Road Cycling - Chafing Cycling Shorts

Hi there!

I'm riding with pearl izuma padded cycling shorts, but none-the-less I start to chafe about 10 miles into my ride (I generally average about 30 miles a ride) ...this is a "male" related problem. Any suggestions? are their creams for this sort of thing? recommondations?

Thanks very much!
Ted

underwear?

underwear

A suggestion to wear underwear to prevent chafing!

AT LAST!!

MY DAY IS MADE. :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :beer:

Underwear Nazi - you have LOST

Also, you washing them before using a second time?

Make sure there's nothing between your good ole' boys and the shorts/knicks.

Make sure they fit snugly - without being too constraining but this is a little bit of your own preference.

Ensure the pad is right up as high as it can be - might require a bit of wiggling about.

If all else fails, I'll refer to others much greater wisdom. And as Flanders once said 'its like wearing nothing at all!'.

Make sure there's nothing between your good ole' boys and the shorts/knicks.

Make sure they fit snugly - without being too constraining but this is a little bit of your own preference.

Ensure the pad is right up as high as it can be - might require a bit of wiggling about.

If all else fails, I'll refer to others much greater wisdom. And as Flanders once said 'its like wearing nothing at all!'.


And if they are old, buy new, nice and tight ones.

ya wanna be firmly held, not softly gripped. . .
:)

Took me ages to find a perfect shorts/saddle combo. I finally ended up with Boure shorts and WTB saddles. They work a treat for me. Also, I use Chamois Butter, which helps things along nicely. Also, I don't believe in super tight shorts. I like shorts that don't cut off circulation, and I've found that shorts that are too tight can't mould to your shape well because there's not enough material to shape to your undercarriage.

Man, I'm making this should hellishly complicated! But, well, it is. It's a very personal 'quest' and there's a good chance you wont just don a set of Brand X shorts and a Flite Ti and ride off into the sunset.

Chamois Butter, Bag Balm and I'm sure there are many others. Never, and I mean never wear underwear under cycling shorts. I also dislike shorts with thick pads. I like just a thin chamois, even if it's fake chamois. While we are on the subject, may I also suggest Bibs? :D

Took me ages to find a perfect shorts/saddle combo. I finally ended up with Boure shorts and WTB saddles. They work a treat for me. Also, I use Chamois Butter, which helps things along nicely. Also, I don't believe in super tight shorts. I like shorts that don't cut off circulation, and I've found that shorts that are too tight can't mould to your shape well because there's not enough material to shape to your undercarriage.

Man, I'm making this should hellishly complicated! But, well, it is. It's a very personal 'quest' and there's a good chance you wont just don a set of Brand X shorts and a Flite Ti and ride off into the sunset.

And there are those of us who simply pull our bike shorts on over our undies and ride off. We don't worry about balm butter or cows teats, whether or not they are too tight or too loose or our circulation. We don't come back all greasy and worry about having to expose our bike shorts to the sun to kill all that bacteria or whether or not they have been worn twice without washing. Just pull on our generic Nashbars over our clean undies and AWAY WE GO.

Sure saves time, money and fussing. But then, I guess some of you folks just like searching for obscure answers, spending money, making sure you are well stocked on bag balm and chamois butter, while totally ignoring the obvious.

Oh, never had ANY chafing in 6 years and 17,000 miles of riding. Can you grease butts say the same? I bet you can't!!

Suspend your package up aganist your lower abdomen when you put your shorts on so those parts are getting rubbed between your legs as you pedal. If the sorts can't hold your parts in place, you shorts are too big.

And there are those of us who simply pull our bike shorts on over our undies and ride off. We don't worry about balm butter or cows teats, whether or not they are too tight or too loose or our circulation. We don't come back all greasy and worry about having to expose our bike shorts to the sun to kill all that bacteria or whether or not they have been worn twice without washing. Just pull on our generic Nashbars over our clean undies and AWAY WE GO.

Sure saves time, money and fussing. But then, I guess some of you folks just like searching for obscure answers, spending money, making sure you are well stocked on bag balm and chamois butter, while totally ignoring the obvious.

Oh, never had ANY chafing in 6 years and 17,000 miles of riding. Can you grease butts say the same? I bet you can't!!

You must have one tough piece of hide on your backside, or perhaps you stand out of the saddle for a lot of the ride. Everyone I know who rides long distances, ie, Centuries and up, does it without underwear, and uses some kind of grease or chamois cream. Since Lance Armstrong says he never leaves home without his chamois cream on, I figure I'm in pretty good company.

Just curious, how long are your long rides, and what saddle do you use?

You must have one tough piece of hide on your backside, or perhaps you stand out of the saddle for a lot of the ride. Everyone I know who rides long distances, ie, Centuries and up, does it without underwear, and uses some kind of grease or chamois cream. Since Lance Armstrong says he never leaves home without his chamois cream on, I figure I'm in pretty good company.

Just curious, how long are your long rides, and what saddle do you use?

Longest ride was "Ride the Rockies" - about 400 miles - 2 years in a row.

I have done several centuries.

All with undies.

I use the standard saddles that came with my Lemond, Specialized Hard Rock and Winsdor Leeds. I did one RTR on the mtn bike with the standard cheap saddle that came with that $300 bike.

If we could get rid of the urban myth about chamois and no undies, there would be a lot less complaining, and the bag balm folks would go out of business.

You don't read me griping, whining and complaining constantly about a sore butt, as I read you non-undies folks constantly complaining. Frankly, I get a bit tired of all the griping. "They must fit perfectly. They can't be too tight. They can't be too loose. Use baby powder. No, use Bag Balm. Anyone try vaseline?" and on and on.

The secret - undies can be changed and cleaned easily. Bacteria can be killed. Chamois contain and grow bacteria. Think of them as a giant petri dish, nurturing all those microbes attacking your skin. It really seems impossible to wash those microbes out of that heavy material. That is why everyone is concerned and folks state, "I expose my chamois to the sun" or "You should not wear them twice without washing, etc." I wear my bike shorts several times without washing, but I DO change my undies - sometimes 2x's per day.

I never (well, hardly ever) stand out of the saddle.

Longest ride was "Ride the Rockies" - about 400 miles - 2 years in a row.
I have done several centuries.
All with undies.
I use the standard saddles that came with my Lemond, Specialized Hard Rock and Winsdor Leeds. I did one RTR on the mtn bike with the standard cheap saddle that came with that $300 bike.
If we could get rid of the urban myth about chamois and no undies, there would be a lot less complaining, and the bag balm folks would go out of business.
You don't read me griping, whining and complaining constantly about a sore butt, as I read you non-undies folks constantly complaining. Frankly, I get a bit tired of all the griping. "They must fit perfectly. They can't be too tight. They can't be too loose. Use baby powder. No, use Bag Balm. Anyone try vaseline?" and on and on.
The secret - undies can be changed and cleaned easily. Bacteria can be killed. Chamois contain and grow bacteria. Think of them as a giant petri dish, nurturing all those microbes attacking your skin. It really seems impossible to wash those microbes out of that heavy material. That is why everyone is concerned and folks state, "I expose my chamois to the sun" or "You should not wear them twice without washing, etc." I wear my bike shorts several times without washing, but I DO change my undies - sometimes 2x's per day.
I never (well, hardly ever) stand out of the saddle.

Ummmm ... well, I'm female so my situation is a little different, but I've ridden over 30,000 miles in the last 6 years (7200 miles last year) including 3 full Super Randonneur sets of brevets (200K, 300K, 400K and 600K), as well as two 1200K brevets (that's 1200 kms in 90 hours or less including breaks), and about 40 centuries.

I ride with padded cycling shorts and NO undies. In all that time I have had two minor saddle sores one of which I incurred on my first 600K which was an extremely hot day. 600 kms in the saddle in 36 straight hours with very few breaks and no sleep in about 100 degree heat (well it cooled to about 90 overnight), and I developed a small saddle sore. If I'd used my Johnson's & Johnson's Daily Protection cream, I might have prevented that one but it was a situation where I was just asking for trouble. I developed the second saddle sore on my third 600K. I rode the first 100K in the drops trying to keep up with the faster riders ... in baggy, old shorts, in pouring rain. The combination of the position, the loose shorts, and the rain was enough to do the damage.

Undies would NOT have helped in either case. They would have made a bad situation worse in the first case because of the position of the saddle sore, and they would have made no difference one way or the other in the other case because of the position of that saddle sore. Well, maybe they might have made it worse if they were cotton because they would have just sopped up the rain and I would have been soaking wet all day!

I was, however, able to ride both my 1200k brevets without any trouble at all, and I stayed in those shorts most of the way. The shorts were about ready to do the ride themselves by the time I changed!! :D

I can't imagine wearing undies! The spot where I usually start to experience a tiny little bit of tenderness on my really long rides is right where the leg hole of the undies would sit. If I wore undies, they would chafe that spot SO badly I'd have a saddle sore on just about every long ride!! Also, when I'm on the bicycle for more than about 18 hours, I start to get cranky and little things like a crinkle in the underwear that isn't sitting completely smoothly under the shorts (which is bound to happen) would drive me crazy.

But you've got to go with what you're comfortable with. Have you ever tried riding without?

Hi there!

I'm riding with pearl izuma padded cycling shorts, but none-the-less I start to chafe about 10 miles into my ride (I generally average about 30 miles a ride) ...this is a "male" related problem. Any suggestions? are their creams for this sort of thing? recommondations?

Thanks very much!
Ted

If you're chafing 10 miles into a ride, I'd suggest having a look at your bicycle setup - something isn't right there. If you've got your bicycle set up properly you should be able to ride 24 hours a day without chafing. Perhaps the saddle is too high and you're rocking?? Or maybe it's too low and there's too much rubbing??

I don't get into the creams etc. until my ride is over 100 miles. They really shouldn't be necessary for shorter rides.

I wear my bike shorts several times without washing, but I DO change my undies - sometimes 2x's per day.

Briefs or boxers?

Two words, Shaving Cream! No undies and a shot of shaving cream on the pad.

But you've got to go with what you're comfortable with.

YES!!

Undies work for me, and for several others. Briefs. Target variety.

I agree that getting chaffed after only 10 miles indicates a problem with the saddle or setup.
What saddle do you have?
Is it angled up or down too much?
How are you sitting on the saddle? Too far forward or back?


Wear padded cycling shorts and skip the undies.

Briefs or boxers?
thong

thong

I'll need therapy to get that image out of my head.

I'll need therapy to get that image out of my head.
yer welcome

Hi there!

I'm riding with pearl izuma padded cycling shorts, but none-the-less I start to chafe about 10 miles into my ride (I generally average about 30 miles a ride) ...this is a "male" related problem. Any suggestions? are their creams for this sort of thing? recommondations?

Thanks very much!
Ted

It could be the shorts themselves. I tried a pair of high-end PI shorts last year. They fit me perfectly, but there was something about the seam at the edge of the chamois that would cause it to literally "cut" into my skin. It resulted in a noticable abrasion, about 1" or less in length, after riding more than 20 or 30 miles. They were, quite literally, a pain in the butt. I've heard of other riders complaining about this (although PI might have changed their manufacturing techniques since I had this problem).

I have several other shorts that do not have this problem, so you might want to try a different pair of shorts to see if that solves the problem.

And just ignore the "wear underwear" stuff...if that made any sense, guys who get paid to ride 20,000 miles per year (i.e., professional cyclists) would be doing underwear commercials :D.

... and the bag balm folks would go out of business ...

For this to happen, all of the cows would have to start wearing chamois shorts ;)

underwear?


A suggestion to wear underwear to prevent chafing!

The forces of evil gather. The apocalypse draws nigh.




Make sure there's nothing between your good ole' boys and the shorts/knicks.


Never, and I mean never wear underwear under cycling shorts.



I ride with padded cycling shorts and NO undies....
I can't imagine wearing undies!


And just ignore the "wear underwear" stuff...if that made any sense, guys who get paid to ride 20,000 miles per year (i.e., professional cyclists) would be doing underwear commercials.



Good soldiers, all! SSP is right...underwear is for basketball players and guys in fruit costumes!




Ted try vasaline rubbed on the affected area, and it washes easly to.



The Underwear Nazi is not a great fan of Vaseline. It clogs pores.

Ted, I think you are having trouble with chafing on your genitals rather than on your butt. For chafing on your butt, Chamois Creme or Chamois Butt'r is the deal. For your genitals, I'd say look at the fit of your shorts. Make sure they hold you snug. If they gap a little bit between your legs, the action of your thighs will move the fabric back and forth across your one-eyed trouser trout and could chafe you.

Underwear will only make any chafing worse. Underwear never solved anything.




Briefs or boxers?



They asked my grandpa this question. He answered, "Depends."

Underwear Nazi
Who you calling "grease butt", panty boy?

It could be the shorts themselves. I tried a pair of high-end PI shorts last year. They fit me perfectly, but there was something about the seam at the edge of the chamois that would cause it to literally "cut" into my skin. It resulted in a noticable abrasion, about 1" or less in length, after riding more than 20 or 30 miles. They were, quite literally, a pain in the butt. I've heard of other riders complaining about this (although PI might have changed their manufacturing techniques since I had this problem).

I have several other shorts that do not have this problem, so you might want to try a different pair of shorts to see if that solves the problem.

And just ignore the "wear underwear" stuff...if that made any sense, guys who get paid to ride 20,000 miles per year (i.e., professional cyclists) would be doing underwear commercials :D.

Could it be your seat was a bit too narrow, and had a hard edge that was cutting you? I had an SSM Aspide seat which felt fine on shorter rides, but gave me the same chaffing cuts right on the saddle edge.

Could it be your seat was a bit too narrow, and had a hard edge that was cutting you? I had an SSM Aspide seat which felt fine on shorter rides, but gave me the same chaffing cuts right on the saddle edge.

Nope...the "cutting" only happened with that one pair of PI shorts. I think it had something to do with the fact that there was a noticeable "step" between the raised edge of the chamois, and the lycra surrounding it. With my other shorts (3 different brands), the edge of the chamois is not so pronounced.

Edit - it might also have been related to the stitching along the edge of the chamois.

Here's an old thread being resurrected... but, I agree, I think that the way they are stitching the chamois these days, and the type of thread, can create a zone that abrades. I think they are being "too clever by half" and making shorts less comfortable (but more costly; bigger profit margin)