With ride London coming up which will be the furthest I've ever cycled, I'm wondering if I need to think about chamois cream, but it's something I've never used or even looked at so unsure if it's required?
I do have a very good pair of bib shorts already, with an excellent pad, for the ride that I bought specially.
Anyone have any advice, views or recommendations?
Put some mile in using the shots and see how you get on. Never ever test something for the first time on ride/ race day.
+1Put some mile in using the shots and see how you get on. Never ever test something for the first time on ride/ race day.
Tried various ones over the years but now I just use sudocrem. As about, experiment first. Don't make last minute changes to your routine.
Generally I don't use it if I'm going to be in the saddle for 2 or 3 hours, even a day on the MTB. If however I am doing circa 100 miles on the road bike where I sit down more or doing multiday rides / races or am expecting to be really hot and sweaty for some time then I will use Chamois cream regardless of how good my shorts are.
It does make a difference.
So - yes - get some. Use it for a couple of rides and go on from there.
You won't regret using it. You may regret not using it.
Use it for any ride of more than 30 minutes, saddle sores aren't nice and seem to ages to clear.
Assos chamois cream works well for me.
Yes get some and try it out ASAP.
I use it for anything over about 90 mins.
Dangerous not to in this weather, IMO.
It's not complicated, just buy some and smear a load of it over your arse and balls.
smear a load of it [s]over[/s] [b]between[/b] your arse and balls.
FTFY
It's not complicated,
🙂
To shave or not to shave?
Shave then smear for ultimate protection?
smear a load of it over between your arse and balls.
Well I don't know about you but I slap it all over my plums, given that they're spending hours on end next to my big manly thighs pumping away like a steam train.
What you don't want to do is get 300km into a 500km ride having forgotten to slap on the lard, to then suffer from a severely chafed conker, and then try to lubricate it with a massive dollop of extra-minty refreshing arse butter.
Not that I'd know.
To shave or not to shave?
Not, unless you're normally a shaver, stubble and razor rash are not fun on long rides.
To shave or not to shave? Shave then smear for ultimate protection?
Well… what you don't want to do is get 300km into a 500km ride having shaved your balls and then forgotten to slap on the lard, to then suffer from a severely chafed conker, and then try to lubricate it with a massive dollop of extra-minty refreshing arse butter.
Not that I'd know.
If you shave, I would recommend using cream. Plenty of it.
I find I get too sweaty and the creams just add to the problem. It does depend on the weather and shorts though. On the HT550 the first day was very hot and humid and I was wearing Assos bib shorts which have a thicker pad. I got quite tender 🙁 For day two and the rest of the ride I swapped to a pair of Endura bib shorts. I applied talcum powder at the start and end of each day as well as during the day if I got chance. I also made sure I was properly clean and dry at the end of each day.
Got to the end of the route with no saddle sores or rash.
Chamois cream helps if you suffer from chafing. It won't do anything about numbness, and I'm not convinced about its infection preventing properties. As others have said, a long ride in your new shorts should tell you if it's likely to be of benefit.
Prefer the castelli 'dry' stuff in a tube.. Doesn't leave you with that squidgy greasy feeling.. But enough under carriage lubrication
+1 for assos, but i always apply it to the shorts before sliding in. I was told to do it that way originally, not sure why tbh something to do with stinging.
And only for 2 hours plus rides
Got a sample of Charlie the Bikemonger's "Bum Butter" - very good stuff. It's nice to use, not thick and sticky. I'll be ordering a tub once the Chamois Butt'r is finished.
If we're doing recomendations, this stuff is good (and non-tingly)...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/morgan-blue-solid-chamois-cream/rp-prod144547
Unfortunately a lot of chamois creams contain nut oils, so that's total none starter for me. Nut allergy on the nuts, not a good look unless you like whoopie cushions. Which rules out Assos and Muc-off creams.
My favourite is DZNuts pro, the thicker stuff. It's all round awesome and doesn't sweat off like thinner creams can.
I have always used the Assos minty-arse-lard found it to be the best, about £14 but pot lasts quite a while combined with Sportful Total Comfort bibs and it's done me proud for 500km 24 hour ride before.
But the shorts are the most important part if they are comfy then they should be good for 100 miles. most sores are more due to the bike position than anything you spread liberally on your gentleman vegetables, if you are comfy on the bike for a long period that's the main thing
Things that have given me saddle sores:
- shaving
- chamois cream
Things that have prevented saddle sores for me:
- clean shorts
- clean zones
- correct bike fit
- well fitting shorts
I will *occasionally* put on cream if it's going to be a long wet ride or if it's going to be outrageously sweaty. It'll stop a bit of chafing but it won't stop your hair folicles filling with pus.
CtBM's Bum-butter is pretty good, after having been a long term assos user, we seem to have received about 300kg of Bum-butter from the aforementioned Monger - and it seems to work pretty well, I used it in Italy last weekend for 35C+ riding and it was all good "down there" afterwards.
Things that have prevented saddle sores for me:
- clean shorts
- clean zones
- correct bike fit
- well fitting shorts
Same. Never needed cream.
Add clean areas to the list. Baby wipes for a super clean rectum.
Palmers Butter
Convert to CtBMs Bumble Butter.
Used for a ride to test on an hour long ride in mega heat.
Having gone 10 years without having using anything I'm a total convert.
As someone with bit of knowledge of skin and tissue viability don't do it. Clogs the pores, traps sweat and alters skin PH.
If you get chaffing then a bit of basic nappy cream will help otherwise don't damage your skin with this stuff. Some of the products sold contain stuff known to damage skin
You should try what a guy in the shop said he did*. Used chamois cream....inside his boxers which he was wearing under his bibs 😯
*don't
Rarely use the stuff but did the South Downs Way last weekend in the 30 degree heat. On a hardtail too. CtBM Bum Butter was amazingly good. Much better than the 'Century Cream' I've used on previous SDW outings.
Do remember to apply sun cream to your face first...
More seriously, remember this stuff came from the era of actual leather chamois pads that needed conditioning. It's s bit of an anachronism with modern pads tbh, but if it works for you then fine. I generally don't, it's made me very uncomfortable before now. TJ's Sudocrem shout is a good one.
More seriously, remember this stuff came from the era of actual leather chamois pads that needed conditioning
Yes, I can remember rubbing vaseline into my first pair of cycling shorts after washing them, in an attempt to make the chamois flexible enough to sit on...
I've never used chamois cream with modern shorts and synthetic inserts. I think the best tip for avoiding saddle sores and other problems is to keep everything clean. Don't reuse your shorts without washing them!
only for really hot long days....find reduces irritation from sweat - the idea never appealed but seems to work for me in these situations
my cream of choice
[url] https://aussiebuttcream.com/outlets.html [/url]
I've never used it, what does it actually do?
I think i'm not normal in a sense that I don't wear lycra or anything with a pad for any type of riding (incl 60-120km road rides) as it doesn't seem to make any difference to me.
Forget all that slimy stuff ! For years I've sworn by Nivea Talcum Powder , non perfumed , keeps everything good below decks
Works out about £1.50 for a 300g container just slap it all over lasts ages !
@oldfart - +1 see my post earlier in the thread for my reasons why.
@Hob-nob - think along the lines of nappy rash both in terms of cause and treatment. Basically it's friction between material and skin in a damp environment, the creams deal with the irritation from the friction but not with the dampness, they'll also have some anti-bacterial properties to avoid any infection.
If you are prone to getting rashes then it's most likely to be due to incompatibilities between your shorts and your saddle. You need to sort that out first rather than assume a cream is going to fix things.
I assumed it worked like a barrier cream, effectively making your skin moisture-resistant, as well as greasing things up to reduce friction.
Love some minty assos arselard
Aloe Vera gel, not sticky or tingly and lasts well too.
Yes to Assos chamois cream and trimmed 'downstairs'!
trimmed 'downstairs'
You might want to read [url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/team-gb-cycling-saddle-sore-medals ]this article[/url]
That relates to lasses, and anyway I just have a 'short back and sides' using the trimmers! 😉