Professional Cycling For the Fans - Nature calls while racing

I was following the Tour De France this morning. The guy for cycling news said that quote "Nature is calling many riders in the bunch at the moment, and there is no option but to answer the call." What do the riders do when they have to go. Do they follow them with a portable bathroom or what? Could some on please shed some light on this topic.

I was following the Tour De France this morning. The guy for cycling news said that quote "Nature is calling many riders in the bunch at the moment, and there is no option but to answer the call." What do the riders do when they have to go. Do they follow them with a portable bathroom or what? Could some on please shed some light on this topic.

Stop on the side of the road for a leak. Or if you've got crook guts like Robbie did the other day, it's shorts down and head deeper into the bushes.

Stop on the side of the road for a leak. Or if you've got crook guts like Robbie did the other day, it's shorts down and head deeper into the bushes.

Is it actually tree that riders go when they are still riding? Ive heard that a few times but have yet to see any evidence. :p

Some riders 'take a whiz' whilst riding. Coast, pull up short leg or drop front of shorts and let go. Not good for the chain but mechanic can also relube whilst riding, if need be.
There can also be 'unofficial' pit breaks along the side of the road; while that is happening, courtesy dictates that there will be no break aways. Although that has been ignored in some instances.
Do not expect these pit breaks to be seen on OLN!

Is it actually tree that riders go when they are still riding? Ive heard that a few times but have yet to see any evidence. :p


Yes. Only happens when the pressure is on (i.e. no time to stop) and then usually only a protected rider, coz a couple of his unlucky teammates are going to have to push him. Anyone else who has to go will have to chase.

You won't see many photos or film of it, coz there is a code between the riders and the media that it won't be filmed to embarrass them.

If you watch carefully during times when the peleton is not moving very fast, you will see a rider or two rolling along a little slower than the rest, drifting back along the far side of the road, He will be somewhat side saddle, with one knee pointed way out, he's taking a whiz

If you watch carefully during times when the peleton is not moving very fast, you will see a rider or two rolling along a little slower than the rest, drifting back along the far side of the road, He will be somewhat side saddle, with one knee pointed way out, he's taking a whiz

Yes, it's quite easy to spot. I see it two or three times each stage.

http://www.panderzinedistro.com/leek.gif

http://www.panderzinedistro.com/leek.gif

That's an awesome photo.
I did notice that Ullrich was whizzing while riding a little ways off the front the other day while the pace was civil. A guy like that probably has to do it off the front or not at all so as not to be attacked.

- Buddy Lee

I forget who the rider was, but in today's stage, Phil commented about a rider taking a nature break (as he stopped, got off his bike, and started to drop his shorts) saying "and I hope the cameraman will give him his privacy", or equivalent.
Then the camera finally switched to another part of the peloton.

Thanks for the info guys. I had no idea how they handled this problem.

Not to bash OLN's mass-market broadcast in the evening with Trautwig and Roll (hey, even I'm learning stuff with the 'Roll-a-strator'), but they had that question in their 'Ask Bob' segment last week. Roll, who answers some questions with some crazy off the wall answers (which you know are his attempts at humor because they are so off the wall), answered - with a straight face - that the riders get catheters put in which are hooked up to 'evaporator pads' on the back of the jerseys where it 'evaporates away.' Then Trautwig looks at him with a totally straight face and says, 'So it just evaporates away then?' and Roll answers, with an equally straight face and no hint of sarcasm in his voice that that is, indeed, the way it works. Now given that Roll often answers these questions with the correct answer in a straight fashion, why in the heck does he do this during the program OLN is touting as their 'bring in the masses who are uneducated about racing' prime-time version? Now there are thousands of people believing these guys get catheterized before every stage!

I love Bobke's humor and TV persona, but this is just wrong.

ROFL - I love Bobke - wish I'd seen that! And I know a lot of people don't like Trautwig, but I think he and Roll are hilarious together. Al plays a good straight/dimwitted man to Roll's impish sarcasm...

Not to bash OLN's mass-market broadcast in the evening with Trautwig and Roll (hey, even I'm learning stuff with the 'Roll-a-strator'), but they had that question in their 'Ask Bob' segment last week. Roll, who answers some questions with some crazy off the wall answers (which you know are his attempts at humor because they are so off the wall), answered - with a straight face - that the riders get catheters put in which are hooked up to 'evaporator pads' on the back of the jerseys where it 'evaporates away.' Then Trautwig looks at him with a totally straight face and says, 'So it just evaporates away then?' and Roll answers, with an equally straight face and no hint of sarcasm in his voice that that is, indeed, the way it works. Now given that Roll often answers these questions with the correct answer in a straight fashion, why in the heck does he do this during the program OLN is touting as their 'bring in the masses who are uneducated about racing' prime-time version? Now there are thousands of people believing these guys get catheterized before every stage!

I love Bobke's humor and TV persona, but this is just wrong.

Ha ha ha haaaa!!!!
:D

Oh, man...I wish I had seen that one. Priceless. :roflmao:

Not to bash OLN's mass-market broadcast in the evening with Trautwig and Roll (hey, even I'm learning stuff with the 'Roll-a-strator'), but they had that question in their 'Ask Bob' segment last week. Roll, who answers some questions with some crazy off the wall answers (which you know are his attempts at humor because they are so off the wall), answered - with a straight face - that the riders get catheters put in which are hooked up to 'evaporator pads' on the back of the jerseys where it 'evaporates away.' Then Trautwig looks at him with a totally straight face and says, 'So it just evaporates away then?' and Roll answers, with an equally straight face and no hint of sarcasm in his voice that that is, indeed, the way it works. Now given that Roll often answers these questions with the correct answer in a straight fashion, why in the heck does he do this during the program OLN is touting as their 'bring in the masses who are uneducated about racing' prime-time version? Now there are thousands of people believing these guys get catheterized before every stage!

I love Bobke's humor and TV persona, but this is just wrong.

I have to agree that it is a bit irresponsible for them to do this, and not end with "I'm just kidding" or something like that. I like Bobke's humor, but a new listener will not understand it, and may really believe him. It's a natural question that comes to mind right after you learn that these riders ride more than 100 miles a day, eat and drink on the bike, and spend many hours in the saddle per day without stopping.

http://www.panderzinedistro.com/leek.gif

Did you notice that not even one of them in the photo are rolling up the shorts leg? Yet, everyone of them probably wearing bib shorts. I have been doing this myself for many years and telling other riders to do the same, this only confirms that this is the most efficient way. Which is pull down hard on the front of the bibs and pull out your thing top of it. Try it, it works.

I always thought they had catheters that attached to their water bottles that had little Brita filters in them!!

(Just kidding!)

Last night's stage, 9, had Karman Kroom, (I think that's how you spell his name), trying to catch the breakaway and was having no luck, so all of a sudden he pulls over and drops the front of his shorts. Phil was wondering why the hell he was pulling over and then he realized what he was doing as the camera pulled away just as he pulled "it" out. Then Phil went on to explain a little bit about when riders relieve themselves. I had never before seen that up close on OLN or any bike race. It was interesting.

Roll, who answers some questions with some crazy off the wall answers (which you know are his attempts at humor because they are so off the wall), answered - with a straight face - that the riders get catheters put in which are hooked up to 'evaporator pads' on the back of the jerseys where it 'evaporates away.' Then Trautwig looks at him with a totally straight face and says, 'So it just evaporates away then?' and Roll answers, with an equally straight face and no hint of sarcasm in his voice that that is, indeed, the way it works. Now given that Roll often answers these questions with the correct answer in a straight fashion, why in the heck does he do this during the program OLN is touting as their 'bring in the masses who are uneducated about racing' prime-time version? Now there are thousands of people believing these guys get catheterized before every stage!


Yup, Bob's delivery was so deadpan that I (who had even read Bob's TdF book w/ all it's nature break info) was scratching my head as to whether or not he was serious.

Funny? I guess.

But I now don't trust a word that he says because his humor is not off-the-wall enough to be obviously untrue (like when he said those little yellow doo-hickys that time each bike also have GPS transponders in them that broadcast to the team car--seemm absurd but is not totally implausable)

I don't know about the GPS thing. My cell phone has one in it and the damn thing is tiny!

I don't know about the GPS thing. My cell phone has one in it and the damn thing is tiny!

Yes, but the cell phone itself is not that small. The GPS chip in your phone uses the prexisting battery and antenna.
---

To steer back to topic....

How may nature breaks do the pros require during a 5 hour stage? I've yet to requre one during a 3-hour ride, and my weight indicates that I'm not H2O deprived--is it a case of drinking too much fluid?

...is it a case of drinking too much fluid?

Probably, but just like the cold where it is easier to take layers off than it is to run back to the house and put them on, it is better to be overhydrated than it is to be underhydrated. Case in point Lance's dismal showing at stage whatever last year where he bombed the TT. There is probably a happy medium where they could go the whole stage without stopping, but I imagine that would be a fine balance point between hydrated and dehydrated. Just my thoughts.

There was an indepth and detailed conversation about this on Eurosport with Sean Kelly and Mike Smith imparting information about 'Nature Stops,' as they were pointing out the various riders who seemed to be taking one at the time. Interesting, but occasionally too much information.

I think Trautwig actually believed Bob there, he doesn't seem to know a whole lot about cycling. I mean, at one point he called a trainer a treadmill! Anyway, he usually cracks up when Bob says something funny like that - such as when he said that the racers were watching Christina Agulera videos on the spedomoters.

It seems the guys do not take but 1 "nature break" a day. I know that the more you sweat the less you need to urinate because the liquid you intake is converted to sweat more than urine.

Am I on track with this? Also, on average, how much fluids do the riders take in during a stage? I know weather conditions have a great impact on fluid intake.

BTW, as a female I have to ask, with the bib shorts, doesn't pulling it down put a lot of pressure on the scrotum, thus not allowing for total expulsion from the uriter? Nothing like a big spot in front to irritate.

It seems the guys do not take but 1 "nature break" a day. I know that the more you sweat the less you need to urinate because the liquid you intake is converted to sweat more than urine.

Am I on track with this? Also, on average, how much fluids do the riders take in during a stage? I know weather conditions have a great impact on fluid intake.

BTW, as a female I have to ask, with the bib shorts, doesn't pulling it down put a lot of pressure on the scrotum, thus not allowing for total expulsion from the uriter? Nothing like a big spot in front to irritate.

You have to keep pushing down with one hand while holding and aiming it with the other. This makes it hard to do two things at the same time like doing it and waving at somebody which rarely happens. I usually hold the top part(bottom of the straps) of the bibs one or two inches below my crotch. If I tried, I can even pull it down 5 inches below. Believe me, Lycra is pretty strong and stretches a lot.

By the way, if you are female, based on my experiment, you can pull the strap tops off the shoulders and squat then expose the whole bottom. As long as you are not embarrassed by it, you can do this without taking off the jersey. No ladies, you don't need to tell me that I'm a considerate man. :D

Did you notice that not even one of them in the photo are rolling up the shorts leg? Yet, everyone of them probably wearing bib shorts. I have been doing this myself for many years and telling other riders to do the same, this only confirms that this is the most efficient way. Which is pull down hard on the front of the bibs and pull out your thing top of it. Try it, it works.
this one is almost the same, wait, break away or break time???

Am I on track with this? Also, on average, how much fluids do the riders take in during a stage? I know weather conditions have a great impact on fluid intake.


16 bottles while on the road. Plus they're always drinking while off the bike.

I used to do volksmatches in Germany. I have peed behind a bush many times. I don't have much embassment left. Heck--get a pap with a manual and rump exam and you are afraid of nothing. :D


16 bottles at how many oz? I am figuring 20+ oz

ah yes... un naturel, as they call it.

Well, you sometimes have to get a bit creative with "positioning" - and pull waaay down...

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/5488/TOILET.jpg

Nature Calls for Women

I'm so sorry to ask about this subject, but I need help before my first sanctioned race. What do you do in the middle of the race if nature calls and there are no set rest stops? Is it acceptable to relieve yourself on the go or are you expected to go pull over and hope to catch up after? Please help...

Novice trying to compete but not offend

For ladies with a support vehicle handy it is easy. The pulls to the side of the road and she sits on the edge of the open door. Crew holds up a blanket for shielding if any onlookers are handy. TP left where she can use it if needed. One race a small lady racer wanted more privacy but her legs were too tired to tromp into the woods. I grabbed a roll of TP, picked her up, carried her into the woods, set her down on a rock, and turned my back, holding the paper where she could reach it. When she was done I carried her back, put her back onto the bike, and sent her down the road. Cindi Staiger, 1988, RAAM

Nature Calls for Women

Please help...


I don't have firsthand experience, but my GF races, and I've heard various reports from her.

First, if it's not a long race (less than 2 hours) you can probably go before and be fine for the duration. One interesting thing about cycling is that the restroom lines are the opposite of anywhere else-- usually about 4 women and 900 men waiting in line.

Given than it's your first sanctioned race, you're probably racing in the W4 category, or maybe 3/4. If it really is long enough that you have to go, it's possible that someone else will too. You can probably just wait for an empty stretch of road and ask the pack if they want to take a pee break. There's a reasonable chance that they'll agree. Another option is that you can tell them "I'm going to ride up the road to pee-- it's not an attack" and then you go up a ways, do your thing, and they should be just catching you as you finish. It works that way all the way up to the pro ranks, and they should be cool about it. If you should be devious and attack instead of peeing and waiting, expect a) to be dropped quickly, and b) no mercy ever in the future.

In the bigger women's races it's the top women who decide when the pack will make a nature call (same as in the mens).

And in the worst case, a non-trivial fraction of women have stories of just going while they ride. You should only have to do that if the race is really going (the pack is chasing a break, or you're chasing the pack). Some women just go through their shorts, and I know of at least one story of a woman (riding in a mixed pack) who leaned her butt over the back, rolled down her shorts, and as a bunch of guys got closer for a look, let loose, and the splash off the rear wheel sprayed the gawkers. She allegedly worked as a stripper so didn't have a lot of modesty issues.

Last night's stage, 9, had Karman Kroom, (I think that's how you spell his name), trying to catch the breakaway and was having no luck, so all of a sudden he pulls over and drops the front of his shorts. Phil was wondering why the hell he was pulling over and then he realized what he was doing as the camera pulled away just as he pulled "it" out. Then Phil went on to explain a little bit about when riders relieve themselves. I had never before seen that up close on OLN or any bike race. It was interesting.

Do you mean Karsten Kroon? Of CSC?