Saddle sores

I really like The Bicycle Outfitter. We bought our tandem there - but alas they're about 70 miles from us. They really are fairly helpful and have a decent selection of women's stuff. I'm glad you liked the Pearl izumis. I tried a pair last year and felt the padding went too far down the inside of my leg. I have large quads and it just drove me nuts.

I talked to some folks at the Death valley century last week who are certifiably nuts. :D RAAM riders and Furnace Creek 508 racers. They crank out Double Centuries like it's nothing. Anyway I asked what they do to to keep their butts happy, 'cause at about the nine hour mark my butt is done, no matter what, and someday I'd like to do a Double. Their advice was more time on the saddle, shorts and a saddle that fits your particular anatomy, and lots of Chamois Butt'R. So there is no magic formula unfortunately.

Veronica

Actually- here's something interesting, and I'm really ticked about it. I never had chafing/ sore trouble 'till I atarted the comeback in earnest recently. While I was down and out I put on weight, a lot of it, and I had to break down and buy shorts in a W size. There, it's out. I finally sucked it up and spent some money on top of the line goods I hope not to get to wear out. It's an investment in getting my real body back, right? Except I have this accelerating chafing on my tush, not so bad at spin but yesterday I only lasted twenty minutes on the bike I was in such pain, had to go home and put lidocaine on my sit bone places- I'm sitting on the chamois seam. So I got out prewreckage shorts I loved in a size L and new shorts in a 16W, like 3 or 4 sizes apart, and measured. Why is the chamois in the fat shorts smaller than the one in the buff goddess shorts? Same brand. No wonder I hurt! I measured every pair I own, (found a jersey that fits!) and all the L's have inches more pad up the back. Shouldn't the bigger butt have the bigger chamois? I'm ticked, how am I going to ride it off like this? At eighty bucks a pop this is inexcusable!
Another interesting tidbit- fave high milage shorts from the day have a triangular pad with rounded corners that give LOTS of sitbone coverage. The ones that don't impress as much are oval shaped. Good to know.
So I'm taking a ruler shopping and hedge my bets. When I was thinner, I wondered why big people didn't just get some exercise. Even when you're big, I've found that muscle tone really makes you look better and life is easier. Now I know- we can't find decent stuff to wear.

Lizzy, very grouchy from a sore tushy

Just wanted to chime in and say that (yet another) thing I love about this sport...MALES have to deal with shaving and trimming just like we do :D

So it's not a "women's issue" or a "guy thing", it's a "cyclist thing".

I use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to prevent saddle sores and it really works! Apply liberal amounts - the more the better it works.

another factor, especially if you live in a warm and /or humid climate it is important to also get out of your shorts, washed off and out thoroughly and then wear cotton underpants ( yes I know they are not glamorous but it does help the area breath) and sleep with your bottom half bare or in loose cotton shorts to continue airing and drying out.

Another factor in saddle sores is toughening up the nether region by riding hours in the saddle, that of course with the usual caveat about saddle, bike fit and snugly fitting shorts.

I've never had a saddle sore of any consequence even on a 300/400k brevet, overall sore yes! Clean shorts each ride, seamless chamois, Terry Butterfly, chamois cream and a well fitted bike has worked well for me.....and my being shaved is a personal preference and wasn't influenced by pornographers or anyone else. :p

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Originally Posted by Irulan

The issue for me is not so much that some one had a POV that is different from mine, but that a personal opinion was not expressed in a manner that was respectful of differing points of view.

We disagree a lot of this board, but it's always been of a polite and respecful nature.

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Well said and one of the reasons I like this forum!!!!

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Originally Posted by Warren Chu

I use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to prevent saddle sores and it really works! Apply liberal amounts - the more the better it works.

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Using Vaseline can increased the risk of yeast and bacterial infections.

Hi
I always usually get saddle sore and the boils very often. On a resent thread related to shorts for hot weather I bought a pair of Sugoi Shorty shorts as I live in Puerto Rico and the weather is really hot. I am in love. To me this is the best padded short I have used. I have the Pearl Izumi shorts and the Shebeest which were my to go shorts. Pearl Izumi pads run down my thigh and maybe this rubbing is causing me to get the boils. I have ridden with the Sugoi and no problem at all. I think these have been the best combination of shorts with my saddle. Just my two cents on the topic, maybe its just the kind of padding on some shorts for some of us. Sugoi's have really small padding in the crotch area and don't bother me at all in the saddle. As for the hair topic. Can the girls who shave all let me know if that solved the boil problem?