Warmshowers? Oh, come now. That\’s getting too personal!

But on a long tour, you might not always find a camping place with showers available. Spend a few long days in the saddle without being able to clean up; and your state is better left to the imagination.

Here\’s where Warmshowers can help. It sounds like a wonderful program. A warm shower feels marvelous if you haven\’t had one for a few days! I experienced that early last year, when a freak cold snap froze my pipes. The weather was freezing cold, and it was cold indoors, too; but even so I felt pretty grungy after two or three days. And I wasn\’t even riding! Fortunately I was able to buy a one-day pass to a nearby fitness center, where I could take a shower and wash my hair.

I\’m can\’t even think of becoming a Warmshowers host. I don\’t have a couch, because that space is for my bicycles; and I don\’t have a backyard where cyclists can camp overnight. My apartment has a mold problem. The bathroom door won\’t shut properly; and the floor isn\’t even level! It wouldn\’t be very comfortable to sleep on.

As I understand it, Warmshowers in an all-in-the-club thing; those who use it are expected to reciprocate. So if I do a long tour of my own, I hope I can find campgrounds with showers!