Training & Nutrition - Saddle Sores/Rubbed Raw!!

Rode a 25 miler yesterday in heavy rain after done everything was soaked, shorts were completly wet, chamois was wet, private areas were painful and bleeding. :eek: Why and what do you do to prevent in future? Never had problem before, even on 50 milers in dry. What are answers.

Sore in Seattle.

Rain gear

All I can say is OUCH!!
And a second for the raingear.

stop riding naked!! j/k, were you wearing proper biking shorts?

quote "shorts were completly wet, chamois was wet" so I am asssuming they are proper....although I can go out in cyclonic conditions in my cheapest shorts for 100km and be more comfortable than on a 80km ride in the dry with better shorts? odd huh....

Brendon

stay dry and wear fruit of the loom boxer breifs.

stay dry and wear fruit of the loom boxer breifs.
Underwear Nazi is bound to have something to say about that!

Underwear Nazi is bound to have something to say about that!

Was Sunny all day in Seattle up to about 2:00, started to sprinkle, then quite. Said to myself, lets go now, got about 2 miles in and it let loose for the entire ride, had it been raining when I started I would of just used MTB, it has fenders and probably would have worn rain coat. Looks like it is time to buy some Burley Outer Wear, there goes another couple Hundy!!!! Feeling better, but looks like I may be running the next couple of days, may decide to throw shorts away and go with all bibs, seems as though the bibs I have stay "put" better, no riding low after 10 miles!!! BTW no underwear, so that was not a contributor, probably would have been worse had I had them!!! :cry:

I'm guessing the Rx for boxers was post ride (to keep from
further chaffing).
Would Chamois butter or similiar helped in keeping things
lubed?
BTW thats not a saddle sore that's chapping.
Marty

I use Gold Bond powder after every shower. Works great. Any rash I might have is gone in no time. I don't know if I would put it on any open sores, though.

i went to walmart the other day! they have new fruit o loom drawers! the waiste band is much better! ... sad thing is.. last year i could get 2 pair for like $3... now it's like $6 :( just need to wash them so i can try them out!

Avoid cotton.

Runners also use a product called BodyGlide to lubricate body parts subject to chafing. Nipples, thighs, etc. It works well but is expensive.

I use Zinc Oxide paste. That is Diaper Rash Ointment. It does not stain clothing like Vaseline, it will not sweat off, it will come out in the laundry, it is cheap and available everywhere, and it works very well.

You also need to check clothing and equipment. Buckles, straps, tags, seams and items that rub against your skin that you don't notice on short outings will cause chafing or blisters over time, especially in wet conditions.

Dan

Cotton gets soaked and damp, takes forever to dry and is heavy.
Poly's a lot lighter, stays warm when wet and dries easily, also hydrophobic so it wicks sweat and disperses it outwards.
I've had cotton freeze before when I used to go hiking and before I knew any better. With poly underwear and a fleece sweater under my jacket, I've actually had so much moisture wicked off my back that ice was forming on the inside of my jacket from the condensation while my back remained warm and dry.

If you're gonna sweat, I'd highly avoid "Fruit-o-loom"

There are several products available. ASSOS Chamois creme, CHAMOIS BUTT'R. You can apply these right to your "nether" region & or your shorts. If you've broken the skin, make sure it 's thoroughly healed before you ride again or you're really gonna' be sorry. Hey, don't fret about it, pro's have quit races because of saddle sores.

Are saddle sores a product of the shorts and dampness or does the saddle actually contribute? Ive got two budding saddle sores it seems but they dont seem to bother me as much when I wear one set of bib shorts over the other. I used chamois butt'r so it shouldnt be chafing but it hurts like h***!

Avoid cotton.

Runners also use a product called BodyGlide to lubricate body parts subject to chafing. Nipples, thighs, etc. It works well but is expensive.

I use Zinc Oxide paste. That is Diaper Rash Ointment. It does not stain clothing like Vaseline, it will not sweat off, it will come out in the laundry, it is cheap and available everywhere, and it works very well.

You also need to check clothing and equipment. Buckles, straps, tags, seams and items that rub against your skin that you don't notice on short outings will cause chafing or blisters over time, especially in wet conditions.

Dan

bodyglide isn't that expensive, a stick of it lasts a LONG time...It doesn't work on nipples though...been there are thousand times...you see, when it rains, I get "nippleitis" this causes the shirt to hang up on the poor extended nipples even more...a wet shirt just adds to the pain...nothing works for that except bandaids...and those hurt to pull of becuase of the small ring of hairs around the nipple...I've left them on for days during the summer...

Are saddle sores a product of the shorts and dampness or does the saddle actually contribute? Ive got two budding saddle sores it seems but they dont seem to bother me as much when I wear one set of bib shorts over the other. I used chamois butt'r so it shouldnt be chafing but it hurts like h***!
A true saddle sore is an infected hair folicle, not chafing.
The best treatment/prevention for a true saddle sore is cleaning the area with a good
anti-bacterial soap like Phisohex, Hibicleans, povodine etc. and never wear the same
shorts without washing them in between washing.
The saddle contributes by providing pressure, forcing bacteria etc. into the skin (isn't
that a nice picture?). The different irritation by the shorts is probably the result of
different creases/folds in the chamois (just a wild-assed-guess here).
Be careful with saddle sores, they can erupt (no pun intended) into a really
serious condition requiring surgery to correct.

Marty

Rode a 25 miler yesterday in heavy rain after done everything was soaked, shorts were completly wet, chamois was wet, private areas were painful and bleeding. :eek: Why and what do you do to prevent in future? Never had problem before, even on 50 milers in dry. What are answers.

Sore in Seattle.

were you wearing shorts, or proper riders Lycra shorts? If it was lycra, then unless they were"Unclean", or cheap, you should not have had a problem. It would have been something else causing the problem. If it was "Shorts" with Chamois liners, Then start wearing the Cycle underpants that have Chamois fitted.
The only advise until your "Problem" has gone is to make certain that you keep clean, Get a Fungal Cream, to eliminate that sort of infection, and stop getting wet, Ride with an umbrella.

if you are bleeding, go to the pharmacy and get Lotrimin A/F. use three times daily together with A & D ointment. don't use zinc oxide ointment till you have healed. it is a wonderful protective/preventative agent but a lousy curative agent.

all other suggestions for preventative agents are good. but great clothing FAR exceeds anything topically you could do after the fact.

Rode a 25 miler yesterday in heavy rain after done everything was soaked, shorts were completly wet, chamois was wet, private areas were painful and bleeding. :eek: Why and what do you do to prevent in future? Never had problem before, even on 50 milers in dry. What are answers.

Sore in Seattle.


First of all, I would recommend some bib shorts -- they'll stay in place better, especially when wet.

Second, I would recommend a heavier, vasoline-type chamois lube (like Born Cyclist Creme or Bag Balm) or something like A&D Diaper Rash Ointment -- these ones stay on quite well in wet conditions. Chamois Butt'r is great in cooler and drier conditions, but will fade quickly in wet or hot/humid conditions.

With the bleeding, I would suspect that you were sitting/rubbing on a seam of your shorts, so better (tighter) fitting shorts or a pair of bibs would probably take care of this. If you have any seams or raised stitching on your saddle, I would consider changing that out as well (or at least switch it out when you ride in the rain).

If all else fails, just do a lot of out-of-the-saddle work!!!