Summer and chaffing
 

It's starting to get hot again. In the high 60˚s this week. I rode quite a bit yesterday and today I can feel the chaffing. It's right on the crease between my thighs and perineal bundle. From what I've read this can be attributed to having a saddle that is too wide in the middle (I plan to replace my saddle sometime soonish).

In the mean time, would simple compression shorts help? Something real basic like this or do I really need to go with a cycling specific short? I'd rather spend $7 and buy 3-4 pairs so I don't have to wash them every night than send $40 on a single pair of cycling specific ones.

I know creams and butters help a lot, but I'd rather avoid those if I can. I don't have too big an issue, but during the summer I average 15-25 miles a day commuting around and I'd rather not have a constant burning of the skin for months on end.

Do you know if the chafing is coming from friction between your thighs and your gooch, or is it from the saddle itself? If the former, i'd recommend vaseline (common backpacker problem & solution). If the latter, i'd think anything smooth and nylon-like (think a moleskin for your crotch) would do the trick, most compression pants included.

Shorts that won't ride up do help, bike shorts will be the best but maybe not necessary for that kind of milage. The saddle change may help if you actually know what's wrong, not just thinking your saddle is wide

high 60's? That's considered cold/ cool down here.... winter/ fall temperatures LOL

I wish it was 60 here, it's in the mid 90s...I'm interested in this too, occasionally on longer rides I get it to and just want to hear what people say.

Even low 60's is enough to get me sweating while riding in shorts and no shirt. It'll be hitting 100 in a month or two, at which point I just accept that I won't stop seating unless I'm swimming.

I'm changing the saddle too just because it isn't very comfortable. The width may in fact be fine, which is why I'm looking at better shorts first. My guess is boxers riding up and bunching in the crotch may be a leading factor (as you pointed out), in which case compression shorts should fix the problem.

a and d, gold bond, chamois butter, cortizone all work fine, as does wearing looser clothing

Still feels cold in Chico to me, but I prefer warm weather.

I wish it were in the 60s here during the day. I need to get out of SoCal. Fing hate the heat

and yeah if your boxers are riding up and bunching they're probably not helping. cotton in general is pretty coarse, especially once it gets wet

Go spend a winter with Scrodzilla and say that.

I didn't say I want snow :P

Snow, Snow, Snow. It is not May yet, so there is still a chance.

I like body powder to keep things dry.

Tom

I buy my cycling shorts/bibs 2nd hand so I dont pay a lot. I dont even own regular underwear anymore. I am lucky to have a sweet 2nd hand sporting goods store here in town.

hey I got some liners with the chamois thing. you're NOT supposed to wear underwear under them right?

yes, that would defeat the purpose

wear compression shorts or bike shorts it has already been mentioned but I forgot to reinforce earlier

I actually usef underwear with the padded bike shorts when I did my xcountry tour. Though they were very fancey underwear...

lose the boxers.

the heat can be as bad as the cold. theres proper clothing for -50 theres not really proper clothing for 110.


do tell!

I really hate the butter so I went with an older model of these:
http://www.exofficio.com/products/de...go-sport-brief

I still have them and so them for longer trips though for hiking I would go with the boxerbriefs. I love their stuff and you hardly knew you had underwear and padded spandex on at the same time. Spent 2700 miles with this setup.

i dont use butter and go commando under.

gross

plus that. i dont know if i can take your word on bibs!

commando under you spandex? I'm not saying I still double up, I just did for that trip. As far as 2nd hand, some bleach in the wash and I end up with $100+ bibs for $10-20...

i need to get over it. i order plenty of used saddles. the stigma is just that i usually buy my own underwear, right?