Recurring Saddle Sores
 

15 years of serious riding and not a single saddle sore...until a week and a half ago. I was on a 110-mile ride when the sky opened up and it started to pour around mile 40. Now I've ridden 110+ miles in the past in the dry, and I've ridden in the wet plenty of times, but I've never ridden 70 miles in a soaking wet chamois before. And boy did it suck.

I got home and hopped in the shower only to experience a pain that can be described as road rash on a 3rd degree burn. My points of contact had been rubbed completely raw.

Three days off the saddle, constant bactine and neosporine, and I was certain I was on the road to a speedy recovery. Went on a couple 30ish mile rides and felt like I was back to normal. Then, yesterday, I got back from a 60-miler, hopped in the shower, and felt that familiar sting...

Fortunately it wasn't that bad this time, but it got me to wondering, is this being caused because there is new skin there that is more tender? Two saddle sores in two weeks. I'm a little afraid this will turn into a downward spiral. I guess standard saddle sore practices apply that have been posted several times here in BF, huh.

Your immune system might be down from the wet ride. Boost it if you can and see if it heals more quickly.

Try teating the sores with cortizone 10 ointment.

The standard saddle sore practice is to post a pic of said sore. More than likely, someone will recognize it and have solid advice on how to rectify.

if you rubbed the skin down badly on the 1st ride, then it's likely gonna take a longer time for it to be less tender and less susceptible to further damage. Your's sounds really nasty. :eek:
Long rides in wet conditions are tough.
I guess you could call it saddle sores - but usually I think of infected hair folicles, sweat glands and such.
Strictly from personal experience I found a good snug/tight fit with really thin chamois works the best for me in wet conditions. This may be different with some of the newer chamois designs - wouldn;t know since I've not tried them all. I've done quite a few very hard rides over 100+ in varying states of rain, and not had much more than really cold privates. Course you gotta treat it all a little better after that kinda ridin.
Ideally the chamois pad should retain a minimum of moisture and not allow fabric movement.
were the shorts you have Gel padded? gel shorts may be the single worst thing ever in cycling kit.

You haven't given it enough time to heal.

Hah! I can assure you, no one wins by having a picture of my tucus posted to BF.

Nope. No gel. Been riding a couple different pairs of Voler padded shorts w/o chamois cream for about 9 years now. First time they've failed me.

Sound like raw skin more than saddle sore. Salt from your sweat really stings, don't it?

I have found Carmex lip balm works wonders on this kind of ailment.

Hmm...that actually sounds like a brilliant idea! Chapped lips and chapped behinds probably aren't a whole lot different. Besides, I've always longed for that menthol fresh feeling down below.

Perhaps it's time you invest in a couple new pairs of Voler's then?

I agree with this. It takes me about a week to completely get rid of saddle sores.

This. Forget the cortisone cream. Use a Zinc Oxide ointment and all should be well within a few days. Let it heal.

aka diaper rash creme found in the baby section of the drug store

Correct.

Once you get an abrasion open-sore, it sucks. I posted one time about carrying extra creme to relube, got some flack, BUT IT WORKS. I've been riding a long time, I went to UCSD med school and taught there.

Just try carrying some good chamois creme, if you start to feel irritated, and are getiing off the saddle, try carrying some creme and relubing. If it doesn't work, what have you lost? A minute? But it does work.

Good short chamois pads are also key. I mostly ride Assos FI.Milles, but frankly, Gore Bike Wear Ozons are awesome, DeMarchi Contour Evos are very comfy, all have Assos-Cytech Elastic Interface Technology pads. They all do best with some mid-ride relubes. You're feeling a little abrasion discomfort. You relube. Ahh, that is much more comfy.

In coolere weather riding, you don't notice the issue so much. In hot 85-95 F summer-weather riding, you notice it.

Exactly what I use for that rare time I get a sore. Works brilliantly! Apply for day time use, for riding and for sleeping. I've used the one in the jar and the tube, both will work well.

Also, feel free to apply a bandage if it can be done.

Good luck!

Maybe. I have shorts from 20 years ago that I still use now and then with no issues.

Indeed. Be smart. It's your call whether to take time off the bike. I tend to be able to keep riding and racing through them. Were it super bad, then, yeah, common sense would likely mean some time off the bike.

In all honesty, you should be treating this with a LOT of respect. I once attended a memorial ride with the NC Bicycle Club in Moore County NC for a guy who was paralyzed due to a spinal infection that all started with saddles sores. Your ass is a bad place to have festering open wounds. Take care of it.

I assume that you'd want to get different canisters for your lips and your posterior. My wife often steals my lip balm and this might be a good way to make sure she never again does. :D

...and don't "double dip". Kinda goes without sayin'.

On th subject/off the subject, how many people on here have had th PERINEAL NODULAR INDURATION. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 3RD TESTICAL. for those who haven't its this hard chat that is only common to cyclist that will appear in th groin area under re skin. Its caused by micro trauma to muscles repeated trauma like sitting on saddle for to long. Its not cancerous but feels like a marble inside the skin. Biopsy has shown no. Cancer or liquidy middle only fibourous growth. Some people say it will go away and some say it needs to be removed

Anyways I developed one a month ago from th original saddle I had on said bike. I have since changed saddle and rode with said bump. Over the last 2 days I have now gotten a sadle sore there from the hard chat like ball pressing between th skin and saddle. So now I have to figure out how to treat my first saddle sore. Has anyone else experienced the perineal modular induration or 3rd testicle as people call it