Silvercivic27

What would be the disadvantage of using chamois cream other than cost?

Sourpuss Magee

It can be a little cold when applied before an early morning ride.

Val23708

yep it sucks if you left it in your car overnight and you've got an early race

rc32

Now that's just wrong!
TRY?? After MOST rides? YUCK!
Wash 'em after every ride, no excuses.

rc32

What is the world coming to? YUCK!

Edonis13

i stop mid ride to wash mine, just to be safe.

YosemiteGirl

WHAT is with the no underwear thing? Is it because most people don't spend $$$ on the expensive wicking/meant for outdoor activities stuff?

There is one pair of cycling shorts that I have to wear underwear with or the seam in the front rubs. I would think that a great pair of wicking/appropriate underwear would be like a coolmax liner sock when you hike long distances.

Shimagnolo

Well, the first time I put on shorts with chamois cream, (a free sample came with a parts order), it felt like putting on a soiled diaper.
For the record, I don't use it.

Disciple1

I use chamois glide and apply it directly to the clean chamois. Works for me and keeps things(including my hands) more sterile.

Deman Llama

As a female, I can't STAND not wearing underwear- it just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's the 13 years of Catholic school...

And as far as chamois cream, is there something special about it? I use Perishield- basically diaper cream- and it seems to work just fine...

ElJamoquio

You guys have it all wrong.

THE UNWRITTEN RULE OF CHAMOIS CREAM
Do not confuse chamois cream with embrocation.

EventServices

I'm going to market a product called "pre-ride conditioner" that you put on 20 minutes before you put on the chamois cream. Then a 'post-ride recovery cream' that you put on afterward.
I'll bet people will buy it because my advertisements would say, "you can't ride without it!"

Machka 

Hilarious!!

We're not that fragile that we can't wear the same pair of shorts for more than one ride.

If it's a long ride, like a century, you probably want to toss your shorts in the wash, but a 25 km after work ride isn't going to cause issues with your shorts.

Machka 

We don't wear underwear because we spend $$ on wicking/meant for outdoor activity. Padded cycling shorts are designed to work best without underwear ... it's pointless to wear padded cycling shorts if you've got underwear on because the underwear hampers the wicking properties of the padding. It's also generally uncomfortable.



You need to get a better pair of shorts then. Cycling shorts should be perfectly comfortable without underwear.



As a female ...

When I first started cycling, I didn't know any better and I wore underwear under my shorts ... and there were often mild chafing issues. Then I found out that you're not supposed to wear underwear under cycling shorts, and I tried my cycling shorts without ... and what a difference. So much more comfortable! I've been underwear free for years now.


Lose the underwear ... you wouldn't wear it under a bathing suit, would you?

FLvector

My after work rides are usually 25-30 miles and my bibs are usually soaked at the end of the ride. Not washing them and hanging to dry for another ride is setting up a bacteria factory for another ride. Washing is so easy to do and avoids potential problems. For those that live in cooler climates, go for shorter rides at an easier pace, maybe not a big issue. But I wouldn't encourage not washing, bacterial infections are not very forgiving.

Here's a decent article on the issue of saddle comfort, chamois cremes, etc.

Pug

I'll preface this by saying I personally don't use the stuff, but recall in the movie Hell on Wheels that Erik Zabel's soigneur applied it directly to the chamois. Worked up quite a lather at that!

ADA23

I know.......he used about half a tub,@ $20 a tub I would have no money for coffee!

Shimagnolo

Do you wear underwear under your bathing suit?

YosemiteGirl

Cycling shorts aren't bathing suits - they are more like specialty hiking socks with extra padding for long distances. I always wear a coolmax liner sock under those. Same idea.

It just seems like there are all of these "rules" I'm cycling that can't be broken. In my case, I have never had a saddle sore or chafe with or without underwear. The stuff I wear wicks moisture better than the shorts, so I definitely stay drier.

Anyway it is like we say with hiking..hike your own hike . I guess in this case it is "ride your own ride."

Shimagnolo

Is isn't about "rules";
It is about using a product as it was designed;
Heck, you can wear your bra on the outside of your jersey if that makes you happy.

RUOkie

Enzos ftw.

And make sure you wash your bibs and yourself after every ride

clink83

If you're going to wear underwear under bike shorts, why not just get a pair of black spandex running shorts and not bother spending 100-200 dollars on shorts that you're not wearing properly? The whole point of the pad is for it to wick moisture directly off your skin. If you're not going to wear them properly, running shorts are cheaper. You can do whatever you want, but I think the hundreds of thousands of other cyclists who ride without underwear and tell you not to are on to something.

The real unwritten rule of chamois cream is sunscreen first, then chamois cream. Never in reverse.

ls01

I use it on any ride over 50 miles. And some under, depends on the sit bones condition and existence of saddle sores. It does help with the development of saddle sores, by reducing the irritation, and possibly by keeping some of the bacteria at bay. I have been using Chamoise Butt'r lately, works ok, but doesnt last a whole century. I have used Noxima type skin creams in the past with good effect also.
It comes down to you, you either need it or you dont.

rc32

I was going to reply to Machka's ridiculous statement (We're not that fragile that we can't wear the same pair of shorts for more than one ride.

If it's a long ride, like a century, you probably want to toss your shorts in the wash, but a 25 km after work ride isn't going to cause issues with your shorts.)
but FLVector has stated 99.9% of what I was going to say.

15 kms into my 6:30 am ride today my kit was soaked. No way would I ever use the same shorts without washing.

Commodus

Chamois Butt'r.

Straight to the skin.

Nothing under the bib.

Right before the ride.

Always wash my bibs every time.