Bum is SERIOUSLY raw... :(
 

OK, did a 7-day bike tour week before last. Spent at least 3 hours a day in the saddle, usually 4-5. Used chamois cream for days 2-7. Obviously, during the ride, my rear hurt in all kinds of ways. Today was my second day in the saddle since the ride. Only did about 30 miles, but at about 15-20, my butt (the, um, "crack area") felt all kinds of raw. Taking a shower actually stung a bit. Sitting down has been painful in the "raw skin" kind of way. I've, um, ug, checked things out and I don't see any sores. Could this be related to the tour or is it maybe something completely different. Is it normal to take this long for the butt to recover after that kind of punishment? FWIW, I had 1200 miles in the saddle for the year b4 the ride, so it's not like my butt wasn't ready for it.

Let the butt jokes begin :rolleyes:

PS Is it normal to retain water after a ride like that?

#1. Apply zinc oxide cream. You'll find it in the baby department of your local pharmacy or department store.

#2. Yes, it is normal to retain water after long rides.

#3. Adjust your bicycle. You shouldn't be in that much pain after 4-5 hours a day for 7 days in the saddle.

If your saddle is too high, you'll be rocking
If your saddle is too low, you'll be resting on the saddle too heavily
If you use a gel saddle, you could be sinking into it too much, change to a saddle like a Brooks that will really fit you
And there may be some fore-aft adjustments that help too.

#4. And about your shorts ... you were wearing padded cycling shorts without underwear, right? If not ... well ..... If so, then maybe you need to look for a new pair that fits you better.

But first apply the zinc oxide cream.

Well, the pain from being in the saddle on the ride was just lack of, well, being in the saddle that much. I may have exagerrated, but each morning was a rough start for the first ten miles. The most I'd been in the saddle in a row before then was 3 days of 2 hour rides.

As for the seat, I'll check into it. I remember I had raised it about 1/4" last week, so maybe that's the issue. I'll lower and see what works.

Zinc Oxide cream, here I come! :D

Doesn't sound like your butt was as ready for this event as you thought it was but don't rule out seat position and other issues also.

Please no pics!

I messed around with my saddle height last year, raised it about 4mm (1/6") and suddenly found myself with two bright red sandpapered patches where my sitbones contacted the saddle. After every ride despite being solidly conditioned. Up to that point (30,000 miles) I had never had such a problem. Put it back down, problem solved.

Bad idea to screw with fit just before a tour.

How 'bout them shorts? Did you ride with any new shorts or were they something your "bumpy" was used to? You wore clean ones everyday right? Was it one particular pair that did the damage?

What a lot of people don't realize with this sort of a complaint is that the saddle they're on might not let perspiration evaporate well, leading to rawness and chafing - no matter what you do with positioning or butt creams.

This is yet another reason why many long-distance/tour cyclists ride leather saddles like Brooks'. The leather lets your skin breathe on long hours in the saddle, hence no chaffed, raw skin.

Why do you think Brooks is still in business after 139 years of making all-leather saddles??

Boudreaux's Butt Paste :-)

http://www.buttpaste.com/default.cfm