Chamois and "Secretions"

This is embarrasing, but oh well, common and somewhat normal. I finally bought a real pair of cycling shorts complete with chamois, today. Yay! However, I've been hesitant about doing so due to some personal "problems." One - leaky bladder, two - normal vaginal secretions. I'm a clean freak, so this is an issue.

I would consider taking care of the leaky bladder problem, except, I will, hopefully, have kids someday, more than likely null-and-voiding any treatment. The other issue is normal vaginal secretions, especially during ovulation and menstruation. Menstruation is taken care of with tampons, but I still feel gross.

What are your experiences? The hard part, for me, will be going without panty liners or pads when necessary, but I do look forward to a more comfortable ride. Any advice? This is so new to me.:( Help! I need support!

Bladder: physical therapy can help. And it won't conflict with having kiddos. If you can't find a pelvic rehab PT in your area, let me know, I can give you some resources to contact for referrals.

Icky cooties: I know some folks ride in panty liners.

It's all good, just so long as you get to ride your bike!

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Originally Posted by Di bear

What are your experiences?

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My experience is that if I remember that the chamois is designed and intended to be absorbent, then I am happy to let it do its job: absorbing. That goes for any little leaks of any kind.

If I am willing to have something next to me that catches my various leaks & secretions (pads, etc), then why not just let it be the chamois, which is absorbent? It is much more comfortable than a double layer of shifting items such as a panty liner inside bike shorts.

For periods, I just use a tampon, and if there is a little leak, it isn't much, it doesn't show on the outside, and I wash the shorts after every ride anyhow.

It all comes out in the wash, literally.

Ok, that makes me feel better. :)

What about tiny little tampons, like junior sizes? When I was younger and didn't want to wear panty liners, I'd get those, and they worked great. However, because bike shorts are generally worn once anyway and then washed, it probably won't make any difference if there are secretions?

Yeah, I plan on acquiring a collection of bike shorts. I do my fair share of riding. I should probably have at least four pairs...at least one for road riding.

Chamois absorbs LOADS

Have black shorts - all mine are black, only wear once, and wash in hot water.

If you have leaks you are concerned about (for me its menstrual blood) then soak in a nappy solution before putting them through the wash.

Dry inside out in the sunshine when possible

I have three pairs of race shorts and my training shorts now number about 5 I think - training shorts are ones that are too thin over the but and are becoming seethrough. I wear a pair of "yoga" shorts over the top so i remain decent.

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Originally Posted by Di bear

Menstruation is taken care of with tampons, but I still feel gross.

What are your experiences? The hard part, for me, will be going without panty liners or pads when necessary, but I do look forward to a more comfortable ride. Any advice? This is so new to me.:( Help! I need support!

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Have you thought about a Diva Cup?

www.divacup.com

I use the Instead cups, which are like the diva cups. They take care of the period stuff.

For the rest, I find I don't have as much normal other stuff if I put a water-based lubricant in my shorts (about a half teaspoon -don't need much - apply directly.) I think sometimes discharge is actually due to chafing or irritation. So when I have the goop in my shorts, I don't have as much personally-made goop.

Also, I handwash my shorts after every ride. Sun dry when possible.

I usually sweat all the way through the chamois anyway, when it's hot, so whatever secretions there are become a non-issue.

Karen

Glad it isn't just me. :o I also have issues with #2 on your list. I used to always wear a liner when biking, for general ooze, but I've been having such discomfort issues all summer anyway, I've been going without (don't want to add any possible irritation). So I just don't worry about it, and wash my shorts a lot (it usually isn't that bad, but it icks me out). I have several pairs of shorts, and don't ride that many times per week, so they get washed after every ride. I agree with indigoiis - it seems like using chamois creme does help.

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Originally Posted by Skierchickie

I agree with indigoiis - it seems like using chamois creme does help.

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Its amazing how different we all are. I never used chamois creme for the first 3 years of riding, and then this year, since I was doing much longer, harder training rides, I got some.

The first time I used chamois creme, I got my first ever saddle sore. No more chamois creme for me!

Well, I tried out my first pair of biker shorts for the first time yesterday on an 18 mile mountain bike ride followed by a jaunt on a barstool for a club sandwich and a microbrew. Yum. The ride was great, too!

I went back to my bike shop and grabbed another pair in a different color. That's two more pairs of shorts I need. I would never wear them again without washing them (health hazard), and I'd like to have them last, so washing once a week is enough.

Thanks, everyone! It sounds like this is a topic that needed to come out.

If you hand wash them they last longer. I also find that when they do get a stain I just spray it with one of those oxy wash pre-treatments and it comes right out.

I slather my chamois up with Aveeno baby lotion and use Astroglide on myself, so everything is all slimy and gooey anyway (sorry, that was gross...but it's the truth!). For me, the slippery-er the better. I guess it is rather disgusting but no one knows what's going on with my chamois except for me, and I know that I'm a clean person, so it doesn't bother me. At first I felt funny about the no-underwear-lotion-Astroglide thing, but it's worth all the goo and slime to prevent saddle sores. Oh, and I wash my shorts after every single ride and hang them to dry.

Sara, so, enquiring minds want to know...what kind of looks do you get at the drug store when you buy your monthly case of Astroglide? :D