TdF and the call of nature

[RoadRaven]

Yup, the guys stop and pee on the side of the road when they can... Dunno about pro-women.

However, some drop to the back of the peloton and lift the side of their shorts and pee as they ride (my partner tells me this is not limited to Tour riders... apparently that can happen in the longer races he has been in too! When they are racing 120kms or more and averaging 35-40km over hills, you can't afford to stop and pee because you will never regain the ground you lose).

I have heard via local cyclists that have ridden overseas in semi-pro /pro teams that in the event of #2 a cap (you know, baseball cap) may be shoved down the back of the pants, the deed done and scooped out of the shorts and tossed! *Rave shudders* I'd hate to be the one to find THAT souvenier!

I have peed in my shorts once... that was a freezing day, rain pouring down. I had bibs on, there was no way I was going to strip right off, and I didn't want to stop and lose what little warmth my body still had. So it is possible to pee in the saddle (obviously, being a girl, lifting the side of my shorts would have been pointless).

However, if it had not been raining, I think I probably would have stopped despite the cold. The rain gave me the psychological "ok" to do it... it would wash me, my bike, my clothes clean. I had half an hour to travel - thats a long wash in a cold shower.

[Eden]

I have heard via local cyclists that have ridden overseas in semi-pro /pro teams that in the event of #2 a cap (you know, baseball cap) may be shoved down the back of the pants, the deed done and scooped out of the shorts and tossed! *Rave shudders* I'd hate to be the one to find THAT souvenier!

eeeewwwww! I've also heard that you might want to be careful about any cast off water bottles that appear to be full........
guys I've heard can perfect ways of threading anatomy down shorts legs or over waist bands so that they can go on the fly (look for one rider holding another one up at the back of the peleton and often this is what they are doing) I also know a racer around here who is a bit handy with a sewing machine and sewed a fly into a pair of this shorts. He took some ribbing from the other guys for having a "mangina", but he can beat them so their teasing can't get to far.

[Tri Girl]

"mangina"

Never heard that phrase before... hilarious!
Just as funny as the guy (a friend of ours) at the LBS who gave DH crap because he got a seat with a cut-out. Called the seat his "cl*t slit seat."
I took offense to that, but both of our "areas" love the cut-out, thank you very much...

[teigyr]

I have heard via local cyclists that have ridden overseas in semi-pro /pro teams that in the event of #2 a cap (you know, baseball cap) may be shoved down the back of the pants, the deed done and scooped out of the shorts and tossed! *Rave shudders* I'd hate to be the one to find THAT souvenier!

Ok, got to say...if that is the case they have FAR more coordination and ability than I have. That is all.

[twinkie]

I found this article through some link on Bicycling.com

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...vacuation.html

[PscyclePath]

I found this article through some link on Bicycling.com

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...vacuation.html

If you've ever read Bobke II, Bob Roll tells a hilarious story about when the call of nature hit him during a hotly contested stage of the '87 Tour.

In the '03 Tour, Robbie McEwen was hit by the same bug, and was seen to do a running, cyclo-cross dismount from his bike followed by a sprint to a convenient thicket. He emerged a minute or so later, minus his left glove, and rode to the finish.

Nature calls, and is sometimes tough to ignore...

[Suzi-Sue]

Good thread! lol
I have been trying to get my head around this for the past 6 days now (since the start of the TdF!)
It made me laugh when i saw the CSC team orginising themselves for a 'comfort break'
then the thought did occur...what about the women!

My friend told me that the men just wet themselves on the TdF, but clearly, it is easy for them just to stop for a quick break. then again, wetting yourself would be the easiest option....but how uncomfortable would that be?! YUK!


I think these might be of some interest for those of you into outdoor sports like camping/hiking/and yes, cycling!

I like to camp n hike n all in my spare time, and found this neat invention for women to 'releive themselves in the woods, without the embarresment of baring your backside to everyone!
http://www.shewee.com/buy.html
Haven't got one though, but i think it's a great idea

[tygab]

From that link....

>>If you are reusing the Shewee to give urine samples, the Shewee can be sterilized...<<<

Note to self: Never work for a company that requires Shewee urine tests!

[Zen]

This thread has been so ...enlightening.

[Meg McKilty]

However, some drop to the back of the peloton and lift the side of their shorts and pee as they ride

But even with as fast as they go when going slowly, the wind would make the urine rain on them somehow! Eekers.

By the way, if you notice the guy in green on the #4 photo, what in the crap is he doing, anyways?!

[li10up]

But even with as fast as they go when going slowly, the wind would make the urine rain on them somehow! Eekers.

By the way, if you notice the guy in green on the #4 photo, what in the crap is he doing, anyways?!

As best as I can tell he's pulling down the front of his shorts with his left hand and fishing "it" out with his right.

[spokewench]

Men often pee off the side of the bike when they are racing, they just pull it out of their shorts and kind of shift their weight to the side and pee. I've seen it often, mostly when I have been driving wheel support. The last time I drove wheel support I was following the young masters (35+) and they were gentlemenly enough to take a pee stop off to the side of the road. I averted my eyes as I stopped the wheel truck behind them! I guess I'm shy.

I have never tried to pee on the bike, sounds nasty, but I have many times arranged for a stop on the side of the road to pee. It's just part of the game.

[bikerHen]

By the way, if you notice the guy in green on the #4 photo, what in the crap is he doing, anyways?!

Shaking it off? Maybe a quick inspection? Who knows with boys and their toys.

There was a camera shot, I think on day two, that was showing about ten riders taking a nature break. Phil even may a few coments about what they were doing.

bikerHen

[snapdragen]

I think Phil calls them "natural breaks".

I met a woman in Canada a few years ago - a professional triathlete. She said when you gotta go, you pee yourself.

[Kano]

I think Phil calls them "natural breaks".

Yeah, and some guy broke his clavicule the other day too.

But when he gets excited by the action at the end of the day, it's all worthwhile...

Karen in Boise