crotch on fire in the shower

[jusdooit]

Sounds like chaffing to me. Are you using a chamois cream? Also make sure your shorts fit well.

[Grits]

If your saddle isn't the right fit for you, your weight could be going on your soft tissue instead of onto your sitbones, where it belongs. You also might need a cutout. There are many threads on here about saddles including one comprehensive one that Muirenn keeps updated for us. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

[Reesha]

Aside from solving the problem to begin with, I always find A+D works well on chafed areas. You could apply the A+D (hydrophobic) prior to the shower, but the stinging sensation and actually getting some soap and water down there is probably going to help prevent infection.

[malkin]

Oh, definately ow.
You need a different saddle, and probably different shorts!

[Crankin]

I get that sometimes, if it's hot out and I've gone for a long ride. What seems to set it off is if I pee during the ride, that seems to irritate the delicate tissues more than normal. I may not feel it until I get in the shower, though. I do use chamois cream, but it doesn't always stop this.
My saddle is fine and I wear 2 different brands of shorts that I love. I just don't let the water hit me near those parts when this happens and definitely no soap near there, ever.
Tea Tree oil helps sooth this.

[laura*]

What seems to set it off is if I pee during the ride, that seems to irritate the delicate tissues more than normal.

Here's a "trick" I discovered at Burning Man:

Instead of wiping with TP after peeing, bring your water bottle and sacrifice some drinking water to instead rinse off any pee residue. The extra bonus is that there is no need to dry off because of the incredibly low humidity on the alkali dry lake bed.

There are two benefits:

Rinsing gets one cleaner than wiping - there are no salty residues left behind to irritate.

Not using TP at all means less frictional rubbing. With hourly peeing, the friction can rub you raw in the harsh desert environment!

Even away from the desert, when wearing cycling shorts, "not wiping dry" is an option. The shorts are probably damp (with sweat) anyway - a few extra drops of clean water won't make a difference.

[Crankin]

Makes a lot of sense.
I have tried various types of wipes, which make it worse.

[malkin]

Here's a "trick" I discovered at Burning Man:

Instead of wiping with TP after peeing, bring your water bottle and sacrifice some drinking water to instead rinse off any pee residue. The extra bonus is that there is no need to dry off because of the incredibly low humidity on the alkali dry lake bed.

There are two benefits:

Rinsing gets one cleaner than wiping - there are no salty residues left behind to irritate.

Not using TP at all means less frictional rubbing. With hourly peeing, the friction can rub you raw in the harsh desert environment!

Even away from the desert, when wearing cycling shorts, "not wiping dry" is an option. The shorts are probably damp (with sweat) anyway - a few extra drops of clean water won't make a difference.

The Wilderness Bidet!

I love it!

[diamondcat]

I get that sometimes, if it's hot out and I've gone for a long ride. What seems to set it off is if I pee during the ride, that seems to irritate the delicate tissues more than normal. I may not feel it until I get in the shower, though. I do use chamois cream, but it doesn't always stop this.
My saddle is fine and I wear 2 different brands of shorts that I love. I just don't let the water hit me near those parts when this happens and definitely no soap near there, ever.
Tea Tree oil helps sooth this.

wait, so you dont wash your crotch after rides????!

[diamondcat]

If your saddle isn't the right fit for you, your weight could be going on your soft tissue instead of onto your sitbones, where it belongs. You also might need a cutout. There are many threads on here about saddles including one comprehensive one that Muirenn keeps updated for us. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

but my saddle IS a cut out saddle by Terry

[diamondcat]

also let me add my shorts fit perfectly, bike is fitted for me.
I use chamois but iguess not enough in that area...it never happened until now since its getting hotter outside and i ride for longer.

[OakLeaf]

but my saddle IS a cut out saddle by Terry

That doesn't mean the cut-out, or the saddle as a whole, is the right size or shape for you. Have you read through the links Grits mentioned?

(PS - without looking it up, that looks like a VERY soft and squishy saddle, which is pretty much a way to guarantee chafing if that's the case.)

[bellissima]

diamondcat, it sounds like you feel good about your bike fit, saddle and shorts, so try a different anti chafe cream, one that is not water based as in my opinion those don't work as good on hot weather. There are several chamois creams that will work. I personally use Endur-It, it works good on hot weather and also outlasts most of my rides with one single application.

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, I don't have any other suggestions since I don't have this problem if I use a saddle with a cutout. That's not to say I don't have ANY saddle problems (I seem to be prone to saddle sores at the crease between leg and crotch), but I don't get the burning that I used to get with non-cutout saddles.

Good luck!

[marni]

another thought if the bike and the shorts fit is to remember that in hot weather, you are more likely to be slightly or not so slightly dehydrated and your pee will be more concentrated. If you are using the "green room" a squirt of water within the labia followed by a brief air dry and a relube. If you are using a real toilet, a bit of a gentle pat down followed by a relube can help. You can buy small packets of chamois butter or carry a small tube of something in your tool kit.

Make sure you alternate plain water and electrolytes and drink drink drink. Depending o the temperature, if you aren't peeing every hour-two hour period, you are not drinking enough.

Speaking from sad and painful experience.

As for showering, a wipe with a aloe wipe or a hemmaeroid wipe before hand can get the inner area clean. Make sure you dry thoroughly afterwards and put on some soothing or antibiotic cream.