Saddle sores

[letty]

mrhughes: are there any good cycling shorts that you can recomend? I have tried several types and and some are better than others but I have not found one that feels completely comfortable for riding long distances.

[Veronica]

Nice to see another person from the Bay Area.

I've ridden about 2800 miles so far this year, usually in Castelli prima donnas. I recently branched out to Sugois Ultrafino. I still prefer the Castellis for any ride longer than about 60 miles. Although to be honest I haven't tried the Sugois on any really long rides. Both are fairly expensive ($100 - $120.) I have two of each, that works out to $6.36 a mile(so far) to have a comfy tush.

REI will take washed returns, so will Bicycle Outfitter in Los Altos (at least they did last year.) So when I try something new, I usually try to buy the first pair from either of those places.

Veronica

[Irulan]

mrhughes thanks for the informative input to this thread and welcome to the board.

that being said, I feel very uncomfortable and angry with what I percieve as heavy blanket judgement laid out by you regarding hairstyle. If you don't want to read how angry I am feel free to stop right now.

I can't believe so many women buy into this idea of a hairless muff, when it's a direct result of pornographers wanting to get a better photograph of female genetalia. What next? Shaved heads? Plucked eyelashes? (end rant)

How dare you say that I ( or any other contributors here) have bought into a pornographers mentality by our choice of hairdo??!! That really makes me angry. Pornographers may have capitalised on mens' visual tendencies, they sure didn't invent it. I'd lay money on the concept going back thousands of years. It's been stidued to death by researchers of the differences between the sexes. Who are you to judge anyone's grooming? Did we do it because men asked us to? You don't even know that. Care to share any of your own grooming habits so that we can blast you and do dimestore socio-political analysis on you? If I am a lesbian how does that figure into it?

yes, I'm ranting too. I"m really pissed.
I'll shut up now.

Irulan

[mtnsnowsnake]

Irulan - YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!! (in response to mrhughes)

I totally agree. I am totally shaven because I choose to be NOT because of some industry dictation or because my husband demanded it. Nor do I believe that having hair or not having hair may or may not cause discomfort for a cyclist. We are all different and what works for one may not work for someone else and vice versa - which I believe has been stated here before many times. You opened up a can of worms mrhughes. You may want to try a new hairstyle before you are so quick to judge other people.


Lynn

[MightyMitre]

As it was me that actually steered the conversation round to shaving of pubic hair, I feel I need to respond. I initially asked riders which they found better, hair or bare, when it came to comfort and avoiding saddle sores.

In reply, riders told me which they favoured and what they found best for them in terms of comfort while cycling. In the course of the discussion a couple of riders mentioned that they preferred to be hair free in the pubic area and, in addition to aiding their cycling comfort, and in keeping with the generally light hearted nature of the forum, also mentioned they'd received positive feedback from husbands/partners.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here, but from reading peoples replies at no time have I got the impression that anyone has done anything as a result of pressure for either their partners or the pornography industry. I'd like to think the women on this site had better things to do that worry about what's going on in porno mags!

[missliz]

Thank you ladies, I had a few choice choice words for mr hughes but since I always shoot my mouth off first and hear back about it I held my toungue- till now.
I like an almost baldy hairdo- to put it bluntly, for aesthetic/ erotic reasons. I also like it to ride for the same reasons roadie guys shave- which actually has a lot of aesthetic/ erotic pay off too. (They know its hot!) I thought it was pretty clear in this thread that most of us do a lot of manicuring for this reason, and I find it insulting that you would imply that our husbands or gentlemen freinds are at the level of a bunch of pornographers. Does that make us a bunch of *****s? And high quality erotica does exist- I don't pursue it, but I do enjoy it when it shows up. Maybe you shouldn't rant about stereotypes. The reality is that the Bald Eagle has been with us since the dawn of civilization. And shaved heads are already kind of passe as a fashion statement, so maybe you should keep up.
Combined with the graphic explanation of how you like to ride your snatch raw and seem to delight in torturing yourself in the crotch, I wonder what's really up in your head. Saddle sores are an indication of a problem, not a norm. Get a checkup before you get blood poisoniong, get a decent fitting, and maybe you need to sit your grouchy overtrained mutilated privates down on the couch to heal and watch Sex And The City- I recommend season three. It covers the Brazillian. If that doesn't reconnect you with your inner female, there are other couches for you to try. You got issues... Do I say mister or lady? Work that out and let us know. While I'm sure we're all most tolerant of other peoples places on the spectrum, you don't have any right to insult other womens harmless naughty girl fun.

Lizzy

[administrator]

As entertaining and informative as this thread has been lets see if we can steer it back towards the issue as it relates to cycling. Thanks!

[MightyMitre]

I have to agree with MissLiz - despite my own rant I'm also concerned to hear MrHughes is getting such terrible saddle sores. Sounds very painfull.

Have you been riding long? If not, then I certainly wouldn't put up with that level of discomfort. Even the best shorts in the world don't help much if you're bike set up is wrong.

The next step up is a blister that is caused by rubbing as one pedals uphill for 2 + hours...

I was in Italy this summer and also did a mountain climb that took about the same time, but certainly didn't suffer any blistering, or come to think of it , even any chafing.

I'd urge you to think about getting a new saddle - or at the very least get your lbs to help you take a look at your bike set up , as I'd hate anyone to be suffering unnecessarly.

[Irulan]

The issue for me is not so much that some one had a POV that is different from mine, but that a personal opinion was not expressed in a manner that was respectful of differing points of view.

We disagree a lot of this board, but it's always been of a polite and respecful nature.
some suggestions, for those who need ideas ;-)

I disagree because I believe...

My personal opinion is...

That doesn't work for me because...

now get back on topic:

I"ve never experinced any saddle sores that were truly painful. I figure any one would get saddle sore on some of the epic mountain bike rides I do...

Irulan

[letty]

Veronica: Thank you!
I did not know that Bicycle Outfitters let you return washed shorts. I went to there on Friday after work when I saw your posting (they also have a sale this weekend) so decided to take advantage. They did not have the Castelli shorts (in my size) that you recommended. But everybody suggested I give a try to the 3D microsensor Pearl Izumi. I wore them yesterday on a 60 mile ride (not long enough). I should say that the cut was very comfortable for riding as the wicking material. The padding... I think I would have to wear them again to decide... not sure if there is a big difference with other shorts. I always find that you know after two or three long distance rides whether the shorts are good or not and I have accumulated a collection of them already.
Letty

[Veronica]

I really like The Bicycle Outfitter. We bought our tandem there - but alas they're about 70 miles from us. They really are fairly helpful and have a decent selection of women's stuff. I'm glad you liked the Pearl izumis. I tried a pair last year and felt the padding went too far down the inside of my leg. I have large quads and it just drove me nuts.

I talked to some folks at the Death valley century last week who are certifiably nuts. RAAM riders and Furnace Creek 508 racers. They crank out Double Centuries like it's nothing. Anyway I asked what they do to to keep their butts happy, 'cause at about the nine hour mark my butt is done, no matter what, and someday I'd like to do a Double. Their advice was more time on the saddle, shorts and a saddle that fits your particular anatomy, and lots of Chamois Butt'R. So there is no magic formula unfortunately.

Veronica

[missliz]

Actually- here's something interesting, and I'm really ticked about it. I never had chafing/ sore trouble 'till I atarted the comeback in earnest recently. While I was down and out I put on weight, a lot of it, and I had to break down and buy shorts in a W size. There, it's out. I finally sucked it up and spent some money on top of the line goods I hope not to get to wear out. It's an investment in getting my real body back, right? Except I have this accelerating chafing on my tush, not so bad at spin but yesterday I only lasted twenty minutes on the bike I was in such pain, had to go home and put lidocaine on my sit bone places- I'm sitting on the chamois seam. So I got out prewreckage shorts I loved in a size L and new shorts in a 16W, like 3 or 4 sizes apart, and measured. Why is the chamois in the fat shorts smaller than the one in the buff goddess shorts? Same brand. No wonder I hurt! I measured every pair I own, (found a jersey that fits!) and all the L's have inches more pad up the back. Shouldn't the bigger butt have the bigger chamois? I'm ticked, how am I going to ride it off like this? At eighty bucks a pop this is inexcusable!
Another interesting tidbit- fave high milage shorts from the day have a triangular pad with rounded corners that give LOTS of sitbone coverage. The ones that don't impress as much are oval shaped. Good to know.
So I'm taking a ruler shopping and hedge my bets. When I was thinner, I wondered why big people didn't just get some exercise. Even when you're big, I've found that muscle tone really makes you look better and life is easier. Now I know- we can't find decent stuff to wear.

Lizzy, very grouchy from a sore tushy

[pedalfaster]

Just wanted to chime in and say that (yet another) thing I love about this sport...MALES have to deal with shaving and trimming just like we do

So it's not a "women's issue" or a "guy thing", it's a "cyclist thing".

[Warren Chu]

I use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to prevent saddle sores and it really works! Apply liberal amounts - the more the better it works.

[marni]

another factor, especially if you live in a warm and /or humid climate it is important to also get out of your shorts, washed off and out thoroughly and then wear cotton underpants ( yes I know they are not glamorous but it does help the area breath) and sleep with your bottom half bare or in loose cotton shorts to continue airing and drying out.

Another factor in saddle sores is toughening up the nether region by riding hours in the saddle, that of course with the usual caveat about saddle, bike fit and snugly fitting shorts.