I need help! I ride then I have a bad chaffing problem
 

I ride then I am chaffed really bad in the right thigh area. I am replacing my bike seat seems to be a little softer then it use to. LBS thinks my shorts are to loose. I am 310 and 46 around the waist and cant find a new pair of shorts. I have Canari cheapies and Velvo. Any advice please.
BillMc

Try Aerotech. They have some pretty decent quality shorts at fair prices and tend to run true to size or even a bit large compared to many other companies. They also have extended sizes in some shorts and bibs.

time for some lube, asso or DZ nuts works well w/o soaking all into the pad

Okay, so we were all new once... Are you wearing underwear? DO NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR! Repeat: do not wear underwear. Chamois goes against skin. If that's not the issue, then I second the aerotech recommendation. Their shorts are true American sizing and true to the size they advertise. I believe you'll be a 2X or 3X. Century shorts are on sale right now. I prefer bibs but may order a pair of the Century shorts at the price they are right now. Also, Chamois Butter or other chamois cream is your friend. Apply liberally.

I have a tub of buttr, but must admit I haven't used it yet. Something about smothering a bunch of group on the nethers prior to sitting on the goop for an extended period sounds unpleasant. Do you notice the goop is there, or does it pretty much blend into the background?

Feels good!

You don't really notice it after the initial sensations of cool dampness. Well, you notice that you feel good during your ride. It's pretty much essential on long rides (>2 hours) for me.

I have been riding for app 4 years. I took about a year off due to eye sight problems. I do not wear underwear and use chamois cream. I want to get thru this so I can log more miles lose weight and in general feel better. I am thankful for all of the help.

May be the saddle too. Have you been sized? Are you using a thickly padded saddle? Thin, firm, right width saddle will help as well.

Have you thought about maybe one of those funky noseless saddles? I do see some who feel they need the nose of the bike for handling reasons, though I'm inclined to think that's usually something that applies to more aggressive riding.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=457293

A softer saddle might worsen the situation, not improve it. +1 for the above

Performance Bike, believe it or not, has some shorts and bibs that might be big enough. Voler also has gear for big people.

"Right thigh" doesn't narrow things down too much. You may have problems with the edge of the chamois chafing your thigh (put Chamois Butt'r on the edge of the chamois), or the saddle (just put it on your skin). Bike shorts should be sized so that your "gear" is separated from the thigh by the chamois and the leg of the shorts.

On my Specialized Rava saddle and Fizik Aliante, the delta wing shape would hit me in the thighs, more so on one side than the other. I change to a Selle Italia SL Flow Carbonio SE (Nashbar) and its 'wings' are much shorter (less like a top view of a concord and more like a top view of a X-15 ) and taper into the nose much more quickly. This gave me room for my thighs and I no longer get irritated.

Truth be told, I do get a little irritated when I wear my Pearl Izumi PRO InRCool shorts. The pad is placed a little too far forward in them for me and as such the pad will sit a thick part on the edge of the saddle perimeter and this irritates. Once I get a good sweat, it seems to be better or if I stretch it a bit so that it sits better. Chamois cream (I am cheap and use the nashbar stuff with success) on them and they are better. I tend to save those shorts for may daily 1-1.5 hour rides. Longer rides, I use De Marchi or Santini bib shorts that I find are more comfortable.

I always wonder if the pad somehow needs to match the saddle shape and stiffness and after my experiences, it would seem that placement, size and thickness (and its placement of the thicker/thinner spots) is important to comfort. Going thicker is not always a cure. The P.I. PRO are their best stuff and have nice thick pads but a cheap pair of Sugoi with thin pads feel better. Of course, the Santini and De Marchi are thicker and have that thickness properly placed and the chamois is placed better and gives me the most comfort overall.

IF I might suggest grabbing some chalk and while you sit on the saddle, outline the saddle on your shorts to see where the pad is in relation to where you sit on the saddle.

As for chamois cream, it feel weird the first time but it feels SOOOO much better when you use it that you will start to welcome it from the second ride on. For me, after about 5 or 6 steps, I no longer notice it.

Frank

Any type of Chamois cream should help.

Once the chafing goes away, ditch the cycling shorts (for now), and try regular old gym shorts. I have a pair of Champion shorts and some cheapo Starter brand I believe came from Walmart years ago, the Starter shorts have a liner inside that seems to be enough padding for me. I know this recommendation is a bit taboo around here, but I have never experienced chafing/saddle sores with either pair on rides up to 70 miles but do have comfort issues whenever I wear cycling shorts.

Otherwise, keep in mind cycling shorts are meant to be worn without underwear. And stay away from cotton period while you exercise.

Since it's only one side chaffing, is the saddle nose pointing straight ahead? If it is, you might want to dry rotating a few degrees to one side or the other and see if that helps.

Also have you ever been checked for a leg length discrepancy? After 60 years, I recently found that my right leg is about a half inch shorter than the other. While this bothered me mostly while walking and jogging, shimming up my right shoe cleat has helped my cycling comfort and power.

I have a similar problem, and apply the stuff morning and night wether I ride or not. After a few months the issue goes away at least it did for me when I started riding in 2006.
Now that I am starting again I have the issue. Don't wear underwear under your shorts either.

I don't think it would help while riding because of moisture, but for when you're not riding Gold Bond powder helps chaffed parts not chafe more. The original, regular strength is best.

http://www.goldbond.com/images/powder_bottle_new.jpg

Similar to this I apply Corn Starch before my ride, and after I shower / before I put on clothes in the morning..

GH

Is the mass of your legs equal? Is the leg that is chaffing larger, thicker, or have a pockets of extra tissue that the other leg doesn't? I ask because I know a lot of people starting around 300 lbs or so start to get tissue imbalances.

this wouldn't change any of the good advice above, but it might explain why its one leg and not the other.

Someone recommended washing the chafed area each time you ride with Head and Shoulders or any dandruff control shampoo. I have and I have not had any chafing since. Machka I think is who suggested it.

Are you sure it's chafing and not a rash like jock itch? That can be really sore and feel like it was rubbed raw. The Gold Bond powder mentioned above will help prevent that kind of rash.

If it's truly chafing, one of my kids has that problem and she uses Monistat Chafing Relief gel on her thighs before long bike rides.

My legs and thighs are both the same size. I looked and didn't see any cellulite problem areas and had the wife look. There are no pocket on the shorts. I have a pair of bontrager 2xl but they seem a little tight, i might give them a try like around the block.
BillMc

I have a 2011 trek 7.3 this is the saddle that is on it
Saddle

Bontrager H1


I am replacing with Bontrager Affinity Elite Saddle 138cm. The local LSB thinks this will make a good seat.
BillMc

Hoping to get a quick reply here. Had to run a few errands. I found a pair of specialize rbx pro shorts in 2x. They fit but I think the waist band is loose. Is it suppose to be rt tight?
BillMc

Not in the waist, no.