Nature break?

[channlluv]

Forgive me, because as I write this it's making more sense to me, but I'm watching the Tour on Versus.com and the Phil Liggett just mentioned that it's time for a nature break for the riders and then they'd get back to race. There was what sounded like a break in the audio, but it was hardly noticable.

Do they actually stop the race for everyone to use a restroom? I didn't notice any portapotties anywhere.

I guess they'd have to stop at some point, riding this far for this long. I'd just never heard this before on the race commentary.

I know there are relief stops with food and water on century rides. D*H has done one and he told me about it. He mentioned a portapotty. It just never occurred to me that an elite race like this would have scheduled relief stops.

Do they all?

Roxy - feeling very much the noob right now. Ha!

[Veronica]

A nature break is when the riders just pull over to the side and do what they need to do, no portapotties.

Generally they only mention it when they happen to catch it on video. Most of the riders tend to be rather discreet about it I think.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

I saw a picture from last year's Tour that had riders as far as the eye could see lining both sides of the road taking care of business. They didn't even dismount their bikes- just stopped to do their thing. I found it to be hilarious.
Let's see if I can find it:
this one is close:
http://www.velonews.com/photo/89158

This is from CSC's website called: Get up to Speed on the Tour. It answers a lot of questions.
http://www.csc.com/features/stories/...tour_de_france

How do riders take bathroom breaks?

With longer stages lasting up to seven hours, it’s inevitable that nature calls.

Riders try to go to the bathroom before the start of the stage. When the need for a bathroom stop is urgent, riders will pull off the side of the road to take care of business. Sometimes in longer stages the bunch will organize a bathroom break to allow several riders to stop while the remainder of the bunch rides slowly until they catch up.

Etiquette calls for riders not to attack when another rider is answering nature’s call. Sometimes, riders will even ease off the back of the bunch and take care of business without even stopping, a delicate, sometimes imprecise maneuver.

[channlluv]

Oh, for heaven's sake, they can p** and ride at the same time? Elite riders indeed.

Thanks for the explanation. I can't help wondering, and maybe it's because I live close to LA, if the star riders aren't concerned with some paparazzi-type getting a picture of them taking care of business and selling it to a trash mag.

Okay, I really need to get a new picture in my head. Thanks! Ha!

Roxy

[Possegal]

Sometimes the race camera will catch a guy going while still riding. It's funny, as the camera then whips away really fast once the cameraman realizes what was going on. Never a dull moment.

[PscyclePath]

Oh, for heaven's sake, they can p** and ride at the same time? Elite riders indeed.

One of the advantages of plumbing... though it takes a good bit of practice, sometimes needs a helpful push from a teammate, and can still get a little messy.

As for #2, that's a whole 'nother story. There's a "cute" story about Robbie McEuen from the 2003 or maybe 2004 tour where he scrificed his riding gloves in a time of need, and Bob Roll has a story from one of his Tour rides in his storybook, Bobke II. And then there's some times when you gotta go, but you gotta keep going, too. That's neither cute nor fun...

[TrekTheKaty]

How would you like to own that stretch of road? Or maybe that is some town's claim to fame--"Hey they stopped here to whiz!"

Do they scout out the potty stretch? Who decides when to stop--Lance or Alberto?

This is a popular Nascar question--the awkward answer, "When you gotta go, you gotta go."

[channlluv]

One of the advantages of plumbing... though it takes a good bit of practice, sometimes needs a helpful push from a teammate, and can still get a little messy.

As for #2, that's a whole 'nother story. There's a "cute" story about Robbie McEuen from the 2003 or maybe 2004 tour where he scrificed his riding gloves in a time of need, and Bob Roll has a story from one of his Tour rides in his storybook, Bobke II. And then there's some times when you gotta go, but you gotta keep going, too. That's neither cute nor fun...

Are you saying, PsyclePath, and please tell me I'm reading too much into what you've said here, but do you mean that they try to do #2 while riding? No, that can't even be possible. Do they just hop off the bike and run behind a hay bale or something? Surely they can't disrobe enough to do #2 very quickly, off the bike or wherever, without a bunch of people seeing them. There are spectators everywhere. I'm just baffled by the mechanics of it, I guess.

Don't the bibs make #1 nigh on impossible to do while riding, too? Or do they have some kind of opening like Y-front briefs?

I'm feeling very much the riding wimp here, considering that I don't even like to use the cleaned-every-now-and-then restrooms at the rec center by the lake where I like to ride.

If there's ever been such a thing as pen*s envy, this is why. You boys can p** anywhere, anytime, and apparently while doing anything.



Roxy

[Possegal]

Bobke's story is about his having some, shall we say, GI distress one day while riding the Tour. He had to hop off the bike, run down a hill and relieve himself. Then realizing that he was right near people having a picnic. If I remember the story correctly, it's been a bit.

[witeowl]

If there's ever been such a thing as pen*s envy, this is why. You boys can p** anywhere, anytime, and apparently while doing anything.

I hear you. Frustrated by the fact that the world is the urinal for the male rider (or hiker or runner or...), I researched items to level the playing field a while ago. I may or may not have purchased the TravelMate. I may or may not have an opinion on the item that I may or may not have purchased. If I had an opinion on said item, and I'm not saying I do, it would be positive.

[Eden]

Are you saying, PsyclePath, and please tell me I'm reading too much into what you've said here, but do you mean that they try to do #2 while riding? No, that can't even be possible. Do they just hop off the bike and run behind a hay bale or something? Surely they can't disrobe enough to do #2 very quickly, off the bike or wherever, without a bunch of people seeing them. There are spectators everywhere. I'm just baffled by the mechanics of it, I guess.

The riders tend to not do this unless it is really an "emergency"..... Guys do *not* like to abandon the tour and will ride even if a bit sick....

Don't the bibs make #1 nigh on impossible to do while riding, too? Or do they have some kind of opening like Y-front briefs?

ummm how to say delicately... no, guys can be a bit flexible, over the top of the bibs or down a leg can work for them. Yes this is a bit of work, which is why sometimes, as Psychlepath mentioned, a little push from a teammate is helpful.

[Pedal Wench]

Bobke's story is about his having some, shall we say, GI distress one day while riding the Tour. He had to hop off the bike, run down a hill and relieve himself. Then realizing that he was right near people having a picnic. If I remember the story correctly, it's been a bit.

He told this story at a seminar I just went to. The worst part was that he was quite sick in the morning, so he had someone else pin his race number on his jersey. Unfortunately, the guy pinned the number to his jersey AND through to his bibs. So, Bobke was trying to get the jersey up and over his head, but it was stuck to his bibs too. Quite hilarious to hear Bobke gesturing as he's telling the story.

[channlluv]

OOohhhh, I finally get the push from the teammate thing. Because they need two hands to manipulate...I got it. Okay. Thanks.

And witeowl, you made me snort with that opinion you may or may not have. Thanks. I checked out that site and it sure does seem like a handy thing to keep in the car for long trips or whatever. DD had to get upclose and personal with some sage bushes on this cross-country drive we've been on the last week. That road between El Paso and Carlsbad is loooooooong and there were no working restrooms for about 160 miles. It was her first time outside, and she was mortified, but it was an emergency.

Good thing Mommy keeps a roll of paper towels, a jug of water, and towels for the bike in the back of the car. <g>

Roxy

[alpinerabbit]

Yes, it's etiquette not to tape them doing their potty breaks.

If you're not too shocked yet -
There's an epic story about a famed german rider, now retired, breakfast consisting of a couple bowls of muesli, a call of nature at a critical moment in the race, and a cycling cap.
Plus helpful friends "pushing him along"... I guess you get the idea

[Biciclista]

Yes, it's etiquette not to tape them doing their potty breaks.

If you're not too shocked yet -
There's an epic story about a famed german rider, now retired, breakfast consisting of a couple bowls of muesli, a call of nature at a critical moment in the race, and a cycling cap.
Plus helpful friends "pushing him along"... I guess you get the idea

wow, gross