Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Chafing!

I'm looking to do a 250K ride this weekend, and after doing my last century, I noticed I had some chafing issues at the end of the ride, even while wearing bike shorts. What else can I do to reduce chafing in that situation?

One standard strategy is to apply some sort of lube in strategic locations. Folks use everything from vaseline to Bag Balm (for cow udders, supposedly) to Butt Buttr (found at your local bike shop). Some smear it on the chamois in the shorts as well, although I've never tried that. I have also found that, unfortunately, the high dollar shorts work better for me than the run-of-the-mill stuff I usually buy.

Since the point of using skin lube is just that, you want to avoid
skin creams/grease that list water as an ingredient. There is more
than enough water down there from sweat. You want something
that will last, especially on rides of more than 12hours. The previously
mentioned bag balm is odorized petroleum jelly, and is likely to last
a long time. If you want to smell like sheep, lanolin based creams
(with no water in ingredients) should work as well. Stearic/palmitic
etc are emulsifiers to make the grease emulsify with the water so
listing these in the ingredients with water suggests a product that
will not last. Any cream that 'vanishes' is NOT what you want.
Oils are less likely to last the amount of time needed as well.

Additional points: if the chafing goes away a few days after the
ride, then lube is in order. If there is skin abrasion to the point of
weeping like a blister, then this will have to heal first, and this may
take 5-7 days. If there is redness that persists and swelling then
the pro nemesis of crotch skin infection may be developing. This will
be quite painful, and MD attention is needed. Then there is fungal
infection, a well delineated red area that gradually spreads out of the
groin. OTC topical antifungals will usually suppress this over days to
a week or so.

BodyGlide FTW! Take the little travel size with you to re-apply as necessary.

Good answers, IMO.

OT question: what is meant by "FTW"? I know what it means to motorcyclists, and as it's unprintable in polite company, I kind of don't think that's what's meant here.

Good answers, IMO.

OT question: what is meant by "FTW"? I know what it means to motorcyclists, and as it's unprintable in polite company, I kind of don't think that's what's meant here.
netspeak of For The Win, usually used in the context of enthusiastic agreement where, as far as the writer is concerned, the author of the comment that they are quoting has 'won' the thread because they have clearly demonstrated such a deep understanding of truth and knowledge (as encompassed in the recommendation for Bodyglide) that no future discussion on the topic is required or necessary.

see also: QFT (quoted for truth), IAWTC (I agree with the comment), You Win The Internets.

also, Hitler.

Oh. Thanks.

Does this mean I can't ad anything to the topic? :p :)

I use Chammy Butt'r, which will help a bunch. Make sure you put it on thick.

However, chafing is a lot about the quality of the short and how well the saddle works for you. I have a nice set of cannondales that have a stretch chamois that I really like, though I wouldn't suggest big changes right before a big ride.

I use Chammy Butt'r, which will help a bunch. Make sure you put it on thick.

However, chafing is a lot about the quality of the short and how well the saddle works for you. I have a nice set of cannondales that have a stretch chamois that I really like, though I wouldn't suggest big changes right before a big ride.

Ah, I should have mentioned the "Butt'r" in my haste to recommend BodyGlide. To be specific, my steps:

- clean body -- if haven't taken a shower in the last hour before a ride, wipe the chamois-contact areas of your bod with a washcloth or wet paper towel
- clean shorts every time (well, almost)
- prep the chamois with the Butt'r -- NOT too much, IMO, be sure it is absorbed well by the chamois
- BodyGlide on key spots of the body

Works pretty well, IMO. Good bike position helps too.

I've used Skin Sake Athletics pretty successfully, so have some friends of mine. Keeps you dry, but doesn't feel slippery or greasy. Never had chafing problems while using it! You can get it at www.skinsake.com.

I noticed I had some chafing issues at the end of the ride, even while wearing bike shortsWow, you would have really been hurtin' if you went nude.

There are more than one reason people chafe. And more the one way to deal with it. Figure out what goes wrong and treat it before, during and after it becomes a problem.

Also make sure to get out of the seat every once and a while. I find I hurt a lot less on a hilly route and I'll often get get out of the saddle on flat terrain every once and a while if the entire course is flat.

assos

assos

...and Bag Balm. Available at your local livestock supply store.

Scott P
Bend, OR
...where the weather was nice enough for a 40 mile recovery ride today!

...and Bag Balm. Available at your local livestock supply store.

Scott P
Bend, OR
...where the weather was nice enough for a 40 mile recovery ride today!

Our local Waldbaums has Bag Balm in the skin care aisle - no kidding. And yes, it really was originally made for cows' udders in the cold Vt. winters. I stopped using it because my shorts started falling apart pretty quickly - someone told me that the petroleum jelly isn't good for the material. Not sure if that last part is true?


JB

I'm looking to do a 250K ride this weekend, and after doing my last century, I noticed I had some chafing issues at the end of the ride, even while wearing bike shorts. What else can I do to reduce chafing in that situation?

Where are you chafing the most? I had a fair bit of chafing from the sides of the chamois, even with good shorts. Then I found some cannondale shorts that have a flexible stretch chamois, and those with the chamois butt'r have worked great for me.

It might have something to do with your saddle, also. If it is not a bit slippery it will be grabbing your shorts and causing then to drag across your skin which is not good.

It might have something to do with your saddle, also. If it is not a bit slippery it will be grabbing your shorts and causing then to drag across your skin which is not good.

Yep.

My observation about Brooks is they hurt more when you first get back on the bike after a break, but chafe less after you've been on for 4-6 hours.

Re creams, I've tried sorbolene barrier cream and zinc oxide creams (sudocreme - for nappy rash; also zinc sunscreen) and they both work fine despite not being cycling-specific, so I'd say just pick something from what's been suggested so far and give it a go.

Try coasting off the seat for a minute or so every 15-20 minutes from the start of the ride to see if it helps.

I regularly use something and have had good success with the following:

BodyGlide
ASSOS
Aquaphor (in baby diaper section)
ButtButter (sp?)

I apply one of these to my skin and to the areas on the shorts where I believe a problem may occur.

The major point is to only ride in clean shorts, and get out of them and shower as soon as possible. Hygene is the key to prevention.

Have not had a problem in years with these simple steps.

Assos does it for me as well.

Oh, and I haven't seen that mention anywhere in this thread. Keep the underwear off. Commando into the bike shorts!

I find petroleum jelly results in zits in fairly short order and the oil of wintergreen in Assos cream burns a bit. Anything that works for nappy rash does the job for me.

Oil-based products tend to destroy Lycra but there will be plenty of people who get 20 years from their lycra shorts when they slather them with Vaseline, etc. ;)

Lucas Papaw ointment. Made from the fermented fruit of the papaw plant. Can be used for everything: boils, burns, chaffing, cuts, cracked skin, gravel rash, insect bites, nappy rash the list just goes on.
Its that safe and natural, you can eat it without any problems not that i would but a freind of mine has for some aliment and he swears by the stuff.
It 's really cheap, can be purchased in any supermarket or health food shop, smells fine and has good staying power. Something similiar in the States could exist as its made in Australia. For Australian readers give it a go.

I take a different path. Some nylon double layer mesh shorts (such as Champion) over the bike shorts. I suppose any slippery fabric would do, I've never had a hint of chaffing with that combination. If I just ride in my bike shorts, I get chaffing on longer, hotter rides.