Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Further and Faster => Topic started by: damerell on 23 March, 2009, 04:16:25 pm
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"Health and Fitness" says cycling-specific stuff goes here, so:
Sometimes - but not always - on Audaxes my arse gets badly chafed.
There's a photo (http://chiark.greenend.org.uk/~damerell/hidden/audax-bottom.jpg) if you are feeling strong stomached. Warning: the image is naturally totally NSFW.
If you are unwilling to look at photos of my hairy behind (and I don't blame you), the chafing extends from the perineum all the way around the anus, roughly along the division between the skin being smooth and hairy and it being wrinkled and hairless, and nearly meets up again about 3cm behind the anus. There's also two less badly chafed arcs outwards from the perineum end towards where I guess my sit bones are.
I'm at a loss to establish what factor causes this to happen. On my one 300 I did not have this problem; on other rides I've been suffering from 150km. Things that don't seem to make a difference (in the sense that I've done them and had both affected and unaffected rides).
Kind of shorts. I've got two pairs each of two kinds of shorts.
Savlon on the bum before the ride.
Being hot and sweaty. On the 300 I sweated pretty extensively coming over the South Downs - I had at least 200km after that to get home, and wasn't significantly affected. I can't, however, say for sure that I've ever been affected on rides in very cold weather.
Any ideas? Anyone had similar damage?
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That's quite a photo! I keep giggling, thinking of the contortions you must have got into while trying to take it. Or did some other kind soul oblige?
But I sympathise - I have suffered simlarly once or twice and i'm not sure why. I assume it's the same saddle each time, so - could it be your position? I find that if I ride on a very flat route for a long time (in Belgium, for instance), I can end up in agony and I can only assume I sit differently on the flat, or at least don't move around as much.
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I'm not too sure, but is your saddle too narrow and your sit bones are not taking the weight, also I use sudocrem cream
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I sympathesise (?) with you.....my arse has the same problem - Changed shorts / bib tughts... saddles too Now wondering if its just the fold in the pad when on the saddle - like Ariadane its much worse if I stuck in the saddle for really long periods (not that South Wales encourages this)...
Looking forward to reading the solutions to this - Canesten red seems to stop the sweat rash side of things.. Is it a combination of sweat and soap powder in the pad? who knows???
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Savlon Antiseptic Cream gently soothes and helps prevent infection, aiding in the natural healing of minor skin disorders.
But, I don't think it is designed as a barrier / friction cream.
I use Elite Ozone cream. It says:
# Protective cream containing the unique Ozone ingredient. -
# Ozonised natural ingredients have effective anti-bacterial properties and assist skin repair. -
# Suitable for both male and female riders. -
# Can be used before cycling as a preventative measure, or afterwards to alleviate any soreness. -
# Speeds healing of cuts and abrasions too. -
# As used by many Pro riders
Perhaps you should try a proprietory cream instead of Savlon?
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Actually, cyclone's point made me think: do you always use the same soap powder when washing your stuff? And does it always get rinsed right?
And I don't know how good Savlon is but I think Chafe Ease is pretty effective.
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The hand in the photo is not mine; I had some assistance.
I doubt my saddle is too narrow. I use a Brooks B-17N, which is actually quite wide as road saddles go - the full-width B-17 is noticeably too wide for me, and I know my sit bones rest on the saddle because they are gently bruised-sore after rides where this problem does not develop.
I suspect soap powder is next on the list; I might try handwashing shorts with water as hot as I can stand and Dr. Bronner's.
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Try avoiding the Savlon as it is not intended for that purpose (in fact I find Savlon antiseptic cream quite irritating if I put a small amount on a cut, let's say, and leave it on for a while).
Looks like some kind of chemical irritation rather than physical chafing as such.
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The hand in the photo is not mine; I had some assistance.
I doubt my saddle is too narrow. I use a Brooks B-17N, which is actually quite wide as road saddles go - the full-width B-17 is noticeably too wide for me, and I know my sit bones rest on the saddle because they are gently bruised-sore after rides where this problem does not develop.
I suspect soap powder is next on the list; I might try handwashing shorts with water as hot as I can stand and Dr. Bronner's.
Sorry can't offer any advise but how did that conversation go?
"Can you give me a hand, I can't manage"
"You want to take a photo of your arse and post it on an internet forum!!"
"erm, yes"
;D
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Try avoiding the Savlon as it is not intended for that purpose
I've had the same problem when the pre-ride smear consists of Vaseline; I've had the same problem with no pre-ride smear. Because the problem is intermittent, the trouble I have is that I change some random thing - like starting using Savlon - and I have a ride with no chafing. Then I keep on doing that thing until - as now - I get chafed again.
So, yes, I'd just got to "Savlon doesn't help". :-(
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Contact Ozone or the like and see if they will send you a sample?
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A thought: do you use fabric conditioner?
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A thought: do you use fabric conditioner?
No.
I have to admit the sheer amount of woo emenating from the Elite Ozone people makes me very reluctant. If a shower gel is oxygenating your blood you have a unique physiology.
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Kamillosan- amazing stuff. Works a treat on cracked nipples, too. And, boy, you don't know the meaning of sore till you've had those. (But no, there will be no photograph).
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Kamillosan- amazing stuff. Works a treat on cracked nipples, too. And, boy, you don't know the meaning of sore till you've had those. (But no, there will be no photograph).
Do you mean the nappy rash stuff or the chewed nipples stuff, please?
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chafeze is fantastic stuff, I used to use it when I was running. It worked much better than vaselene
(and eased the chafing, oddly enough).
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Vaseline is a lubricant made from petroleum products. It is not an anti chaffing agent. Seems to me you need to look at the cream you are using and perhaps read the label and then perhaps buy a cream that is designed to do what you want - i.e. prevent chaffing.
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From the photo, it looks like you wear undepants when you cycle and they are rubbing.
It could be that?
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Oh ouch. I can sympathise. I know that you were suffering on the Uts ride.
Several things:
Have you ever tried to ride without using any kind of lubrication or cream?
Do you use wipes, if so, what kind?
Do you sweat profusely? If you do and your cheeks are rubbing together this may be the problem. I am another one that swears by Kamillosan, if you can't get any I can send you some.
You know that I suffered terribly on the Uts ride and it made me wonder if I will ever be able to ride anything over 200kms :-\
Does it itch? I am thinking along the lines of a fungal infection.
Cream will not prevent chafing.
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Cream will not prevent chaffing between skin and cloth. Cream will prevent chaffing between skin and skin. Some creams that is. They provide a barrier between both layers that does not let the sweat eat into the skin. Savlon is not such a cream.
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How's your pedalling technique? Are you moving on the saddle as you pedal? Get someone to watch you on the bike. Also consider whether your saddle is perhaps too high.
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TG: no, I don't wear underpants (when cycling). I might try, as part of a programme of permuting random things. JOOI, do _you_ do anything aimed at avoiding chafing?
Grub: I think you're being a trifle patronising there. I tried Vaseline because other riders report it works for them, not because I reached into the medicine cabinet blindfolded and grabbed a pot at random. I'm not ignoring your advice, but I'm first going to try things that are a) cheap and b) not from manufacturers that talk nonsense. There's no sense in trying more than one thing at once - otherwise if the problem goes away I won't know what fixed it.
Oh ouch. I can sympathise. I know that you were suffering on the Uts ride.
Actually, I was suffering mostly because of the hole in the palm of my left hand.
Have you ever tried to ride without using any kind of lubrication or cream?
Yes; that's what I always did before starting to ride 200s. I rode my first 200 with nothing, and that was when it first manifested.
Do you use wipes, if so, what kind?
No.
Do you sweat profusely?
More so than most riders, yes, judging by the crust of salt that forms on my forehead - but I can't be the only sweaty AUK...
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Also consider whether your saddle is perhaps too high.
Hm. Not impossible, but I wonder how I can check this without putting it down a little, riding a 200, and seeing if my knees fall off? :-)
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Ask another rider to watch while you pedal.
If your hips are rocking from side to side that would suggest you might be sitting too high.
I sweat loads - although not as much as some.
I have tried the following:
Sudocrem = useless
Savlon = useless
Assos cream (the cream coloured stuff, NOT the blue one) = maybe, possibly, perhaps a weeny bit beneficial.
Assiduous cleanliness of both me and my attire prior to a ride = Spot on (not that I'm suggesting you do otherwise).
HTH
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Are you sure it is chafing? Does the redness last? I sweat quite a bit and get red skin where I have been sitting but the redness disappears after a couple of hours.
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Are you sure it is chafing? Does the redness last? I sweat quite a bit and get red skin where I have been sitting but the redness disappears after a couple of hours.
Well, I don't know for sure what causes it. The photo was taken about an hour out of getting out of the saddle, and I was still very sore [1] when I fell asleep a couple of hours after that; after sleeping on it, I was not significantly sore and the Bottom Inspector reports that I look somewhat better.
[1] I notice I have failed to mention that it hurts. It hurts; in particular if I dismount and sit for more than about half an hour - like at an arrivee - it _really_ hurts upon remounting. If it just turned red I wouldn't really care too much.
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Assiduous cleanliness of both me and my attire prior to a ride = Spot on (not that I'm suggesting you do otherwise).
Well, you can suggest it if you like, and you might be right; I don't particularly make efforts to bathe immediately before a ride (and, gah, I can't say whether or not soreness is correlated with when I last washed because I don't keep a diary of every shower I take. :-)
That seems like it might be a good thing to try.
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[1] I notice I have failed to mention that it hurts. It hurts; in particular if I dismount and sit for more than about half an hour - like at an arrivee - it _really_ hurts upon remounting. If it just turned red I wouldn't really care too much.
Hurts like a bruise or like a burn? My red bits burn, not extreme but enough to make me change position after a while.
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I was not being patronising, well not trying to be anyhow. I was being blunt. I am close to making you an offer very similar to Annie. Twice in about 4 years I have suffered what you have pictured. Both times I did not use enough cream for the distance I rode. This has not happened recently. Twice rashed has made me remember to lather sufficiently.
I understand you would like a cheap option, as would I but sometimes there is not one. I just bite the bullet and get what I need to ensure my cycling remains comfortable. When the comfort goes that makes cycling much less enjoyable. I don't like that.
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I use Aqueous Cream on all the long audaxes I've done ....a really librel application on the nether regions before the ride and I also carry a small pot in my bag to apply during the ride if I feel any chaffing starting. Seems to work for me and did sove my chaffing problems in the past.
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I don't particularly make efforts to bathe immediately before a ride
Oddly enough, nor do I.
But I do make a point of washing the critical bits immediately prior to donning my 3/4's.
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Fungal infection (thrush, tinea) can cause sore skin in this area.
It's obviously important to keep the skin and everything in contact with it scrupulously clean. I'd recommend 'Femfresh' wipes, which can be bought in individual foil sachets for this. (You might need to ask a friendly girl to buy them if you're shy) (Andrex moist loo paper is OK for home use but difficult to pack conveniently for long rides.)
Canesten anti-fungal cream can be bought without prescription from a pharmacy.
It has made my fanny much more comfortable when red and sore and might well help you.
(It's pretty good for athlete's foot too...)
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Lots of useful suggestions in the thread but the basic cause seem to be that you are rubbing against your shorts where the ideal setup is your shorts rubbing on the saddle. This could be caused by your shorts not being tight enough or/and there is too much bunching if you have tights on as well. As your shorts are getting sweaty and gripping the saddle you are then rubbing your skin against the chamois, a lubricant here may help but you are treating the symptom not the cause. There may also be some part of your position not quite right. Earlier in the thread someone mentioned saddle height but you were quite dismissive mentioning damaging your knees which is very unlikely dropping your saddle a touch which may help move your weight slightly rearward which may relieve some of the perineum pressure and will also help if you are rocking even slightly. The fact you can go for hours before the problem start means your position can't be far out but could also mean your position is changing slightly as you get more tired, less pressure on the pedals maybe so putting more weigh on the saddle. As others have said it could also be some sort of sweat reaction with your washing powder. For chamois cream I have found Udderly Smooth as good as any but my wife uses most of it for hand cream, she reckons it is the most effective she has used. For keeping the area bacteria free I use the hand gels which come in small bottles.
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There's a lot of good stuff in this thread.
For me, I've only had real problems when I've not been obsessed with cleanliness. You need to have a sterile arse.
Bluntly, if you take a dump at any point before or during a long ride (200km+), don't rely on bog paper alone - use Baby Wipes or some other alcohol-based antibacterial wipe. If you don't have time/opportunity for a shower before a ride - use wipes to clean your arse.
You also need to ride lots to toughen your arse up. Leathery skin doesn't get annoyed.
Finally - I find I get more problems if I use two layers of clothing - eg Longs over Shorts. If it's Summer, and I only use shorts, then providing I've got the other main points right (cleanliness and enough time in the saddle), then I don't have problems.
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FemFresh wipes are good and in individual packs which fit neatly into a saddlebag. They're marketed for ladies' sweaty bits but would work just as well on a sweaty perineum.
I find Savlon makes me sweat more, under the cream, so it might actually be helping to cause your barse issues. I've used Udderly Smooth in the past but I'm fairly sure that's just a triumph of marketing. One thing that has made a discernable difference (for me it was the tops of my thighs rather than my arse, but same red soreness) is using Ecover washing liquid instead of whatever's on special offer.
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I find Savlon makes me sweat more, under the cream, so it might actually be helping to cause your barse issues.
This, I think is very important. Savlon and Sudocream are aimed at preventing nappy rash. It seems they work by making a waterproof layer - ideal if you'retrying to keep out urine from a wet nappy, but great at trapping sweat. Sudocream seems more "solid" than Savlon.
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I have moved on from the sore bum stage......by trial and error.
Brooks B17 for breathability
Clean, well-fitted shorts with a lot of rinsing to get rid of all soap traces
Clean bum and barse
Sudacrem slather before ride
Antiseptic wipe (liquid from a bottle on bumwad) followed by Savlon after ride, and of course after a shower
Stringent efforts to avoid too-sandy campsites...got rather sore from that
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For anyone who clicked...
(http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2101257/kittens-main_Full.jpg)
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... but I'm first going to try things that are a) cheap and b) not from manufacturers that talk nonsense.
Decathlon do a really cheap "anti-frottage" cream.
Chemists also stock some V cheap stuff recommended by TimW in Arrivee - C-something, will try to check later.
Both seem similar, are not marketed at cyclists, and have worked for me.
(And another +1 for washing lots, or using Fem-wipes - ladies, please send me your spare packs!)
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Femwipes are pricy and I'm a cyclist...
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Try different shorts. Some pads chafe less than others.
(I would recommend Lusso, but I think they've discontinued the versions with the blue pads).
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[1] I notice I have failed to mention that it hurts. It hurts; in particular if I dismount and sit for more than about half an hour - like at an arrivee - it _really_ hurts upon remounting. If it just turned red I wouldn't really care too much.
Hurts like a bruise or like a burn?
More like a burn.
I have read the rest of the thread, I'm just answering this direct question. And wondering what to do about half a dozen suggestions each of which will need about 2x200 to test. :-)
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For the soreness I would use the Kamillosan in the tube- the ointment, to help heal that up. I never really used the white cream nappy rash stuff they made. I see that some people have recommended using Femwipes or some simiar product- you may find they are fine for you, but I discovered very quickly I have a horrendous allergic reaction to every brand of babywipe type thing I've tried to use on any more intimate parts of my anatomy. I've tried quite a few of them as I do a fair bit of cycletouring and haven't found one yet I can tolerate.
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[1] I notice I have failed to mention that it hurts. It hurts; in particular if I dismount and sit for more than about half an hour - like at an arrivee - it _really_ hurts upon remounting. If it just turned red I wouldn't really care too much.
Hurts like a bruise or like a burn?
More like a burn.
I have read the rest of the thread, I'm just answering this direct question. And wondering what to do about half a dozen suggestions each of which will need about 2x200 to test. :-)
TT's regime sounds like the one to try first IMHO.
It looks just like nappy rash and all those things are good for it. There's clearly some irritation or reaction, not just chafing.
Thank god for the kittens too. Next time can you get one of them in the shot as well ?
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Chemists also stock some V cheap stuff recommended by TimW in Arrivee - C-something, will try to check later.
Conotrane (http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/product_8731_conotrane-500g.html)
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I feel your pain (I also suffer from beaty swollocks) but am less than convinced that the answer lies with lotions and potions. I think creams treat the symptoms but not the cause. For me too, problems do not always arise, even on 600s but on saying that, I had problems pretty much from the word go on a 100 last Saturday.
As for shorts, I used to only wear Halfords under shorts (no padding at all) and never had any issues. I think these worked as they let my parts breath. Vanity got the better of me when it was pointed out that I was riding around wearing underwear* and I have been a fellow sufferer of barse related issues on and off ever since.
For what it is worth, I have concluded the following:
1. Cleanliness is paramount - especially before and even during rides (>200).
2. If you are prone to sweaty parts, you may already have a fungal nasty which will become worse when you start sweating profusely. Canestan is your friend.
3. Be wary of wearing unclean shorts that have been left lying around because 'they'll be all right and probably won't need a wash'
4. Expensive shorts and shorts with lots of padding are not always the answer. You need appropriate shorts for the weather and I have found lightweight shorts are better for warmer weather as they keep the air circulating.
5. If you have been out on the beer the night before, your arse (and especially your ringpiece) is more likely to suffer.
6. Adopting a riding style that has you out of the saddle every so often brings respite and helps to dry out your shorts.
7. Avoid sitting around for too long in sweaty shorts after a ride or even during a ride.
The only cream I use consistently is Sudocreme and I wack this on around my groin before a 200 but never on anything less.
I also use a Brooks B17 but before that, had a plastic saddle and I don't think one was worse/was better than the other. On saying that, your saddle has to support you properly and the position has to be correct.
Good luck.
H
P.S.
Is it just me or was damerell's ring piece winking at us in that picture?
Hmmmmmmmm?
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OK - here's my tuppenceworth (as a fellow sufferer of chafing, although mine in Crohn's induced).
1. Make sure that you have properly fitting shorts. As Mr Hummers says, choose the shorts for the conditions.
2. Make sure that you use a non-biological washing powder/liquid when washing your shorts and make sure they are properly rinsed. Wherever possible air dry them outside. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them on.
3. Have a shower before going for a ride. Make sure your undercarriage is dry and then use a light moisturising/barrier cream - I'd recommend Udderly Smooth (http://www.uddercream.com/) or similar. Avoid using a heavy cream, such as Sudocrem or Vaseline. These will block the pores of your skin and make things worse.
4. If you feel yourself getting sweaty during a ride, take the chance at a tea stop to nip into the loo, have a quick wash with plain soap and water, dry carefully (pat dry - don't rub) and reapply some of the light cream. Do NOT use alcohol based wipes - this will dry the skin out and make things worse. If you are already getting a bit red downstairs, then putting alcohol on it will make it worse.
5. If you're riding on a particularly hot day, take along a spare pair of pants and change during the ride.
6. When you get home from the ride, take a shower and make sure that you wash well. Use a mild soap and rinse well. Slip on a pair of loose cotton boxer shorts and let air circulate.
Having had a good look at the photo (for purely scientific reasons), does sir shave? If so, leave off for a while and then get a back, sack and crack. Less irritation will result.
The only other thing I would ask is whether you also get these problems when not cycling? If so, it may be worth having a word with your GP, as soreness in the perineum area can be an indication of gastric/bowel problems.
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Oh Gods that was horrible. I knew what was going to be there but I clicked the link. Why do I always click the link?
And now, I'm going to have to pause for a unicorn chaser.
(http://boingboing.net/images/Unicorn-and-Foal-Print-C10055158.jpeg)
*ahhhhh*
There's been a lot of good advice here. I've suffered from horrible saddle rash in the past and I'd probably say that three quarters of it has been down to poor position and bad saddles.
Seriously - if you can get your position sorted on the bike, there ought to be nothing that's rubbing so badly as to do that to you :o
I have shorter arms than most, so I tend to set my bikes up with taller handlebars than other people and this lets me balance out the weight between hands and bottom, whilst keeping my hips absolutely still when I pedal seated.
For the rest of it, the breakthrough moments were using Ecover washing liquid on my shorts (all plant extract stuff, no nasty chemicals to irritate my skin) and realising that on really long rides, I didn't so much need to put a little smear of Sudocreme on my backside and thighs as to slop a bloody great handful on my chamois.
Really - if you're going to use Sudocreme; use plenty of it. I'm talking about a lump not far off the size of a walnut, rubbed into the contact areas of the chamois before you put your shorts on. It's going to feel like sitting in a cream cake for the first mile or so, but once it heats up to body temperature, it feels lovely. Srsly.
On PBP I had an arse like a baboon by the end because I only took a tiny little pot of the stuff and didn't use nearly enough of it. On TRAT last year, where I had a shower every 250k and positively iced my shorts with the stuff, I was totally unscathed.
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Cleanliness is paramount - especially before and even during rides (>200).
The only cream I use consistently is Sudocreme and I wack this on around my groin before a 200 but never on anything less.
I'm with Hummers on these two points.
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Oh Gods that was horrible. I knew what was going to be there but I clicked the link. Why do I always click the link?
C'mon.
You've seen worse. :demon:
H
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Just to reiterate what I said earlier about a fungal infection. Get this checked out to be certain you are not treating with the wrong stuff. Then you can start afresh and experiment all you like.
If my bottom issues aren't sorted out soon I won't ever be riding anything longer than a 200 and maybe not even a 100.
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I have a boil today. This thread puts it all into perspective.
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I have a boil today. This thread puts it all into perspective.
No pictures please :hand:.
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definitely not! :o
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Just to reiterate what I said earlier about a fungal infection. Get this checked out to be certain you are not treating with the wrong stuff. Then you can start afresh and experiment all you like.
If my bottom issues aren't sorted out soon I won't ever be riding anything longer than a 200 and maybe not even a 100.
Would you like me to take a look at your bottom, dear? ;)
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On the wipe front, does anyone use babywipes? They come in a self seal packet and are presumably full of
meaty goodness the stuff for tender skin.
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My experience of 'resealable' packs is that the adhesive fails in the moisture of the wipe and they don't reseal properly.
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5. If you have been out on the beer the night before, your arse (and especially your ringpiece) is more likely to suffer.
What infernal bad news.
I do not, no, shave in that vicinity; it prickles like the very devil growing back in.
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Earlier in the thread someone mentioned saddle height but you were quite dismissive mentioning damaging your knees
I didn't intend to be dismissive. It's just, I'm a sysadmin - I fear configuration changes.
More seriously - if I try a different shorts-washing regime, say, the worst that is likely happen is I get my bum chewed up again. If I change my saddle height and it turns out worse, it might have more serious consequences. So... what I really meant was, if I do try saddle height, it'll be with a weather eye open.
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I agree you are right to try one thing at a time ( you now have a good list) to see if you can identify what the cause is. Dropping your saddle 3-4 mm is not irreversible though and you will know quite quickly if it has a positive effect and it just takes a minute to put back as it was if there is no improvement. I am quite sensitive to washing powders but I would get a rash anywhere that sweat and material come into contact so for me it would not just be localised at the chamois.
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Just to reiterate what I said earlier about a fungal infection. Get this checked out to be certain you are not treating with the wrong stuff. Then you can start afresh and experiment all you like.
If my bottom issues aren't sorted out soon I won't ever be riding anything longer than a 200 and maybe not even a 100.
Would you like me to take a look at your bottom, dear? ;)
Again, and so soon?
;)
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If my bottom issues aren't sorted out soon I won't ever be riding anything longer than a 200 and maybe not even a 100.
You're much worse off than I am, though - this is annoying but it only happens one time in two and it mostly causes me pain after the ride not during it. If I'd been leaking claret into my chamois (ahem, rather than my glove) at 160k on Up the Uts I'd quite possibly have packed.
I see at least one person expressing horror who's seen my bum before on the WNBR. Admittedly, not from the goatse angle. :-)
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Ask another rider to watch while you pedal.
I reckon this is good advice for any cyclist, because we can all develop bad habits unawares.
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Ask another rider to watch while you pedal.
I reckon this is good advice for any cyclist, because we can all develop bad habits unawares.
I had someone point something out to me on my commute; at the lights "I hope you don't mind me saying but your left knee is really pointing outwards when you pedal, is your bike setup all right because that could lead to an injury."
Luckily (or not at the time as it bloody hurt) but it was easily explained as a 5-a-side football injury from the night before (kicked bloody hard on the calf). Still, nice to know some people care; and you'd miss out on this important info if you RLJ. ;)
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I find it amazing just how asymmetrically some riders ride, when viewed from behind.
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I find it amazing just how asymmetrically some riders ride, when viewed from behind.
Are weback on that picture again?
H
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I find it amazing just how asymmetrically some riders ride, when viewed from behind.
Are weback on that picture again?
H
Anyone going to own up to having it as their desktop Wallpaper?
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I find it amazing just how asymmetrically some riders ride, when viewed from behind.
Are weback on that picture again?
H
Anyone going to own up to having it as their desktop Wallpaper?
I've not even looked...
(http://blog.internetnews.com/apatrizio/do-not-want-dog.jpg)
I suppose this is the real reason some people don't want to make conversation at the start - it's that fear that someone will use it as an opportunity to show you the photos of their baboon-red arse that they took after their last ride.
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I haven't read this thread, much, but I like the word "chafed."
:thumbsup:
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TG: no, I don't wear underpants (when cycling). I might try, as part of a programme of permuting random things. JOOI, do _you_ do anything aimed at avoiding chafing?
I sometimes put a big dollop of Savlon on my nether regions. Like Charlotte says, be generous and put plenty on. It works it's way in. I've done it when I've been sore and it has cured it before.
I wear DHB shorts at the moment and they feel abrasive after about 2-300km, but I'll keep using them because it should toughen me up a bit. Once I get my leather scrotum I have no trouble. I think you do toughen up to it after a while.
I find Lusso shorts more comfortable. Different shorts do make a difference.
Cleaning is a good idea too.
I wouldn't reccommend trying underpants though.
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Just a general thought - I used to have various chafing/rubbing issues, but they all went away when I lost a load of weight. Having less to rub on the saddle did the trick where nothing else had.
Decent quality shorts (always clean for every ride) and Assos cream are the only things I use now.
Neil
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This thread rocks.
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Only if its saddle is too high.
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I find Lusso shorts more comfortable. Different shorts do make a difference.
I bought two pairs of Lusso shorts to keep me going over the winter. They've been fine for 50-60 miles, but on recent 80+ mile rides they've become, as you say - abrasive. They have a bright red insert that's not as smooth to the touch as other makes I have. For the first time since I ditched my last pair of real-chamois shorts many years ago, I've bought some chamois cream. I will have to avoid those Lusso shorts on long rides though.
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Only if its saddle is too high.
Or if the diet contains insufficient fibre...
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/me looks lovingly at his rolling deckchair. Super comfy!
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Don't look, Ethel!
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Once I get my leather scrotum I have no trouble.
When does the Brooks logo appear ;D
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I suppose this is the real reason some people don't want to make conversation at the start - it's that fear that someone will use it as an opportunity to show you the photos of their baboon-red arse that they took after their last ride.
Makes a change from pictures of the kids, I suppose. Do you think Damerell keeps a copy in his wallet?
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I suppose this is the real reason some people don't want to make conversation at the start - it's that fear that someone will use it as an opportunity to show you the photos of their baboon-red arse that they took after their last ride.
Makes a change from pictures of the kids, I suppose. Do you think Damerell keeps a copy in his wallet?
You could always ask.
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M u s t r e s i s t p o s t i n g a p i c t u r e.
H
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M u s t r e s i s t p o s t i n g a p i c t u r e.
H
G'wan.... you know you want to!
I promise to examine it with due serious intent and not to just stash it away in my secret cache. ;)
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Hah! Your arse looks just like mine did when I had 'jock-itch'. Useful photo.
So I would hazard that you have a combined fungal and chafing issue.
Get it looked at and have some tests for thrush and stuff.
The fungal thing reponds to stuff like canestan, but it takes a bit of time.
You also need to change cycling shorts more often, and never re-use shorts that have been sweated in at all - they are bacterial soup for your sensitive abraded skin.
What others say about creme - it is quantity that matters - sit in a plop of antibacterial gloop that glues your arse to your shorts and inhibits bugs.
I have had really good results with surgical spirits as an after shower slosh every morning. Cools it all down and seems to harden up the skin a bit, stops the soreness starting off.
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Hah! Your arse looks just like mine did when I had 'jock-itch'. Useful photo.
So I would hazard that you have a combined fungal and chafing issue.
You are not the first person to say this, and I think it's next on my list of things to try.
I experimented with a change of saddle position for the Stevenage Start of Summertime. The stiffness in my right knee has largely disappeared as of today, but I won't be trying that again (I put it back up at the 50k cafe when it had become clear this was a non-starter).
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You don't know what embarrassment is until the boiler repair man walks in just as you're looking at that photo.
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I saw that video, too! ;)
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Hah! Your arse looks just like mine did when I had 'jock-itch'. Useful photo.
So I would hazard that you have a combined fungal and chafing issue.
You are not the first person to say this, and I think it's next on my list of things to try.
Canestan do a sweat rash cream which has antifungal and antibacterial components.
I'm fortunate enough not to suffer much from your symptoms, but I have used it a couple of times in the past after riding long distances in warm & humid conditions
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I saw that video, too! ;)
I was serious! The boiler repair man came back to fix what went wrong after they fixed it last week ::-) and climbed down from the ladder and walked into the room just in time to see me tilting my head to get a better view of that photo.
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Uh-huh. And then what happened? ;) ;D :-*
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Uh-huh. And then what happened? ;) ;D :-*
Aha! A what happened next quiz.
I'll start.
"Yours or someone else's?"
One ticket on the first flight to Bolivia please.
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Aha! A what happened next quiz.
I'll start.
"Yours or someone else's?"
I'll play:
"Oh someone else's. Mine's much nicer than that :-*
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Once I get my leather scrotum I have no trouble.
When does the Brooks logo appear ;D
Never mind the logo, it's when they hammer those copper rivets in the eyes water ;)
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Uh-huh. And then what happened? ;) ;D :-*
Aha! A what happened next quiz.
I'll start.
"Yours or someone else's?"
"Ah, is that the end still of that 'jar of jam video' that's knocking around on the net?"
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I can't believe I clicked the link. At work.
Anyways, all good advice is upthread. For me I found that I sweat profusely and it's the dried salt crystals that can cause chafing between the cheeks after >100 miles.
My solution is nothing more than a babywipe every 80 miles or so. This can be used without having to remove the shorts, so is quite easy/discreet to do after a food stop in a quiet layby.
If I forget, and pain does start up (feels like razor blades slashing the area) then a tiny smear of sudocrem on the affected part gives me instant relief. Note I say tiny whereas others up thread have said a handful. All I find is required is enough of the greasy cream to stop the rubbing and allow the cheeks to slide again. Too much and it makes the next babywipe moment messy.
After 200 miles a pair of fresh shorts is LOVELY! Oohh I still get pleasant memories of changing into a new pair of shorts at that point. <happy moment>
Having said that though, when I did my 600 the last 16 hours were in heavy rain and I finished in the same pair of shorts I started in, had forgotten about the wipes, and didn't need any cream. I presume the rainwater was sufficient.
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I can't believe I clicked the link. At work.
Anyways, all good advice is upthread. For me I found that I sweat profusely and it's the dried salt crystals that can cause chafing between the cheeks after >100 miles.
My solution is nothing more than a babywipe every 80 miles or so. This can be used without having to remove the shorts, so is quite easy/discreet to do after a food stop in a quiet layby.
If I forget, and pain does start up (feels like razor blades slashing the area) then a tiny smear of sudocrem on the affected part gives me instant relief. Note I say tiny whereas others up thread have said a handful. All I find is required is enough of the greasy cream to stop the rubbing and allow the cheeks to slide again. Too much and it makes the next babywipe moment messy.
After 200 miles a pair of fresh shorts is LOVELY! Oohh I still get pleasant memories of changing into a new pair of shorts at that point. <happy moment>
Having said that though, when I did my 600 the last 16 hours were in heavy rain and I finished in the same pair of shorts I started in, had forgotten about the wipes, and didn't need any cream. I presume the rainwater was sufficient.
On 400s and over I use 'Siopel' cream, it is for preventing bed sores which it does by stopping the sweating :thumbsup: just apply a bit at each control or when needed.
"just don't mix it up with the sun cream" ::-) :-[
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
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More importantly, how is your bottom now? What have you changed and has it worked?
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More importantly, how is your bottom now? What have you changed and has it worked?
I have tried:
Adjusting saddle position downwards. Result: pain in right knee, which now seems to have largely gone away after two weeks.
Handwashing shorts with Dr Bronners (seems like a good idea anyway) and applying Canesten (since some of the more definitive responses said that's what a bum might look like when befungaled). Early to say yet, but I did about 160km in the course of getting to and (sigh) packing from the Witham Westerly, and had no problems at all, so... cautiously optimistic?
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
That's scraping the bottom of the barrel, making him the butt of your jokes!
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More importantly, how is your bottom now? What have you changed and has it worked?
I have tried:
Adjusting saddle position downwards. Result: pain in right knee, which now seems to have largely gone away after two weeks.
Handwashing shorts with Dr Bronners (seems like a good idea anyway) and applying Canesten (since some of the more definitive responses said that's what a bum might look like when befungaled). Early to say yet, but I did about 160km in the course of getting to and (sigh) packing from the Witham Westerly, and had no problems at all, so... cautiously optimistic?
Well done. Cycling has to be comfortable or it becomes a chore. Fingers crossed for you.
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
That's scraping the bottom of the barrel, making him the butt of your jokes!
Cheeky!
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
That's scraping the bottom of the barrel, making him the butt of your jokes!
Cheeky!
Is everyone on yacf going to crack a joke about my posterior? I feel rather bummed.
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I had similar problems a when I first started riding and tried all sorts of potions. I finally solved the problem by getting a leather saddle,which of course breathes, smearing Conotrane on my rear before a ride, and making sure that I don't wear too many layers when it warms up as this caused me to get too hot and sweat and salty water is very abrasive as i guess you already know.
P.S. You can get Conotrane by asking the pharmacist and is only £1.50 a tube.
:)
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
That's scraping the bottom of the barrel, making him the butt of your jokes!
Cheeky!
Is everyone on yacf going to crack a joke about my posterior? I feel rather bummed.
If I'd realised it was you I was chatting to on the Witham ride, I'd have loudly asked about your posterior in front of everybody. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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If I'd realised it was you I was chatting to on the Witham ride, I'd have loudly asked about your posterior in front of everybody. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Like: "Is your bum less sore than it was after the last time we met?
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It is an interesting picture. Did you use a ring flash?
That's scraping the bottom of the barrel, making him the butt of your jokes!
Cheeky!
Is everyone on yacf going to crack a joke about my posterior? I feel rather bummed.
Ahhhh!
Don't worry - that picture has pride of place in my private collection... ;D
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If I'd realised it was you I was chatting to on the Witham ride, I'd have loudly asked about your posterior in front of everybody. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Like: "Is your bum less sore than it was after the last time we met?
Cue the old Kenny Everett joke....
Two gay men in the left. One says "Hows you bum?", "Shut up!" says the other one. "Yes, so's mine, must be the cold weather"
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Hello all.
I am new in here and I am sure that this has been mentioned many times.
I am in training for a London to Paris cycled ride and have suffered under-carriage wise as I have increased the miles, especially when I changed to a road bike.
My situation has improved a great deal since i lowered my saddle (only about 1/2 an inch) and apply udderly smooth to the inside of my shorts before setting off.
Hope this is of some use.
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Crikey - fourth post, and you're telling us about your bum! You're a bit forward, aren't you? ;D
You'll fit in here just fine.
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I am going to be contrary and say that vaseline works fine for me. Especially the stuff with aloe vera in. Big gob on the chafeable bits and all is fine and happy for the next n hours. Clean thoroughly and reapply when appropriate.
Having done 2 weeks of 8-10 hours a day on the saddle and ended up with barely even a hint of chafe (which was something I was very concerned about) I was quite pleased.
Oh, and clean stuff. Properly clean.
..d