Chamois Butter and shorts!!

[jessica47201]

I was wondering how many of you use chamois butter and if so, what type. Which ones are safe for women to use? I don't want to end up with an infection. Also, what are some good cycling shorts? I've been looking at some Louis Garneau or a pair on aerotechdesigns.com. It think they are the plus size century short. I need a pair of shorts that are plus size, like a 1X or a 2X. Can you use all chamois butters on all cycling shorts, such as the gel padded or foam padded? Any help would be great!!!

[papaver]

I use Assos chamois creme and i don't have any problems with it. Which is fantastic because i'm allergic to all kinds of showergels.

Believe me the difference is huge on long rides.

As for padded shorts I wear assos (the absolute best but very expensive), shimano and bioracer (but the last one is perhaps not available in the US).

assos (i have the shorts, which I prefer)
https://www.bikebuster.com/details/140908.html

Shimano:
http://www.icoste.com/626_General-Cl...als-Shorts.htm

bioracer
http://bio-racerusa.blogspot.com/2008/06/reskin.html

The last two brands are 50% cheaper than the assos. They are more than ok.

[HoosierGiant]

I was wondering how many of you use chamois butter and if so, what type.

We use Chamois Butt'r and have always been happy with it. However, it's the only brand we've tried so I can't compare it to anything else on the market -- never had any problems though.

[OakLeaf]

I don't think infection is an issue with chamois cream in particular. Infection is just an issue that some women have with long hours in the saddle - whatever you do generally to fight yeast infections (assiduous cleanliness, getting out of wet clothes as soon as your workout's over, a diet that helps acidify the vaginal environment, etc.) is doubly true on the bike.

I think the differences between women and men, in terms of what chamois creams we might use, are (1) irritation and (2) possible greater absorption and/or greater sensitivity to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

I would hesitate to use a petroleum-based lubricant like A&D or Aquaphor on a foam chamois. That's just an instinctive thought, not something I read anywhere. (1) It would basically be impossible to wash out and (2) it might degrade the foam. Anything designed as a cycling lubricant should be safe for all chamois.

I use Beljum Budder. I'm not entirely thrilled with it - it does tend to migrate inside, and it can be irritating there (I don't get any irritation from it on external parts, as long as it stays there). It's the best I've found so far. But, after hearing so many people's glowing reports of Body Glide and finally reading an ingredient list, I'm going to try that as soon as I get to a store that stocks it.

[ZenSojourner]

I wear whatever shorts are on sale (read: cheap) and the only time I tried to use chamois cream it was a greasy mess.

I don't slide around in my shorts - unless I use chamois cream.

A nice length ride for me (when I'm sorta in shape) is 30 to 50 miles.

I'll do 75-ish (for the MS-150) but it's sorta painful. Possibly because I haven't been in what I would consider to be REALLY good shape since I got back on the bike a couple of years ago.

Just sayin'. I ride longish rides several times a week (or did pre-shoulder hurt) in cheap shorts with no problems.

Is there a problem you're having that you're thinking of trying the chamois cream?

[ASammy1]

Anything over 50 miles and I have to use chamois cream.

+1 on the Assos cream. Just an FYI though... it has a cooling effect in it and I know some people don't like that.

For shorts, I wear Exte Ondo bibs or PI Sugar shorts.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just use some hypo-allergenic hand lotion. Works fine for me and lasts on rides over 50 miles. It's light and water-based, not greasy, so it washes right out in the laundry.

I always think it's funny that they call that grease stuff 'chamois butter'....like we're slathering it on Kaiser rolls or something?

[elc11]

I swear by the Assos creme...at least the old formula. I haven't tried the new stuff yet. I use it for all rides of ~90 minutes or longer, and for shorter rides if I did a long ride the day before. I apply it directly to the skin--sit bones, areas with creases, the general area towards the back that will have saddle pressure. The instruction say to apply it to the chamois but it was easier to figure out where to apply it on myself! It doesn't feel goopy, it does seem to form a protective barrier so when my chamois gets soggy on a hot ride my skin isn't equally soggy. Also seems to keep the chamois well "anchored"--I think a chamois that slips around causes more chafing. It hasn't caused any change of color in my chamois.

My favorite shorts are the Pearl Izumi Attack with the Race chamois (2007 model year with orange chamois). I tried the 2008 model and the fabric on the chamois was more slippery and the sizing of the shorts was tighter (actually all of the ladies cycling apparel seemed to get smaller for 2008). My solution was to go to the PI outlet store last October and stock up...their current year stock is full price but previous years' stock is always about 25% off; in October all Ladies stuff is (further) discounted so I got the shorts at about a 45% discount. It is kind of a thick chamois but more comfortable on long rides IMO.

[cylegoddess]

So THATS what buttering a Kaiser roll is!! I was wondering about that. I thought, no she cant mean food.What CAN she mean? Took me to the end of the thread !
I use Lucas Paw Paw ointment. It in a tube, you get it at health food shops( well here anyhow) its convenient, you can use it for your lips too, its good for road rash, burns and chafing. Also no parabens,dyes and that crap. You dont get the menthol rush but if I wanted that, Id use tiger balm!

[cylegoddess]

Oh and its cheap and natural( nothing but pawpaw.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh and its cheap and natural( nothing but pawpaw.)

Which brings up the question....has anyone ever tried using actual butter on their 'Kaiser roll'?

[papaver]

Which brings up the question....has anyone ever tried using actual butter on their 'Kaiser roll'?

Nope it's gets brown when it's too hot.

[TrekTheKaty]

Did you know Chamois Butter is distributed by a company in Missouri? It's all you can get around here. I suspect it's just udder balm, repackaged so they can charge a couple bucks more--but I haven't compared the ingredients.

When I ran marathons, I used body glide on places where I chafed like bra straps. I wouldn't use it "down there." I've always used chamois butter for longer rides--over 40ish. Tube for the house and small disposable packets for emergency reapplication during long rides.

[Jiffer]

On long rides I use A&D ointment. I apply it with a tissue directly onto skin (it's hard to wash off your hands and smells). Then I put Chamois Buttr directly in my shorts.

I used to just use Chamois Buttr, but started having some irritation issues, which I found (from this forum) that A&D helped with. It helps heal current irritation and protect from future irritation. But I also like using the Chamois Buttr in addition on long rides. I have added more Chamois Buttr in the middle of a long ride and have discovered that I do NOT want to do this anymore. Just makes things way too slippery down there! "Parts" move around and I find myself constantly trying to get comfortable on my seat.

Sometimes after a long ride when I'm feeling just a bit sore or chafed down there, I'll use just the A&D the next time I ride (which is typically a short and easy recovery ride). And/or I'll use it with regular clothes on if I'm trying to heal from something. For the most part, now that I've gotten my system down, I don't have to do that.

Everyone is different in what they use and what types of irritation they get, if any at all. Some people don't use anything at all. I started with Chamois Buttr because that's what my husband uses, then when I started having "issues", did research on this site, I discovered A&D and found I like the combination of both.