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Vaseline — For Down There?

05.05.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

I don’t use chamois cream when I plan to ride only and hour or less. When I do use it, I’ve gotten pretty good at really making it last. Those small packets of Chamois Butt’r that often show up in goody bags at organized rides look like they’ll last for one application — but I can make them last for four.

So the other day I was horrified to start a longer ride and discover that I was all out of chamois cream. I had squeezed the last little bit out of the last packet I had, and I’d forgotten to get over to the LBS to get some more.

What to do?

I rummaged around in the cabinet below my bathroom sink, and came up with what seemed to be a good, if temporary answer: Vaseline.

A lot of cyclists don’t like to use Vaseline. It’s gooey, compared to the lighter chamois creams. It’s more viscous. It oozes through riding shorts and coats the saddle with a thin, greasy sheen.

But it worked well for me. And since then, I’ve found some old information that bolsters the case for using Vaseline as a bottom lubricant while biking.

Dr. Bernie Burton, described as a “cycling dermatologist” on the Rivendell website, recommends Vaseline as the top choice for chamois lubricant. Why? It’s pure, he says, and non-allergenic. In fact, he claims it’s so good that if you keep your bottom clean, you can smear Vaseline all over the chamois pad of your shorts every day and wear them for two weeks without washing them(!).

Dr. Burton suggests coating the chamois pad with Vaseline. I prefer to coat my skin with it.

If you do get a saddle sore, he says, apply Bag Balm to the irritated area right after your shower and the problem should clear up overnight.

I’ve used Bag Balm before, too, and I know it works as a chamois lubricant as well as a saddle sore treatment. Maybe Bag Balm is the way to go — you get the best of both treatment options, before and after.

But in the meantime, I’ve still got this half tub of Vaseline in the house. It occurred to me that I bought it years ago, when I was still jogging. A pre-run ritual for me was to coat the insides of my thighs up near the crotch so that area wouldn’t get raw from rubbing during the run. If it worked for jogging, why not for biking? I might as well revert to the trusty old pale yellow glop until it’s all used up — then I can figure out what I’ll do for lubes from here on out. I’ll still use chamois cream if I get freebies at rides. But for the price, I think Vaseline is hard to beat

Product Suggestions for Chamois Cream

If you’re looking for dedicated chamois creams to enhance your riding comfort, here are a few popular options:

  1. Chamois Butt’r Original Anti-Chafe Cream: This is a go-to for many cyclists. It’s non-greasy, easy to apply, and helps prevent chafing and irritation.
  2. Assos Chamois Cream: Known for its high quality, Assos cream is designed to reduce friction and keep your skin cool and comfortable on long rides.
  3. DZ Nuts Pro Chamois Cream: Formulated with natural ingredients, DZ Nuts offers anti-inflammatory properties and is designed to protect your skin during intense rides.
  4. Bag Balm: Not only good for saddle sores, but Bag Balm can also be used as a chamois lubricant. It’s versatile and provides excellent protection and healing.
  5. UNDRBUDR Chamois Cream: This cream boasts a unique formula that ultra-conditions the skin, feels weightless, not greasy like other creams.

So, whether you stick with trusty Vaseline or opt for a specialized chamois cream, keeping your rides comfortable is key. Happy cycling, and here’s to fewer saddle sores and more enjoyable miles!

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Categories // Odds 'n ends Tags // chamois cream, saddle sore

Ponza — My One-Hour Saddle

05.04.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 17 Comments

Over the last year, I’ve blogged more than once about my Selle San Marco Ponza. It’s the saddle I mounted on my bike last May, after complaining about the hard ride on my previous saddle.

I liked the Ponza for its narrow race-inspired shape. It has a slight upsweep at the back, which cradles the butt. I wasn’t getting the soreness on my bottom that the previous saddle was giving me.

That was before I started riding longer on it.

It’s been evident for some time now that the Ponza is okay for anything up to an hour. At about that time — maybe 55 minutes, maybe 65 — my butt hurts. Specifically, the soft tissue area right at the bottom of my bottom hurts. And the soreness will be there well into the next day.

In addition, I’ve been developing saddle sores. Bag Balm seems to do a good job of dealing with them, but still — on a ride of several hours’ duration, you don’t want to have to deal with an irritated pimple on your butt being rubbed uncomfortably by a saddle that has turned against you.

Much of the time, a one-hour saddle is fine for me. I can ride from my home to the Veloway, do three or four laps, and ride back home in roughly that 55-65 minute window I mentioned above. That’s about 15-18 miles.

But on weekends, I like to go longer. Two hours would be the minimum for me there. And to do that would require another saddle.

Recently, I did a Sunday ride with a group of folks I’d never ridden with before. Looking over their equipment, I saw many more generously padded saddles than I do on my club rides. When I asked people if the padded saddles don’t cause them problems on long rides, I got a unanimous no. Everyone said they feel as good after three hours on the bike as after an hour.

So, despite everything I’ve read or heard about how padded saddles can compress your sensitive parts, and cause just as much discomfort as the hard ones, I decided I would go for something cushier this time.

The new saddle is on the bike, and I had a good first ride. But I’m going to wait a bit before I review it. I need to get more miles on it — and rides of longer than an hour.

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Categories // Equipment, soreness Tags // saddle sore, saddles, Selle San Marco Ponza

A Few Things You Always Wanted To Know About Saddle Sores…But Were Afraid To Ask

10.15.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 3 Comments

HemmelsRide2So there I was, stripped naked, one foot up on the tub, mirror in hand, contorting myself into positions that would make an adult film star proud… all the while hoping no one walked in and said something like “Uh, honey, that’s interesting,” or, “Dad, what exactly are you doing?”

What I was doing, of course, was looking for the source of some recent riding discomfort. Problem was, I had no idea what I was looking for. Sure, I’ve heard mention of saddle sores, but I always thought they were something like a serious case of rug burn, a rough spot that was scraped one too many times by an ill-fitting pair of shorts or poor seat design. Instead, all I found was a small red spot that looked kind of like a pimple. Maybe a spider bite or something. Never seen one? Scroll down; I shot a picture of it.

Just kidding. I wouldn’t do that to you. I also wouldn’t do it to me. Imagine the above scenario of wife or child walking in, but add me trying to take a picture into the mix. Yeah, that’s an image that would be burned into a family member’s memory.

So anyway, back to saddle sores. I didn’t know what I was looking for because I’ve always been fortunate enough not to get them. I used to ride without chamois cream; lately I’ve been trying it out. But either way, I stayed mostly comfortable down there. Numb, yeah, but not subject to anything as nasty sounding as a sore.

So needless to say, I set out in search of a few answers. There was a good article on saddles in a recent issue of Bicycling that defined saddle sores. Apparently, they come in various types — a simple abrasion, something called folliculitis, even an abscess that might need serious medical care. Yeah, that latter one sounds way too foul to me, too, and I know a simple abrasion when I see it. So let’s focus on what seems to be cyclist’s most common problem — folliculitis.

The name offers a hint as to what it is — folliculitis is essentially an infection of a hair follicle. We’ve all probably heard how to avoid the problem. Stuff like getting a good bike fitting, wearing quality padded shorts, standing on occasion, choosing the proper saddle, using lube, not hanging around in your nasty shorts after finishing a ride, blah blah blah. What I rarely seem to read is how to treat it once it happens.

Apparently, keeping the area clean is a good idea. I’m not going to argue that one, as the last thing I want is some nasty bacteria invading the small piece of real estate that is situated between two relatively important body parts. Beyond that, other suggestions include a basic over-the-counter acne medicine with 10% benzoyl peroxide. Yup, you can oxy-cute ‘em! Other suggestions include treating sores with hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel, both of which apparently are astringents. Prescription solutions are available should things turn serious.

Mine’s not too bad, so for now I’m still riding. If you take the same approach, trying changing your shorts or saddle. A certain stitch or rough spot could be exacerbating the problem. Lube appears to be a good idea, although I’ve read some stories of riders being told by their doctors to stop using lube. You can even try Preparation H, apparently. It should shrink swelling and reduce the pain. Some experts suggest dabbing it on a few minutes prior to applying your normal chamois cream.

I thought mine was already on the mend before today’s ride, but two hours in the saddle proved otherwise. Though I wore my favorite shorts, I can feel something has changed. Maybe the edge of the chamois has developed a rough spot or something. I won’t stop riding, but I’m going to pay attention to it. After all, I don’t want it turning into something worse.

I would, however, like to get back to checking out some butts other than my own…

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Categories // soreness Tags // guest post, Hemmel, saddle sore

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