a um, personal issue

[Runnin Rat]

Don't know quite how to ask this, but seriously need some help/advice. Maybe just sympathy. When I ride over 20+ miles, a certain area of my lower anatomy gets um, pinched. I can deal with it when I ride, though it does being to hurt more and more, like I am being pinched....down...there. Then, when I decide to use the restroom I would rather scream, as it feels like some has just poured acid into a newly opened wound. Though I can't quite "see" down there, something tells me I must be doing something wrong. Is there some way to adjust, either my seat or something to stop this? My husband just can't relate, so he told me to ask you.

So, any help? Please?

[Dianyla]

It sounds like you need a different saddle and possibly different bike shorts. Most likely the saddle, though. Different women's saddles have cutouts for various dainty bits so that they are not bearing the brunt of the contact. Also, make sure that the saddle is properly angled, many women find it more comfortable to point the nose of the saddle slightly downward.

[arnaew]

I can so relate to the acid thing... From my (albeit brief and recent) experience, I've found that once you go over that 20 mile mark and begin to burn, it's for one of two reasons, and sometimes both. The first is 'pressure', where your soft bits are being squashed onto a saddle that does not suit you anatomically. Try different saddles, particularly those with either cut outs or gel inserts. I now have the latter, and love it. Make sure that when you ride, you are wearing bike shorts with a good chamois - riding without will bring you grief.
The second 'cause' is friction, which is all about your shorts. No matter how well fitting they are, if you are senstive in that area, you will rub yourself raw once you go over a certain distance. You need to lubricate the chamois. I know some women say 'ugh' to having a viscose product on their private parts, but honestly, I just don't notice it any more, and I've been doing plus 50m without any chafing since I started doing it. And don't go spending $$$ on expensive specialised butter and the like; go to the supermarket and buy tubes of pure lanolin for about $5. If it's safe for babies, it's safe for me. Just slather it over the chamois, and off you go! Just remember, when you get back from the ride, get those shorts off straight away, put you and them in the wash, and Bob's your uncle! Let us know how you go.
A
PS The added bonus of lanolin is it keeps the chamois super soft!

[allabouteva]

go to the supermarket and buy tubes of pure lanolin for about $5. If it's safe for babies, it's safe for me. Just slather it over the chamois, and off you go! Just remember, when you get back from the ride, get those shorts off straight away, put you and them in the wash, and Bob's your uncle! Let us know how you go.
A
PS The added bonus of lanolin is it keeps the chamois super soft!

Hey arnaew, I'm going to try that tip of yours... I've been riding commando (as we all know we're supposed to ) with the knicks but never tried any of those lubricants/creams. So how much do you use?

eva

[Nanci]

I've had the peeing razorblades sensation both from long distance running and cycling- and I've noticed, with cycling, that eventually, it goes away. Over the course of months. I guess the tissues just get used to it. One thing I am very careful about is getting completely dry after peeing, because any urine left there can be very irritating. I used to use a lanolin udder balm, but stopped after a while, and really haven't missed it, though it was helpful when I was newer to long distances. BTW, I am not a commando rider- just can't handle it. I tried.

I've noticed a lot of things have just gone away- neck and shoulder pain, sit bones pain, hand and wrist pain, foot hot spots. It's like the body just adjusts and eventually stops hurting. I was most pleased to have the neck/shoulder pain quit.

Nanci

[bcipam]

My friends and I call that problem a "twisted sister". One reason why I hate to use the bathroom while riding... I just never seem to get my short back on right and everything gets "tangled" up and uncomfortable.

Just a thought, make sure you are wearing a good cycling short that fits properly. Do not wear underwear. Try using a cream or ointment such as Assos Creme or Chamois Butter to lub the chamois. That will keep the friction and irritation down. I also make sure before I ride to use corn starch baby powder "down there" to keep things dry.

Many cyclist talk about "seat time". After a period of time, everything seems to "toughen up" and sitting in the saddle for longer periods of time become more comfortable but once the rides get longer and longer, the problem may re-occur. It's just the nature of cycling.

A good saddle is helpful. I started last March (2005) riding with the Terry Butterfly and alot of my problems went away. This saddle may not work as well for you but some saddle will. Do some reserach. This website has lots of info re saddles and saddle sores.

[bikerchick68]

one more thought here... I went thru the same thing with my first bike... came to find out it was too big for me... so the top tube was too long... meaning I was really extended to reach the handlebars... and leaning reeeeally far forward, causing the same problems! I actually couldn't pee the first 1/2 hour off the bike... and then it hurt.

Have your fit checked... something as simple as a shorter stem, or moving the seat forward may help... just remember that any moves mean a change in postition all over, so have an experienced fitter do this if it comes to it OK? Good luck with it!

[Lise]

Wehn I did a metric century last summer (66 miles, for some reason), my female bits were in such pain. I'd never ridden that far before. I thought it was the pressure, and ended up riding about an inch out of the saddle when I could. That was hard!

I don't usually talk to my mom about female stuff, but she took up biking in her 60s, and is really knowledgeable. So I mentioned it to her, and she enlightened me about the friction. Whadya know. Makes sense. I bought some Aveeno Diaper rash cream. Basically, zinc oxide. Haven't done another really long ride (really long for me. Short training ride for many of you! ), so haven't totally checked it out. But I've done a couple of ride-around-Chicago-all-day rides, and it's helped. I put more on after I pee. It is wierd to be all greased up down there...but the pain was worse! The lanolin is a good idea, too. I use that on my nose when it's running, running, running.

[shewhobikes]

This is all good advice. Also be sure that you are sitting on your "sit bones," tucking your pelvis, rather than arching your back and mashing your girly bits into the seat. This is where good core strength comes in! That, in addition to proper seat, proper seat position, good chamois and the help of some chamois butter/lanoline or some such, should do the trick. I know, a lot of variables to consider, but keep trying!

[mmelindas]

Hi all you sore tushy-no-more gals!

What is causing the raw tissue upper b_tt crack problem I've experienced in the past? I don't have any pain really, but when I get back and am feeling a little "achy" in my very lower back, it is a totally raw stripe of tissue right at the base of my spine where the bottom cheeks must be rubbing. High up, not on the female parts, but like the upper b_tt cheeks are rubbing raw against each other. But then I've never ridden more than 8 miles, so it maybe could be worse if I ever did.

I have an "elephant" large cushy seat on my bike and I have never heard (until here) that you're supposed to ride "nudi genu" (latin) under your shorts. Is that the problem? I am so dumb about these things!!!

Guess I'll learn a lot here reading all these posts. Guess I am going to have to purchase a real honest-to-goodness pair of biking shorts and go "nudi genu" under them!!!

Melinda

[Brandi]

Going commando is what it is affectionatly called. And it can cause problems for some people who don't. I will wear underwear on occasion now. I used to all the time. I now realize it was the cause of some rawness here and there. The shorts you wear do they have a chamois?

[CorsairMac]

couple of things to think of Melinda:

Are you wearing bikie shorts? if yes, you might try chamois butter and see if it helps. It sounds like your shorts may be rubbing you raw.

I would also look into the seat itself...it could be too cushy and big and causing you to sit in such a way as to put pressure on the wrong areas.

the other thought regarding shorts: Could be the chamois is too thin or too poorly constructed to provide you with aquedate protection.

[Nanci]

I've heard of male runners getting the butt crack chafing- sweat runs in, big muscles rub together, pretty soon they're crying! Most say the prevention is vaseline or bag balm to make a barrier.

Nanci

[Nanci]

I agree about the too squishy seat. If you sink down into it, you're actually putting more pressure on sensitive stuff than on a firmer seat where your sitbones hold you up more, if that makes sense. Plus, it just takes a while to toughen things up down there. But the BC chafing, I don't think you can get used to that- I'd just go with a barrier cream.

Nanci

[mmelindas]

Okay, I IS DUMB, DUMB, DUMBER!!

So much to learn, so little brain.....okay,..... I guess I see the problem:
1. I have the largest, cushiest saddle made, though it has a deep center groove, but probably it's spreading stuff that should not be spread. (But it feels SOOOooooo good....wahhhhh) I think I am shifting side to side pedaling because it's so large...ahem, mY BUTT is so large... need a smaller saddle, right?

2. Never knew about biker shorts, chamois until I read the VERY ENLIGHTENING POSTS here! (can't believe the one about the cups, etc. wow, no holds barred here!!) and YES, I was wearing underwear and pants, not shorts....the old slippery pants over the underwear problem...I see!

Now I am going to buy some biker shorts with chamois and a ton of chamois butter... and use vaseline to butter those b_tt cheeks too. And I WILL GO COMMANDO!!!! (you should have seen the look on DH's face when I told him that!!! )

Also, I have figured out that I have been putting my seat too high because of my VERY FAT legs, that were coming almost up in my face on the high pedal stroke...now I understand that maybe it has to be, a lower seat, live with the high knee until my leg loses the fat and it is normal again and then it won't be UP IN MY FACE!!!! Arggggh!

I found out sadly (almost falling over in the store trying on bikes, my baggy pants got stuck on a narrow seat front and I couldn't get them loose and DH rescued me before I splatted some kids and a display nearby....) ....where was I?

Oh, yes, DON'T RAISE THE SEAT SO HIGH I CAN'T REACH THE GROUND WHILE SITTING ON IT!!!! = falling on butt in store, making a scene of myself.....

So, some things will come in time....the biker shorts, the leg will diminish to a lovely svelte one and I will live through the embarassment of googling bystanders with mouths open as I pedal by...... elephant on wheels!

I AM BEAUTIFUL --- REMEMBER THAT!!!

Okay, THANKS, THANKS TO ALL YOU GALS WHO ARE MENTORING ME THE UNTRAINED.....love ya all!!