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I've had some Scott grenade pro knee pads for a few years which have been great then last year during a trip to the alps they started to irritate my skin below the knee sort of on my shin the rash tends to sting a little when I take the pads off and does so for a couple of hours but settles down, wearing pads 2 days in a row causes some issues.
As I mentioned I've had them at least 2 if not 3 years or so. It makes no difference with the weather if its hot or cold the rash is on my shin on the outside not the back of my leg. I've not changed how or what I wash them in, with the exception of trying some Dettol washing cleanser to see if that made a difference but it doesn't.
anyone had a similar problem?
I'm thinking of buying some new pads but i'm reluctant to incase I get the same issue and its my skin not the pads (they look fine with nothing obvious causing my rash)
Not wearing pads isn't really an option for 90% of my riding the only time I don't wear them is local XC fitness sort of rides.
Try some knee warmers under the pads. sudocream on the area too for treatment and may be some before hand for prevention.
what about chamois cream?
Ive got some short inners that "rub me up" the wrong way.... in fact I thought it was the knee pads for a while.
I persisted but they eventually make big blisters ... I swapped to some different length inners and these are fine.
I think it's more to do with exactly where the silicon grip contacts the skin... more than anything that just co-incides with it moving to and fro ... the sorts that don't cause a rash/blister are a bit longer... and I think the others just move 1-2mm per pedal stroke ..
I had thought about the chamois cream idea, it seems really strange that it just randomly started happening.
I'm almost sure they aren't moving around the rash is pretty large, probably 3" long and 3" wide on the outer side of the top of my calf.
That's the thing with skin irritation, could be any number of things, from just developing a sensitivity to a change in recipe for your washing powder. As others have suggested, maybe try some chamois cream or washing the pads in the most inert cleaner you have.
Is it only on one side ???
When I changed shorts I had no idea it was the shorts... I actually thought it was the pads It appeared after I'd been using the shorts for ages... after a really long weekend .. and I initially thought it was not washing them between 2 days... then I tried all sorts like different washing power ... washing by hand ... and it just got worse... (like i was sensitised)
I winter I stook some knee warmers under that helped... than randomly bought some different shorts that were longer ... they were probably on-sale or made up free postage or something... as my others are the same being Endura clip in...
anyway... I was quite surprised when the new shorts stopped the problem I thought was the pads and it reappears with the other shorts with long rides even though they feel fine for an hour.
I can't actually see them rubbing or feel it... but something must be going on - they might not be rubbing more ... perhaps its just that bit of skin compared to the skin a bit further down?
If not wearing knee pads isn't a sensible option perhaps try some knee and shin so its in a different place on/below your calf??
i had the same pads and had the same issue. If you put vaseline on the area where you are getting rash, before riding, everything should be ok.
I think its just friction between the pad and the skin that causes it. As the pads get older the material seems to irritate the skin easier.
I have found that the skin on my kneecap gets raw from wearing pads too - was thinking of vaseline etc as a stop gap remedy.
Gavstorie that’s interesting, did you buy new pads in the end? Did it solve the problem.
As I mentioned above I’m almost certain it’s not the pads moving due to where the rash appears.
thanks guys
I’m almost certain it’s not the pads moving due to where the rash appears.
I don't think it needs to move by a noticeable amount... or perhaps what I mean is I think its the very tiny amounts that seem to cause the problem - bigger movement possibly not causing the irritation but gavstorie may have hit on something with the wearing part (but then that's due to some movement presumably not just putting them on/off).
Or maybe its the skin layers rubbing on themselves???
Either way it seems that area is sensitive or sensitised... so unless you're in love with the pads a different make will fit slightly differently and hopefully not cause the rash.
Weirdly I have some Dianese light trail pads that are way less comfortable FOR ME than my Fox Launch Pro ... the Dianese always seem to rub and if I remember at the bottom .. but I'm sure they would be fine on someone else but when you see them side by side it seems improbable.
Chamois cream is the answer. I have super allergic issues and chamois cream on the knees sorts the problem ,!