FreddyV

I've had this for a while now. After two, sometimes three days of commuting I get some small, sore spots on my perinium.

I have two saddles, one harder, less padded saddle. I'm not currently using this one. LINK

The other one, gel padded and with a 'cutout' for improving the blood flow to a certain more important part of the body, is on the bike at this moment. LINK

(note, these aren't the exact saddles, but they look very close like them)

I'm a bit puzzled. Was there a reason this bike was produced with a certain unpadded saddle? Does the padding irritate softer tissue and actually numb my privates? (Just a few quick observations from the past month)

What do you think caused these sore spots?

MONGO!

Poor saddle adjustment

StanSeven

Yep. There's no reason for padding on saddles for most people. Saddles are designed to just support your sit bones. When the saddle is positioned properly, along with seatpost/leg length, you shouldn't get sore. To start with, get the saddle in a level position. Also get you knee of the pedal - do a search on bike fit. Try it that way and make only moderate adjustments until you get it right.

127.0.0.1

chamois cream, people. when r ya gonna learn ? slather that crap all up on ya's and taint troubles
go down the drain

FreddyV

Saddle adjustment will be taken care of in a few days, as a new seatpost is on it's way. I'll have a look at fitting.

Thanks guys!

Oh and I'm looking if I can get a can of chamois cream around here.

pilam99

I'm using Udder Cream which is available at CVS and some Wal-Marts. My BIL swears by Aquaphor which is available everywhere (WalMart/supermarkets) but is 3-4X the price.

Randochap

You haven't said if you are wearing cycling shorts. And the all-important question?

mattm

but pressure & friction are two different things

FreddyV

I wear a snug boxer under my padded bibs.

anticlimbactic

Do not.

FreddyV

I won't. I'm sorry mommy, I won't ever do it again

Seriously though. Too much friction?

MONGO!

Are these "small sore spots" hard lumps?

If so they are saddle sores and a result of friction and sweat bacteria.
The only time I get them is if I spend a lot of time in sweaty bibs, say post race.

Antibacterial cream works, also showering and washing your shorts after each ride.

bdcheung

Look at your boxers.

See that seam going right down the middle?

FreddyV

Hard lumps indeed. What surprises me is that they're only on the left side...

FreddyV

There's no seam there Seams are in the right places, but I do think the fabric rubbing might cause too much friction indeed.

MONGO!

I almost always get them on the right, don't know why.

Like I said, friction plus sweat is the cause, they can occur after a ride if you wait too long to shower.

I got really sick of them after getting a few and didn't want to stop riding, bought some anti-microbial soap (the kind surgeons scrub up with) and mixed anti-septic cream, diaper rash cream and hydrocortisone together and applied that.

Probably overkill but it worked.

n00bL35

I have that Viper saddle and I've never had any problem. It's probably a fit issue.

MONGO!

Thanks for clearing that up

Jakedatc

treatment or a home mixed chamois cream for prevention? i'm looking for a treatment that works as well

Gluteus

Assos chamois cream = the BEST named product ever, (and it works!)

anticlimbactic

MONGO!

Treatment, I applied every couple of hours.
I use Assos chamois cream.

Mostly it's the soap and anti-bacterial cream (Neosporin) that does the trick, the other stuff is just a bonus.

Some people swear by Bag Balm but it never did a thing for me.

ezee

Slight leg-length discrepancy perhaps?

FreddyV

Probably. When I thought this over I remembered having had back trouble because my spine's curved a bit. Could have to do with a difference in leg length.

Randochap

Oxymoron