# How does one Lance Armstrong pee... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712 "2005-04-29T14:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yohan\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yohan_go/32/3620_2.png) [@yohan\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yohan_go)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/1 "2005-04-29T14:19:33Z")
Among 6 hour professional tour de bike, that is. Professional cyclists. Do the stop the bike and pee and lose some time? Do they pee while biking? Down the road or in used bidon? Dipers? Or they have superhuman bladder and do not pee at all? Mind you they drink gallons of liquids and they can’t just sweat out all of that. And of course, there are some other sports that this could be a problem… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/2 "2005-04-29T14:34:06Z")
[Apparently, they do stop](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2002tour/2002-07-15-usat-notes.htm): > [@](#): > > When you have to go, you have to go, even if you’re racing in the Tour de France. Relieving oneself of bodily fluids during the race is an act governed by official Tour rules and the unwritten law of the peloton. Riders are permitted to stop and urinate, but only out of public view. That can be difficult in sections where the roads are crowded with fans. Some riders are willing to take a chance. If spotted by a race official, a fine of 50 to 200 Swiss francs ($33.78-$135.14) is levied. Swiss francs are used because cycling’s international governing body is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/3 "2005-04-29T14:48:14Z")
yeah, like NASCAR. I think most athletes are too busy sweating to have the need to pee. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/4 "2005-04-29T14:59:22Z")
Paula Radcliffe stopped to relive herself during the London Marathon recently and, IIRC, during an interview with Frank Skinner she admitted to having defecated during a race as she didn’t have time to stop, grim business to be sure!! ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/5 "2005-04-29T15:28:32Z")
Hehe. Back when I raced in college I recall the group I was in passing the women’s peloton. They had all agreed to stop and take a potty break and the riders were either squatting on the side of the road or standing around waiting for their teammates and competitors to finish up. This was on a road in a rural area near Reno, so it’s not like there was anyone other then cyclists around to see it… ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/6 "2005-04-29T17:02:00Z")
Here’s an [MSNBC slide show](http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.asp?type=ss&launch=5378626,3038942) that shows pictures from last year’s Tour. To view it from that link, you may have to let it by your popup blocker. Go to picture number 17 for a picture of what the riders do when nature calls. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/7 "2005-04-29T18:12:50Z")
I’ve read a story of Greg LeMond racing when sick with, well #4 running down his leg. I’m not sure if it was the TdF or another stage race but I’m pretty sure it was in Europe. Those guys are hardcore. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/8 "2005-04-29T18:32:31Z")
What is #4? My elimination orifices only go up to #2. ---
**Author:** ![Fringe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5a626/32.png) [@Fringe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fringe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/9 "2005-04-29T18:48:43Z")
I’m not sure of how it is in all conditions, but when I rode in sweltering heat and was pretty much constantly sweating, I really never felt the need to urinate. I was at one race and I kept riding (off course, of course) after I had already finished, and for the 6 or so hours we were at the location I never had to relieve myself. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/10 "2005-04-29T19:00:56Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > What is #4? My elimination orifices only go up to #2. Well what other bodily fluids are there? Blood, sweat, tears, S E M EN !! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/11 "2005-04-29T19:19:02Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > What is #4? My elimination orifices only go up to #2. ::points finger:: HA! HA! (actually, I have no idea what #4 is either. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/12 "2005-04-29T19:24:04Z")
WTF? Did somebody leave their smiley in my post? ---
**Author:** ![yohan\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yohan_go/32/3620_2.png) [@yohan\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yohan_go)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/13 "2005-04-29T19:41:31Z")
So… You hold it, leave and possibily pay for it or #4 it (me don’t know what that is either)… ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/14 "2005-04-29T19:48:26Z")
I know what #4 is. It’s a typo. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/15 "2005-04-29T19:49:25Z")
I figure a #4 is just two #1’s and a #2. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/16 "2005-04-29T21:19:55Z")
Considering the output of their bodies, I imagine they could go for quite a while without needing a bathroom break. Thinking back to redoing my brother’s roof during a New Mexico summer, I drank water and whatever else my sister-in-law brought up the ladder, but could go all day without a whiz moment. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/17 "2005-04-29T21:37:32Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I figure a #4 is just two #1’s and a #2. \*\*\*BA-HA-HA-HA!!! \*\* \* ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/18 "2005-04-29T21:47:53Z")
> [@aerodave](#): > > Here’s an [MSNBC slide show](http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.asp?type=ss&launch=5378626,3038942) that shows pictures from last year’s Tour. To view it from that link, you may have to let it by your popup blocker. > > Go to picture number 17 for a picture of what the riders do when nature calls. Lovely title for that picture: “Pit stop”. The text says they “stop for a break”. Very PC. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/19 "2005-04-29T23:39:46Z")
I drove in a 300 lap stock car enduro race once. The whole thing took about 4 hours and I never had the urge to go the whole race. But about 15 minutes after it ended, nature called in a big way. FYI, a stock car enduro involves taking street legal cars, making minimal changes, usually only for safety, placing all the cars on the track and dropping the green flag. The race ends when the first car completes 300 laps. The race I ran started 56 cars, about half were still running at the end. I ran 284 laps and finished 11th driving a 61 Chevy Biscayne. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712/20 "2005-04-30T10:11:56Z")
it’s not surprising that they wouldn’t have overwhelming urges during long periods of physical activity, if I’m remembering my biopsychology correctly. the autonomic nervous system, which basically controls involuntary stuff in the body, has two divisions, sympathetic and parasympathetic, and basically when one is very active the other is not. the sympathetic division is pretty much your “fight-or-flight”, adrenaline-pumping, high-physical-activity division, whereas your parasympathetic is your default, boring, sitting around digesting food and not needing much oxygen to the tissues division. so if you’re cycling, or fighting, or running from a bear, energy is directed away from things like digestion and urine production, and towards pumping your heart faster, dilating your pupils, breaking down glycogen in your muscles, et cetera. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-lance-armstrong-pee/301712.md?page=2)