TdF and the call of nature

[missymaya]

So, been watchin all of this TdF stuff and just looking in aww at how fast these guys go and a question popped into my head: So, the guys get breaks for the "call of nature", which for them is pretty simple. What about the ladies? What do the ladies do in a long race?

[Tri Girl]

Ummm...on some of my long training rides last year it was wherever I had some cover. So far this year I've only had to hit the trees once.
I've heard that pro women sometimes just wet their pants- but that seems....disgusting. Don't know if it's true or not???

I love when watching coverage they say that so and so's taken a natural break. Don't know why it cracks me up.

[AllezGirl]

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs...nform&07tdfSt4

Photo 4 seemed appropriate for this discussion.

[Eden]

I've done some long races and for the most part the women take a break or two usually fairly early into the race (1st 20-30 miles) before things really heat up. Everyone pulls over and as discretely as possible does their thing.
I have heard stories of women not wanting to slow down for any reason and wetting themselves..... ick
I have witnessed, really big ick, a woman who was lined up in front of me at a crit, pull her shorts leg aside a little and let fly -right on Main Street. Eewww, nasty!

[dex]

I realize that there's all kinds of absorbency and wicking going on with the fabrics/chamois of the shorts, but (ick factor aside) wetting oneself just seems...uncomfortable.

[Tri Girl]

Photo 4 seemed appropriate for this discussion.

That's hilarious. Never seen that before on the TV coverage.

[Eden]

That's hilarious. Never seen that before on the TV coverage.

Over the years they've gotten to be very, very good at cutting to a different shot

[ehirsch83]

that picture cracked me up! i made it the background on my laptop:-)

[pooks]

Photo 4 seemed appropriate for this discussion.

Thank you. No question, that's my blog entry for today!

[smilingcat]

If you are pro rider with money on the line, its understandable. But as an amature rider, why would you? You ruin the seat, you ruin your shorts... BIG ICK is right!!

My brother-in-law says just do it. No thank you!

Nature's Miracle on cat pee works but not 100% and I wouldn't expect Nature's Miracle to work on my seat, ICK (Nature's Miracle is a liquid product which is supposed to neutralize cat urine ...)

smilingcat

[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.

[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?!