A saddle sore problem

[Roody]

Man does my butt hurt!

The strange thing is, I don't know why. I haven't been riding more than ususal. I have a newish bike, but I've been riding it for about four weeks now so it doesn't seem like it would suddenly cause saddle sores, does it?

Any tips for curing these things? If possible, I need a "carfree" solution. That is, I'm a transportational cyclist. I need to ride a lot every day, so staying off the saddle would be my last choice as a solution.

Thanks in advance for any insights into causes and cures for saddle sores! :)



Note: This is a welcoming and affirming thread on the Living Carfree Forum. All are encouraged to participate, regardless of car-ownership-status or vehicular orientation.

[gerv]

A lot of folks around the Touring forums recommend bag balm to take care of the problem. Others say get a zinc oxide cream. I had a serious case last year and found that lathering cream over it before riding seemed to (eventually) make it go away. Needless to say, staying off the bike or at least out of the saddle would help, but I just kept on cycling. When the weather turned less humid, it seemed to help too. Sounds like in your case the new bicycle seat might be the problem. I think plastic seats aren't too helpful... you need some moisture-wicking...

[East Hill]

Has the weather changed, to hot and muggy? Could you be wearing clothes that don't breathe as well? A plastic saddle that doesn't breathe as well?

East Hill

[littledog]

Try standing on the pedals from time to time. And pedaling standing up for short distances. Sure it is slow and inefficient. For me it has kept me riding when I probably wouldn't have other wise though. I came to like it in time. Eventually even bought a 24" BMX bike as it is meant to be ridden that way. Now it is my favorite bike to ride. Most of the time I ride it sitting on the seat however.

[Doug5150]

Man does my butt hurt! .....Any tips for curing these things? If possible, I need a "carfree" solution.....
With recumbents, the incidence of saddle sores seems to be far lower than with upright bikes. On recumbent-bike forums, they're rarely ever mentioned. The least-expensive recumbents in the US cost $600 or so new.
~

[2manybikes]

Yep the heat will do it for sure. I'm having a heat wave on the east coast right now. Also the advice about standing up as much as possible is really good.

A new seat could possibly be worse in the heat. If you mean a saddle sore like a huge pimple, off the bike is the best thing, sorry (maybe you can ride standing up when needed?). Dress as loosely and cool as possible will also help that. Lowering or raising the seat a tiny bit can change the way you hit the saddle when you sit too. If you lower it a tiny bit the weight (contact area on the seat) will go more on the rear of the saddle. If the seat is too high there may be too much contact pressure towards the front narrow part of the seat. Of course tipping the seat will change things too. Even if this is just brought on by the heat this might help.

[Blue Jays]

A dermatologist can inject medication into the center of the saddle sore and it will disappear overnight. Other suggestions include immediate laundering of riding shorts plus use of BodyGlide, Chamois Butt'r, and/or Bag Balm to reduce chances of saddle sores appearing in the first place.

[zonatandem]

Clean cycling shorts every day. Hygiene is ultra important (yup, soap and water) before and after riding.
Topical meds can help (like Tronolane, Prep H, Bag Balm, etc).

[TrackGuy]

There are a lot of variables to consider: shorts; saddle, hygiene strategy, fit, weather, cycling style...

You mentioned that you have a "newish" bike, I'm assuming that means "new to you". Perhaps the saddle adjustment isn't dialed in quite right yet?

I was plagued with saddle sores for most of the winter and spring, I posted this question in the Commuting forum a while back and got a lot of advice. I've finally worked out a strategy and things seem to be resolving themselves on their own, without taking any time off from cycling. After taking all of the advice with a pinch of salt and discussing them with my GP, aka The Voice of Reason, turns out my strategy was wrong: I was treating them like acne ie drying them out, when I should have been moisturizing.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=320902

And no, as lovely as they are, you don't need a Brooks saddle. Although, this seems like as good an excuse as any to get one :D

[climbhoser]

Zinc Oxide is actually a topical solution meant to treat burns. In that vein, for sores that are directly from rubbing, chafing, etc...zinc oxide can provide some relief, but doesn't really heal.

For healing I prefer lanolin. Go to Target, go to the baby section and get some A+D ointment...or, if you want, go to a nursing store and get the stuff that's 100% potent. Don't get synthetic, either, get the real stuff.

I actually apply before riding, too, because it prevents chafing as well as heals it.

Zinc oxide never worked for me, and in some cases irritated my chafes further.

[u1st]

As far as topical treatments are concerned, I would recommend Lantiseptic (http://www.lantiseptic.com/sp.html) skin protectant. You can get it at just about any pharmacy, but you probably won't find it on the shelves. Ask the pharmacist and they can order it for you. A 14oz. jar was ~$10

[Blue Jays]

u1st, that Lantiseptic Body Wash looks like it might be a good product to prevent problems in the first place, too. BTW, u1st as in You First or as in UniFirst? I see those trucks driving all around here making deliveries.

[oldguy52]

Go down to the drug store and get some Neosporin. put that on for a couple days and it will probably clear it right up.

Rik

[Roody]

Wow, lots of hints and suggestions! Thanks to all. :)

I already tried some of the ideas after I read about them here:

*I tilted the seat back a bit, hoping to put more of my weight back on the hip bones. I guess it is logical, as a few people mentioned, that a new bike is a likely source of the problem, even though it feels comfortable (other than the sores) and it fits me better than the old bike. I might try riding a different bike for a couple days if all else fails.

*I dug out an old pair of cycling shorts that are looser and thinner. I'll make sure to wash them frequently, as a couple people mentioned.

*Today (and maybe tomorrow) I'm riding only my round-trip commute of 8 miles, instead of the 20 or more miles that I usually ride every day.

*The weather is hotter this week--we've had a pretty cool summer up until now. Not much I can do about that, except ride less and hope for cooler weather. But I sure hate to miss out on this great riding weather! :(

*I'll pick up some ointment today, probably Bag Balm because it has a cool name. (I think farmers call their cows' udders "bags".) :D

*Standing up to ride--I'm just not very good at that. :o Of course this might be a good time to practice.

[Blais]

Try Gold Bond or Talcum powder to help prevent it in the future. I've used it a few times with good results. I used to swear by the stuff when I was riding dirtbikes everyday.

[cerewa]

I've taken to using generous quantities of moisturizing lotion (specifically vaseline brand "waterproof" lotion) to avoid saddle sores. It works well, but moisturizing soap has also been a workable solution for me.

[Cosmoline]

What kind of saddle? Since I switched to a Brooks B66 and got it adjusted, my problems in this area have vanished.

[u1st]

u1st, that Lantiseptic Body Wash looks like it might be a good product to prevent problems in the first place, too. BTW, u1st as in You First or as in UniFirst? I see those trucks driving all around here making deliveries.

I've never used the body wash, but you're probably correct. I've used the skin protectant on a couple of brevets, Blood, Sweat & Gears, and some other longer rides this year, and it's been terrific. I've used Bag Balm, Neosporin, etc., but they tend to get thin and wear away over the long haul. The Lantiseptic is mostly lanolin and beeswax, plus some other anti-germy type stuff, and is much more tenacious.

Oh, the u1st is meant in the polite sense. I didn't realize it was the name of a company until after I chose it.

[Roody]

Update--
It's a couple days later. I've been riding less and the sores are healing but still there.

[2manybikes]

Update--
It's a couple days later. I've been riding less and the sores are healing but still there.

It sounds as if you normally ride in street clothes and then wear those clothes at your destination. If there was a way to wear bike shorts underneath, or changing them at a destination on some trips, especially the longer trips, just while healing it would help a little. But yes, funny looking and inconvenient for transportational cycling.

[chennai]

If it's chafing, as opposed to a pimple-like sore, lower your seat a half inch. This might be the ultimate fix and even if it is not, it will provide some immediate relief. Later you can raise your seat back if you like.

I had this problem with a new bike, though I thought I had set it up precisely as I had my old bike set up. Every now and then I'll wear a hole in my bottom while on a multi-day tour, and seat lowering has always provided some relief.

If it's a pimple, try zit cream or corn pads. I also think I get this sort of sore more frequently when I don't immediately change out of my cycling shorts. For me, they are rare with street clothes.

[Roody]

It sounds as if you normally ride in street clothes and then wear those clothes at your destination. If there was a way to wear bike shorts underneath, or changing them at a destination on some trips, especially the longer trips, just while healing it would help a little. But yes, funny looking and inconvenient for transportational cycling.

Actually, I do wear bike shorts, and I do change when I get to work. I've been wearing an old pair of bike shorts lately because they're cooler, looser and thinner than new ones. The seems to be helping.

[Roody]

If it's chafing, as opposed to a pimple-like sore, lower your seat a half inch. This might be the ultimate fix and even if it is not, it will provide some immediate relief. Later you can raise your seat back if you like.

I had this problem with a new bike, though I thought I had set it up precisely as I had my old bike set up. Every now and then I'll wear a hole in my bottom while on a multi-day tour, and seat lowering has always provided some relief.

If it's a pimple, try zit cream or corn pads. I also think I get this sort of sore more frequently when I don't immediately change out of my cycling shorts. For me, they are rare with street clothes.


This is interesting. My new bike has a bigger frame, and I am sitting relatively higher. My knees have been thanking me, but maybe my butt is paying the price.

[2manybikes]

This is interesting. My new bike has a bigger frame, and I am sitting relatively higher. My knees have been thanking me, but maybe my butt is paying the price.

If your knees are feeling better at this height you might be able to keep the height with a different saddle.
Your position is changed a little as the seat goes up, your legs go down the side of the saddle towards the rear more and you may put more weight on the front of the saddle too.

Good idea on the cooler shorts. If the shorts have a thinner pad that also lowers the effective seat height a little bit. That may be helping too.

[Nachoman]

Keep it clean. Baby wipes, baby!

[TrackGuy]

Go Swimming!

I was plagued all winter, haven't had one problem since the pool opened for the summer. You can always take a soak in the tub if you can't get to a pool.

[Blue Jays]

/\/\ Especially helpful if it's saltwater swimming. Ocean bathing has been known to be a natural cure for many ailments for hundreds of years.

[Nycycle]

Pearl Izumi's and ASSOS for 4 years, no saddle issues, at all...(anymore.)

[becnal]

What kind of saddle? Since I switched to a Brooks and got it adjusted, my problems in this area have vanished.

+1

[Roody]

I'm glad to report the problem is solved. A lot of the suggestions were good, but it was the one from chennai that actually led to the solution. chennai suggested lowering the saddle a half-inch. I wasn't prepared to do that, but I did tweak the saddle position. I ended up leveling it a little better and pushing it back about 1/8 inch. That tiny adjustment made all the difference in the world! The sores healed in three days and have not returned, even though I'm riding more than usual in some of the muggiest weather we've had in a long time.

Thanks to everybody for the great hints! :)

[chennai]

Wow. Nice to hear that I actually said something useful. I'm glad you're back to being happy in the saddle.