Women's racing question

[cyclingnewbie]

Ok. Watching the Tour I get how the boys take nature breaks. They have an advantage because they have a built in hose. How do women cyclists in a long pro race take nature breaks without turning it into a major, time consuming production??

[MightyMitre]

This is a tricky one. I know a lot of the womens stages in pro race tend to be a lot shorter than the mens. I don't think many of the stages last longer then a few hours, rather that the 6 or 7 hours the men might spend in the saddle, so maybe women either don't need to go or just hang on. I suppose if it's a wet rainy stage then they just let it go - as once you're wet you're wet.

[CorsairMac]

ROFL - yeah but here's my question??? sok - ya'll can laugh but I've been trying to sort this one out in my head:
How do the boys take a nature break ON the bike wearing Bib shorts??? Due to the cameras insensitivity they've shown several riders taking breaks while still riding but (thank God) aren't zooming in on them once they realize what the guy is doing!

I'm sorry if this is overstepping some bounds a tad - but I really have Not a clue who else I can ask and I'm been trying to imagine how my ex-hubby would've done it if he had been so inclined.

Corsair "laughin her hinney off while sorting this out" Mac

[MightyMitre]

The gents have 2 options - on the move and at the roadside. In the old days before bib shorts had been invented they could just roll down the waist band at the roadside. These days though most riders wear bibshort and the gentleman has to pull down the front as much as the braces will allow and lean forward. Not the most elegant of positions to be in!

Now, on the move - if there isn't time to stop - such as a key point in the race when the action is hotting up, then a team mate will normally provide a supporting hand on the rider's back while he rolls up a leg of his shorts as high as he can and just... goes with the flow!

If it's earlier on in the stage the peleton normally slows right down to let people go so they don't have to struggle to get back with the bunch.

Ok - so how come I seem to have a more-than-is -healthy knowledge about mens peeing habits? Well, hubby is the sort of person that always seems to need the toilet so he went into great depth reassuring me he'd be ok when he took up cycling.

I must admit, I'm nearly as bad as him and would love to be able to go 'on the move.' There's nothing more difficult that pulling up sweaty shorts while half squatting and battling with hedgerow or grass, and trying to make sure the world doesn't get a full on view of your behind!

[CorsairMac]

ahhh MM you are too precious! Thank you tho for that insight. It's probably more than I should want to know but once the question got started - I just couldn't seem to let it go. I knew about the pelaton pit stop it was the "on the move" that had me stymied! and tell your DH thank you for giving you the knowledge to answer my question!

[BikingAt50]

I am cracking up as I read this thread. The last few days, we read about bigger butts...today....the pee pee habits of male riders. What a Forum! LOL!! I love it!!

[RoadRaven]

My understanding is like MMs, that men just lift the inside leg of their short legs up and "manouvre" themselves down and out the edge - whether on the bike or off - bib shorts are irrelevant.
Bike protocol says you should go to the back if you're not getting off.

And I have heard that on a race like the current Tour, if you need to do "#2s" and you can't stop and go behind a tree, then the team car hands you a baseball cap, which you skoot down the back of your pants, and when you are done you hand them back the now somewhat heavier and smellier cap.
Just what I have heard, I stand to be corrected.

I guess women who have a wee on the bike are set up differently to me because I honestly don't think my muscles would let me - and yeah, if I could, I'd prolly only do it in the rain... men might be able to pee down their legs, but we'd have to pee through the chamois...

[RoadRaven]

Dandy discussion here, and very informative, but really, aren't there any women racers on the board that can answer the original question?

OK... not a pro-racer so I don't know what they do...
I can go a couple of hours without a pee... but I don't ride on really really hot days... so maybe I wouldn't last that long if I was taking on a lot of water

I googled this topic and found mainly links to men peeing on bikes, and associated protocols... I even got linked to discussion boards - but nothing on pro-women peeing while riding...

I think, if I hadta hadta hadta I would go to the back of the bunch, pull aside my shorts if I could while standing (haven't tried, may not be possible)... and then let fly hoping to miss as much of my shorts as pos.

Otherwise maybe lean right back and pee behind the seat???

I dunno... I really don't think, with all the crushing that has preceded the need to pee, I would be able to pee while riding...

[han-grrl]

This is too funny. i have AlWAYS wondered about this. I know when i race mtb, well, i get my nervous pee's done before hand...

One 24 hour relay race, i pulled off the trail to pee, but i guess all the guys saw me walking and kept asking me if i was ok, just as i was pulling my shorts down. After the 5th guy, i realized my helmet light was still on! click and aaaahhhh...I really had to go