Chamois
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Near Nashville, TN
Bikes: Moots Vamoots CR
Chamois
Pay attention and don't wear your kit after riding. Change as soon as you can. I know this rule but did not follow it. I ended up with a fungal infection in my privates. Antibiotics and creams will cure it but it is painful and a mess.
Big question- The doctor said I needed to throw away all my contaminated chamois's (bibs) and buy new. Well you know how expensive that would be because good bibs are $100 to $250 a piece. I ride a lot and have 5 bibs.
Does anyone know if you can sterilize the bids to rid them of spores/contaminants? Help??
Big question- The doctor said I needed to throw away all my contaminated chamois's (bibs) and buy new. Well you know how expensive that would be because good bibs are $100 to $250 a piece. I ride a lot and have 5 bibs.
Does anyone know if you can sterilize the bids to rid them of spores/contaminants? Help??
#2
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Pay attention and don't wear your kit after riding. Change as soon as you can. I know this rule but did not follow it. I ended up with a fungal infection in my privates. Antibiotics and creams will cure it but it is painful and a mess.
Big question- The doctor said I needed to throw away all my contaminated chamois's (bibs) and buy new. Well you know how expensive that would be because good bibs are $100 to $250 a piece. I ride a lot and have 5 bibs.
Does anyone know if you can sterilize the bids to rid them of spores/contaminants? Help??
Big question- The doctor said I needed to throw away all my contaminated chamois's (bibs) and buy new. Well you know how expensive that would be because good bibs are $100 to $250 a piece. I ride a lot and have 5 bibs.
Does anyone know if you can sterilize the bids to rid them of spores/contaminants? Help??
#3
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I toured for months 3 pair of bike shorts with a synthetic Chamois (no european mountain goats were killed)
always had a clean pair on every day, had no issues, apart from 1 hot spot ,
but topically applied Neosporin at night fixed that
always had a clean pair on every day, had no issues, apart from 1 hot spot ,
but topically applied Neosporin at night fixed that
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 733
Likes: 199
I wash all my gym and cycling clothes in OxyClean which will definitely kill any bacteria or fungus. Everyone in the US knows this product. It just plains works wonders on clothes especially athletic clothes.
”sodium percarbonate
One of the active ingredients in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate(Na2CO3•H2O2), an adduct of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water.”
”sodium percarbonate
One of the active ingredients in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate(Na2CO3•H2O2), an adduct of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water.”
#6
Senior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 115
Likes: 74
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL5 ; Felt Versa Speed 7
I read this while laying on the ground in my bike shorts an hour after getting home from a metric century....
Needless to say I ran off to the shower and changed lol
Needless to say I ran off to the shower and changed lol
#7
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 66
Likes: 19
I know this is un-cool and sacrilege in the cycling community, but, why not just wear underwear under your bike shorts. That way, you keep a clean piece of material between you and your bike shorts. I wear a pair of quick dry polyester/spandex underwear under my bike shorts. Never had a chafing/saddle sore issue. They only time I ever had a chafing issue is when I did not wear underwear. BTW, I do change out of my bike gear as soon as I get home.
#8
Full Member

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 356
Likes: 75
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Specialized Crosstrail
I know this is un-cool and sacrilege in the cycling community, but, why not just wear underwear under your bike shorts. That way, you keep a clean piece of material between you and your bike shorts. I wear a pair of quick dry polyester/spandex underwear under my bike shorts. Never had a chafing/saddle sore issue. They only time I ever had a chafing issue is when I did not wear underwear. BTW, I do change out of my bike gear as soon as I get home.
#9
Fungus can be killed although it is stuborn and will likely take a few cycles to clean them fully. Double strength vinegar is a powerful antifungal. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antifungal. Don't mix chemicals though and read the instructions if you have them.
#13
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 9,143
Likes: 1,736
From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
What would be the theoretical difference between sitting around in your kit for an hour after riding, versus if your ride had just been an hour longer than it was?
#14
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 5,251
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Kucharik sells chamois separately or you can have him sew in the replacement:
https://www.kucharikclothing.com/rep...b29afe1b8181a3
https://www.kucharikclothing.com/rep...b29afe1b8181a3
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 733
Likes: 199
Yup, we have OxyClean laundry powder here in the states. Keeps gym and cycling clothes in great condition.
#18
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 9,143
Likes: 1,736
From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
#19
You don't have to throw anything away (I used to be a medic in the Army, and have had to treat every kind of fungus you can imagine). Fill your bathtub halfway, put in half a cup of household bleach, mix the water with your hand to distribute the bleach in the water, then throw all of your shorts in the tub. Let them soak overnight. Then wash and dry them as normal, any fungus or bacteria will be removed.
If you live in a place where there is regular sunshine, dry your shorts on a clothesline after washing, the sun does a very good job of killing fungus and bacteria.
If you live in a place where there is regular sunshine, dry your shorts on a clothesline after washing, the sun does a very good job of killing fungus and bacteria.





