Saddle sore

[George]

Every time I go riding and I start getting around that 30 or more miles, I get a saddle sore. Always in the same spot and I tried every saddle adjustment I can think of. I have a Alias saddle, which is suppose to be one of the best and I wear PI shorts. I went and got a bike fit and they said my right leg is about 1/4 of an inch shorter than my left. Last night I moved my right shoe clip up about 2mm, but I haven't tried it yet. Does anybody else have any idea of what else to try.

[StanSeven]

Try putting some lubricant of the spot of your skin where the sore occurs before you ride. Petrolium jelly, Chamois Butter, or even triple antibiotic salve if you worry about the sore getting worse all work.

[heckler]

lube it, and forget about "suppose to be one of the best " and try out everythign to find out what is best for you. Don't limit it to saddles try different shorts/bibs too.

[chewybrian]

Just 'cause they call it foot powder, don't mean it has to go on your feet. That's all I got to say about that...

[George]

I tried it today again for 30 miles, with lube and I think it's time for another Brooks. Thanks for the replies guys.

[idig]

I tried it today again for 30 miles, with lube and I think it's time for another Brooks. Thanks for the replies guys.

A Brooks isn't for everyone, but I think that's just because everyone hasn't tried one.

[George]

A Brooks isn't for everyone, but I think that's just because everyone hasn't tried one.

I have one on my other bike and I think it's great. What I don't like about it is the break in.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

A&D Ointment to prevent infection with the zinc, and soothe it.


Also, Silvadene Cream (Prescription), aka Silver Sulfadiazine Cream in generic. It's also used as a preventive in infections with burns as well as nonhealing open wounds.

[bdinger]

Here's the trick to Brooks break-in, and others can probably agree. Put about 100 miles of shorter rides (< 20 miles) on it. Then do one long ride on a hot day wearing the least amount of shorts possible (like, just lycra) and sweat it in. Put up with it for 40 miles, and then it's yours. That's what I had to do, after that ride it was pure heaven.

Now, probably 1500 miles later, I still love it. My "in town urban assault machine" has a regular saddle that's great in town, but man the Brooks... anything over 20 miles.

[George]

A&D Ointment to prevent infection with the zinc, and soothe it.


Also, Silvadene Cream (Prescription), aka Silver Sulfadiazine Cream in generic. It's also used as a preventive in infections with burns as well as nonhealing open wounds.


Thanks Tom, I put a lot of Bag Balm on before I went riding today and it still tore me up.

[Nycycle]

Every time I go riding and I start getting around that 30 or more miles, I get a saddle sore. Always in the same spot and I tried every saddle adjustment I can think of. I have a Alias saddle, which is suppose to be one of the best and I wear PI shorts. I went and got a bike fit and they said my right leg is about 1/4 of an inch shorter than my left. Last night I moved my right shoe clip up about 2mm, but I haven't tried it yet. Does anybody else have any idea of what else to try.


ASSOS Chamois Cream. But get cured first. If you don't get the rash gone and good it WILL just keep coming back...I hear others work but I have such fantastic success with ASSOS I can't bring my self to try any thing else.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Yeah, get that healed up. The Zinc will help a lot from the A&D.

Silvadene should be reserved for a skin infection. Silver salts are antibacterial, + it has Sulfa in it.

Thanks Tom, I put a lot of Bag Balm on before I went riding today and it still tore me up.

[George]

Do you guys think I should cancel the Brooks and try the Alias again when I get healed up.

[jaxgtr]

Are you sure you have the right size Alias? Did you get sized for the saddle? I was in between sizes and found the 143mm so much better than the 155mm. I don't get the rubbing I used to get. Once I change it out, it has been heavily riding. You might just need to go to a narrower saddle.

[George]

Are you sure you have the right size Alias? Did you get sized for the saddle? I was in between sizes and found the 143mm so much better than the 155mm. I don't get the rubbing I used to get. Once I change it out, it has been heavily riding. You might just need to go to a narrower saddle.

Yes I got fitted when I bought the Roubaix and they used the ass meter and I was a 143. I wonder if the other creams that were mentioned, are that much different from the Bag Balm.

[jaxgtr]

I use Chamois But'r before each ride. I started using it I was having the rubbing, but now it just part of my pre-ride procedure. I probably don't need it, but I still use it to keep from having issues.

[Fastflyingasian]

i have used 5+ different saddles and the alias saddle made my butt bones scream the loudest. it was fine for 15-20 miles and after i couldnt sit on the seat on the seat anymore. if you like the brooks than screw the alias seat. i love my terry fly. for me it was comfortable from mile one and i have at least 400 on it now.

[Air]

Another cream to try: Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter. Plus your shorts will smell like a 1000 nubile coeds.

[Soonerinfrisco]

I wonder if the PI shorts could be the problem. I bought a pair a couple of years ago and I always got cuts along the seam lines. This seems to be a problem that at least some folks have with PIs. Go check the RBR reviews on PI shorts/bibs. Now if it is a raw spot, probably not the same problem I was having. I also had an Alias that came on my Tarmac and I never could get used to it....butt killer for me.

Good luck.

[jaxgtr]

Whoops, I forgot to mention that I am riding the Avatar Gel, not the Alias

[plodderslusk]

I stopped having rear end problems after I started to take a quick shower before every ride. I use a good saddlecream as well, but for my sensitive behind I think the extra showers are well worth it.

[George]

Thanks again guys, I was thinking about this all night or most of it. I keep getting raw in the same spot, about 2" in front of the right sit bone and always in the crease where the butt and the thigh meet. I know with my other Brooks I don't have to use cream. I can ride with the Brooks with no bike shorts at all for 30 miles. I would like this other saddle to work, but I'm affraid it's not going to. I'm going to try the shower before the ride and see if that helps or not. I just keep thinking about going on multi day tours with this saddle and you couldn't keep as clean as you would like, I'd be up a creek. Thanks again.

[Big_e]

I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but...Here we go, and it's for the good of the group. I noticed that, once I started shaving down There, I get no more saddle sores. I also started wearing proper biking shorts instead of peddling around in regular lounging shorts. Shaving and biking shorts are the way to go for me...Good grief, I can't believe I just said that! Hey, ain't there a saying that goes, "Once you go lycra, you won't go back?".
Ernest

[George]

Man I cant believe I tried the Brooks from my other bike and I cant get it far enough back and I have a Salsa set back seat post.

[jaxgtr]

I keep getting raw in the same spot, about 2" in front of the right sit bone and always in the crease where the butt and the thigh meet.

Ok, this statement is glaring and I just notice you posted it in the first post as well, my bad for not picking up on it. Do you use the same brand of shorts\bibs each and everytime, always the PI? If so, the irritation is probably coming from the seam on the shorts, not the saddle. I have 3 different brands, (2 each) and the chamois pad sits in a different spot in that area. I never use the the same brand\model on back to back rides unless it's a situation where I have more than 2 days between rides. Since you are having the irritation, I say, let it clear, and in this time, find another manufacturer and buy another set of shorts and see how it works.

[rideorglide]

I use Chamois But'r before each ride. I started using it I was having the rubbing, but now it just part of my pre-ride procedure. I probably don't need it, but I still use it to keep from having issues.

+1 On Chamois Butt'r for anything over 20 miles here.

But aside from that it does sound like you need to keep on looking for that saddle that's right for you. I'm also hardening up my rear end in the efort to get to 30-35 miles. [Been trying to get there for a few years, but a wheel keeps falling of the bus around 22 miles, and I end up going back to square 1.]

[George]

Ok, this statement is glaring and I just notice you posted it in the first post as well, my bad for not picking up on it. Do you use the same brand of shorts\bibs each and everytime, always the PI? If so, the irritation is probably coming from the seam on the shorts, not the saddle. I have 3 different brands, (2 each) and the chamois pad sits in a different spot in that area. I never use the the same brand\model on back to back rides unless it's a situation where I have more than 2 days between rides. Since you are having the irritation, I say, let it clear, and in this time, find another manufacturer and buy another set of shorts and see how it works.

Hey Brian, I think you may have something there. I was talking to a guy I ride with once and a while and he said the same thing. This guy has competed in 35 iron mans and I asked what he did. He uses Vaseline on his butt, feet or anywhere he's going to have friction. He also wears shorts under his biking shorts. I told him I was told that, that is a no no. He said it works for him, so what's wrong with that. I just got back from Academy and I bought some Body Armour shorts. The guy I ride with said watch where the seams are and they are close, but they run just outside the saddle. I looked for shorts that had a seam on the side, but couldn't find any. If this feels like it's going to work, I'll look for some shorts with the seam on the side. Thanks for all the help guys and I'll fill you in tomorrow or soon after.

[Wavy]

+1 on the shorts – pay for high quality cycling shorts.

Use Bag Balm, as it’s medicated.

Wash lots before a ride

As soon as you’re done riding, get out of the shorts, shower, and put the shorts in the wash.

Now for the complementary medicine aspect…

1. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It acts as a third – or in my case second – kidney.

2. This is the clyde forum… people here admit to eating donuts, brownies, and other toxins.

Therefore if your body is full of crap, then very likely your body is going to try pushing those toxins out of pores. It will pick the same pore along a meridian and repeatedly try to push out the garbage.

Using prescription topical crèmes and ointments will only drive the crap back into your body, where it’ll wait for another time to escape.

Ask me how I know… go ahead… ask me.

Okay, I’ll pretend you already have. :)

I get a saddle sore in the same spot -- the leg-butt seam near the left sit bone – whenever I eat sugar… regardless of whether or not I ride. Riding exacerbates the issue for sure, but it’s not necessary to ride for the sore to appear.

So... you really are what you eat.

[Fastflyingasian]

:thumb:

i dont get sores anymore since i found the correct saddle/bib shorts for me. but definitely certain foods or especially beer of any amount (12 oz or more) makes for a terrible day of riding the next day. i really feel like my body is too busy ridding of the beer contents rather than putting that energy to pedaling. now back to topic :D

[George]

Well the shorts under the shorts didn't help today. I probably should have waited and healed up some more. Anyway I just order a Terry Ti Fly and see if that helps any. I also bought a pair of those liner shorts today as well. Man, I hope something works pretty soon.

[StanSeven]

Thanks again guys, I was thinking about this all night or most of it. I keep getting raw in the same spot, about 2" in front of the right sit bone and always in the crease where the butt and the thigh meet.

Try adjusting the nose of the saddle. Most likely down just a slight amount.

[Fastflyingasian]

Well the shorts under the shorts didn't help today. I probably should have waited and healed up some more. Anyway I just order a Terry Ti Fly and see if that helps any. I also bought a pair of those liner shorts today as well. Man, I hope something works pretty soon.

are you waiting until your sores are ALL healed up? cause if your even a bit sore down there still when you hop on another saddle or put on shorts, a puffy leather recliner couch for a saddle wont help:D i made that mistake a couple of times.

[George]

are you waiting until your sores are ALL healed up? cause if your even a bit sore down there still when you hop on another saddle or put on shorts, a puffy leather recliner couch for a saddle wont help:D i made that mistake a couple of times.

Your right, I didn't wait until I was completely healed. I guess I'll lay off for a while. I think, I'll drive down to performance and pick up some bibs and give them a try. Thanks everybody for all the help.