yet another thread about girl parts

[lph]

Moonfroggy, do you have a friend who could come with you to the bike shop? I'm thinking having someone you're comfortable talking to could make the exchange easier, someone to fill in the gaps, make small talk, ask the little questions you may not think of etc., take the pressure off of you having to handle all the dialogue.

Any bike shop employees that know anything at all about biking will know all about saddle pain and the importance of a good fit, though, so expect them to take this in their stride. It's essential to both men and women, beginners and veterans alike.

Re your problem directly - I've never bled, but I have had bad chafing that I didn't notice until after the ride, because of compression I assume. Moving my handlebars closer to me with a shorter stem helped, a saddle with a larger cut-out and the right tilt helped, and changing my riding position around a lot on long rides helps a lot. Standing, sitting, sprinting, change is good.

[moonfroggy]

i will see if i can find a friend that can help me. my husband could go but he has so much social anxiety he might not be much help.

i have another thought about the chafing which is that my bike nickers look like they fit me pretty well but i have been gaining a lot of muscle and loosing a lot of fat and i avoid scales but most of my clothes no longer fit the way they did a few months ago. i am certainly thinner than i was when i got my knickers. if they are to big could that cause chaffing? i have worn them for almost every bike ride since i got them because they are warm when it is cold and drizzly out. i wash them as soon as i can so they will be clean for the next ride and when they have not been dry enough and i had to wear other shorts i have been disappointing. i think though the chamois in one of my other pair of shorts is more comfortable. not sure which one i should figure that out.

[lph]

i have another thought about the chafing which is that my bike nickers look like they fit me pretty well but i have been gaining a lot of muscle and loosing a lot of fat and i avoid scales but most of my clothes no longer fit the way they did a few months ago. i am certainly thinner than i was when i got my knickers. if they are to big could that cause chaffing?

Definitely! If the chamois is getting a bit "poofy" and loose from a lot of use and you have gotten thinner, I'd say this is the prime suspect for chafing. Do spring for a new pair, you will need them sooner or later and comfort on bike is essential. Rotating pairs will help against chafing in itself.

[malkin]

For the bike store guy, you don't need to give any more detail than "saddle issues." Chances are, this will be enough to make him a little uncomfortable too.

You did a great job of explaining in your post!

[artifactos]

I have nothing more to add to the other reccomendations (get thee to a doctor, get a better bike fit, write things down/take a friend if necessary to help communicate), but I want to say that I'm proud of you being able to write everything out so clearly for us to understand and try to help you. I'm sure it must have been very hard for you, but I'm glad you were able to do that for yourself and get the help you needed.

[channlluv]

+1 to that.

Roxy

[Zen]

I'm proud of you being able to write everything out so clearly for us to understand and try to help you. I'm sure it must have been very hard for you, but I'm glad you were able to do that for yourself and get the help you needed.

That pretty much sums up the spirit of TE.
Go Team!
Go Moonfroggy!

[RolliePollie]

I have chafing issues in the same area you describe. It is definitely pretty embarassing to talk about it, so good for you for posting!

My chafing has only bled once, but many times it's been very raw and it is super duper painful! You also mentioned it was worse when you rode hills...I find this to be the case as well. I do think finding the right saddle is important, but I've tried many saddles and I still get chafing in the inner labia area. I think it's more about anatomy...for some reason, some of us get chafed in different places than other people. Maybe we have exceptionally thin skin there or something. Anyway, I have a couple of suggestions for you that have really helped me...

First off, like lph already posted, rotate between two or three pairs of shorts (or knickers). Even if they're the same brand, the chamois will be slightly different and you won't be rubbing the same parts raw over and over again. I have found some great deals on shorts at http://sierratradingpost.com

Secondly, use tons of chamois cream all over "down there." Some people say this creates a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, but I have not had any problems (knock on wood!). I use inexpensive baby lotion, like Baby Magic. I used to use AstroGlide, but it's expensive and it kind of disappears into your shorts after a while. I always carry extra lotion with me on the bike so I can re-apply it after potty stops.

I hope you are able to figure something out to help. You're not alone (for what it's worth!)

[zoom-zoom]

I've had a bit of bleeding in that region, too. I don't think I have the world's "daintiest" labial area and if I don't use plenty of chamois butter I get literally rubbed the wrong way. I'm hoping this is mostly an issue of the indoor trainer and that things will improve outdoors. If not I'll probably look at a different saddle (right now I have the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Moonfroggy, do you have a friend who could come with you to the bike shop? I'm thinking having someone you're comfortable talking to could make the exchange easier, someone to fill in the gaps, make small talk, ask the little questions you may not think of etc., take the pressure off of you having to handle all the dialogue.

I was going to suggest this too. Especially if you can have a female friend come with you, just casual-like. She doesn't even have to bike, she can just come along and stand there while you talk to them, like you were both on your way somewhere together on some errand.

And rememebr, bike shop guys are constantly trying to solve saddle problems for men riders whose intimate parts are going numb, chafing, open sores, etc. This is not a new subject for them unless they just started working in a bike shop.

And yes going to the doctor is a good idea if you are bleeding!