Road Cycling - Chaffing! ouch!

Rode 50 miles last weekend longest ride yet. But had a bad case of chaffing in the nether regions. I wear Lemond riding shorts, which are padded of course. I also use a product called chamoise butter. And it worked pretty good until I took some time off the bike. But now that I am back riding it doesn't seem to work as well. I am also using a different seat then before. I was thinking it might be the seat, but it might also be the skin lube. If anyone knows of a better product let me know. Thanx.

King Ajo

I suppose you already know to make sure that you're 'really' clean and dry down there after a ride. Get some anti-bacterial soap for your after ride shower.

Originally posted by kingajo
I am also using a different seat then before. I was thinking it might be the seat, but it might also be the skin lube.
What saddle did you have before and what saddle are you riding now.
If the new saddle is wider in the nose region maybe it is rubbing against the inside of your leg. :(

I use a product called Udderly Smooth. It was originally developed for cows (really), but is now marketed as a skin cream, and works quite well. I got it at Wal-Mart, but it may be available elsewhere.

I find that with a wider saddle or if I am not careful about my position on the saddle I experience skin rubbing against skin due to the flesh in the area between my legs being pushed out by the saddle slightly so that the crease area on either side rubs. I try to be very attentive to this and adjust my position carefully every time is sit down. I'm not sure how to describe it. If I sit down wrong the flesh on the sides of the saddle kind of bunches and pushes outward. With the right little wriggle everything moves in to the proper place. Before I figured this out I would experience chafing on rides over 40 miles. As long as I pay attention I can now usually avoid it.

Does this post sound as wierd as it felt to write? :o

udderly smooth is a good product. also vaseline CREAMY works well. above all get out of your clothes as soon as possible and dry well after shower.

the old adage that dry skin is healthy skin and wet skin is unhealthy skin is true. (chaffing, diaper rash)

some people's body chemistry lend itself to rashes like some people get warts or cold sores...

This is happening during the ride not after. And I use a blow dryer after I shower so it isnt because I am wet from the shower. I tried some Udderly Smooth before I rode and have also been using it after I shower. And it seems to be helping the healing. But I am thinking that the chamoise in my shorts may be rubbing me the wrong way. Thanx everyone.

king Ajo:D :D

Hate to say this but get a better saddle (like the sella italia flite line http://www.selleitalia.com/products/scheda.php3?itemid=5 or max flite http://www.selleitalia.com/products/scheda.php3?itemid=9), and also better quality bib shorts from Nalini - this guy has great prices http://www.bikejerseys.com/bibs2002.html.

OK, well i've really never had a chaffing problem, and i've never tried one of these creams, but i have kind of a different problem, so not sure if the cream still will help:

i have developed a small fluid-filled node or sack or whatever on the inside of my thigh where i sit on the seat. it's about the size of a large marble (smaller than a golf ball). it's not painful or anything. i did an 8-day Transalp tour 2 weeks ago where i was on the bike about 8 hours per day. on the 7th day this bump developed. it went away a few days later, but then i did a long rode on Saturday and then a 3-hr ride Wednesday -- and it's back.

any ideas? will this "chaffing cream also help"

as far as i know i don't have any problems with my seat or chaffing. maybe it's just from overload from being on the bike so much and will go away and not come back pretty soon...

fortunately it's not painful and it doesn't hurt to sit in a chair and i can still ride with it too although it's a little awkward.

You have what we in the Biz call a saddle sore. These can be caused by bacteria in you shorts, not cleaning enough etc. I was on a 50 day cross country ride this summer and people on the group started to get this about halfway through. One of the best things to use is Gold Bond Cream and Powder after rides and some kind of lube durring rides (or else it will hurt like hell). Also Bicycling Mag's Long Distance Cycling Book has some good tips also.

Both my close friend and I have suffered from saddle sores, thats what the chaffing leads to. My pain and reserach lead me to this:

- lube up pre-ride, if the problem is in existence use neosporin to lube up those regions, if not something like bag balm or the like.

- get into your shorts as late as possible before the ride and out immdiately after.

- wash shorts after each ride and use woolite of other mild detergent.

- the sore can come from an ingrown hair inthe region, that gets infected, and becomes a boil or nasty pimple, bacteria and harsh detergent are the enemy.

- the ones that look like bumps and not boils see a doc, the ones that look like boils or pimples - treat them as such to gain some relief.

I was putting in 100 miles a week off road and developed these, they can hurt, so far on the road bike with the same miles I am clear, but one long ride and that can all change. I dont really think that if you are prone that they cant be avoided all together. but with dilignece about cleanliness they can be mitigated.

ed

How long was your longest ride prior to the 50? Your butt and saddle require time to get to know one another. Sudden increases in mileage usually result in chafing. The safe bet seems to be 10% increases from one long ride to the next.

Here's an article on saddle sores (http://www.arniebakercycling.com/fa_saddlesores.htm) by Arnie Baker, bike racer and M.D. A lot of it re-iterates things already posted.

Where's the chafing? I used to get the same chafing Rainman describes (painful and very slow to heal, in my case). My solution was a saddle with a narrow nose.

FWIW, sometimes people recommend putting Dr. Scholl's moleskin over saddle sores. I tried it once on a supported century and the d@mn stuff balled up and wedged itself into a position that really hurt. :eek: