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