rdtindsm

I have been riding since the late 60’s when a chamois really was. But I was never into the effort needed to keep them soft and supple, so I was ecstatic when they started making synthetic “chamois”.

I always had a little problem with a very thin scab in the crease between my legs and groin area. Milage in the neighborhood of 300 miles a week would actually abrade an open wound. When I actually checked with a mirror not so long ago, the crease seemed to be scar tissue.

I’ve found that the heavier weight Duo-Derm will protect this area; in fact I had an open sore heal during a 400+ mi cross state ride while using a duo derm This stuff is very expensive, but the expense is mitigated by the fact it can be left in place for several days at a time. I found a less expensive source for a lightweight version, but it tends to just roll up in a ball: it’s not as durable as I would like.

Although I’ve never made a complete commitment to make a lubricant work, things like petroleum jelly or bag balm has never worked for me. I’m particularly concerned about the mess these substances would make.

A posting that I read on a forum suggested to me that a gel filled chamois would help because it would flow with the movement rather than rubbing. I do have a winter bib and mtb shorts that have gel, but it’s still too early in the season to get enough mileage to get a feel whether this will help.
So:
What experience have people had with gel filled chamois helping with abrasion?
What do you use that controls the abrasion?

ahsposo 

Can you post a picture?

But gel pads are horrible, IMO.

dtrain

Chamois butters and creams are a lot less messy than petroleum-based jellies.

dtrain

I've got way too graphic of an image already.

datlas 

I tried a gel chamois. Hated it. Did not breathe and felt like riding with a loaded diaper!

Jandro 

When was the last time you tried chamois cream?

The Assos brand stuff is pretty thick. If you apply it to the chamois itself on the outside edges of the pad (where it would sit in the crease of your leg/crotch) and then apply it directly to your skin as well, you should be golden.

YMMV, but that's my $0.02.

FLvector

I'd suspect that a gel filled chamois will only add to your problem. The constant friction is either caused by the threads in your chamois and/or the positioning on your saddle. Have you tried a high quality bib? I only use a cream on rides greater than 50 miles and have found a few small dabs of Balmex works well.

garysol1 

I would suggest David Zabriskie's DZ Nuts chamois cream. It is a light cream and it is medicated to help fight the bacteria that may be causing your "wound" in the first place...... just a thought. Also make sure your shorts or bibs are not to large and allowing the chamois to bunch up in the no no area.

bianchi10

been there and get rubbing sometimes as well. chamois cream helps me a bit, but this happens when my saddle isn't positioned correctly. sometimes i have to play with the position, tilt up or down to get it right. can also be because saddle is to far for or aft as well.

Christobevii3

I always just use degree cheap stick antiperspirant. Helps a lot and cheap.

Carbonfiberboy 

Simplest fix is get a saddle that doesn't have any saddle there. Specialized Romin for example. Gel pads are horrible IME. Various brands of chamois butter are all remedies for a problem that shouldn't be there.

garysol1 

Not exactly. Chamois creams create a barrier between your skin and the wet sweaty pad. The barrier will help keep your skin from sticking to the pad and causing a saddle sore as well as help keep bacteria at bay until you are able to clean off after your ride. Not to say that someone will have any issues if they dont use a cream but it sure is cheap protection and a piece of mind for me.

ls01

After reading your opening posst. Yuk. Get a saddle that fits.

SpeshulEd 

I new what this thread was going to be about, yet I opened it anyway.

And now I'm going to go look at kittens.

JohnDThompson 

No significant experience treating saddle sores, but the hospital where I work has pretty much replaced DuoDerm with Mepilex for would care. They have a nice feathered edge and resist rolling up the way DuoDerm does, and even when it does happen the adhesive is such that the dressing can be straightened out and re-applied if it is not soiled.

ctimrun2012

I had the same issues while using Chamois Butter. I got a tip to try Butt Paste (extra strength), which is actually for diaper rash, and have not had any problems since. Oh, and get rid of any hair in that area.

yochris 

I have gotten saddle sores in the exact spot as the OP. DZ Nuts chamois cream pretty much eliminated the issue for me, even with various saddles.

Ice41000

I used Vasoline and it worked fine but is absolutely impossible to wash off of your bibs.
Bag Balm works fine, feels similar to Vasoline which is somewhat sticky.
Now I use Enzo's ButtonHole cream https://www.enzoscyclingproducts.com/chamois-cream and it is great. Smells wonderful :-)

The_Cretin

This happens to me in the early season when I ramp up the hours and am a bit overweight. When I have a few extra pounds, there's no place for the flab between my perineum and inner thigh to go so it gets pinched and rubbed raw against the edge of the saddle. What worked marvelously this season was to put superglue over the raw area and then apply chamois cream as usual after the glue dried. It worked great. I was constantly shifting in the saddle to avoid that spot but was perfectly comfortable with the raw spot glued over. It also healed within 2 days instead of remaining irritated. Of course, losing the weight helped in the long run as well.

thump55

Body Glide is good stuff (for prevention).

Prevention is the key.

Chamois butter is not messy. (I put it on my skin only)

Now go get yourself right....preferrably without superglue.

Psimet2001 

Finding the right chamois and cream combo is a bit of trial and error. That said I have not found anyone who doesn't like Enzo's ButtonHole Chamois Cream. Full disclosure - I know Wayne Simon who is the owner. I have sponsored him with wheels for a few years now, but honestly all that did was give me the opportunity to try the cream early on. I sell it to locals, but refer people to his site for those out of Chicago. I have found over the years that as people move away they still contact me for Enzo's and buy it by the case. He is carried in the Performance catalog now and is in a ton of shops all over the country.

Link - https://www.enzoscyclingproducts.com/chamois-cream

Also you can find a lot of useful information and reviews as well as product for sale (including Enzo's) at https://www.balmco.com

Mike Z (a member out here as well) is the owner of that store out of Denver area. He's done a great job of reviewing and testing a ton of product. If you know what already doesn't work for you he is a great resource for finding what will work for you. ....which is most likely Enzo's.

ReLLiK75

I have a similar issue, but I think I've narrowed it down to the bib/chamois. The local team I ride with has refreshed the kits pretty consistently--we use Primal. Last year's bibs don't seem to fit exactly the same at the thigh and there's something else wrong with the chamois that causes sores on my right side, directly under my butt cheek. No amount of chamois butter helps. But if I use any other bib, I don't have the issue. So it could be your shorts/bibs/chamois combo. Maybe try a higher-end brand like sugoi or assos.

tanguy frame

gel chamois pads suck. I tried one once and never again. get great shorts, keep 'em clean.