chamois cream, do you love it or hate it?

[radicalrye]

I've tried chamois butt'r a few different times on both long and short rides. I usually end up hating the stuff and feel like it actually encourages chaffing rather than helping it.

I think i'll just stick to wearing my shorts and if i'm chaffing when i get home just apply some neosporin or something like that.

Any thoughts or different brand recommendations?

[papaver]

I only use the Assos cream and I've never had any problems with it.

[OakLeaf]

lots of discussion on everyone's favorites - do a search. My favorite is pure shea butter (thanks deeaimond) followed closely by Body Glide (thanks Crankin, a lot easier to find).

[arielmoon]

I dont use anything :)

[redrhodie]

I use Body Glide, and have no issues, but I'm not a long distance rider. A little is all I need.

I saw a movie/documentary about the tour de France called "Hell on Wheels" and they show a rider's chamois pre-ride. The amount of chamois cream was amazing. It was like frosting on a cake. Sorry if that's a gross image. :p I wonder if everyone uses that much?

[kermit]

I think it's Levi that uses vaseline, I like it also. I sweat alot and the m=normal chamois butter goes away pretty quick. The vaseline stays right where I need it.

[ginny]

I used chamois butt'r on a tour I did. It did what it needed to do - kept me chafe free. Riding every day for multiple days, I would use it again. Riding a century on the weekend, nope. It just feels... um... wrong.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just use some unscented hand cream. Works great for me... lasts for several hours, non-greasy, cheap, and washes out no problem. :p

[ridenread]

I use Assos creme for long rides. It really works for me to prevent irritation. I sweat profusely and am much more comfortable and do not chafe at all with the chamois creme

[krisl6]

I think it's Levi that uses vaseline, I like it also. I sweat alot and the m=normal chamois butter goes away pretty quick. The vaseline stays right where I need it.

I just use vaseline too. It's easy, cheap and works great for me.

[kenyonchris]

Nothin for me except, on occasion, anti monkey butt powder. Mainly because I like the name.

[Norse]

I use Bag Balm which is petroleum based and has lanolin. Cheap and effective.

[KnottedYet]

I don't use anything, but I don't wear chamois, either.

Weird as it is, I'm much happier with no chamois and no cream. (I think it's because I finally found a saddle that fits me right.) My chafing issues completly disappeared. Going without a chamois has also made my life better as far as sweat-related issues, too.

Mind you, I'm only riding 50-60 miles at a time. I might change my mind if I start doing long rides.

(I used to put Burt's Bees Salve on my chaffed spots before and after rides. It was blissful!)

[VeloVT]

I definitely need some kind of chamois lube. Makes a huge difference. I've found I'm not uber-picky about brand -- I have some slight preference for some over others, but most of what I've tried does the job (Assos, Chamois Buttr, Bodyglide, Nu Butte).

I will say that somebody on here recommended Astroglide as a chamois lube and that didn't work for me at all. It seemed to sweat right off.

[shootingstar]

I don't use anything, but I don't wear chamois, either.

Weird as it is, I'm much happier with no chamois and no cream. (I think it's because I finally found a saddle that fits me right.) My chafing issues completly disappeared. Going without a chamois has also made my life better as far as sweat-related issues, too.

Mind you, I'm only riding 50-60 miles at a time. I might change my mind if I start doing long rides.

(I used to put Burt's Bees Salve on my chaffed spots before and after rides. It was blissful!)

Finally....there is a woman like me. Yay!!!!! Yes, the saddle fit is still important.
No chamois, no cream.
I've been riding many years, done multi-day touring, etc.

Whatever works for each woman and also remain healthy, do it. :o:)

[OakLeaf]

PS to the OP - I wouldn't use neosporin "down there." Besides having a petroleum base, the antibiotics could encourage a yeast infection and/or resistant bacteria.

For healing spots that are already chafed, calendula salves work well. I have some Nubütte which didn't work at all for me as a chamois cream, but it's really great for healing. Or you probably have a local herbalist who makes a calendula salve.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mind you, I'm only riding 50-60 miles at a time. I might change my mind if I start doing long rides.


You think 50-60 mile rides are short? :eek: :confused:

[HillSlugger]

You think 50-60 mile rides are short? :eek: :confused:

Just what I was thinking!

I like Beljum Budder

[KnottedYet]

You think 50-60 mile rides are short? :eek: :confused:

No no no! (wow, wouldn't I be studly if they were!?! :p )

I think of that as kind of a medium length ride. I haven't tried long rides without a chamois yet, and I could change my tune if going chamois-less is uncomfortable on long rides. But for now I really love my Ibex Roaster Boxers and UnderArmour. (Roasters are good for shortish 20-30 mile rides, but the slick fabric of the UnderArmour is my favorite for the 50-60 mile rides.)

[tctrek]

I don't use anything. It's not that I don't like it, just never had a need for it.

[marni]

I'm an older rider and have issues with lack of lubrication down there anyway so I follow the Tour de France methodology in application of chamois cream. I slather the chamois, and pack it in as well. I love assos but the LBS doesn't carry it so I generally end up with pace line chois cream. I also ride with a very thick chamois, both for the padding and out of habit.

I dilike petroleum based products for the effect they have on the chamois, but I do used an all nutral salve caalled "everything balm'" by www.goodiesunlimited which contains camunula oil, menthol, tea tree oil, shea butter and several other good ingredients which help clear out bacteria, soothe aches, rubs, chaffing, hot spots, and itches.

marni

[Bike Chick]

Don't use it except from day 3 to day 7 on week long summer tours......Aaahhhh:D:D:D

[nscrbug]

I definitely need to use it...or I would have a very unhappy behind. That being said, I'm currently rotating between 2 chamois creams...Assos and Nubutte. Next on my list to try, is that "Hoo Ha Ride Glide" that I saw on the BikeShopGirl site.

[Maxxxie]

I don't use any chamois cream. I also don't suffer from any chafing.

But I've often wondered.. doesn't it go places.. well.. places you'd rather it didn't? And doesn't it make things feel a bit gooey in your shorts? :confused:

Max

[HillSlugger]

I don't use any chamois cream. I also don't suffer from any chafing.

But I've often wondered.. doesn't it go places.. well.. places you'd rather it didn't? And doesn't it make things feel a bit gooey in your shorts? :confused:

Max

It definitely feels a bit cold and clammy when you first put on your shorts, but it quickly warms up and I forget it's there.

[roadie gal]

Goo ------ Yuck!

I will occasionally use Body Glide, but I can't stand the feeling of gooey creams.

[radicalrye]

wow thanks for all the suggestions!

I'll most likely give a few of these ideas a try. The spots that get sore are my inner thighs sometimes where the saddle sometimes rubs when I pedal.

I only use the neosporin in that area. I don't put it near the lady bits at all! haha. I just think it speeds up the healing time if I get some chaffing.

My saddle is pretty comfy. I bought a Selle Royal Ellipse over the summer when one of my LBS was having a sale. I feel in love with it almost instantly. I had just a standard Planet Bike saddle before that and had a lot of chaffing issues and even some lower back soreness.

It's pretty amazing what the right saddle can do for you. People don't believe me when I recommend getting a more firm saddle w/a cut out rather than a big plush cushy one. I always have to say that no, I'm not crazy. My saddle is comfy with or without my cycling shorts :)