Basically, I was wondering how most racers deal with urinating during races.
A few months ago I was in a big stage race about 128 km I think, did the usual morning routine, had a coffee and a piece of toast, drank some water and rode to the race. When I get there I hang a leak, but by the time the race is to start i have to go again- I am busting on the finish line!
I immeadiatly start looking for an opportunity to pee, but every time i think to go there is a surge. An hour in and i am in real pain, and can't drink any water. By the time get to the final climb, which as about 11 k long, it is well over thirty degrees and i have only had 100 ml of water. In the shade i am overtaking riders, but when the sun hits i go backwards. I reach the summit and get relief from the wind as i start the descent into the finish line, but i must of been delerious, as i forget about the last set of switchbacks, and wind out to about 90kmph on the what i think is the last straight. but there is really one last pair of tight bends, I can't see them as they are hidden by a wide blind corner. By the time I find them it is too late, I end up crashing into a sandstone drainage ditch, smash my collarbone , forks and front wheel.
I blame it on the need to pee and (therefore) not drinking- the obviouse answer is to drink less before the races and skip the coffee, but both seem to have their positives, you don't want to start the race dehydrated and the caffiene gives a little edge and endurance.
So, do other racers have this problem, am i drinking too much, is there anything you can take to make your body retain water without dehydrating you further (like salt) ???
A few months ago I was in a big stage race about 128 km I think, did the usual morning routine, had a coffee and a piece of toast, drank some water and rode to the race. When I get there I hang a leak, but by the time the race is to start i have to go again- I am busting on the finish line!
I immeadiatly start looking for an opportunity to pee, but every time i think to go there is a surge. An hour in and i am in real pain, and can't drink any water. By the time get to the final climb, which as about 11 k long, it is well over thirty degrees and i have only had 100 ml of water. In the shade i am overtaking riders, but when the sun hits i go backwards. I reach the summit and get relief from the wind as i start the descent into the finish line, but i must of been delerious, as i forget about the last set of switchbacks, and wind out to about 90kmph on the what i think is the last straight. but there is really one last pair of tight bends, I can't see them as they are hidden by a wide blind corner. By the time I find them it is too late, I end up crashing into a sandstone drainage ditch, smash my collarbone , forks and front wheel.
I blame it on the need to pee and (therefore) not drinking- the obviouse answer is to drink less before the races and skip the coffee, but both seem to have their positives, you don't want to start the race dehydrated and the caffiene gives a little edge and endurance.
So, do other racers have this problem, am i drinking too much, is there anything you can take to make your body retain water without dehydrating you further (like salt) ???