[Closed] A serious question about Saddle Sores

Should also add that for any ride I know I'm going to be over about 4hrs on, I've been using chamois cream too quite liberally, yet it seems to make no difference!

Errr, can't quite believe that I'm answering this but is there a seam or something there on your shorts? If you always wear the same ones or make then that would be my guess.

I say this as someone who rode 230 miles off road across Wales last month - I'm now sold on the wonders of chamois cream and know which pairs of shorts are my friends 😉

Tea tree oil on the affected area.

Hmmm...

You can develop an allergy to chamois cream or one of its constituents, and end up with contact dermatitis as a result. I know.

Try without it, or try changing it to something else.

I have trouble with them after long rides, had 4 of them after a 130-miler last month! I've looked at numerous pieces of sensible advice, and like you, I am careful with hygiene, use Vaseline or chamois cream, always have clean shorts for every ride, etc. I also try to avoid getting soggy shorts by using mudguards when it rains.
I almost always get them on my left hand side only and mostly on my road bike rather than my mountain bike, and I suspect my bike position is not quite balanced.

[img] [/img]

Sounds like you may have an infected ingrowing hair or hair follicle, the only cure if it is a substantial "sore" is to get it incised by your friendly doctor.

Are they always in the same place? If so have a really good inspection for anything that might be rubbing (a stupid seam on the saddle caused mine.) Might be worth seeing if you can get a different demo saddle from your LBS to try too. Also do the shorts come off as soon as possible after a ride?

Never got them that badly myself, but sudocrem after showering helped clear mine up quickly.

somafunk, both sides of my groin and not always the same spot either.

missnotax, don't think it's a seam there, unless the shorts are moving quite a lot whilst I'm wearing them (shouldn't do as they're tight fitting bibs).

hob nob, before or after? What's the idea behind tea tree oil on it?

crikey, don't know, but I suppose it's one thing to consider

vickypea, I've had them after long dry rides too, yesterday's was damp at points (though I didn't get soaked through), but it's happening despite the weather conditions.

How old are your bibs? Even if they look okay the padding could be shot. I also found that the padding can go on the nose of the saddle and get a bit saggy in the middle over time which can make it worse. Final thing just check your saddle hasn't somehow pointed up a little. I use an app on the phone to get the right angle. The other day when I was really sore I checked the angle and the nose had crept up a couple of degrees.

I get this alot - good quality bibs (just invested in some lovely assos ones) and cream help me.

They're very pricey, but I've found assos mille shorts to be massively more comfortable than anything else out there - they've made a huge reduction to the number of times I get sores 🙂

I never got then on the saddle pressure points as such (i cannot believe i'm willingly typing this.....) but i always seemed to have a hard pea sized lump to one side rather than the other and i eventually went to the docs as it literally was a pain in the saddle everytime i went out - the doc sliced me open and it was a humoungus ingrowing hair or two that had grown inwards.

There......i feel better for getting that out int to the open...not!.

For what it's worth i always used antibacterial chamois creme and never sat about in my shorts after a run etc but having a hairy ball sack area prob didn't help much - there's a lot to be said for the baldy look.

😉

UCT

unnecessary chamois time

if I spend much time in my shorts after finishing a ride then I sometimes get sore around there, sudocream is the most effective cure that I've found, and yes I always use assos minty arse lard on the chamois

Maybe you need a new saddle? Narrow, low friction, vented ... Etc

How old are your bibs?

One pair of bibs are old, but in good condition. The other pair are about 6 months old and still good as new. Obviously they're always washed properly, and dried thoroughly before being worn.

Final thing just check your saddle hasn't somehow pointed up a little.

I'm very finnicky about saddle angle. I can detect a degree each way easily just through sitting on it! Very sensitive bottom, and if anything I err slightly on the nose down approach. Here is a pic of the bike immediately after yesterday's 100 miler (and yes, it looks more like I've taken it CX racing!)

[img] [/img]

Assos shorts are not an option I'm afraid! Waaaaaaaay too much money, even with trade discount. May invest in some nice Santini's soon though to see if they make a difference.

somafunk, I'll go back to the doc's, have had the hard "pea sized lumps" you describe, but in at least 2 or 3 different spots on both sides now. And maybe it's worth investigating the smooth approach, I may not have a single hair that grows on my back, but I could benefit from 2 out of 3 elements in a "Back, Sack and Crack" wax if you get me! 🙄

UCT

unnecessary chamois time

Hmmmm... Could be part of the problem, hadn't thought about this one. Probably had the shorts on for an hour after the ride yesterday (sat around drinking tea with mates once finished, before going home), though got showered and changed almost the moment I got off the bike at 24/12 to be fair. Been using plenty of Sudocrem, maybe I need more!

Maybe you need a new saddle? Narrow, low friction, vented

My saddles already fit all the proper criteria (see above photo), spent years finding suitable saddles and have found the 143mm wide Spesh Romin's and Phenom's literally an arse saver until now.

I feel your pain 🙂

I bought some Northwave shorts recently (in a sale at D2D) and they're like night and day compared to the ones they replaced which always tended to be a bit, uh, challenging after enough hours.

I've used most things over the years with varying degrees of success. Currently using Sudocrem which is antiseptic and designed for nappy rash so will have some anti-sweat properties as well.

Seems to be doing the job so far this year including several century rides and a week in the Alps. It is also much cheaper than things like Assos chamois creme.

have you tried a bit of light pruning with the clippers?

if you're able to give the region a chance to dangle in the breeze after a ride as well? if you do have to put something on after, then try some Lanacane powder in your pants

I do know someone who toughened up the skin in his nether regions with surgical spirit...

do people put chammy cream on their shorts or on their nethers?

Brakes - both is allowed. Especially if you have areas that seem to get more pressure.

I st 'tea-bag' the tub, is that incorrect?

Dhb, got sores after 100+ miles, endura and madison, the same.

Castelli, 150 miles and hopped on the bike the next day with nothing at all. Absolutely night and day.

I st 'tea-bag' the tub, is that incorrect?

I'll let you know.

Mmm. Similar situation to you. 10 years of trouble free cycling and this summer got in a right old state 'down there'.

Occasionally I'd get some very mild irritation, nothing a liberal application of sudocrem wouldn't sort out. Never had the need to use Chamois Cream. This summer I got in a right old state. Really irritated / sore. Sudocrem wouldn't touch it. A few days off the bike would ease it then back to square one after the shortest of rides. Nothing had changed - same distance rides, saddle, brands of shorts.

I got most of the irritation sorted out with some Metanium nappy cream. To the point where I could see I had one small spot or sore.

I got better with my hygiene. Shower straight after ride, not staying in shorts to eat / wash bike. Started using Assos chamois cream for a ride. After shower and before bed treated the area with Tea Trea Oil and the spot with a dab of Savlon. Sleeping commando and days commando at the weekend.

It's all under control now. The sore is still there but is alot less angry and doesn't bother me.

shave balls and gooch 🙂

Have you considered a different saddle?
Do you need a bike fit? Is your saddle to high? Do you feel stretched out reaching the bars?

im serious by the way.

Did a 250 mile ride over the summer and gradually built up my mileage, had a few issues with sores whilst using cheaper shorts and before having bike fit, but not afer, what really worked for me was:

- Sportful Total Comfort bib shorts, expensive but best shorts i have found (got mine and decent shoes and helmet via Cycle 2 Work scheme.
- Assos chamois cream, not just applied to you, but to the shorts in layers on the days before the ride, apply a layer to the chamois and let it dry in then another, then the cream leaches out as you ride.
- Shaving the "nether" region and just the inside of the tops of the thighs.
- Tried about 6 different test saddle before settling on Fizik Aliante, great saddle (for me) for comfort.
- Finally and i am not sure if this is scientifically correct, but look at the saddle height, I had a bike fit done, and had saddle just a tad to high, so hips were rocking slightly wich added to the soreness.

And if the sores really affect you on long rides, have you seen these:

http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/reskin-bike-patch-pack-of-5-181.html

Put saddle level and down a few mm.

Even better a bike fit would solve the problem

To those advocating shaving the zones, is a trim with the clippers sufficient? Not sure I want to try wielding a blade around there.

too short gives you betty swollocks

DHB bibs used to give me pretty bad sores. Especially after long rides. It would get so bad that I'd have to get the missus to lance them after a hot bath.

Swapped to Sportful bibs and Assos chamois cream (though any decent cream should see you right) and I am better for it. I bought the aftercare cream too and applied it generously during my recovery, though Sudocreme should do the business too.

Main thing seems to be to find a pad that your body is comfortable with. A good quality chamois cream doesn't hurt either. Also, don't hurry back before the sore's healed fully. I did this a couple of times and it just set me back even further. It's the stupidest thing to stop your riding.

Make sure youre all clean [u]before[/u] application & riding.

To those advocating shaving the zones, is a trim with the clippers sufficient? Not sure I want to try wielding a blade around there.

Wax surely.

Been riding the best part of 20 years

Have you worn padded shorts all this time? Maybe you could try going pad less for a few short rides and increase the distance gradually in an effort to toughen up the delicate area. I've never worn a padded short and never had sores.

Cheeks 'O' Steel

I'm glad Brakes had the bollocks to ask that question!

I've been wanting to ask for ages. 😕

All the advise is in here. Shorts, Saddle, chamois cream, trimming.

But the most important one I found out when on the recieving end of a BC coaching session at the weekend, was hygiene. The pad/crotch area is the most condusive area for bacterial growth - always warm, sweaty and dark. Add a bit or skin breakage (aka friction), you've opened yourself up for infection.

Never where shorts/cream for a long duration pre-ride (ie travelling to a ride start). Remove them after a ride immediately and sanitise your nether regions ASAP.

shave not clippers!

There is also the possibility youre over cleaning, and killing the good bacteria off just use baby wet ones or the industrial ones in a big tub for extra sting.

Then a few handfuls of salt in a bath of hot water and radox.

You can also get Fungal stuff down there although over the counter remedies do the job. Apparently.. 😐

Yeh the fungal thing is jock itch, same thing as athletes foot. Typically the top of your legs up to the crease goes red and raw, seems like chaffing. Generic anti-fungal from the chemist will sort it (chlotrimazole). The stronger kind (Lamisil brand) may be better as it acts faster and you don't have to use it for as long. I tend to use these creams occasionally as a preventive, especially if I know I am going to have a long day / days in the saddle.

If you think it may be more bacterial than fungal, something like Germolene creme / ointment may be worth trying, before and after a ride. Again, sometimes I use that more as a preventative thing. I don't use saddle creme, but find any of these products helps in terms of keeping the area moisturized and comfortable as well.

Might sound like a silly question (bearing in mind first time I got a nasty sore, I went to the doc's to get their opinion on it) but how would I know if my problem is fungal rather than bacterial?

Jedi, shaving down there... Start of a slippery slope, I'm afraid I may not recover from! 😉

Then a few handfuls of salt in a bath of hot water and radox.

Helped a bit last time, but I've not really got the patience to spend a long time in the bath each day for it to get gradually better over the period of a week or two! 😐

it works!

Pictures?

ONLY JOKING

Hi Mark.

I get them in the summer, less often or not at all in winter. Holy Moley, they bloody well hurt, great ugly things.

In the shower I wash most of me with ordinary shower gel, and that area with Hibiscrub, which is an anti-bacterial liquid soapy-kind-of-stuff. It smells quite nice and works very well indeed.

If you've already got one, wash several times a day with Hibiscrub, it will hasten the demise of the damn' thing.

For a very long ride I use Savlon or Germoline - cream not ointment - both do a version with antiseptic and local anaesthetic (CNC as a friend calls it... c*nt numbing cream).

Never bothered with creams, but another vote here for liberal dusting of Lanacane afterwards.

Magnesium sulphate paste to reduce / get rid of them (ie apply overnight) and sudocrem to avoid them.

Some of us just get them as a normal reaction but the right stuff can reduce it almost to zero. I think they're recurring too, so it's worth really ridding yourself of one by taking precautions in the affected area even well after it seems to go away. I don't get them too badly tho, just annoying ones that can get worse on multi-dayers.

Had the usual sores after 5-6 days on the TD but managed 17 days with no more than a quick splash in a stream twice, one pair of shorts, so that grimy hobo period can vouch for sudocrem's anti-bac / durability effectiveness over 'chammy cream' that just doesn't last or protect as well ime.

Bloody hell - another Hibiscrub user 😀

Great stuff - especially if like me you've got psoriasis so are prone to skin infections and germs etc.

I will impart one useful lesson, A load of the psoriasis forums etc recommended teat mint - used in cattle to treat mastitis, and I have to say that on psoriasis it is very good, hydrates very well and seems to leave the skin germ free, bit of a tingle mind...

Well, you can see where this is going... cos we all know that assos cream used to be fairly minty, and the brain links the two - suffice to say, never, never, ever put farm grade teat mint on your nether regions, it hurts like you would not believe!

The Bastard is back!

90 miles on the road bike this weekend (longest time in the saddle for me in about 5 months), and it's come back! In exactly the same spot!

Plenty of chamois cream and very high quality bibs were used, and I was straight out of my bibs after into some clean, dry underwear, but the very next day Vesuvius is back!!!

Infected pore perhaps? It's always the same spot and takes usually 10-14 days before it finally becomes soft enough to burst (and my god then it doesn't half burst!). Time for a trip to the docs, or anything else I can try first?

Sounds like a hair follicle. I had similar, decided to do some home surgery/butchery and sliced about a bit then dug in with tweezers. Found a massive curly black hair buried inside. Wouldn't recommend the DIY approach unless you really enjoy bleeding everywhere!

😯

That is all!

Ingrown hair most likely! Perhaps try exfoliating the area after you shave and after each ride?

My condolences by the way. It's the stupidest thing to get you off the bike.