'Men's issues' with shorts

[mrcharly-YHT]

The women can have their thread about period problems, mooncups, et al, it's time us men had a sit down and discussion about our physiological issues.

After many years of cycling in all sorts of shorts, I've developed a persistent problem.

My shorts are somehow rubbing on the side of my scrotum. The rubbing is bad enough that 2hours riding produces bleeding.

The odd thing is that these are the same shorts (Altura something) that I wore for the Easter Arrow; I didn't get this problem during the arrow.

Most of my 'long' riding in the past has been done using leather chamois shorts, but I've worn out my last few pairs.

The only thing I can think of is that the pad has become extremely flexible and is working it's way up between scrotum and leg.

[clarion]

Might you have a touch of thrush?  A visit from the little bird can make everything more sensitive.

[mattc]

Pads do wear - without you noticing for some time - so that's very possible. (Normally they just get thinner, but I can see how that might lead to them folding differently.)

I cannot think of anything that would fix this - demote them to outer layer wear.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Might you have a touch of thrush?  A visit from the little bird can make everything more sensitive.

I wondered that but can't see any trace of it.

Thought initially it might have been sweat from the hot weather making a sore spot that hasn't since healed.

If it is the 'folding' as mattc suggests, that's really disappointing. These were £38 shorts, and I normally use shorts until they wear transparent or the pads have holes in them.

[LEE]

. These were £38 shorts, and I normally use shorts until they wear transparent or the pads have holes in them.

1) Stop wearing them until they are transparent immediately.  It's f***ing horrible cycling behind someone with their hairy arse crack on display.  This could mean you.  Honestly it should be a Road/Traffic offence.

2) Try Assos chamois cream.  It fixed a similar problem I had with my brand new Lusso Pro Gel shorts.  Assos cream seems expensive.. but it isn't.  Otherwise Sudacrem for areas already damaged.

But most of all..get some new shorts.

DHB from Wiggle are as good as any at the £38 price point

[vorsprung]

My shorts are somehow rubbing on the side of my scrotum. The rubbing is bad enough that 2hours riding produces bleeding.

If this happened to me I wouldn't be riding a bike

If it is the 'folding' as mattc suggests, that's really disappointing. These were £38 shorts, and I normally use shorts until they wear transparent or the pads have holes in them.

Some Altura stuff is really good despite it being cheap.  But it wouldn't surprise me if you managed to wear some out quite quickly.  "Wear out" in the sense that they have become useless as shorts. 
Is the phrase "£38 shorts" supposed to imply that you've paid top dollar for these and you expect them, therefore to last a long time?  As you probably know £38 might be expensive for a small garment but for cycling shorts that's not really into the costly end of prices.

[Jurek]

Are you using chamois cream of any sort?

If so I'd suggest you stop - It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to a cream you've been using without issues for years.

It happened to me. Took around six months to diagnose. Three months off the bike.

EDIT - Interesting x-post with Paul Metcalfe's post part 2 - I guess we're all different.

[mattc]

Also, £38 isn't much for shorts (and I'm not known for splashing cash on clothing!).

And Altura are not on my list of "brands known for quality, comfort and longevity". [Which is of course a generalisation, but such things exist for a reason.]

[mrcharly-YHT]

£38 is about 3 times what I normally spend on shorts.

Previously I've used chamois cream on leather shorts for long rides. Everyday commuting has been on cheap lusso or cannondale shorts with synthetic pad, no cream.

I wore out all my shorts and so bought the Altura for the Easter Arrow - the pad seemed much better than cheaper shorts, no seams that would rub etc.

Not using chamois cream so we can rule that one out.

Paul, I might try cream.  Seem to recall I have some Udderly smooth at home that MrsCharly rejected (had some ingredient in it that she didn't like).

[LEE]

If the design and cut of Altura Lycra shorts is as good as my baggy "Humvee" type shorts then I wouldn't expect much in the way of comfort.

I can't believe my baggy shorts were designed by anyone who had ever sat on a bicycle.

If you are fortunate not to be allergic to Sudacrem then it is miraculous stuff on sore/chafed skin.

[clarion]

By contrast, I find Humvee shorts and longs very comfortable for walking, cycling, work and general wear (though I don't use the integrated padded shorts). 

I can't comment on the three quarters, but TGL wears them happily.

[LEE]

By contrast, I find Humvee shorts and longs very comfortable for walking, cycling, work and general wear (though I don't use the integrated padded shorts). 

I can't comment on the three quarters, but TGL wears them happily.

I find the 3/4 snag on my knees and the velcro adjusters aren't adjustable enough.  I end up rolling them up into regular shorts.

The waist-band is (rarely)secured with a tiny press-stud unsuitable for purpose.

Better off the bike, as hard-wearing utility shorts, than on I find. (before I slag off Humvees any more, I'll check, they may be another model)

[Wowbagger]

I think the amount of padding one requires varies tremendously from person to person. I quite often ride in non-cycling clothes, and quite reasonable distances (55 miles on Tuesday wearing cotton shorts and M & S cotton underpants) with no particular problems - certainly my hands hurt more than my nethers. I know of another forummer who never seems to wear any padding at all but cycles many miles a day on tour with no injuries.

I do normally wear padded shorts for longer rides and I do find them more comfortable, but not massively so. I have a couple of pairs of Enduras, which I like best, but also two pairs of Pearl Izumi. The latter are a bit long in the leg for me - not unreasonably, PI expect someone of my girth to be about 6 inches taller than I am, but the padding works OK as long as the shorts stay up.

[Chris S]

Other possibilities (not necessarily shorts related that is) might be - warmer weather, so you are both sweatier and your balls are danglier. I certainly get more issues like this in the summer. On colder rides in the winter, my balls live somewhere hidden away, and there's much less scope for chafage.

Might your position on the bike have changed? Moved the saddle - especially with respect to tilt? If it's a Brooks, has it sagged and now needs tightening?

[clarion]

I like to have several different types of shorts, so I can mix them from day to day to prevent any persistent rubbing.

[mrcharly-YHT]

It is a brooks and has broken in now - but not much sag. Saddle position not changed at all.

Issue occurred during hot sweaty weather and cool torrential rain.


Given people's comments so far I think the most likely cause is an over-flexible pad. Will try using cream to prevent the chafe. Can't really afford to experiment with buying different shorts.

[vorsprung]

Issue occurred during hot sweaty weather and cool torrential rain.

I find this is the worst weather for problems in the shorts area, wet and warm

[hellymedic]

Canesten cream is the dog's danglies for thrush.
Beg, buy or steal some, try it and see what happens.

[clarion]

Well worth trying.

[Jurek]

Sage advice in the last two posts - but I cannot help but wince when I recall the pain and discomfort I went through when I 'tried' what I thought might be useful eg: Canesten, Savlon, Assos cream (the culprit), Clotrimazole, Lotriderm and Trimovate. None of which offer an overnight solution, so it all takes a bit of (painful) time......

It didn't help having been incorrectly diagnosed (twice) by my GP - That's not meant to be taken as a complaint about my GP.

Talking of which - have you thought about going to see your GP?

[mrcharly-YHT]

I imagine their response would be "stop cycling so much then".

I thought thrush was particularly a problem with mucous membranes?  This is only on my scrotum.

[LEE]

Canesten cream is the dog's danglies for thrush.

It's not the dog's danglies he's worried about

[clarion]

Systemic thrush can appear anywhere sensitive.  Yes, the scrotum is one place it can break out, though it can look very different from in other places.

[Jurek]

I imagine their response would be "stop cycling so much then".

On the contrary.
I couldn't have asked for a more sympathetic GP.
I think my GP may've been an occasional triathlete.

The problem with my GP was more to do with me - being examined *there* by a young attractive woman - took a fair bit of 'getoveryourselfjurek'

[anotherdeadhero]

I've only ever experienced something similar to the OP when riding in old slack shorts that had seen better days. Never to the point of bleeding either. New tight shorts have usually resolved the problem - I have several pairs of bibs which are so tight they feel distinctly odd walking around stood up, but on the bike feel perfect. Regretably, £40 does not appear to buy you much these days either.