I've watched guys do it a few minutes into a 100 mile RR. I wanted to ask them if they really couldn't go before the race. You have to be able to relax though, and I can't.

I either scout out spots (even in CA, where I only visit - I have spots I know are "okay"), ask the counter person to look after bike, or take it in with me (typically gas stations where you have to ask for a key to unlock the bathroom).

Re riding 2+ days in a row, try it. The first few miles are literally a pain as your body gets back into the rhythm, but it's okay after that. Some article with Frankie Andreu (as a racer, not commentator) mentioned how he used to classify days. "It was a six sit day", meaning you were kinda sore so you had to re-sit yourself six times every time you stood up. I've never had more than a "three or four sit day", and that's doing 5.5 hours avg over a week or two. At a "six sit day" I'd probably call it a rest day.

btw he finished one tour (I think that one, where they interviewed him) with about half of his saddle cut out (basically one side - the right or the left - looked like they took a sawzall to it). He had a saddle sore. They put a cover on the saddle so you couldn't tell it was cut out. He attacked with about 1.5k to go on the last stage, got second to Eddy Seigneur.

cdr