Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Chamois Cream: When and When Not

For those of us who use a cream when we ride.....

How long a ride does it have to be for you to use chamois cream? Do you use it every ride, or just on long ones?

For the record, the longest I've ridden "dry" is 101 miles - my century in 2007. That persuaded me there might be something to personal lubrication after all. That said, I'm inconsistent in using it, applying it before some long rides and not others.

I base my use on ride time, more than mileage. Two hours, and up it's a go for me.

If I put on my bike shorts, I apply chamois cream, which means I rarely ride without it. Using it hasn't created any issues for me, so I only see an upside. I rode 10 miles on the mountain bike yesterday, about an hour and a half, and I used the cream.

For me, it depends on the time and which shorts. The pad in my PI Ultrasensors is comfortable for longer than the pad in my Performance Ultras, but not as comfortable as the pad in my Assos FI.Milles without chamois cream. 1.5 - 3 hours is the range for my decision.

Are you guys putting chamois cream on synthetic chamois? Sounds like if i you're putting them on ultrasensors.

I've only ever used it on real chamois (required!!!) but never on the synthetic stuff.

Are you guys putting chamois cream on synthetic chamois? Sounds like if i you're putting them on ultrasensors.

I've only ever used it on real chamois (required!!!) but never on the synthetic stuff.

My average weekend rides are 4 - 5 hours. My long weekend rides are 10 - 11 hours. My really long weekend rides are 15 - 25 hours.
You bet I'm using cream on synthetic pads.

It's kind of a gamble for me when I don't use it (even on <3 mile rides).
I've had 15-20 mile rides w/o any trouble riding "dry" and sometimes even in street clothes.
But most of the time I manage to chafe in the perineum enough to bleed if I don't use some kind of lubrication and bike shorts. I guess it's just from having lost enough weight that I can get an unfortunate fold of skin and have it turn into an unfortunately located "indian burn" type shearing effect.
So lately I've been wearing the shorts and using Udderly Smooth for the commutes. Seems kind of silly for a short ride, but I don't have to walk funny and take a week off to heal lately.

I always use it and I just apply extra for longer rides.

I always ride dry but am considering comming over to the dark and creamy side.

Does the cream do anything in terms of comfort or is it for chaffing?

Every "sport" ride (i.e., non-commuting, non-errand, non-date riding, etc.).

If I am in biker shorts I apply. Length of ride determines quantity. If I am not in biker shorts the ride is not very long and it is not necessary.

I commute dry, wearing regular shorts. For weekend rides or longer rides during the week, it's chamois and cream time.

I always ride dry but am considering comming over to the dark and creamy side.

Does the cream do anything in terms of comfort or is it for chaffing?

Depending on the brand, it's multi-purpose.

Chamois Butt'r, Udderly Smooth, and others of that type are just anti-chafe (AFAIK).
DZ Nuts, Assos and others have fun things like witch hazel, menthol, and tea-tree oil in them. They're anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, help with cooling (menthol + airflow) and can be a bit unnerving the first time you use them. Assos in particular has a high tingle factor, and if you're not ready for it, it's a bit like lighting your taint on fire then putting it out in an alcohol ice bath. To date, it is the best one I've used, though.
The only step further I go is Lantiseptic, which is a hospital grade skin protectant. That's reserved for when I've ridden so much that even Assos doesn't hack it any more.

Depending on the brand, it's multi-purpose.

Chamois Butt'r, Udderly Smooth, and others of that type are just anti-chafe (AFAIK).
DZ Nuts, Assos and others have fun things like witch hazel, menthol, and tea-tree oil in them. They're anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, help with cooling (menthol + airflow) and can be a bit unnerving the first time you use them. Assos in particular has a high tingle factor, and if you're not ready for it, it's a bit like lighting your taint on fire then putting it out in an alcohol ice bath. To date, it is the best one I've used, though.
The only step further I go is Lantiseptic, which is a hospital grade skin protectant. That's reserved for when I've ridden so much that even Assos doesn't hack it any more.

So any idea how many miles one should get unpadded, padded & dry, anti-chafe, mentholated, hospital grade stuff and needing to visit the ER? I've done about 65km dry and no real problems, I was starting to get annoyed with the saddle by that point, but didn't have another to try.

So any idea how many miles one should get unpadded, padded & dry, anti-chafe, mentholated, hospital grade stuff and needing to visit the ER? I've done about 65km dry and no real problems, I was starting to get annoyed with the saddle by that point, but didn't have another to try.

I could make a chart from my experience, but it's going to be different for everyone in different conditions. I need to goop up more often if it's pouring rain, or if I'm sweating buckets, or depending on the shorts I'm wearing, distance I've gone, etc.

I can ride 30 leisurely miles on my upright in cargo shorts. For 30 miles of intense hills, I'll wear light padded shorts w/o goop. I can often do 50 - 65 miles with just a single application pre-ride, regardless of the weather. I've done a double-c in 90+ degree heat and I stopped every 25 miles to reload. Switching to Assos shorts and goop for distance riding, I'm stopping less to reload; but going over 200 miles I switch to using some Lantiseptic every other time I reload. Lantiseptic is a thick emollient protectant, sort of like Bag Balm (which is another long distance rider's fave).
The only riders going to the ER for skin issues that I've heard of have done crazy distances: 1000km or more.

It's kind of a gamble for me when I don't use it (even on <3 mile rides).
I've had 15-20 mile rides w/o any trouble riding "dry" and sometimes even in street clothes.
But most of the time I manage to chafe in the perineum enough to bleed if I don't use some kind of lubrication and bike shorts. I guess it's just from having lost enough weight that I can get an unfortunate fold of skin and have it turn into an unfortunately located "indian burn" type shearing effect.
So lately I've been wearing the shorts and using Udderly Smooth for the commutes. Seems kind of silly for a short ride, but I don't have to walk funny and take a week off to heal lately.

This mirrors my experience. Switching to a Brooks Imperial reduced, but didn't eliminate the problem. I got pretty chaffed during my 30 mile "dry" ride with BlueTrane on Saturday.

This mirrors my experience. Switching to a Brooks Imperial reduced, but didn't eliminate the problem. I got pretty chaffed during my 30 mile "dry" ride with BlueTrane on Saturday.

Yee-ouch!!
Sounds like you need ye olde triple antibiotic ointment (I like the kind with pain relief) 'til it heals, then some lubemicashun for rides thereafter. (winces)
Read about the ride in the other thread....sounds like you guys had a good time.
If I only lived closer.......
It's been in the high 90's here with the heat index over 100F (I start work at 5pm, so I get the full benefit of the heat), it looks so cool and shady where you were riding...I'm envious!

it's a bit like lighting your taint on fire then putting it out in an alcohol ice bath.

That line just sold it. Well played salesman...well played.

I just use regular cocoa butter, cheaper than the fancy brand name stuff.

That line just sold it. Well played salesman...well played.

I don't mince words in my product reviews. :)

for me 60+ miles a dab on each side between my nuts and my thigh. otherwise I don't use it

Bag Balm and Noxzema for anything longer than an hour for me.

Noxzema is good for the intermediate stuff and Bag Balm for longer distances or times.

But just as important as that is taking a shower as soon as I can. This helps with infection more than chafing, which has always been my worst enemy.

Assos in particular has a high tingle factor, and if you're not ready for it, it's a bit like lighting your taint on fire then putting it out in an alcohol ice bath.

LOL! I'll try the Assos to know how it feels to light your taint on fire and put it out with an alcohol ice bath rather than the other way around!

Great imagery!!

I'm fond of the hot bath with epsom salt after long rides