Chamois allergy
#29
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,379
Likes: 6,707
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I would try using DZ Nuts or maybe my favorite Chamois Glide. I would also make sure my position on the bike is good and my saddle is the right size and shape for me. I am doubtful the shorts would be an issue, it is possible but very unlikely.
One final thing that I recommend as well is showering off before you bathe. I don't think the bath is the cause of problems at least from what you said but washing off the sweat and bacteria is always a good thing so you aren't bathing in it!
One final thing that I recommend as well is showering off before you bathe. I don't think the bath is the cause of problems at least from what you said but washing off the sweat and bacteria is always a good thing so you aren't bathing in it!
#30
Me duelen las nalgas

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,519
Likes: 2,832
From: Texas
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Yup.
Last year I switched from padded shorts (Aero Tech and Pearl Izumi) to Champion boxer/briefs made from a thin poly wicking fabric. Cleared up my chafing rash within a few days.
The problem I was experiencing last summer was too much padding and accumulation of sweat. The combination was causing chafing. The faux-chamois padding wasn't drying quickly enough. Probably aggravated by my padded saddles. Just too much sweat-soaked padding squirming around.
But as I've been riding farther, up to 60 miles per ride, on a more lightly padded saddle, I've experienced some discomfort. The underwear alone has been fine for rides of 10-50 miles, but I'm planning on longer rides and tackling a solo century soon.
So before the weather gets too hot I've been experimenting with combining the Champion underwear with padded shorts. The Champion boxer/briefs are skin-tight and very thin fabric that wicks perspiration very effectively. So far, so good, over a few rides the past week. The padding is a bit more comfortable and I'm not needing to get off the bike to stretch and air things out as often.
It hasn't been either hot or humid enough to say whether the combination of underwear with padded shorts will help or hurt. We'll see.
Last year I switched from padded shorts (Aero Tech and Pearl Izumi) to Champion boxer/briefs made from a thin poly wicking fabric. Cleared up my chafing rash within a few days.
The problem I was experiencing last summer was too much padding and accumulation of sweat. The combination was causing chafing. The faux-chamois padding wasn't drying quickly enough. Probably aggravated by my padded saddles. Just too much sweat-soaked padding squirming around.
But as I've been riding farther, up to 60 miles per ride, on a more lightly padded saddle, I've experienced some discomfort. The underwear alone has been fine for rides of 10-50 miles, but I'm planning on longer rides and tackling a solo century soon.
So before the weather gets too hot I've been experimenting with combining the Champion underwear with padded shorts. The Champion boxer/briefs are skin-tight and very thin fabric that wicks perspiration very effectively. So far, so good, over a few rides the past week. The padding is a bit more comfortable and I'm not needing to get off the bike to stretch and air things out as often.
It hasn't been either hot or humid enough to say whether the combination of underwear with padded shorts will help or hurt. We'll see.
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,067
Likes: 73
From: USA
Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4
Yup.
Last year I switched from padded shorts (Aero Tech and Pearl Izumi) to Champion boxer/briefs made from a thin poly wicking fabric. Cleared up my chafing rash within a few days.
The problem I was experiencing last summer was too much padding and accumulation of sweat. The combination was causing chafing. The faux-chamois padding wasn't drying quickly enough. Probably aggravated by my padded saddles. Just too much sweat-soaked padding squirming around.
But as I've been riding farther, up to 60 miles per ride, on a more lightly padded saddle, I've experienced some discomfort. The underwear alone has been fine for rides of 10-50 miles, but I'm planning on longer rides and tackling a solo century soon.
So before the weather gets too hot I've been experimenting with combining the Champion underwear with padded shorts. The Champion boxer/briefs are skin-tight and very thin fabric that wicks perspiration very effectively. So far, so good, over a few rides the past week. The padding is a bit more comfortable and I'm not needing to get off the bike to stretch and air things out as often.
It hasn't been either hot or humid enough to say whether the combination of underwear with padded shorts will help or hurt. We'll see.
Last year I switched from padded shorts (Aero Tech and Pearl Izumi) to Champion boxer/briefs made from a thin poly wicking fabric. Cleared up my chafing rash within a few days.
The problem I was experiencing last summer was too much padding and accumulation of sweat. The combination was causing chafing. The faux-chamois padding wasn't drying quickly enough. Probably aggravated by my padded saddles. Just too much sweat-soaked padding squirming around.
But as I've been riding farther, up to 60 miles per ride, on a more lightly padded saddle, I've experienced some discomfort. The underwear alone has been fine for rides of 10-50 miles, but I'm planning on longer rides and tackling a solo century soon.
So before the weather gets too hot I've been experimenting with combining the Champion underwear with padded shorts. The Champion boxer/briefs are skin-tight and very thin fabric that wicks perspiration very effectively. So far, so good, over a few rides the past week. The padding is a bit more comfortable and I'm not needing to get off the bike to stretch and air things out as often.
It hasn't been either hot or humid enough to say whether the combination of underwear with padded shorts will help or hurt. We'll see.
I used to do a lot of triathlons. At least well through the 90s I did not bother doing the changing outfits ordeal, I just wore my swimsuit throughout. Now it seems everybody is back to changing outfits.
I loath padded shorts
Last edited by Loose Chain; 04-21-17 at 11:13 PM.
#32
Me duelen las nalgas

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,519
Likes: 2,832
From: Texas
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Yeah, I'm not a big fan of padded shorts if I can avoid them. The merino wool with thin leather chamois I wore back in the 1970s was fine. But the first new shorts I got a year or so ago with gel or memory foam or whatever it is felt like a diaper. The Aero Tech and Pearl Izumi aren't bad, I just haven't needed them for most rides under 50 miles. But beyond that it has been a bit uncomfortable. The extra thin layer from the Champion boxer/briefs between my skin and the bike shorts has been comfortable so far. But the weather hasn't been extreme enough to see whether it'll help later when it's hot and humid.
#33
Newbie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I've just had this problem occur to me in the past month. Two weeks without riding plus med treatment and the burn returned today before I even got my leg over the saddle. I too use Chamois Butt'r on every ride, regardless of the time/distance. I am swapping tubes of Chamois Butt'r from the one I've used the last several rides to a tube of Chamois Butt'r purchased from a different source (hopefully a different batch). In addition, my next ride (three days from now) I'll be wearing shorts with a different chamois than those I've recently worn when I have experienced the problem. Our team has new kits each year so it's easy for me to pull out from my closet a totally different pair of short with a different pad. I'll let you know how it goes........
#34
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Actually the Chamois is a Goat Species in Europe, But most 'leather' inserts in bike shorts is a synthetic these days.
Decades ago it was Sheepskin , like the stuff you get now, for windshield cleaning from the auto section
of your departmentalized stores.
Ther the chamois treatments was to soften the sheepskin after washing .
Decades ago it was Sheepskin , like the stuff you get now, for windshield cleaning from the auto section
of your departmentalized stores.
Ther the chamois treatments was to soften the sheepskin after washing .
#35
Newbie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Update: four rides since my earlier post - different years' kits than worn when the problem originated which means synthetic chamois. Each ride was without any chamois butt'r or other product. Longest ride was 1 hour 40 minutes. Each ride I had some redness but the itching has not returned nor has the burn. I've continued to use med/ointment for 'jock itch' which has made positive impact on all symptoms. I've not yet had the courage to try any of the chamois butt'r from the new tube which was purchased from a store different from the one which I think caused the original problem.
Insult to injury: I went to paceline website to report the problem and no response almost 2 weeks later.
Insult to injury: I went to paceline website to report the problem and no response almost 2 weeks later.
#36
Newbie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Paceline follow-up to rmacg
Update: four rides since my earlier post - different years' kits than worn when the problem originated which means synthetic chamois. Each ride was without any chamois butt'r or other product. Longest ride was 1 hour 40 minutes. Each ride I had some redness but the itching has not returned nor has the burn. I've continued to use med/ointment for 'jock itch' which has made positive impact on all symptoms. I've not yet had the courage to try any of the chamois butt'r from the new tube which was purchased from a store different from the one which I think caused the original problem.
Insult to injury: I went to paceline website to report the problem and no response almost 2 weeks later.
Insult to injury: I went to paceline website to report the problem and no response almost 2 weeks later.
rmacg, this is Steve Mathews from Paceline Products. I came across your note here, and this string today, from a social media tracking site. I apologize, but we don't have a record of receiving a message from you, I'm not sure where the message got lost. Please email me directly, steve@pacelineproducts.com I will be glad to walk you through what we know on these types of issues.
#37
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,766
Likes: 1,744
...I am swapping tubes of Chamois Butt'r from the one I've used the last several rides to a tube of Chamois Butt'r purchased from a different source (hopefully a different batch). In addition, my next ride (three days from now) I'll be wearing shorts with a different chamois than those I've recently worn when I have experienced the problem. Our team has new kits each year so it's easy for me to pull out from my closet a totally different pair of short with a different pad. I'll let you know how it goes........
As for a couple of comments on thick padded shorts. Indeed - some of them do feel like huge diapers. I've definitely gravitated to thin, more minimalist padded sorts with my current favorites being some Cannondale pro shorts a friend in the business gave me, but also the Performance bike "Ultra" shorts from a few years ago, I don't know if the current ones are the same. I'll find out on Father's day because that's my request. They're thin and very wicking/quick dry.
Another pad that is very similar and very satisfactory for me is the Castelli KISS (maybe KISS 3?) pad.
I use saddles with very little padding - more of just a leather cover.
But every body's different, we all have to figuire out what works.
Gel stuff - whether it's in shorts' padding or saddles is not good - for me anyway.
Last edited by Camilo; 05-24-17 at 06:24 PM.






