Originally Posted by
SkippyX
I've been commuting to work (40 mile R/T) for about three months now. I didn't have any bike shorts. I was wearing cotton boxer briefs and cotton gym shorts. Sure, I was getting some saddle sores, but I thought "HTFU, boy. People used to ride bikes while wearing tweed suits."
Yeah, right.
I just got back from the doctor's office. I developed a HUGE boil where the saddle sores were. Ah yes....there's nothing like lying face down on a table while a doctor saws away on your buttocks like she's carving up the Thanksgiving Day turkey while saying "OK, don't move now...."
She didn't even manage to get all of it out. I've got to take some antibiotics and go back on Thursday so she can dig around in there some more. I hope she uses something more sophisticated than an apple corer, a teaspoon and a carpet knife this time.
Saturday I bought some bicycle undershorts w/ chamois in them. I also bought some of that butt butter they sell. I don't know how long it'll be before I'm up to riding once more, but when I do you can be damned sure I'll be appropriately attired.
I'm very sorry you've had this trying and painful experience. However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize. In addition to riding about 70-100 miles/week just going about my business (not that much, I know), I've toured to Vancouver BC, Victoria, BC, and northern California, all starting in Seattle, and all while riding in regular old walking shorts and other, non-biking-specific clothing. I've never had anything more than a bit of mild heat rash, even while riding 75-100 mi/day. It's entirely possible that clothing has nothing to do with it. Maybe it's your saddle. Maybe it's your bike fit. Maybe, and please don't take this as an attack, you just started adding on too many miles before some of your anatomy was quite ready for it.