Tricks for keeping the 'bits' happy

[SpinSpinSugar]

The Girly Bits I mean! This season I have learned a few tricks for keeping my girly bits happy on the bike for long rides besides the normal stuff we all know like bike fit and tight shorts. I haven't seen some of these posted before so I thought I'd share what works for me. Hopefully this will help some of you too!:

#1 - most important - AZO UTI relief pills. Take 2-4 immediately before the ride, and take again if the ride is more than 4 hours long. Available over the counter at nearly any drug store, Target, Walmart, etc. It stops any pain/burning/etc before it even starts. I can't say enough how this has been a miracle for me.. http://www.azoproducts.com/products/azo_standard

#2 - AZO Yeast Tablets - Take 2 the day before the ride and again 2 the morning of - Preventative measures are the best cure - Available over the counter at most drug stores, Target, Walmart, etc. http://www.azoproducts.com/products/azo_yeast

#3 - Do not shave for at least 3 days before a ride. Even the panty-line. Helps prevent chafing

#4 - Tuck up! - yes, shove those bits as high up inside as you possibly can - nothing worse than "feeling the pinch"

#5 - Use the most dry, sticky lube you can find, and use it everywhere but the edges of the labia. (or else those bits will slide back out!)

Please feel free to add to this list ladies. I'd love to know how you stay comfortable in the saddle.

SpinSpinSugar

EDIT: Allow me to add that I have a lot of '''uummm''' soft tissue down there.. so this may not be helpful or necessary for everyone - but if you read this and go -"A-HA!" then you may be in the same well-endowed group that I am in..

[SpinSpinSugar]

This lube is sticky and dry.. "BodyGlide" http://www.rei.com/product/745879
Not slippery and messy like Chamois Butter or Butt Paste

[shootingstar]

Is all this advice for real?

Ok. I'm a woman. I bike alot.

But I've never had to do/try any of the above.

I have nothing to add. And I don't wear padded cycling shorts. Yep, probably not normal..but maybe I'm just lucky wierd.

I've been cycling nearly last 18 yrs. Many thousands of kms.

Believe me, my saddle is not in a wierd position.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Is all this advice for real?

Ok. I'm a woman. I bike alot.

But I've never had to do/try any of the above.

I have nothing to add. And I don't wear padded cycling shorts. Yep, probably not normal..but maybe I'm just lucky wierd.

I've been cycling nearly last 18 yrs. Many thousands of kms.

Believe me, my saddle is not in a wierd position.

Yes, It's for real. Why would you respond like that?

Yes, I really do all of these things before I ride. No my saddle is not in a weird position, nor is my reach too far, or any other fit issue on this bike.

Considering the number of threads on this forum regarding pain and sores in that area many ladies deal with why would adding any more info be a bad thing?

SpinSpinSugar

[nscrbug]

Funny that you should mention the AZO pills...because after my last few rides, I've had really intense burning when I pee. But I just assumed it was because my girly parts were all inflamed and tender. Maybe I'll try this.

[OakLeaf]

I don't know that I'd take pyridium regularly.

Is it safe to numb your urinary tract when there's nothing wrong? If nothing else, it will stain your underwear and chamois that bright yellow.


nscr, that stuff is just an anesthetic. It doesn't cure infection, just keeps you from having to pee every three minutes. Try cranberry juice, and if that doesn't work and you want to try one more OTC remedy before going to the doctor, Cystex has an antimicrobial.

[kermit]

+1 on shaving, learned that the hard way!

[Kiwi Stoker]

I think the OP means other measures you can take APART from saddle and bike fit to avoid problems.

I mean that one day you can ride 100km and everything is OK and another day you ride it's not. And often it's due to OTHER factors, not your bike.

I also have to try other ways for reducing discomfort. When I ride stoker on the tandem you cannot shift yourself around or stand to coast as much as you can on a single- so I have to use other methods to reduce discomfort on some of my rides.

I would rub a bit of chamois cream onto the saddle. I find that having a bit of slip means the shorts etc don't catch and pinch. I found this out as chamois cream often sinks through the shorts and greases the saddle.

[sarahspins]

It is a good point. But I think in this case the regimin sounds too extreme not to be masking other problems.

I agree with you, and the primary reason I agree is because of suggestions #1 and #2... they may work for the OP, and she may do so with the blessing of her doctor, but IMO this should absolutely NOT be standard advice for someone experiencing any degree of saddle discomfort - because it's potentially covering up issues that have the potential to lead to permanent problems, and it fails to address the cause. It's not normal to "need" so many extreme measures.

Good shorts and chamois cream for longer rides, and no shaving (if you don't shave regularly) is reasonable advice.. but AZO isn't.

[Crankin]

I have the same issues when I do a long or hot ride. I just deal with it... I have never mentioned it here, but I think you guys need to go a little easy on the OP. The Body Glide and some of the other usual tricks mostly work for me, but I get the burning after a ride still, at times. I actually went for my annual exam once, after I had been cycling a couple of years, and my gyn. told me I had "lesions," which she knew weren't cancerous or anything, but it looked very raw. I knew right away it was from my saddle, so I switched to a Terry Falcon. That helped a lot... but I still have the burning issue after rides sometimes. I've been professionally fit, and have tried all of the usual lubes. I am fine if I don't pee during a ride (not usually possible!) and I make sure I don't touch myself when showering after a long hot ride, because at times, any pressure will make me go through the roof.
It's the combination of sweat and some pressure, as well as having "ample" bits.
I did try a Brooks saddle for 6 months and it was an instrument of torture for me. I hated it. And, I don't have the patience to keep looking for the "perfect" saddle. Mine is good, I have it on all 3 bikes and the problem is much better. But... I have to say that not everyone is so super concerned regarding taking otc meds. If it works for the OP, then it's good.
When I was on my tour in Spain, it was so hot that I had the worst issues ever! I learned that I can't wear the Terry Bella shorts in really hot weather and that my Shebeest S Pros are really good for that. But, you guys would most likely be horrified to know what I used to keep the problem from totally ruining my trip; basically a combination of Body Glide, a lube the tour dour director got me, and Neosporin. That and a box of Baby Wipes worked.

[arielmoon]

I ride 6 days a week and I have to something. My solution is to trim instead of shaving. A cheap trimmer does a great job and I trim everything.

[OakLeaf]

I keep looking at those. I don't know that DH would appreciate me using his down there. Although, with men, you never know.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When I was on my tour in Spain, it was so hot that I had the worst issues ever! I learned that I can't wear the Terry Bella shorts in really hot weather and that my Shebeest S Pros are really good for that. But, you guys would most likely be horrified to know what I used to keep the problem from totally ruining my trip; basically a combination of Body Glide, a lube the tour dour director got me, and Neosporin. That and a box of Baby Wipes worked.

Horrified? No, sounds to me like a good plan for a drastic situation of a long tour in terribly hot weather.

[Crankin]

Thanks, Lisa...
It's just that we all come up with our own solutions and it made me think that I am not "organic" enough for this forum .
My problem is mostly solved 95% of the time when I am at home, though.
And thanks for the Anti-Monkey Butt powder suggestion (that was you?). I found the regular brand at the drugstore and I am going to order the "lady" brand. It got Steve to switch from all these years of using baby powder.

[gayledb]

I have read through all the comments but I struggle with this too, but not from the UTI point. I am on my 4th, or is it 5th, saddle for this season and hope this one will be satisfactory. I was uncomfortable to the point of bleeding last week so have allowed healing time and finally rode yesterday without that happening again. Chamois Butter, shorts, good saddle, seems all to have a bearing but am thinking it is low estrogen and thin tissues. Anyone else dealing with this and finding a workable solution?