Sore spots.

[Zen]

How in the world do the Tour riders cope with saddle sores? I cannot imagine!

Well, they have team doctors, correct saddle adjustment and really good shorts. I don't know for sure but my guess is that saddle sores are not that frequent for them.Their skin has probably toughend up in that area, too.

Compare their saddles to yours. Theirs have long narrow noses and the way I'm reading these posts is that you're looking to go wider/softer. Even when you go softer that cushioning still gets compressed.
Do you lube before you ride?
Do your shorts fit well?
Is the saddle adjusted correctly?

[OakLeaf]

How in the world do the Tour riders cope with saddle sores? I cannot imagine!
Barb

Zen has a point, but they still get them. Somebody on one of the top teams had to drop out this year with saddle sores. Don't remember who it was, but I want to say it was a T-Mobile guy. How do they *cope* with them? How painful must it be before they *withdraw* because of them?

[bacarver]

Went to the dermatologist 10-23-07 and agreed to a biopsy of the site. I have an appointment this morning to get the sutures removed. The pathology report should be ready by Nov. 6th.
I went for a 26 mile ride yesterday and did great till mile 20. Then the bump started bothering me. (No soreness from the biopsy.)
I still don't know what this thing is. I do want it removed so I can ride comfortably.
I trust the derm but I want to ask her if she'll agree to cutting it out when the cold weather arrives.
Barb

[OakLeaf]

Ouch. Good luck and healing vibes.

I am wondering... does the type of lube you use make these kinds of sores more or less likely? Creams and lotions you put on your face are obviously more or less likely to clog your pores (and personally, my face is sensitive to just about everything). Wouldn't it be the same on tender skin at the other end?

[bacarver]

I got the path report this morning. The bump is a cyst that has been with me for quite awhile . . . long enough to have developed scar tissue. There is associated inflammation. Dermatologist injected it with steroid (essentially painless despite her warning that it would really hurt).

If this doesn't work, she'll excise it.

I'm pleased with the plan because I can continue to ride to reach my goal of 1500 miles. I'm so very close.

I don't use any creams in my cycling shorts. Just me and the padding. I do have some bag balm I may use in the future.

The mystery has been solved!!

Barb

[hellosunshine]

you lot are ace,very nitty gritty and to the point,im from the uk and savlon is THE answer,Germolene-no,SAVALON!


mine are always on the left,i have a hard lump about the size of a marble in the area where your leg meets your body on the inside,well,inall that "area" were talking about,it doesnt hurt,so im not alarmist about it,is this what a sebacious thingy is,and is it ok to leave it to its won device,i tink if i had to lance it id be sticking a needle down a long long way into the skin,owch!!!!

[Cataboo]

My brother had one for years on his face cheek - didn't cause any problems, wasn't sore.

We had it removed by a plastic surgeon (since it was on his face), who got it all and it's never grown back. I think they have to remove all of the lining of the cyst or sometimes they will just come back.

When he's stressed, he's had a few more cysts pop up - these ones have gotten really painful & angry and ruptured that cheesey stuff... Then he takes some antibiotics and they go away.

I think it's best to get them removed because they can cause a ton of problems if they get infected or rupture.

[SentryGirl]

Hi all -
I am having similar problems as it sounds many of you have faced. My issues are in the inner area between my thigh and groin area. I have had nodule/boils under the skin but have since lessened. It's unbearable to be on a bike - and I just did a century ride this past weekend. I've been uncomfortable for at last 1 1/2 months.

I just got my bike fitted for me, changed to a narrower saddle, purchased top of the line bike shorts and covered myself in Chamois butter. Had been applying zinc oxide (10%) for a week before the century). After all that, I'm still in pain.

Went to the gyno today - as someone mentioned it could be a bacterial infection. She was stumped and thought the sores were on my pressure points. She recommended I go see a sports med doctor. But I see that many of you are going to the dermatologist?

What is the best doctor to go to? While I don't ride much now that the weather is changing, I don't want to be sidelined from even my bike trainer.

thanks for any advice!
Amy

[jasmine]

I too have problems with bumps, cysts etc--I am trying to wipe off the whole area after I ride with a diluted solution of tea tree oil---jury still out but it makes sense?