[LEL17] What the chaffage?

[lookeo]

Rode 300 miles this weekend and suffered chaffing for the first time ever ! What have I done wrong ?

[Bolt]

Are you and the bike exactly the same as the last time you rode a 300?

[Kim]

I'll throw in clothing and weather as additional factors to be considered.

[lookeo]

So I was wearing the same bib shorts I wore on a 200, with no discomfort at all. I had running tights on over the top through the night, and the rain would have made everything damp.

The only change to the bike was having tri bars fitted, but the percentage of time I use them probably can't make the difference.

Anything I can do to ward of off in future? How many pairs of shorts are people using for the ride ?

[T42]

Suffered a bit of chaffing the other day when a young bloke on a mountain bike bellowed "Come on, grandpa!" at me as he rode past.

Chafing, though, I rarely experience: Assos shorts, Assos bum cream, Selle Anatomica saddle.

[Redlight]

Everyone is different but what works for me is an application of Sudocrem before any ride over about 200km, re-applied whenever I change shorts, which would usually be once on a 1200 but will be twice on LEL as we have the bag drops.

[The French Tandem]

How many pairs of shorts are people using for the ride ?

Each of us had 5 pairs of shorts, one for each day. If your two bag drops are strategically placed, you can have access to fresh clothes every night. Even if you decide not to sleep where your bag drops are, picking up fresh clothes from your bag drop and riding to the next control is no big deal.

[Wobbly]

Bought a new pair of shorts to use on the Pair of Kirtons 600 - they were fantastically comfy; no chaffing of any sort.

Bought another pair of the same shorts for the East & West Coasts 600 two weeks later - started chaffing horribly after 100km; nearly packed after 380km due to the pain but went on to complete the ride. ("that's a good John Wayne walk" quipped a wag at the end)

Go figure.

[lookeo]

Not sure I can handle the thought of cream down there.

Anything to be done to alleviate it when it kicks off? Talc.

Might have to buy another pair of shorts to make it two sets of Assos then.

Thanks all !

[hellymedic]

Are your thighs more 'fleshy'?
Some folk get fungal infections on the inner thighs, for which Canesten cream and hygiene help.

[lookeo]

Fleshy?

[Bolt]

Fleshy?

Well, without going into too many intimate details something must have changed, be it physical, environmental or mechanical.  In my experience Sudocrem can protect, soothe and heal, given that it's formulated for application on babies bottoms I wouldn't be too squeamish about applying it where it's needed.  On the subject of talc a quote from the Guardian stated: the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the WHO) has classified talc applied to the genitals as “possibly carcinogenic”.

[hellymedic]

Fleshy?

Fat?
Muscular?
Bigger!

[lookeo]

Fleshy?

Fat?
Muscular?
Bigger!

Haha, there's no so much fat on me!

Maybe of is being on the aero bars. Sudocrem eh.

[frillipippi]

Clean bibs (jersey, socks and gloves) every morning.
Pyjamas trousers (i.e. very large, without any underwear, so that your skin can "breathe") as soon as possible since arriving at the control where you plan to stay overnight until just before leaving.
If you are looking for an alternative to Sudocrem, Bepanthen's been great for me and for some friends of mine, either before to prevent, or after to heal.

[igauk]

+1 for Sudocrem, you can get little pots of it which take up little space in the saddlebag.

[Kim]

I'll put in a word for Conotrane, which is an antiseptic barrier cream with lubricating properties (designed for incontinence and pressure sores).  More of a preventative measure than Sudocrem, which is intended to soothe and promote healing.

Available cheaply in 500g tubs and saddlebag-friendly 100g tubes.

[T42]

Could be that on the aerobars you're rolling your pelvis so far forward that the main pressure is no longer on the thicker part of the pad. Use tight shorts and slap on the cream. It feels weird at first but you get used to it and even grow to like it - that Assos stuff has menthol in it.

[Alex B]

I'll put in a word for Conotrane ...

What Kim says. Conotrane is Sudocreme's more luxurious cousin. Mmmmmmm creamy.

[Polco]

Another vote for Sudocreme, I had problems until I started using it. I put some in a 35mm film pot and keep it in my saddle bag if I'm going any distance.

[lookeo]

Ok, I will have to experiment with it.

200 miles yesterday and some problems again.

Any recommendations for bib shorts as well ?

[Bolt]

I still think it's worth exploring what the true root cause might be given your previous chafe free rides, if it's never been a problem before something MUST have changed.  It could be as something as obvious as a change in laundry detergent or as subtle as the slightest change to you riding position. FWIW I like to benchmark the comfort of a bike setup by proving its comfort on rides up to 300km by wearing regular non-cycling specific shorts with pockets and a fly, worn over normal underpants. 

[mattc]

I'll put in a word for Conotrane ...

What Kim says. Conotrane is Sudocreme's more luxurious cousin. Mmmmmmm creamy.

+1

I started on Sudocreme, then Tim Wainwright reviewed Conotrane in Arivee. I've never been back!

(It's really cheap too )

[jiberjaber]

I'm usually a Sudocreme user... I have some Conotrane to try out next. 

I've just spent 10 days riding back to back with Doublebase Gel and that worked well though I did find I had to leave it for 5 mins or so before putting my shorts on to get the best protection.  This isn't a problem in the privacy of a hotel room, but might be a problem walking around being fully aired in a control 

[mrcharly-YHT]

Amanda Coker rates something called 'ButtonHole Chamois' cream. Which I can't help but misread as 'ButtHole' cream. Presumably they intended that.