painful hoo-ha needs help

[KnottedYet]

I do best with a thinnish chamois; and a saddle with no cutout, no padding, thin nose, wide "flare" in back, and T shaped top rather than pear shaped. (abrupt transition from sitting area to nose.)

Mine's a Brooks B67, and I want to get a Brooks B68 (same thing, just without springs) so each of my bikes has a Brooks.

Once you find the saddle of your dreams it might be a good idea to buy a spare. Or two!!

[Kalidurga]

I went through a handful of saddles over the last few years, going back to an old standby Terry saddle in between each. The Terry gave me the least trouble, but even it didn't totally relieve the bruised feeling I always ended up with after a long ride. This year I had a very thorough bike fitting that included raising my stem and handlebars. Voila! By balancing my weight more evenly between the bars, pedals and saddle, I now sit more naturally on my sit bones. I've had no hoo-ha pain since

Sometimes the problem is the saddle, other times it's how you're positioned on the saddle. Be open to experimenting with your bike fit and see if that makes a difference.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sara,
I use just simple fragrance-free handcream/skin lotion. Even cheaper than Vagisil! The one i like is VaselineIntensiveCare skin lotion, fragrance free.
Washes out great too. Keeps my girly bits from chafing when on the bike for hours.
Like you, I would NOT want greasy ointment stuff embedded in my chamois!

[RolliePollie]

Lisa - I'll try the Vaseline Intensive Care. Thanks! My saddle seems to pretty much take care of the bruised feeling, but, as graphic as this may be, keeping "those" parts well lubricated seems to be the key for me. Grinding into the saddle does not feel good if things can't slide around easily. Geez, I can't believe I just typed that. But...I'm just being honest here and I don't think anyone likes days of discomfort after a long ride!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I can relate, sister!

I do recommend the fragrance-free cream though- to keep things comfy for hours you need to put on a fairly generous amount, and I don't think you really want clouds of cucumber/melon/vanilla/lavender scent billowing up from down there!
Thinner/cheaper hand lotions don't work well because they evaporate too quickly and get quickly absorbed by the chamois.

P.S. the subject line of this thread cracks me up.
....What's all the brouhaha over the hoo-ha?

[Meg McKilty]

Tea Tree Oil Cream. Kid you not.

SouthernBelle made me slather a massive amount all over my No No Good and Plenty after a 52 miler, and it was bliss!

Vitamin World online sells it cheap, and they have soap, too!

[teigyr]

I think it's a combination of a long work day and the glass of wine I am consuming but I re-read "Painful hoo-ha needs help" and I swear it sounds like a dating advertisement

Then again I am still giggling over No No Good and Plenty. Now THAT sounds like a band!

[VeloVT]

I like Bodyglide! I actually bought some Assos cream (thinking I was moving up in the world), but Bodyglide really seems to work better for me -- it lasts longer (Assos seemed to disappear -- or at least lose its slip -- on longer rides), is way less messy to apply, and doesn't feel slimy or goopy or wet on my chamois (I put lube on my chamois rather than on my skin). And is cheaper.

As for saddles I think it's interesting how different people are. Cutouts leave me bruised and chafed (I fall into them, putting lots of weight on the area on the area around the perimeter of the cutout). My Arione, which one might think would cause uncomfortable pressure over a long ride, has proven to be quite comfortable even though I'm in a pretty aggressive position on my bike that naturally puts a little more weight on soft tissue. No more bruising and chafing. Trying to sit "lighter" on the saddle (supporting more weight with my legs) has helped too.

[Meg McKilty]

Then again I am still giggling over No No Good and Plenty. Now THAT sounds like a band!

A friend of mine in high school named it for me. I used to call it the No No Cha Cha, but James proclaimed, "More the No No Good and Plenty!"
It stuck.

[Deja Vu]

Hi Ladies!

I really don't have much to say about this, except: Stay mindful of any allergies/sensitivities to the materials of the chamois! Hooo-ha!