Tricks for keeping the 'bits' happy

[KnottedYet]

Does it make any difference if you wear snug compression shorts under your bike shorts?

I did that a couple times and it certainly made my chamois-shorts far more comfortable.

Things stayed tucked up and smoothed out, and the compression shorts slid over the chamois instead of me sliding. Almost no friction. It was nifty.

[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.

[KnottedYet]

(I'm dying to try one and have been researching sizing. Was it Knotted Yet or Oakleaf who posed the math on that?)

Sit Bones and Suspended Saddles

The metal cantle plate is NOT a good place to set the bones.
Actual sitting space is the overall width minus the width of the cantle plate x2 (for left and right sides of the saddle)

So, for a Brooks B17 the math goes like this:

170mm - 2(10mm) = 150mm
(saddle width) - 2(plate width) = (what you can sit on)

What you can sit on must be equal or greater than the outside width of your sit bones, or else you are sitting over the metal plate rather than on the suspended leather.

For the example of someone with 155mm sit bones, a B17 is too narrow. For a suspended leather saddle to fit, this must be true:
(what you can sit on) = or > (outside bone width)

150mm suspended leather span is NOT equal or greater than 155mm sit bone span.

Someone with 155mm sit bones will be planting bone on metal. The body doesn't like that sensation, and will go into an anterior pelvic tilt. That presses the soft tissue into the saddle as the pelvis rocks forward onto the rami in an attempt to get clear of the metal.

Quick-n-dirty Formula

(width of saddle) - 2(width of plate) = > (outside sit bone measurement)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What a thread.
Dry sticky lube?....that's an oxymoron. Dry and sticky is the opposite of lubricant. Maybe rubber cement?

Taking various pills just for a 3 hour ride... Something else must be wrong there somewhere. Is your diet healthy? Are you eating and drinking enough healthy stuff? Do you get frequent urinary infections?

I personally feel if you have lots of problems with irritation in that area, you shouldn't be shaving down there at all. A modest trim is just the ticket.

[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.

[PamNY]

Crankin, if ever there were something that's different for everyone, it's the "bits." (I think of Monty Python's "naughty bits" every time I see this thread.)

Personally, I'm thankful for having knowledge of what works for a wide variety of people. I'm sure I can solve any "bit" problem that comes up.

[Catrin]

4. You were measured for sitbones at the shop? I've heard of a couple of people doing that, then trying at home and discovering the shop was off by 30 mm. Perhaps try this at home just to double-check?......

I am one of those people and they were off quite a bit. Nothing wrong with checking for yourself just to be sure - personally I found the play-doh method (making your own with flour, salt and water) to be simple and effective. Also easy to read afterwards

There are whole threads here about difference methods check your sit-bone width - here is a good one but there are plenty of others.

[OakLeaf]

I'm not criticizing what's working for the OP, with her doctor's blessing.

I did suggest that maybe there was something mechanical or systemic contributing to her issues that could be remedied less invasively. Even if the doctor is a cyclist, not all cyclists have the wealth of collective knowledge and experience that this board offers.

What I wasn't thrilled about was the tone of the post, advising intense chemical warfare as the #1 best solution for everyone.

Everyone DOES have to find her own solution, but choosing drugs as the FIRST thing to try is as wrong here as it is in psychiatry.

[shootingstar]

What I wasn't thrilled about was the tone of the post, advising intense chemical warfare as the #1 best solution for everyone.

Everyone DOES have to find her own solution, but choosing drugs as the FIRST thing to try is as wrong here as it is in psychiatry.

Agree. OP needs to recognize how rare her physician's advice is to use that particular type of drug even though I realize she spent time investigating other solutions initially.

I still wouldn't use that type of drug regularily in the women's nether regions/crotch for cycling long hrs. Some of us cycle for several hrs. up and down some hills several days per wk.

This is important, because newbie women looked to experienced women cyclists for safe, sound advice when returning to cyling.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks, Lisa...
And thanks for the Anti-Monkey Butt powder suggestion (that was you?).

Yes that was me. But I hope you made sure to get the one made entirely from organic monkeys.
(JUST KIDDING!) lol!

...if ever there were something that's different for everyone, it's the "bits."

A classic new TE QUOTE OF THE MONTH!
Would make a great bike bumper sticker, but it'd be awful small.

personally I found the play-doh method (making your own with flour, salt and water) to be simple and effective. Also easy to read afterwards

Easy to read afterwards? Then you should use Silly Putty and put the comic section under neath when you sit down on it to make your sitbone print. Then after you get the measurement, you can read the comics and stretch D ick Tracy and Orphan Annie into wacky faces.

(note I inserted a space in the word "D ick", otherwise the forum software censors it into ****.) Sheesh.

[ny biker]

Easy to read afterwards? Then you should use Silly Putty and put the comic section under neath when you sit down on it to make your sitbone print. Then after you get the measurement, you can read the comics and stretch D ick Tracy and Orphan Annie into wacky faces.

This sounds much more fun than putting the folded yoga mat on the dining room table and sitting on it for 5 minutes while playing word games on my phone to waste time...