Bike Touring Basic Hygiene

[@ulysse1rikard]

dear (brompton) travellers - my advice for hygiene while travelling is carrying one of these new portable "bidets" like happypo or other brands: this way you can keep yourself fresh and clean using just a bit of water and needing few to zero toilet paper / baby wipes. since i got my happypo, i never travel without it ;) (and do use it at home on a daily basis) keep clean! and good travels

[@BromptonTraveler]

Good to hear! I hadn't heard of this, thanks for sharing.

[@Luuk_M]

During light weight camping, for me nothing beats a simple thin wash cloth. I use it to wash *and dry* myself, and to get rid of condensation on the tent's fly. The biggest advantage is that you don't need the bulky towel, which takes ages to dry. Take care to store it at the outside of your pack or luggage, so it won't get smelly. Rinse it frequently. I take two with me on every trip. The second as spare, but rarely need it.

[@BromptonTraveler]

I do bring a small chamois leather patch or small outdoor towel and use it as you suggest too. You need that for drying too when able to take a shower. What i was most interested here was showing what to do when having spare water for washing is an issue. Thanks for sharing these tips.

[@robingood62]

For hygene on tour I use a travel bidet (just a special cap that fits on most waterbottles) and disposable gloves to wash my butt after nr.2. For my body I use 2 microfibre cloth and biodegredable soap.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Never heard of such thing! Will look it up. Cheers

[@pootlingalong8928]

Nicely handled, thank you Gianni! I became anti wet wipes after hearing of all the micro plastics in them, but I think you can now buy biodegradable ones which I'll look for next time I go touring. Not many people have talked about keeping clean whilst touring but it is so good to feel clean at the end of a hot grimy day, and even just wiping yourself down with something that gives you a nice fragrance can make a big difference to how you feel. Thank you for doing this video :)

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks! To some is common sense but I still thought it was worth showing to those who sometime wonder how we keep decency on the road! :)

[@platypushatstand]

I’d heard that to speed up the drying time of clothes after hand washing, is to use a dry towel. Hand wring out as much water as possible then place damp clothing item on the towel and roll up the towel as tightly as possible from the bottom to the top, using the towel to collect the excess moisture of the damp item, then hang up the item to air dry over night and by the morning it’s ready to wear.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Yes. That’s the best way. Thin synthetic clothes are easy to wring out though and do dry rather fast. The towel trick can be useful if hand washing thicker clothes that can soak lots of water. Thanks

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Gianni, Another interesting video, thank you... As someone preparing to start Brompton touring I am so grateful to be able to benefit from your experience. Take care. Paul,,

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks. Wishing you some great rides! Look forward to hear.

[@nateums]

great tips... I'm glad you make content like this since it really is hard to find anywhere on youtube

[@BromptonTraveler]

I had been thinking about it for a while because of that. Also to some it might be obvious but I hope it can help those who are planning to start touring and might be wondering how to deal with such issues… thanks.

[@itsfahys]

I often used to wondering about washing with Wild camping, and you dont hear much about it. The use of wetwipes and plastic bag is a great idea. You can also purchase Bio degradable plastic bags these days. Another way to wash your Cycling Shorts or underwear is to Stand on them while washing in a shower and the water and suds is enough to have them clean for the next day If your in a hotel or AirBnB i ask to borrow a Hair Dryer and i can dry my cycling shorts that way quite quickly. Have a lovely trip in Provence.

[@BromptonTraveler]

That is something I have done too especially other clothes. Underwear is thin enough to easily wash by hand and i use it as a sponge but for that you need a shower ;) thanks!

[@fernandomorua4215]

Great tips.. and right on time as this weekend I am packing for my bike tour. Thanks!

[@BromptonTraveler]

Great! Have a wonderful ride then.

[@bgochicoa]

I find that a pair of nylon swim trucks (such as Speedos) works well doubling as underwear. One advantage is that when you are wearing them you can remove your pants or shorts and in most/many settings you have not violated any prohibitions against disrobing in public. You are both minimally clothed and can go directly to a pool, stream, lake, shower, or ocean to swim or rinse off. Since I bike to the local pool every day this has become my standard attire. Nylon trunks dry very quickly and I also carry a small, blue swimmer's towel that also dries very quickly. I wear a dark blue cotton tee-shirt with a breast pocket (for my cellphone inside a cellphone wallet) and I go back and forth between two of them from one day to the next. Following my swim (and/or shower) I wash the used one and put on the clean one and wear it until the following day where I then wash and repeat. I am careful to keep the rest of my clothing pretty clean so my washing is reduced to one pair of Speedos and a tee-shirt daily. I stay very clean and avoid the use of deodorants. Oh, and for dental hygiene I find that in addition to brushing and flossing something called Doctor's Brush Picks work great in cleaning your teeth and gums. A small five dollar box lasts me over a year.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks for the good tips Bob. Do you find swim trunks comfortable for a long day ride too? I might give those a try one day and see. Very practical if you are near swimming places for sure!

[@stephenschuit7880]

Gianni, another practical and informative video from Brompton Traveler. Thanks and keep them coming...

[@BromptonTraveler]

Many thanks!

[@TM-vg4mx]

no 2 I guess is the difficult one, to be able to do that and care for the environment. Not into camping because of all these practicalities but love my Brompton. thanks video, really useful and hardly anyone talk about these things.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks, most appreciated.

[@gowesbrompton7816]

thanks for this video! Very important and not many videos about it indeed!

[@BromptonTraveler]

Kind of hard to show in detail… :) but hopefully a few good tips.

[@readyplayer2]

Baby powder is great to remove the tackiness of sweat from your skin if a thorough shower isn’t available. You can find ones which are marketed to adults which don’t have that baby powder scent. Here in the US, talc has mainly be replaced with corn starch. If using shampoo as washing machine soap, don’t use more than a few drops especially in high efficiency front load machines, otherwise you’re likely to have huge amounts of foam. I also love Uniqlo’s airism and other lightweight underwear and shirts as they’re comfortable, quick drying, and cheap.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks for the tip! Will try that out. Uniqlo is great! 👍

[@Muddy283]

I've been looking out for a video on personal hygiene when bikepacking and/or wild camping. Since I last posted to one of your videos, I've acquired and read your book _Touring on a Folding Bike._ I've also picked up some hints from others and from my past hiking experience going back to my younger days. But it was great to see your video, especially showing your method of using baby wipes for cleaning body, and how you wash your underpants when wild camping. I was hoping it would be you who would be the first to do a video on these delicate (?!!) matters as you're so good & practical about that sort of thing. I'm slowly reading, prepping & acquiring necessary equipment etc. before venturing out on my first night of wild camping.

[@BromptonTraveler]

So pleased to hear something was useful! Thanks for the comment.

[@Muddy283]

@@BromptonTraveler ALL your videos, Gianni, are excellent (at least, all those I've watched so far)!

[@davidclark1152]

Great video on a topic that few talk about, with some good useful tips, especially for those of us just starting out on Brompton touring. Just ordered your latest book, so looking forward to more inspiration from there too! Travel safe & looking forward to the next video :)

[@BromptonTraveler]

Many thanks David, most appreciated. Wishing you great tours on your Brommie.

[@mybrompton1737]

Just got your book the other day great read so far

[@BromptonTraveler]

Most appreciated. Hope you find some useful tips. Thanks.

[@pauljames9626]

I watched your video of the southern England tour some months ago and you inspired me to get off my backside and hit the road. I have just completed my second tour with overnight stops (Sustrans UK route 4 from London to Bristol in four days) with mostly wild camping and boy, do I wish I'd seen this before I left home! In my limited exprerience, I've found that being clean adds to comfort on the road, quite apart from the stares of fellow passengers on the train ride home which left me in no doubt that I needed a shower badly! Thank you for posting.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Great to hear Paul! I loved those Sustrans cycleways myself back in April. Nothing of course can replace a good shower after a long ride but I wanted to share what I do to be at least presentable on the road :)

[@petergilbert72]

Thanks, and a great topic! I carry anti-COVID sanitiser which is effective at keeping hands clean prior to eating (and removes grease after fixing a puncture). I now wear bamboo underpants which are supposed to handle odour better than cotton, snd dry quicker. I do wonder whether we wash too often though - at home I now use shampoo only every three or four days and I find my hair in better condition; also the perfumes contained in shampoo and soaps attract insects. Minimalism is the thing i think, but after a few days some kind of wash is definitely required!

[@BromptonTraveler]

Good tips Peter. I heard about bamboo clothing as it is often mentioned as a Merino wool alternative. I will give it a try one day. Any particular brand you recommend? Thanks

[@petergilbert72]

@@BromptonTraveler I’m no expert. I have Bam underpants and an Avacucno wicking base layer top, but there may be better ones. The Avacucno doesn’t wick as well as my old poly something top.

[@madiantin]

A very necessary and informative video! I went on my first overnight bike camping trip yesterday, and I found the one thing that was hardest to deal with was feeling sticky. Washing myself off helped get rid of the stink, but not the stickiness, and I was longing for a shower. Is this something you get used to? Totally makes sense not to use regular bike shorts - that chamois would be so hard to wash and dry!

[@BromptonTraveler]

The sticky feel you mention is something inevitable when not having access to showers in hot temperatures. In cooler months it is much less of an issue and you can go several days without feeling much discomfort. In summer you do get used to it but personally i find that after 3, 4 days or so I start to feel the need for a proper soak with plenty of water to rinse sweat and fatigue and i do everything i can to find facilities if at all possible. When water is accessible, there are portable shower systems for wild camping too but on a Brompton I am usually not in remote locations for long enough to justify carrying those along.

[@mithuharjani3620]

excellent video as always, greetings 😊👍☘️🙏

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@vantrogh]

Thanks!

[@BromptonTraveler]

Most kind of you! Thank you.

[@peterforde9513]

Gianni, thanks again for the wonderful tips. Took your advise and switched from padded cycling shorts to merino wool boxer style underpants; the soggy summer diaper feel from Florida heat/humidity is not missed. I’m searching for biodegrade baggies to use with flushable wipes; Perhaps a tad better environmentally.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Yes Peter, you are right. I pointed that out as it is something i should improve myself. I have been a tad lazy as shampoo and regular bags are easy to source wherever i go, but biodegradable soap is something i want to try next. Thanks!

[@readyplayer2]

Flushable wipes are not. Sadly just a marketing claim. All wipes should go in the trash. Some may eventually break down but will likely take years. His storing of them in a bag and placing in the trash really is the best way.

[@cirodirosa6752]

Great video. I wasn't sure if you suggested to wash your body as well with shampoo when you have access to a shower.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Sure Ciro. It works fine when travelling and saves having to carry more stuff. Thanks

[@RobertVinet]

I use Dr. Bronner's all-in-one soap the same way. It's very concentrated, so it takes up little space. When I'm camping, I shower with it, wash my hair, clothing, etc., It has the added advantage of being biodegradable. It's an American company and don't know how widely distributed it is.

[@BromptonTraveler]

I have heard about it many times from American cyclists. From how you describe it, especially being concentrated, it seems ideal and will try to find one and give it a try. What out me off using soap in the past is how time consuming it is to use. Many thanks!

[@basho66]

Dr. Bronner's is great - I've used it for years for washing body, hair, clothes and dishes when hiking or, recently, on an extended cycle tour. Why carry heavy liquid soaps rather than lighter solid soaps?

[@BromptonTraveler]

@@basho66 Thanks for confirming. I will give it a try next!

[@robadr13]

I tend to carry a very small squeeze bottle of concentrated detergent, or sometimes a small bag of laundry powder. Maybe more space efficient than using shampoo for laundry, but you do need a sink. Quick dry polyester underwear is great for touring. When you can rinse and dry a pair every night, max 3 pairs is all you need - a great weight-and-volume saver. I generally cycle in Tevas, which reduces the need to pack and wash socks. I take along a small plastic scrub brush, and scrub the Tevas with detergent once a week or so.

[@BromptonTraveler]

Good tips, thanks. A small pouch of washing powder is not something that takes a lot of space and weight. Cheers

[@daelra]

I find washing powder too difficult to rinse. Also, the chemicals are more likely to irritate the skin (at least with me) if not rinsed properly so I stick to and shower gel (I don't have enough hair to justify shampoo) and a tube of travel wash for cooking items for everything else.

[@BromptonTraveler]

@@daelra good point. Powder is mostly useful if you have access to a proper washing machine. Thanks

[@OnkarKanhegaonkar]

Love ur videos

[@BromptonTraveler]

Happy to hear. Thanks,

[@williamferguson869]

Good tips 👍

[@BromptonTraveler]

Thanks!

[@pax1902]

Thank you, Gianni! Since you traveled in Provence.. What do you think about Marseille soap? It's a solid soap, easy to carry and effective for the body and clothes

[@BromptonTraveler]

Grazie Pasquale! I have never tried washing body and hair with it as it is known for washing clothes but i guess from what you say it works and i should have a go at it?

[@clementihammock7572]

Remember my passed two years of army field deployment days. Five days unbearable tropical heat almost with zero shower. Beside mouth wash, butt wipe, really nothing but powder bath. Once took off army sock, oh man, stink like hell. haha....

[@BromptonTraveler]

Would love to hear some more army tips in this department …if there are any that is! Cheers

[@Arben1977]

Hello friend, greetings from Madrid, I have a question, why don't you wear a helmet on your trips?

[@BromptonTraveler]

Personal choice due to finding anhelmet most uncomfortable to wear all day while touring. On shorter rides i tend to use it more. I take the risk. Cheers

[@wilcyguantero6804]

I would just bike tour inside major cities. Worry free of any sanitation issues :). To camp only when funds are low

[@BromptonTraveler]

That’s more comfortable for sure but a different experience and somehow limiting if you want to appreciate the outdoors.

[@kevinseversonandhisvizslas8287]

What flag is that on your hat? It’s not the flag of Italy, and you say you’re in Provence?

[@BromptonTraveler]

I was mostly following a Eurovelo crossing several European countries so I had to find a one fit all badge…. :)

[@handsonbrompton7875]

👍👍👍🍻

[@BromptonTraveler]

Cheers