Hmmm seems there's a lot of us out there with these problems. I've already said I've been diagnosed with Crohn's (it took about ten years to get a diagnosis) but I think I have a stress/ anxiety thing on top of that which manifests itself as cramping and loose bowel movements- some of it related to the fact that when my Crohn's is flared up I need to find a restroom fast and it's unpredictable when it flares up so I worry about it a lot .

I use Imodium (loperamide Hydrochloride- not sure if its called the same thing Stateside) as a short term measure - I think it would work for a long ride (but I've not ridden far enough to test it being a total newbie). You can't use it too often or you end up with the opposite problem If you have an established medical condition you should talk to your doctor before self medicating with this.

I have less problems when I relax but I have the kind of personality where I worry about everything all the time unless I'm in my house or tootling about on my bike. The trouble about this stuff is its all very embarassing -Especially if you are British and the embarassment causes more stress which causes...its a vicous circle.

I'm not usually this frank, but I'm just back from the pub, hic.