are the days of looking for a bush and fighting those bike trousers, now all i do is stand behind my bike, unzip my trousers, repostition my undies, hold the funnel in place and away you go! (although by the side of a spanish motorway i did get a few strange looks)

Its also great when having to use really dirty toilets as you don't need to squat. Be warned any guys reading this though as my husband found it unsettling at first when i stood next to him chatting and peeing!

Just search on google and the site flashes up

Peemate and undies
 

Peemate - A dutch equivalent of the Sheewee.
I have been surprised how many women have been embarrassed by the idea, but I love them!! There's no need to bare your bum, and definitely no need to risk squatting in any nettles or nasties!
Carry a few zip lock bags with you, so you can stow the used one away if you don't have anywhere to dispose of it.
I found that the peemates fit perfectly in the back zip pocket of my jacket (for hydration packs), so are easily accessible.

Underwear riding up your sensitive bits is really uncomfortable, never mind things like thongs that have no choice but to ride up!
Thank goodness for hotpants!!
Fashion has come to our rescue and made girl boxers. Phew! They're great - excellently comfy, lets you move about and do whatever you like without being uncomfortable. And some are very cute :)
Also less of an issue airing your laundry after washday, because they attract less attention than frilly lacy things. LOL

I'm not a fan of synthetic hormones, so the pill isn't an option for me. But what I have found really great for balancing mad travel hormones and getting your cycle sorted so you can at least prepare for when you will need to, is a herb, Agnus Castus. Available in a tiny bottle of liquid, or in tablet form. A great help if you know that travelling messes you up a bit.

I second the Wet Ones/Wet Wipes - they're gold!
Also really useful is the no-water-necessary alcohol based hand cleaner. Cleans even greasy dirty bits and can also double as a facial cleanser/toner.

And ziplock bags are handy for loads of things and can be reused if the previous contents weren't icky.

I'm definitely packing vodka for the next trip :)

(oops! I forgot to add - Boots and Superdrug in the UK make great plastic travel bottles with screwtop lids that are very secure. I decanted all my shampoo, conditioner, bodywash and clothes washing liquid into them and was set for over a month. Another option is to just save old plastic screwtop bottles from household/toiletry stuff for a while before your trip, then you can pick and choose the best sizes to re-use)

Hi girls!
I just ordered a Peewee!

I'll let you know! I hope to get it before we leave for Bogota in 10 days!Tips here are definitely top quality so ladies keep it coming!!!!

Another bit of saddle comfort. I normally ride with LDComfort tight (they are gold!) but they have no gusset so no way to wear panty liners etc for that time of the month. I can't use tanmpons so that was a problem.
I found that the Marks & Spencers control shorts are great for that. Originally they are designed as support knickers, but the beauty of it is that they are like short, the legs go down to mid-thight so no seams hurting around the bum. A passion killet but they are very comfortable and do the job!
I packed one on the luggage today and will let you know on that!

Sheewee's eh?? Brilliant. It's kind of an amended version of what women astronaut's use. In my van I have a funnel fitted to a tube that goes through a hole in the floor to the ground outside. Works wonders.

And FYI, in some tribes in West Africa, women stand peeing. Of course, they have on long skirts/tobes which makes life much easier so even if they were squating, no one would be the wiser. Speaking of Africa, how was your trip Shells???

Lorraine

Two additions to the list:

Vodka is a wonderful drink as has already been said; it also calms any bites you might have!

Savon d'Alep (from ?Syria I think) buy a block, it does hair, body & is 'apparently' an effective mossie/bug repellent (men should think of using this too!). I can get it in France after hearing two women talk about it at the hospital when I had to get re-vaccinated. Worked wonders for me & cut down on weight in my pack!

Kira

:thumbup1:
Wow! It's great to find this 'ladies' tread. As a newbie heading out on my first long trip, I really appreciate hearing the advice of other women on the road.
Keep it coming!

Casey

P-Mate (oops)
 

Ooops, sorry, got excited with spelling as enunciated.
It's P-Mate rather than peemate.

Happy practising :)

Shells. nice tips on the decanting shampoo etc

Where did you buy you p-mate. Local or ordered in? We've looked but can't find.

I can remember reading a news article a few years back on womens sanitation 'problems' at Glastonbury where some of these products were tested.

Here's a few links:

Welcome to whizaway.com - Home of the Whiz® - Whiz Freedom
Travel John
JOE Product Promotions presents the She Pee (P-mate).
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Girls beat Glasto toilet nightmare

There are lots of views for this thread and I'd love to know if they are all women, or are there a lot of men out there who are curious to know how we women cope with travelling? You can ask us questions - we don't bite!!

Nosy man!
 

I'll admit to being a man browsing this thread, because Mrs MarkE is a bit of a luddite and doesn't get involved with these strange confuser thingies so I'm looking to see if there's anything I can pass on to her. This makes me look like a caring gentleman, and she gets really confused and stressed!

Shee wee
 

Hi

Try sheewee.com

This is where i got mine from and they are all the same. Its also possible to get single use cardboard ones that come in a discreet little envelope

Quote:

" I have found that if you use a tampon that is for heavier flow than you need it lasts longer and then a panty liner too will let you get through the whole day"

This may be a case of Grandmother and eggs but be aware of the risks of Toxic Shock before you do the above.

?
 

What do you mean with Toxic shock?
What are the risks with that method?

Being the sensitive guy that I am, I want to be there for any women riders when such questions perplex them...

edde

Bossies...
 

...I ordered my p-mates on-line (you get 6 in an envelope/pocket).
p-mate.com or there is now p-mate.co.uk
(the dutch site is easy to navigate - so compare prices)

I am no expert but I am married to a nurse and Toxic Shock is a rare infecton that can be associated to (I understand) the wearing of a single high absorbany tampon for a prolonged period. I understand that the risk of Toxic Shock is greatly reduced if the tampon is changed reguarly.

As I said I am no expert and perhaps Google would provide some more info.

I also know that if you use the 3 monthly injection type of contraception then your periods stop. Once you have stopped the injections then your cycles return to normal. I think that this may be true of the hormone implant type of contraception also and othis type of contraception lasts for a year or two. Again I am not an expert so you would be better off talking to a physician but if I were female I would seriously consider a hormone implant if I were going on a long trip.

Toxic Shock Syndrome
 

Toxic shock syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What would we do without wikipedia - also available in several languages.

Hello
 

Okay, I am sure that I sound weird but I am really happy about this thread. I am a guy and I have no clue and yes...I really don't want to know...I'm just glad that the info/experience is out there. I have a younger sister who would gladly do a RTW (I haven't talked to her about it yet) so this information is very helpful! Please keep it up or at least be available in two or more years when we'll be ready to travel. Thanks!!! :)

From one female to another...I have an underpants question. :p

Is there a specific style of underpant (i.e., bikini, boyshorts, brief, etc.) that you find most comfortable while riding?

Thanks!! :Beach:

Hello ;-)
 

Hi girls, this is Mrs Pumbaa - its the first time i have actually posted anything on here - my husband has been doing all the posting (and reading!). Thanks for all the great info - some really good ideas - I particularly like the funnel and tube leading outside the van - we are planning a RTW trip for next year but will be in a 4x4 so I will be looking into getting something similar installed in our van. :thumbup1:

Cheers,
Mrs Pumbaa :mchappy:

Is hearsay admissable evidence?
 

I can only repeat hearsay, but I had a girlfriend years ago who swore men's boxers were more comfortable than women's underwear (in my experience this is true:oops2: ). Apparently men's shorts are built for comfort, women's are built for fun, which is not fun on a long journey.

She must have been serious; when she dumped me she took all my underwear with her!

Agreed. When I travel I wear mens boxers - the jersey variety.

I thought I would report back since I now have some first hand experience. :)

On Thursday DBF and I rode ~500 miles to North Georgia, stopping for the night before continuing on to North Carolina to the HU meeting. On Sunday we rode 615 miles back to Orlando.

I wore the Nike dryfit *boys* boxers. They are made of polyester and lycra and were incredibly comfortable. I like the boys (I can't wear mens b/c I am small and mens are too big) because the legs are longer...the girls "boy shorts" are too short and it seems like they would ride up. But two big thumbs up for the Nike boys boxers....$15 at Sports Authority. No monkey butt, bunching, wedgies, chafing, etc. Oh, and they wash and dry beautifully overnight. :thumbup1:

Hiya
Just back from a wee 3 week trip and before we went Aldi had in cycling underwear - lycra, breathable, quick drying and with an extra bit padding for comfy bums so got a few pairs (boxer style) for Iain and the ladies ones came in boxer style or ordinarly pant style. I would have liked a couple pairs of boxer style but by time I got there only 1 pair left so had to get pant style aswell. The boxer style were by far the more comfy although in hind site the extra padding was not ideal for the hot weather we had but having used these would definately go for this style (with no padding though which also means more seams).

Debz

Shampoo (or lack of!!)
 

What I want to know about is shampoo. If I don't shampoo every third day all of me feels dirty, unless I'm in a dusty area and then the oil is absorbed. Or if I go for a long, long time. Shampooing sometimes involves more water than you can afford to use. Any ideas????

Lorraine[/quote]

As you say when it's dusty the oil is absorbed - in the UK we have a national treasure called Lee Stafford - a hairdresser who has given us dry shampoo - it is basically a variation on talcum powder, so either get his range (available in Boots), or use ordinary baby powder and (be careful not to overdo it) rub in gently on the scalp until it disappears - it will absorb any oil that is present.

My hubby went nuts last year when I had long-ish hair (it's now fashionably pixie short - I wouldn't have it any other way!!) and wanted to buy Lee Stafford's stuff for our 10 day European roam, he was right - as it turns out I didn't use it but it is there for the future...btw my big bike test is on 3 July - wish me luck!!! (I already have my baby sat in the garage waiting for me...)

Ride safely and to quote my fab riding instructor "live long, die oblong"! :cool4:

shampoo
 

How funny, I JUST now decided to do some web research. Here's what I found to be really useful, but haven't tried it yet:

If you have greasy hair and need a quick fix on a day when you're not washing your hair, try applying a tiny bit of cornstarch to your scalp and combing through to the ends. Remember, greasy hair does not mean dirty hair, it probably doesn't need to be washed!

Also Shampoo Free!

AND:

Baking soda solution and vinegar rinse seems to get styling products out just fine. I've heard of mainstream women's magazines recommending adding a little bit of baking soda to your shampoo to get styling products out.

Any time my hair gets wet (like when I do a scalp massage with plain water, or a full-out "wash" with a baking soda solution), I always make the final rinse a 1:9 vinegar solution and leave it in. This acidic rinse causes the imbrications (the little scales) on the outside of the hair to close tightly, which 1) makes hair shiny, 2) helps hold moisture in the hair's cortex (less fly-away and dry), 3) helps prevent damage, since the imbrications are less likely to catch on each other (or combs, etc) and break off, and 4) leaves the scalp closer to its natural pH than plain water (scalp and hair are naturally slightly acidic).

.........................

Ive used pant liners for ages when on the bike, even though i dont do extreme adventures.... 'cos after 2 kids and a lack of pelvic floor excersizes... when i've got to go.. ive got to go...

My mate Tiff uses a menstrual sponge when she travels, and finds it really easy to use... she also used a sanitary towel to hold her battery together on the way to Timbuctu a while ago
As a midwife.. i wouild not recommend monkeying about with your hormones unless you've spoken to your GP, as this can cause long term problems with your 'womanhood', as suggested earlier on in this thread, there are alternative and more natural ways of regulating your cycle

Had a poll on my website last year which put the Level 4 Shock Absrober Bra top of the riding list and Sloggi Maxi or Tai knickers were most 'chafe' proof

I go everywhere in mine now ... apart from HU last weekend, because i packed the wrong pile of clothes:eek3: travel dri provided me with spare socks but spent all weekend in lacy stuff :nono:

Just about to embark on a 500mile a day ride lasting 7 days..
i imagine by the end of it, i'll be 'going' anywhere and everywhere
good luck to all you wanderlusters... i'm a jealous woman :mchappy:

I"m happy to see this thread going strong.
As I have been on the road for 6 weeks now ( and still a long way to go).
Regarding dealing with my periods:
I decided against using depo injections or any form of hormones as it make me go psycho (really!). My cycle is fairly regular now. I don{t use tampons (more probs with that) but anything you need is widely available is Colombia, Ecuador and I would think all around south america. Anywhere hostals will have bathroom so no issue there. Changing during the day can be tricky but always managed to stop on the road and find a discreet spot or toilet.
Panty liners in between periods are life savers and save in laundry. Widely available here as well.
using riding tights on top of my M&S panties works fine regarding bum pain. I also have those M&S invisible (no seam ) knickers, they work fine.
I shower every day for the time being but this may change when we hit Bolivia. I will make sure to carry a pack of baby wipes. They are the best stuff when travelling. We also carry a bottle of liquid soap taht does not need rinsing. Will come handy also in Bolivia when crossing Uyuni and going to San PEdro de Atacama. Could take a couple of weeks if I am slow. And I am afraid I am crap at off roading!

No periods for 3 months...
 

Going on a bike ride for 8-12 months from February next year through SE Asia, Middle East, Northern Africa and Europe, so thanks, these posts were a great help in dealing with feminine stuff that had a big question mark looming above it as to what I would do...taking up half of a pannier with you know what and shuddering at the thought of the monthly inconvenience in remote areas like Tibet.

Some things I've mentioned here have already been covered, but I thought I'd share anyway:

1. That time of the month

• I have purchased disposable underware that I chuck in my tankbag for problems where I'm not near a city or gas station. You can buy these at any beauty salon, a dozen at a time, for less than $5. Handy if you have an accident. These are in addition to the 7 cotton pairs I have stuff in my saddle bags.
• Using a DivaCup, instead of tampons or pads, will save space.
• WetWipes are available in convenient travel sizes and are extremely useful for lots of different situations.
• Feminine spray is also available in travel sizes if you're camping and don't have time(or is not available) to wash with soap & water.
• You can purchase soap 'flakes' in itty bitty containers - usually 50 flakes(one flake is enough to wash your hair/hands/pits/feet with only a tiny bit of water added).
• If you're camping(or there's no bathroom where you are) there's the mess of what to do with pads and the like when you've used them - lighter and/or matches will solve that.

2. Bathroom duty

• I carry a small(50 sheets) roll of Charmin, which comes in a plastic case to keep it clean and non-damaged, in my tank bag for emergencies. You can also purchase Sanitary Seat covers in travel size for less than desirable places to pee/poo. $.99 at any WallyWorld.
• She-Wee. If you haven't heard of it, google it. Fantastic product made for women so we don't have to squat or take our pants all the way to the knees just to go. Stand up and pee right next to your man. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/icon10.gif
• Inflatable toilet seats. It's been mentioned to me that many hotels south of the border do not have toilet seats. Bring your own - inflatable means it'll pack very small but provide big comfort.
• Wetwipes as stated above or the feminine type to reduce odor.

3. Chafing & skin protection

• Exoficio makes wonderful mens boxers that are odor resistant and dry out within hours of washing. Chafe free, comfortable and extremely cool in hot weather. They don't bunch or have seams to grind into your skin after hours and hours of being on the bike.
• HoneyDust, by Kama Sutra, works awesome to help keep you dry and keeps your skin comfortable - plus it smells good and is edible so it's a 2 in one product. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/naughty.gif
• Face cream - find one with a high SPF which will double as sunscreen. Lip moisturizers are especially important!
• A sports bra with no seams will help keep your underarms and shoulders from getting irritated. Nike & Bali both make them. I usually have 2 of these, plus a nice push up bra for special occasions.

4. Washing and the like

• Shampoo. Lush makes shampoo solids. They are small and round, come in a canister to guard against damage, you'll get more than 50 washes with one. About $6 each. I have found these to be absolutely indispensible! Some come with conditioner built in, so no need to carry the extra weight of conditioner.... plus, you can also use this as a wash bar for your body. They are soap free.
• Face cloths will clean your pores and moisturize, too. Coupled with SPF lotion, you're covered.
• Shaving. If you can get used to it, try an epilator. Emjoy makes one that doesn't hurt near what the others do and leaves you free of hair for up to 6 weeks. It also makes hair grow back slower and thinner over time. You can find Emjoys that are battery operated for when you don't have power to draw from. Gillette Venus Breeze disposable razor has lubricating pads so no soap is necessary. These work very, very well with little water. Disposable wax strips work well, too, if you wax.
• Disposable brush wipes(by Oral B) for your teeth are excellent and take up almost zero room. They come impregnated with toothpaste, fit on your finger and have nubbies on them to get all the grit off your teeth.
• Tide makes Sink Packs. Comes in 3's for $.99 and will do a few pairs of 'roos, socks, bra or shirt/pant. I love these things and carry about a dozen.
• Deoderants. Try a 'crystal' or other natural solid. They last an extremely long time and are very small and you won't have to worry about melting.

5. Clothing

• Rayon is a great fabric for traveling. Comes out wrinkled as hell, but after splashing lightly with water, all the wrinkles just fall right out.
• Scented sachet packs are great tossed in the saddle bags. Keeps things freshly scented even if you've worn items a time or 2.
• If you don't already, try wearing thong underwear. They pack ultra small and don't take much to clean and dry.
• I bring dryer sheets(Bounce) in a plastic bag. Not only do they work good as sashets, but also repel ticks/fleas when rubbed on pant legs/socks/shoes. They also get rid of static cling problems by just rubbing them on the clothing/sheets.
• Jelled socks at night will keep your feet soft & supple and help with painful callouses.

6. Miscellaneous

• If you have to wear makeup, use Mineral Powder foundation. Good for the skin, doesn't clog pores or leave a mess in your helmet liner. It also comes with sunscreen. Lots of mineral eye shadow colors that pack small and last a very, very long time.
• Waterproof mascara and lipstick with SPF in it completes your makeup kit.
• Ziploc bags are good for many things. I always keep several handy.
• Hair ties. I used to keep these around my brush handle, but now they are on a 'hook' hanging off the tank bag. These, too, have many uses.
• I repack all my hair/face care products in plastic bottle/tubs. Up and down in elevation can sometimes cause burst contents. It also saves space.

Great thread!

VR

shampoo
 

Shampoo

I've made an amazing discovery that works for me, and I hope it works for others. I've been experimenting with shampoo. Years ago I heard Vidal Sassoon on a talk show suggest cutting shampoo 1:1 with water, so this is what I've always done. A month ago I tried 1:5 and then 1:10. Amazingly, the lessor amounts of shampoo to water means your hair needs washing less. I've finding my hair can last four days whereas with straight shampoo I feel two days is the most. This does make sense if you read all the things about oil glands being stimulated with hot water and shampoo although the amount of shampoo being used is probably the same. But it lathers up better when diluted.
Hope this helps others,
Lorraine

interesting thread....
 

well- this is the kind of thing I wish I had been able to find just before I started off.
I have now been on the road for 4 and a half years. Through some of the most desolate areas possible - where things are tough for all riders.....but I still think worse for the female.
As this discussion shows we have a lot to contend with sometimes!
How have I coped during this time? Not always easily.....I ended up having a coil fitted in order to cope with my firstly erratic and then continuous periods.
Becoming increasingly worn-out..I had to have a solution that was not pill-based as this is not a good longterm solution. This worked for a while - but now no longer. What with fibriods, endeometrisis and age creeping up things are going horribly wrong...my insurance will not cover this as it is emergency only...and until I bleed to death...which I often think Im doing....this is not considered an emergency.
Tests are due and up and coming...at a cost of course.

the hair thing......shave it off. I have for the last 8 years had a number 2 - and love it. Best thing I ever did.

G-strings.....best for me...but we are all different shapes and sizes.

I love the person who invented wet-wipes.

make-up....? whats that?

facial cream - save space - use nivea for everything.
sun cream - mmmm...i just use nivea...yes..i know i know - wrinkles and skin cancer...but I can only carry so much and I'd rather carry my heart medication!!

still got another 4 years to go - hopefully by then I'd have been through the menopause and can forget about 'that' side of things!
Lisa

I can recommend Baptiste Dry Shampoo. (around £2 a can) I have thick waist length hair and a can lasts me around 6-8 "washes". It really works and your hair smells fresh and clean.

Great thread!
(Full disclosure, I'm a boy and scanned the thread)
One thing my girlfriend does is take her pill continuously for 6 months on end, then stops for a period and continues. This has a few obvious advantages. In Canada, if you tell them this at the pharmacy, they will give you an amount of pills to cover a normal cycle plus what you need to bridge the weeks you'd normally have a period. Solves at least one challenge.

I just want to update this thread a bit because I see it still comes up around the net. LDComfort does indeed make women's riding shorts and tights that have a gusset. The same dual layer fabric that keeps you dry can be enjoyed by either male or female travelers who insist on the best performance from their garments.

I want you to enjoy every mile.

peewee
 

facinating stuff ladies, passing all this on to my sis who is off this year. maybe I should set up an e-bay overland shop for all these specalist items.

Frankly though I admire a lady that will bare-ass for a piddle, Liberating innit?

Wet ones; still the best all rounder for me and mine. Vodka for cleaning teeth and visors.

:thumbup1:

Hi Girls,
Just a little tip from us guys from the Forces, re Crouch itch sweaty bits,
suggest you buy Silk Nickers/Panties whatever min 85% pure silk.
We found in the Army they dry out very quickly matter of hours & and wick away any sweat they keep you cool in Summer & & quit warm when cold.
I would suggest you look @ patra (on line) that is where I got mine from

Hygiene products
 

We've done several short (2wk) trips around Europe in prep for RWT trip without time limit.

I've tried the Lush shampoo bars - brilliant, very small, light, smell nice, can be used on the body and (if it's of interest) leaves your hair feeling really nice.

I find thongs work the best, especially if made of soft lace. However the secret is in the size, I'm size 10-12 so wear size 16-18, they don't dig into your hips and don't ride up (Primark's are great). They are v. small so don't use much space.

I use Bodyform Micro Thin Liners (Superdrug/Boots 1.60 stg for box of 22 or wait for frequent deals of 1.00 stg per box) which fit with thongs, can be used with tampons and/or if you can't wash clothes and so as good as having clean knickers.

Wetwipes - priceless, no end of uses, you name it they are good for it.

Plastic ziplock bags - again endless uses. Tesco sell own brand very cheaply and are good for food, to keep items dry/wet e.g. matches, wet wipes etc. and storage for used items.

I tried soap flakes and found them rubbish, once they were wet they transformed into a congealled lump of goo that did nothing - however it may have been the brand as haven't tried more than one type.

Moisturising - I use Niva Visage Oil Free Moisturing Fluid with Witch Hazel & Mattispheres, comes in a 100ml container and contains UVA/UVB protection (avg. price about 3.00 stg, Superdrug, Boots, Tesco etc - can get it on deals for 2.00). It works, evidenced by long walks in unexpected warm weather, friends suffered sunburn I didn't -despite being whiter than white. Guys, my other half also uses it -even though he has tried the various ranges for men, he finds prefers this.

Deodourant - Sanex roll-ons are great, spent two weeks in Spain & Portugal last year with an avg of 30 C (lowest 25 and highest 38) and they worked better than anything else I tried (tested several others whilst there). Widely available and cheap, can usually be found on deals in nearly every UK supermarket and most pharmacies. Haven't tried crystals as suggested on this site so will give these a go.

I have just bought a she-wee so need to test it out but have heard only good things.

Mooncup - don't have one yet but again have only heard good things and am more convinced than ever after reading some of the comments here. I normally use tampons which are fine for short trips but would take some space to stock up several months worth for our RWT and using a heavier flow one just so it lasts longer is one of the things that you are warned against when considering using tampons due to TSS, which is rare but in extreme cases can be fatal.

Wonderful thread, have found it full of helpful tips, especially on where to stash cash! Will continue to dip in to see what else it offers and will post anything useful I discover.

just add water
 

Eztowels are great, compact and handy alternative to wet wipes.

EZ Towel

They also come in tubes of 10 - on an aside I used an empty tube to carry some chewable Vit C tablets (same size)...my sons found the tube and where trying to add water to a tablet, scratching their heads why it didn't turn into a towel... :rofl:

Try Horse riding knickers my other half used to ride they are very comfey

Great thread, plenty of things I never thought of.

I can recommend:
Batiste dry shampoo - fantastic stuff, I have really greasy hair and this makes it look freshly washed. Smells nice too.
Babywipes - world's greatest invention - face, hands, bum, and bike :thumbup1:

Panty liners - help keep you a bit fresher. And handy for wrapping round a bar of soap to keep it dry in your bag (Palmolive lasts long, smells good and can be used to wash your knickers):cool4:

I'm a bit too old to be taking the pill, so am on the mini-pill, Cerazette - my periods were a bit erratic for the first few weeks (had bleed every few days for a couple of weeks) but now stopped altogether. YAY!! :clap:

100% cotton or silk undies and some sexy lacy stuff to make you feel like a woman when you're feeling and looking like crap (oh the joy of helmet hair :thumbdown:)

Sealskinz socks - totally waterproof. Wish I'd put them on before I rode for 5 hours in the rain :freezing:

Hide cash in the lining of your jacket - body armour pockets are very handy.
Don't bother with traveller's cheques, hardly anyone will cash them and the're just extra weight to carry round till you get home (yes, I learned the hard way doh) I love the idea of stashing it in sanitary towel sachets, I'll try that next time. You can also roll cash up in medicine tubs, leave a couple of pills rattling round with the prescription label on the outside. I taped some into the bottom of my panniers, in a waterproof bag, covered in duct tape.

A wedding ring to stop unwanted advances :innocent:

Slippers for those cold tiled floors which are everywhere once you leave the UK.

Happy travelling, girls beerchug

Menstruation
 

Well girls if you want a gynecologist's opinion.....The Mirena is the way to go. I can not tolerate the pill. I have not had a period for over 3 years! Lasts 5 years so that should get me ATW when i get a new one for 2012 trip.

I am for sure getting a she wee! I love the idea of voiding without having to squat and bare your bum.

Thanks for the Marks and spencer control short trip. I wear mens fitted boxers now to avoid the "monkey butt"

Sara