Fifty Plus (50+) - I think* I have a saddle sore?

There's a large area where my upper thing and my bottom meet, where it just hurts. It's hot, and red, and swollen. It happened after my first 40-miler, and at that point it was just a tiny pimple thing that hurt a lot. It doesn't hurt when I'm actually riding, though, so this confuses me.... It's been a couple weeks now.

Is this a saddle sore?

Is this thread useless without pics? :p

It could be a saddle sore, or it could be an ingrown hair from pressure on your seat. Keep some Bag Balm on it, and it should get better. I like Body Glide in the areas that rub, it doesn't seem to need "replenishing" on a long ride like other lubes.

Try Brave Soldier ointment to expedite healing. This stuff is great!

Is this thread useless without pics? :p

:eek::eek: My retinas! They burn!

Try some face-pimple medication (easy to access if you have teenagers) on it for a few days and see what happens. If it's an ingrown hair the swelling will shrink and the redness should disappear and you can see what it is. If it's something else then you may want your doctor to deal with it, as an infection in this area will really crimp your ridin' style. :(

Hope it's a quick fix. :)

Sounds like it is time to bring out the leeches.

I hate to add this, but what about the possibility of a spider bite? It might warrant a trip to the doc to have it checked out.

Ooooh, I know about spider bites. My mom got bit by a brown recluse and it ate down to the bone in her thigh.

No, it's not that kind of a sore... are saddle sores like spider bites? This almost feels like it's a boil under the skin, but kind of broad and generalilzed. I'm not sure a topical would help, unless its to keep friction from happening to it. It's not a big deal, it's just that it's been around for a while. I can feel it the sharpest when I sit on a toilet seat.. it just seems to hit it in the wrong spot.

What happened is that I jumped from a 25 mile ride to a 40 mile ride one day, but I was surprised by it being limestone so I was slow and a long time in the saddle...and my bike was in the shop, so I was on my back-up bike with a new woman's brooks that I had never ridden. I think it was hard, and too wide for me.

Not any images that are easy to find on google... there are lots of a horse* getting saddle sore on its back. I had no idea. It looks terrible.

Go to a dermatologist and get some prescription medication.

Ain't going to comment as I have had a fair too many pimples in the last few years from painfull saddles to give you advise.

could be...
this comment will prolly come a little late for this one...
since having suffered thru more small infections, down there, than I;d like to remember, round about Mid 1990s I started applying a very light touch antibiotic ointment down there, after showering, every 3 days or so, when I'm riding consistently.
Happy to note that since then the minor infections from problem hair folicles and any such have pretty much not happened.
In light of riding for avg 6 outta 7 days now since my re-entry back in April 05, and at least 2 days a week of 3+ and 4+ hour rides... no infections - a good thing
hope you get it sorted - that stuff is a pain!

Does anyone have the 2005 Dave Zabriskie "taint maintenance" article archived? I can't find it anywhere. It would fit right in to this discussion. ;)

Fairly common ailment especially for women. Keep the area clean. It will eventually either pop (gross I know) or be reabsorbed in the body. It's caused by pressure and irritation and hairs getting ingrown, all that. No way to prevent them if you ride alot. If they get large and painful enough you can drain them but make sure you "operate" as clean as possible.

FYI - go to teamestrogen.com. Do searches on these individual topics: "saddle sores" "ingrown hairs" and lots of topics and discussions come up. Right now there is a current thread on "saddle issues" - some problem.

Might be a better place to ask your question! ;)

try a Brazilian wax....that'll take care of the hair..

Hot, red and swollen can indicate infection. You might oughta consult your healthcare practitioner. Especially if it doesn't improve soon. Warm soaks can increase bloodflow to the area and help with natural healing processes.

Fairly common ailment especially for women. Keep the area clean. It will eventually either pop (gross I know) or be reabsorbed in the body. It's caused by pressure and irritation and hairs getting ingrown, all that. No way to prevent them if you ride alot. If they get large and painful enough you can drain them but make sure you "operate" as clean as possible.

I have the same experience as stated here.
You can reduce the chance by twice daily applying Cort-aid cream or equivalent on carefully cleaned and dried skin. Removing hair in that area is also helpful. (Not shaving, removing with Epilaptor or tweezers or hair remover)
These pimples are no fun if on a long tour. I would go to extremes to avoid them. That is what I am describing above.
BTW, a sure way to get this is wearing damp or wet shorts. I guess improper sanitized shorts is even worse.

No, it's not that kind of a sore... are saddle sores like spider bites? This almost feels like it's a boil under the skin, but kind of broad and generalilzed. I'm not sure a topical would help, unless its to keep friction from happening to it. It's not a big deal, it's just that it's been around for a while. I can feel it the sharpest when I sit on a toilet seat.. it just seems to hit it in the wrong spot.

I had a spider bite that had a solid core about 1 1/2 inches across and the redness covered an area of about 8 inches in diameter. It had no head. I applied ice and hot packs to try and get it to come to a head, but it never did. It took almost 15 days to go away. After I saw no improvement after 5 days I went to the doctor. Bacitracin and benydryl were what I used. I agree with the others that you should go see a doc

I had a spider bite that had a solid core about 1 1/2 inches across and the redness covered an area of about 8 inches in diameter. It had no head. I applied ice and hot packs to try and get it to come to a head, but it never did. It took almost 15 days to go away. After I saw no improvement after 5 days I went to the doctor. Bacitracin and benydryl were what I used. I agree with the others that you should go see a doc

Well, assuming the PO is like me, I rather not go to a doctor unless everything else fails. I go to Immediate Care and that means 50/50 a female doctor.:o:o
I also had several of these things and some never popped and some did. All responded slowly, but responded, to Cort-aid type topical ointments. I do not know why but they did.
On a 25 day tour I avoided all problems. Others did not. I shared my cream and they reported success.

I biked several weeks in FL in winter with high humidity. Lots of such problems until I got serious about it.

Well, assuming the PO is like me, I rather not go to a doctor unless everything else fails.


Exactly. I didn't want to say so, because I'd didn't want to cause a hooply, but I don't go to the doctor unless I have to. The last time I went was about 3 years ago when I got shingles (which I really did* think were spider bites!)

I was just curious as to whether this was a saddle sore or or something else. I know bikers get saddle sores all the time, and treat themselves. I just never found a picture or a really good description. Sometimes it sounded like an abrasion, sometimes like an open sore, sometimes just a sore area.

If it really causes problems, I'll go to the doctor, but right now I think it's in the "common occurence" range.

Exactly. I didn't want to say so, because I'd didn't want to cause a hooply, but I don't go to the doctor unless I have to. The last time I went was about 3 years ago when I got shingles (which I really did* think were spider bites!)

I was just curious as to whether this was a saddle sore or or something else. I know bikers get saddle sores all the time, and treat themselves. I just never found a picture or a really good description. Sometimes it sounded like an abrasion, sometimes like an open sore, sometimes just a sore area.

If it really causes problems, I'll go to the doctor, but right now I think it's in the "common occurence" range.

OK, I am trying to help. It took a few weeks but then it got smaller and went away. I used Cortizone, Anti-Itch cream, Cort-Aid, Anti-Bacterial Cream. All of them indiscriminately but every morning and night.

It fixed it. It is gone.:)

Thanks, Will and everyone! I have a cream-slathered bottom as we speak.

Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected.....

I think I had an ingrown hair last week from far too much sitting at a 2-1/2 day conference preceded by an 8-hr. car trip followed by a 9-1/2 hr. car trip home. Pain, redness, suffering. Feh.

I have some Bactroban cream left over from our crash 3+ wks. ago and applied it. Problem resolving as we speak. I did have to see my GP for the Rx, but wanted a second opinion on my wound care, banged-up knee, etc. resulting from the crash.

For the day prior to seeing the doc I used T*rget brand triple antibiotic ointment on my wounds and will use that on any future issues I have with other types of infections. I think my doc prescribed Bactroban as a preventive measure.

Hope your pain becomes a distant memory soon!

An ointment my Dad used on us as kids, was Ointment of Icthamol. It is based from crude oil(says it in the ingredients). That stuff is black and needs to be covered well with a bandage to prevent dark clothing stains, but it draws out infections like nothing I've ever seen. A couple of years ago I looked around and didn't find it, but found another ointment with (crud oil) in the ingredients, and it worked just as well.

http://www.elydrugs.biz/ichthammol.html

I had the same thing, in the same place, trying different saddles. Anyhow I put Neosporin on it and it was gone in a week.

Solveg,

How's the.........er..........ah..............problem doing. Are you back to riding?

Good Luck!

Thanks for asking, Card! It's improving greatly! I never had to stop riding, but I shortened my ride... it didn't hurt while I was on* the bike as much as it hurt in general.

I'm glad I asked about it, because I think it was an ingrown hair that got infected, and to be honest, it never occurred to me I had a hair in that particular location. :o

Thanks for asking, Card! It's improving greatly! I never had to stop riding, but I shortened my ride... it didn't hurt while I was on* the bike as much as it hurt in general.

I'm glad I asked about it, because I think it was an ingrown hair that got infected, and to be honest, it never occurred to me I had a hair in that particular location. :o

Glad you're doing better!!

Seems the older I get the more wild hairs I have growing. The barber spends as much time on my nose, ears and eyebrows as he does my head!

Happy riding!

Glad to hear you are doing better and I am glad it was and infected hair rather than a spder bite.

Does anyone have the 2005 Dave Zabriskie "taint maintenance" article archived? I can't find it anywhere. It would fit right in to this discussion. ;)

Originally Posted by David Zabriskie says MAIN-TAINT-ANCE

An often overlooked part of being a healthy and fast cyclist is the taint. The taint is the part of your body that contacts your saddle. I believe the name was derived from the taint not being the parts that are well know by name: as in it taint that and it sure taint those! If you can’t comfortably sit on the saddle you taint gonna be able to ride your bike very far. This can negativly effect training and racing, so one must keep this area well main-taint-ed. There are three simple concepts to accept and follow: Cleanliness, Lubrication and Dryness. Trust me all of this was learned by experience! Here are the steps to follow:


1. Begin with a clean taint and chamois (if you are a hairy beast like me you may want to shave the area—USE CAUTION!)
1. Generously apply chamois cream
2. Ride, Train, Do what you do
3. Dismount bike (Follow the next steps immediately and without fail)

i. Remove chamois

ii. Shower

iii. Use a truly antibacterial soap like Hibiclens

4. Exit Shower

i. Dry taint with towel

ii. Dry taint with air

1. Either remain naked while making your after ride meal or use hair dryer

2. Antique yourself ala Jackass with a handful of Baby Powder

Why do we do this?

The chamois cream, helps reduce chafing that occurs while riding. There are a number of products out there and here are a few that I know work well:

Noxema

Butt Butter

Bag Balm

Assos Chamois cream

Sixtufit

Try them to determine what works best for you. Often when things are getting a bit raw I mix a few to exploit the full potential of each. Do yourself and your training partners a favor by not using too much. I have been known to have a little seep out of my shorts and it never fails to gain the attention of those behind me. Make sure your chamois is in good shape. Don’t use one that is old and worn out. After the ride get out of your shorts ASAP, you don’t wanna start growing mushrooms down there. Get into the shower and wash up, if you are having “problems” use Hibiclens, it is a surgical scrub and very powerful. I take it to races because each hotel has different soaps and who knows which could cause an irritation. After the shower make sure the area is dry either walk around naked for a while and let it air out or use a hairdryer. The final dose of goodness comes from a little shot of baby powder to the taint. By following these steps you should be main-taint-ing fairly well. If you are experiencing some saddle sores sometimes the only way to get rid of them is to stop riding for a couple of days. If it’s really bad you might have to see a doctor. I am sort of an expert so if you want you can send pictures and I’ll give you my opinion on the best way to proceed. PLEASE DON'T!

Oh yeah one more thing I think that can help is to shave all of that “bum fluff” down. It can be tricky, use electric clippers and be careful, I recommend a mirror.

-DZ

--------------------------

Following the above regimen is a huge commitment, especially if you have to deal with this at work. I'm probably not the best person to ask as I seem to have at least one on the go at all times, but the bottom line is to keep that area clean. Whether to soften with moisturizers or dry with acne medications is a subject of debate. Like the "Blister Prevention" conversations that runners have, the Saddle Sore question always brings up seemingly conflicting answers - you'll need to experiment to figure out which one is your personal Holy Grail of Bum Comfort - and be willing to change tactics when your personal miracle cure suddenly stops working. When I posed this question a while back, I was recommended everything from wool shorts to Brooks saddles.

TG

Huh.

Thanks! So this implies that saddles sores are raw skin that goes bad. Like a big abrasion.

Huh.

Thanks! So this implies that saddles sores are raw skin that goes bad. Like a big abrasion.

Keep in mind that Dave Z. is more than a little off center. :D
He is also extremely fast in a time trial. In fact, just last week he repeated as US National TT Champion.

Maybe a more reliable source, if less entertaining:
http://www.rivbike.com/article/misc/saddle_sores

Originally Posted by David Zabriskie says MAIN-TAINT-ANCE
TG

Thanks! I've looked all over for that post. Do you have a link to the source?

Huh.

Thanks! So this implies that saddles sores are raw skin that goes bad. Like a big abrasion.

Or a small one in a really bad place. But yes, raw skin. Is there a good place for raw skin, now that I think about it?