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Alright, I'll break the awkward barrier - saddle sores

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Alright, I'll break the awkward barrier - saddle sores

Old 06-13-13, 11:02 AM
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Alright, I'll break the awkward barrier - saddle sores

So I know there is a ton of info in the race and road areas, but I also know some of us (I almost didn't) won't wander in there since we are our "breed" if you will. Well I wanted to perhaps a Clyde/Athena specific thread on these narsty buggers. As people with larger frames, perhaps more meat in the sensitive areas, higher rates of chafing, saddles not made for larger folk (necessarily) and so on. We need a comfortably place to discuss our pained posteriors.

Specifically:
  • What might have caused them?
  • What did you do to treat them? (Home or doc remedies welcomed)
  • What do you do to prevent them?
  • What have you done NOT to get them?



My .02 cents:
I started getting one recently, and although it hasn't totally gone away, I have been more vigilant on how I ride. I am guessing I got it from my commuter bike. The original seat I had that I NEVER had issues with is falling apart, so to just get the bike running I used a plush gel seat that is too big for riding to and from work on. It looks like it pushed my shorts up and rubbed me raw. I took the road bike today (with a better saddle) and had no issues.

I will post up what works, luckily a lot of "pre doctor" remedies are to use diaper cream....and having a 9 month old means there is plenty at home. Should be gone shortly I am hoping.

So what say ye my fellow riders?

Last edited by Chitown_Mike; 06-13-13 at 11:03 AM. Reason: I type like I talk Chicago-ese
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Old 06-13-13, 11:29 AM
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All I can add is in being proactive when one starts to develope. My daily commute is fairly short (17mi round trip). I generally wear bike shorts under pants/regular shorts when riding, and sometimes the fabric bunches up just ride and starts a hot spot. Keeping the afflicted area clean seems to be the most important thing. I'll also liberally lube it up with bag balm daily until everything is fine. The last real saddle sore I had took a good 3 weeks to completely heal up. If I had been more proactive in treating it early, I don't think it would have lasted more than a few days.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by mattgmann
All I can add is in being proactive when one starts to develope. My daily commute is fairly short (17mi round trip). I generally wear bike shorts under pants/regular shorts when riding, and sometimes the fabric bunches up just ride and starts a hot spot. Keeping the afflicted area clean seems to be the most important thing. I'll also liberally lube it up with bag balm daily until everything is fine. The last real saddle sore I had took a good 3 weeks to completely heal up. If I had been more proactive in treating it early, I don't think it would have lasted more than a few days.
Do you wear a padded cycling liner or lycra just under shorts?

I use and love Bag Balm, it is the only thing that lasts with as much as I sweat. I go out in a pair of lycra shorts when I go for long rides but my commute is only 9 miles round trip but I sweat like Mike Tyson at a spelling bee. I don't usually wear anything other than boxer briefs and thin shorts.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:36 PM
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I wear padded shorts. The ones I like are from aerotech designs and have a very thing pad that really just helps with friction. Riding in boxers, or boxer briefs equals immediate chafing for me. Sweat and cotton just don't go together well.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:39 PM
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What might have caused them?
Bacteria always exist on your skin, they move into pores and follicles .
What did you do to treat them?
Topical application of Neosporin antibacterial Ointment ASAP,
What do you do to prevent them?
keep my skin clean Using a surgeons scrub soap*
What have you done NOT to get them?

Bike touring, I bring 3 pair of bike shorts to always have a clean pair* every morning.

Last edited by fietsbob; 06-13-13 at 12:46 PM.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:41 PM
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What might have caused them?
I think it was my saddle was too wide

What did you do to treat them? (Home or doc remedies welcomed)
I wasn't a big one, kept it clean and dry, healed in a couple of days

What do you do to prevent them?
Got a smaller saddle and started using Chamois cream. DZ Nuts to be exact.

What have you done NOT to get them?
With the new saddle and cream, they have not come back.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:46 PM
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Try a quick shower before you ride to make sure everything is clean "down under", then get dressed. A good chamois butter and clean quality shorts that fit properly will help as well. For treatment, I use a hydrocortisone cream.
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Old 06-13-13, 12:59 PM
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Lots of info out there if you do a search on the web

There was a recent blog post about it here

https://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2013/...dle-sores.html
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Old 06-13-13, 12:59 PM
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From a similar thread i learned that one cause is lack of blood flow to the nether regions after sitting for a long time on the bike.
Because of that I use the "Ten At The Top" rule = at the top of any small hill I stand up on the pedals and count to ten to allow blood back in my crotch.
Since ive been doing that I havent had any problems even though previously i used to get saddle sores every month or so.

Charlie
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Old 06-13-13, 01:17 PM
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Our skin is remarkably similar to any other cyclist's, we just have more of it.

If you don't want to cruise the racing forum, check out commuting, touring, and long-distance fora.
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Old 06-13-13, 01:54 PM
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Maybe I missed it. But you may be having a "pressure sore" in the saddle area. Bacteria, padding, lack of lubricant, etc. etc. etc. can all contribute by making things worse. But if the pressure point isn't relieved, the sore will certainly return. I dealt with a pressure sore for a couple years, thinking it was my saddle causing the problem. After about 5 different saddle choices, I concluded it wasn't the saddle. A friend of mine (who happens to be a bike fitter) suggested I might have a leg length issue- in essence, a shorter legging causing more pressure on one side. So I tried a leg length shim. And voila! pressure sore gone. Just a thought... oh, and I got my shim at bikefit.com
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Old 06-13-13, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Ursa Minor
From a similar thread i learned that one cause is lack of blood flow to the nether regions after sitting for a long time on the bike.
Because of that I use the "Ten At The Top" rule = at the top of any small hill I stand up on the pedals and count to ten to allow blood back in my crotch.
Since ive been doing that I havent had any problems even though previously i used to get saddle sores every month or so.

Charlie
Originally Posted by briankari
Maybe I missed it. But you may be having a "pressure sore" in the saddle area. Bacteria, padding, lack of lubricant, etc. etc. etc. can all contribute by making things worse. But if the pressure point isn't relieved, the sore will certainly return. I dealt with a pressure sore for a couple years, thinking it was my saddle causing the problem. After about 5 different saddle choices, I concluded it wasn't the saddle. A friend of mine (who happens to be a bike fitter) suggested I might have a leg length issue- in essence, a shorter legging causing more pressure on one side. So I tried a leg length shim. And voila! pressure sore gone. Just a thought... oh, and I got my shim at bikefit.com


Both great info. Especially the 10 rule, I don't have clipless pedals but the 10 seconds. But when I do get clipless pedals that is good info to have. I haven't see either of those tips anywhere just yet.
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Old 06-14-13, 03:05 AM
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What everyone said....and a further emphasis on keeping super clean. Be sure you're showered and be sure your biking shorts are always a fresh pair before you ride. I also rotate three pair of biking shorts so I never, ever, ride with a pair that hasn't been washed. I had a long standing problem with saddle sores and adopting the policy of always being super clean with clean shorts and a shower after I ride has eliminated the problem entirely.
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Old 06-14-13, 07:17 AM
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Some good info from an MD.

https://liquicell.com/wp-content/uplo...ddle_Sores.pdf
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Old 06-14-13, 04:45 PM
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Ok, so since we're going into TMI land...

While on AIDS/LifeCycle I had started to get a bit sore. I went to medical to get checked out. They have a "butt clinic". For reals.

So I go in to the booth and they have me drop trou and bend over. She's poking around in the rather loose skin back there and while she's all up in my business she goes "have you lost a lot of weight"? I've gotten that question before, but never in such an...odd...scenario. Anyway, I tell her my story and her comment was that I was very lucky for my skin to be in as good shape as it was. I got through the ride with no breaks. I did use chamois butter at every stop.

But I have gotten them before, and it's usually right at the edge where the seat and the edge of the chamois all come together. I started using shorts with a better chamois (Specialized RBX Pro) and that seems to help.
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Old 06-14-13, 05:40 PM
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Also if you have infections caused by infected hair you can wax down there.

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Old 06-14-13, 07:48 PM
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Plus 1 for the chamois butter and good shorts with a good chamois. For some reason the chamois always feel better on the middle of the price point. High end shorts I've looked always seem to have a thinner chamois.



You could also go to the pharmacy and buy Hibiclens or something else with chlorhexidine gluconate. You'll find this in wound care...

Have you ever noticed a odd smell after wash your hands at the hospital or sometimes a doctors office, well that's the same stuff. Its also pretty good at helping kill jock itch or athletes foot in addition to an anitfungal

You use it in shower before bed then Neosporin and also wear some loose shorts.

Showering after you ride is also something I would do.
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Old 06-16-13, 06:06 PM
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My 2 rules: always wear clean shorts - one use only and then into the wash; never sit around in your riding shorts for prolonged periods after a ride.
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Old 06-18-13, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by PubRider
Plus 1 for the chamois butter and good shorts with a good chamois. For some reason the chamois always feel better on the middle of the price point. High end shorts I've looked always seem to have a thinner chamois.
...
Showering after you ride is also something I would do.
+1

This how I dealt with mine. Oh and stand once and a while to take the pressure off and let the blood flow.

I bought a great pair of bibs ... so I thought and the chanois edge in the middle was "cutting" into my leg. Massive issues for a few weeks.
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Old 06-18-13, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Jason300
+1

This how I dealt with mine. Oh and stand once and a while to take the pressure off and let the blood flow.

I bought a great pair of bibs ... so I thought and the chanois edge in the middle was "cutting" into my leg. Massive issues for a few weeks.
Yeah, I changed out a seat and feel the difference. Problem is the "damage" has been done and I have de-biked myself for the week to resolve the issues. Live and learn!
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