Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - How to keep chamois dry on long rides...

I noticed that in 5-6 hour rides my butt starts to feel irritated after about 2-3 hours. I think it has to do with the fact that the chamois gets wet and compressed after a while at which point it no longer acts as a cushion but rather as a piece of hard cloth between my butt and the saddle. Anyone else have experience with this before? How do you keep your chamois dry on long rides?

Wash yourself. Yes, I'm serious. When you start to experience that irritation, pull into a place with water (probably preferably a gas station washroom or something similar), and use a paper towel to wash yourself with water. Then dry yourself well with another paper towel. It makes a world of difference!!

If you don't have water and towels available, baby wipes can also work.

I don't think it has much to do with the chamois because as soon as you sit on the chamois it will compress. I think it has more to do with the salt in your sweat.

I have used chamois butter to prevent the irritation.

You don't keep it dry. Try different shorts with different pad types. There's a lot of difference in feel and performance from brand to brand and model to model. Part of the function of a modern pad is to wick moisture away from you, so it will get damp. Chamois creme helps a lot. Bag Balm is an old standard. Reapply about every 100 miles.

I'm a courier, I ride 8-10 hours every weekday.
I just wash my shorts after EVERY ride, make sure my body is clean before every ride and I do duck into washrooms to dry/freshen up at least once a shift.
Sweat on your riding clothes is inevitable.
Try some chamois butter. Never needed to try it, but I know some roadies who love it.

If its hot/humid it is impossible to keep your chamois dry. The important thing is a high quality cycling short that fits well, and gradually increase your riding time to "toughen up" a bit down there. I used to use chamois creme on long rides as a preventative measure but stopped using it with no ill effect. If you are having problems, I would suggest trying a different short and/or saddle. Some saddles may rub you the wrong way.

when i'm in kit i'm a big fan of the lantiseptic for long humid, wet, rainy, sweaty rides.
medical grade. awesome stuff. 2 applications kept me happy on our wet and windy fleche.

http://www.summitinds.com/photos/511/skinprotect4oz_large.jpg

I dont think I understand. In the long distance thread, I offered the idea that a recumbent was the logical bike for long rides. I of course was trashed by the DF crowd. They assured me that the problems you and the others are having is a figment of your imagination.

Thanks for being a realist. Most of the suggestions offered seemed logical.

I dont think I understand. In the long distance thread, I offered the idea that a recumbent was the logical bike for long rides. I of course was trashed by the DF crowd. They assured me that the problems you and the others are having is a figment of your imagination.

Thanks for being a realist. Most of the suggestions offered seemed logical.

You were NOT trashed by the DF crowd, not even close ... stop with the martyr complex already. And if you want to remain a BF member for any length of time, stop being a troll.

There is a whole forum for your passion ... go there: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=37

And since your type of cycling is not long distance, but is rather touring ... go there too: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

You were NOT trashed by the DF crowd, not even close ... stop with the martyr complex already. And if you want to remain a BF member for any length of time, stop being a troll.

There is a whole forum for your passion ... go there: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=37

+1


And since your type of cycling is not long distance, but is rather touring ... go there too: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

Noooooooooo!!!! Stay in the bent forum. Purely selfish reasons. I don't visit there. We don't need trollish posts in the touring forum either, thank you.

when i'm in kit i'm a big fan of the lantiseptic for long humid, wet, rainy, sweaty rides.
medical grade. awesome stuff. 2 applications kept me happy on our wet and windy fleche.

http://www.summitinds.com/photos/511/skinprotect4oz_large.jpg

Best stuff out there. I just wish I could get it locally.

+1



Noooooooooo!!!! Stay in the bent forum. Purely selfish reasons. I don't visit there. We don't need trollish posts in the touring forum either, thank you.

Oh, put a lid on it.

SP
Bend, OR

I noticed that in 5-6 hour rides my butt starts to feel irritated after about 2-3 hours. I think it has to do with the fact that the chamois gets wet and compressed after a while at which point it no longer acts as a cushion but rather as a piece of hard cloth between my butt and the saddle. Anyone else have experience with this before? How do you keep your chamois dry on long rides?

The chamois was never designed to act as a cushion...it is designed to displace moisture and prevent chaffing. Butt butter helps to prevent irritation when you become wetter than the chamois can manage.

Oh, put a lid on it.

SP
Bend, OR

Are you rejecting your own? That is the intended goal. Any other forum its just gonna start a riot, and riots aren't pretty.

I think it has to do with the fact that the chamois gets wet and compressed after a while at which point it no longer acts as a cushion but rather as a piece of hard cloth between my butt and the saddle.

Read up on how saddles should work... (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html)

How do you keep your chamois dry on long rides? You don't - like others have figured, lube early, lube often when going long....

Whether I'm embarking on a 100km or 400km ride, I always use chamois buttr. I apply it in the sit-bones area to ease any possible rubbing irritation. As others have said, the shorts make a huge difference, but the chamois is always wet. For shorter rides I use the Performance Century shorts. Their new shorts have a better chamois than the old, but it feels like a diaper when you first put it on. For anything longer I wear Pearl Izumi Slice Ultrasensor shorts which never fail to provide comfort ... for me ... on long rides. I've never tried re-applying buttr or using antiseptic creme, but I know others who do -- before, during and after rides.

you can also change shorts. I like the idea of washing, rinsing, wiping - whatever and changing shorts. my first long ride this year I change my socks; shorts; shirt and even my bike at the 50 mile mark! it was pretty cool to feel completely new again.

you ever try "body-glide" in the wear-&-tear areas? I like just a smidge in 2 certain spots myself but I've been considering using it in a couple more spots.

of course if you ride in cooler weather you might sweat less as well.

How do you keep your chamois dry on long rides? Like most of the previous answers - the best advice is a mix of all and anything you can do to keep your self as "fresh" as possible where ever the bike and your body causes friction.

Typically, this means lubricating before the friction develops. How you conduct your short/butt interface is a matter between you and the elements. If I know its a low humidity day and I plan on getting plenty of chance to stand during the ride - I don't use anything.

If I'm starting a double-century on a hot and humid Saturday in the Midwest - I grease every body part ahead of time - and apply sunscreen before the Sun is over the horizon.

Long distance cycling is all about anticipating the challenges of the distance and equipping yourself to overcome them before they overcome you!

Something a bit radical for you to think about -- under-arm deodorant, aimed instead at the butt and surrounds.

I've tried the spray variety, and it works too, especially for the five-hour rides the OP participates in. I understand from a reliable source (female naturally) that roll-on works even better.

If your pits can stand it, there's no reason why your butt and groin can't, especially with the low-irritant deodorants. If you've already got chafing, of course, you might give it a miss.

For quite a while I used tea-tree lotion (Thursday Island brand and I have seen it on the shelves of Walmart, for example) as an antiseptic and it worked marvellously.

Then my butt hardened up and my Brooks saddles softened enough to not need much in the way of anitseptic, lubricant or deodorant spray... and on more and more occasions, padded shorts.

Of course, now I am getting back into serious riding, the tea-tree lotion might be called back into service. My butt's gone soft after almost nine months out of the saddle.

tea tree oil has negative side effects for men- look it up

deodorant might reduce perspiration - which has an interesting mechanism most people aren't aware of, but because of my hyperhidrosis I've become familiar with such things.

the aluminum in antiperspirants prevent the electrical charge which stimulates the sweat gland, so I guess that can work anywhere on the body.

I find though, that my deodorant/antiperspirant leaves a residue on my shirts so I use liners or t-shirts which are cheap and can be bleached or discarded after some use. This way I keep the expensive workout shirts. Not sure you'd want the new washing requirements for your bike shorts. I try to be gentle with them to keep them lasting longer, cuz they are so expensive. Also, on a century you're gonna sweat all over no matter what you do so you're better off dealing with the moisture rather than using chemicals to prevent some of it.

on a side note, for women who think using deodorant between their legs is a good idea, I would suggest a more thorough washing before riding might be tried first. just sayin'

tea tree oil has negative side effects for men- look it up


Do you mean this ... :rolleyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6318043.stm



deodorant might reduce perspiration - which has an interesting mechanism most people aren't aware of, but because of my hyperhidrosis I've become familiar with such things.

the aluminum in antiperspirants prevent the electrical charge which stimulates the sweat gland, so I guess that can work anywhere on the body.

I find though, that my deodorant/antiperspirant leaves a residue on my shirts so I use liners or t-shirts which are cheap and can be bleached or discarded after some use. This way I keep the expensive workout shirts. Not sure you'd want the new washing requirements for your bike shorts. I try to be gentle with them to keep them lasting longer, cuz they are so expensive. Also, on a century you're gonna sweat all over no matter what you do so you're better off dealing with the moisture rather than using chemicals to prevent some of it.

on a side note, for women who think using deodorant between their legs is a good idea, I would suggest a more thorough washing before riding might be tried first. just sayin'

Funny ... Rowan said to me that he figured first thing there'd be someone coming in and talking about aluminum in antiperspirants etc. etc.!! :lol:

Maybe you just need to try a different deodorant/antiperspirant ... I've never had a deodorant/antiperspirant leave a residue. You also don't goop it on everywhere. As with most things, a little dab will do you. BTW - did you know that using antiperspirant on the bottoms of your feet helps keep them warm in winter riding? I haven't tried that one myself, but a lot of winter cyclists in Canada use it.

And obviously if you're "sensitive" to it you wouldn't want to use it.

Speaking as the woman who suggested the roll-on deodorant ....... I would suggest you read post #2 in this thread more thoroughly.

<snip> BTW - did you know that using antiperspirant on the bottoms of your feet helps keep them warm in winter riding? I haven't tried that one myself, but a lot of winter cyclists in Canada use it.

And obviously if you're "sensitive" to it you wouldn't want to use it. <snip>What a cool idea! ;) I have always had sweaty feet that get cold while skiing, etc. The spray kind for feet, I guess. Wouldn't work for cycling in the PNW winter, though. The water just drips out the cleat holes in the bottoms of our shoes. That's what they're for, you know. Otherwise, I would never use deodorant. I think it makes me smell bad, but what do I know. But y'all might try that - go without for a month and see if you don't smell better.

On the thread topic, I've also tried Lantastic. It's good, but smells like a nursing home. Still prefer Bag Balm. And on the shorts/saddles end of things, I find that particular pads work best with particular saddles. Some saddles are more comfortable with one pad or another. Makes sense.

DFH out.

Do you mean this ... :rolleyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6318043.stm


I reckon I'm OK, then...the last time that I qualified as a "young boy" LBJ was still in the White House.