I'm new to this board and started cycling again this year and have only about 1500 miles under my belt. My question is not completely cycling related but I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem. Problem is, whenever I eat an average sized meal within 20 minutes I am very much in need of a restroom to, well, releave myself of old food. I don't know if it's cycling related or not because I can't recall exactly when it started, but it's been multiple months now. I'm in my early 20's, basically a vegetarian (mostly pasta, rice, beans, bread, bagel, fruit). There's been more than a few uncomfortable situations when I'm not near a bathroom and would really like to hear any info about this. An odd question, but annoying enough to require posting a question.

Thanks!

Have a cup of coffee (or herbal tea in your case). Lean back, chat up
the girl next to you. The coffee helps moves things along.

No need with help moving things along, it's slowing things down (or basically just making them less urgent) is what I'm looking to do.

In my day of racing I'd take a little Imodium to "seal the deal" just to avoid these little "surprises". I'd take a half dose ad that would be enough. I'm sure there is probably something more homeopathic if thats not your bag.

Your problem will only get worse as you age. You'll need to plan your potty time ahead and take Imodium as an insurance policy. I spend lots of time fishing offshore in boats without heads and have seen my share of humiliated guys doing the squat of shame off the side of boats. Did you know that catfish are called "turdburglars". Girls, somehow, have much better control over their bowels and rarely get themselves into these predicaments. Also, the urgency can be proportional to last night's beer and Taco Bell intake. Good luck.

It is possible to train your body to defecate at certain times of day and generally involves interrupting whatever cycle you currently have. Try having a big breakfast and lots of coffee (wonderful laxative) and going to the toilet - you will need to! After a few days of this your body should start to sync and any need to defecate during the day will be vastly reduced. It's a useful habit to get into for cycle touring.

Assuming that there is nothing physically amiss, what you describe may simply be the schedule your body is on. Are we talking about needing to go after every average meal or for example generally after lunch?

I once had a boss I could count on to hit the can every day after lunch. You could set your watch by it.
In lieu of posting this and the variety of advice you are going to receive, if you have concerns, professional medical advice is probably best.

If I haven't done my "duty" properly (and I am quite regular ) I will ride a short ride on my bike out and back, as riding seems to stimulate me. This solves the #2 problem.

However, as I get a bit older the #1 problem seems to be of a more frequent concern. That bladder jsut doesn't stretch as far, and certain meds can aggravate the situation. And, this can be quite an urgent concern when it arises, so to speak! While easily solved in the woods, it is not so easily solved on heavily used trails and roads. Therefore, I pre-plan my rides where I know there are good opportunities to do the #1 thing. I happen to know just about every potty place within about 10-15 miles! I could write a traveler's guide to potties in the area.

Im reading this thread after riding home from my 1st nightshift for a few weeks & wondering why I seem to have Bombay-bum to-day , of course its all the coffee I consumed in the early hours to help keep me awake !

Not really. Actually, biology gives us less of an advantage then men. While I consider it a bit gross to go through the anatomy of defecation, I can say that men have a slight advantage over women, making it a bit easier for them to "hold it in" longer. When women have to go, because of our biology, we just can't hold it in as long. Well... and we can't unzip and pee either, so that's no good!

Personally, when I started cycling, I noticed the same thing. Now, I don't eat a meal before my rides- I will stick with juice and powerbars, and leave it at that. When I finish my cycling, I will have my meal.

Since for women, it's much worse, because when you have to go, it's not like we can stand behind a tree and expect privacy, so if I take longer rides, I know my route ahead of time, and I know where I can stop for the bathroom. Long rides are always pre-planned, and I plan the breaks, and whether or not I feel like I have to go, I go to the bathroom anyway. I call it my "preventative pee plan (or PPP)".

If you have to eat before you leave, I would say right before you leave, you should definitely get some toliet time in. That may also help. Either eat something higher in fiber that can rip through your system, so by the time you get on the toliet, you'll be able to pass it, or try for a meal that's a little higher in complex carbs, so it would take a little longer to digest. Either way, definitely, you should get on the toliet for a few minutes before you leave and see if you can do the PPP. It works for me, it can work for you too!

Good luck!

Koffee

I think I own that album...Kidding. I kid cause I love.

I have a somewhat similiar problem.. it's like my body knows it's going for a long ride, and needs to expel all the waste before I go... it sucks to have your bib shorts on, and nature calls one more time !

I probably hit the can 4 or 5 times before I can actually leave the house on some morning rides...

jeff

I have a similar problem, not quite the same though...I've been trying since oct. of last year to get it on the "same time, every day" plan...not having that much luck. I was doing martial arts alot before the summer started and I had things under control...cycling seems to cause stranger things though (although I haven't been cycling much last 2 years and now boom I'm doing 80Km rides to start).

I'll keep an eye on this thread and post any insite I have.

BTW Imodium SCREWED ME UP BAD, if your going to use that don't abuse it...I relied on it to get me through exams and some important times in school and I err well I had to use castor oil...and I thought I was going to die...I've felt better wiping out on my mtn bike and pouring my blood on the ground.

Anyway it's nice to see people aren't to shy to discuss this stuff

Chad

Cheese, my friend... The great equalizer... Cheese, and lots of it! As a younger man, I spent a summer in the militia and there were several of us who didn't know what to do while on manuevres out in the bush for days on end (no crappers, leaves of dubious origin). Cheese, that glorious cheddar, mozzarella, havarti, gouda... you name it. Cheese can be your best friend. Bite it and bind it, I always say.

As a coffee snob, I'm like clockwork. Four hours after the first cup, I visit the water closet (I always wanted to say that). Grande latte I can handle. A venti turns me inside out.

If you're pounding coffee like Jagermeister at a frat house, then back off. I went to Kansas City to see family last week. Didn't have a cup of joe the first two days I was there. Guess which two days I didn't drop mud?

We started an office pool on when our's would go! Yeah, we know it was bad, but oh-so funny.

Some-one here mentioned your body's schedule. Well, I go pretty much every day after my breakfast oatmeal, and rarely have to go for the rest of the day.

I do get myself into situations where I really have to piss though.. a lot (just because I drink so much water)