But that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been riding fast way out of my speed range with the B riders for the (glorious) first 80 miles! The ITB injury eventually made it so I couldn't pedal, and was trying to do anything to make my knee not hurt, so that is why I was shifting all over the saddle and causing way too much friction.

I love Aquaphor, too. Especially for that chafing you can get, running, where your arms touch your armholes of your shirt. I also love to lather up my feet with it before a long run.

Cathleen, that's great that it's all resolving.

Pooks, chamois cream or butt but'r or bag balm is all lubricant that people put either on their chamois or on themselves to keep from getting chafed on the bike. Some people use it all the time, some use it on long rides, (me) some never use it. I'd say, if you aren't having any problems down there with chafing (rubbing skin off) then I wouldn't bother with it.

If I'm doing a really long ride, eventually even with the best shorts and saddle, things get a little sore. Chamois cream is soothing. Plus, with all the peeing you do over the course of the day, the urine, if not gotten completely off, is _very_ irritating, as is sweat in that area. Chamois cream protects your skin from that, too. But for a few-hours ride, since my stuff is so conditioned to long rides, that isn't irritating to me, so I don't bother.

Nanci