Saddle sores

curium

I've tried to up my cycling activity by cycling to work (24 miles a day) which should make it easier to reach my 100 miles a week target. To help me do this in the current weather i bought some dhb bib tights. My bike is a Specialized Tricross Sport 2009.

After 3 days commuting I'm walking like John Wayne due to painful saddle sores in my hinge region.

Is this normal? As a motorcyclist I've become accustomed to callouses on my hands so I was wondering if this is part of the glamour of cycling?

Are the bibs not padded enough? Is my seat particularly brutal? Is that chamois cream I saw in Evans any good for this?

Cheers!

Chunkers1980

My saddle is still OEM 4 years after purchase....it's bent, ripped, torn, heavy and looks a mess.... Thing is, never get any sores whatsoever even when I put the miles in and no one would nick it so no worries about it when I lock my bike up. Find one that works for you and keep it for as long as poss or keep buying the same one...

rrsodl

I would look at your saddle first, saddle position, etc.

Have you tried something like this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31861

I use it sometimes and it helps.

SBezza

Do you not use any chamois cream at all, and do you wash the bib tights everyday.

If you are using the same bib tights every day without washing them, and if you are not using an antibacterial chamois cream, you will get saddle sores most likely. That area gets quite sweaty, and bacteria can bread fairly easily if hygiene is not perfect.

Saddle sores are generally infected areas, like boils/huge spots. Is it this you are suffering from, or just a painful arse.

I would never dream of using the same shorts for more than 2 maybe 3 journeys, and I used chamois cream as well.

hopper1

curium wrote:

I've tried to up my cycling activity by cycling to work (24 miles a day) which should make it easier to reach my 100 miles a week target. To help me do this in the current weather i bought some dhb bib tights. My bike is a Specialized Tricross Sport 2009.

After 3 days commuting I'm walking like John Wayne due to painful saddle sores in my hinge region.

Is this normal? As a motorcyclist I've become accustomed to callouses on my hands so I was wondering if this is part of the glamour of cycling?

Are the bibs not padded enough? Is my seat particularly brutal? Is that chamois cream I saw in Evans any good for this?

Cheers!

These are definitely sores?.... Not just tender tissue from the new pounding you're seat bones have been getting, since you increased your mileage?

jgsi

Just a hint.. the oem saddle on a Tricross is wider than the Mersey.. if its the 'Rival'

Sell it on Ebay and have a look at the a narrower Spesh Avatar for instance

frazerbrown

Lucas Paw-Paw ointment is good for saddle sores, worked for me anyway.
Chamois cream prob won't do much IMHO to improve saddle sores.

Percy Vera

Any pics so we can diagnose?

Sheptastic

1st check you saddle height. I've been riding around with my height 5cm too high. as a result i got loads of saddle sores. dropped it down now and the situation is much improved. the other thing is to make sure you're sitting on your sit bones - the bones on the bottom of your pelvis. Doing these should help to solve the problemo.

dilemna

Saddle position and height is very important as is personal hygiene down below. Keep yourself mega clean. At night after shower, when dry, before you go to sleep apply Savlon to your undercarriage and any sores. Savlon has antiseptic in it which you will need to help the sores heal and try to prevent any forming. Can apply before riding but I prefer overnight where it has time to soak into your skin properly without all the friction sitting on the saddle. Try to wear clean cycling shorts/bibs everyday so you will need a spare pair or several pairs or if not able to wear clean everyday then definitely every other day depending on how hard you work out when cycling. As stated you should cycle on your sit bones toward the back of the saddle wear it is padded, you may very gradually slip forward but just put yourself back on them when you find you are not on them.

When the saddle position is correct your pedalling motion should be easy and fluid with your upper body still. Keep knees close to the top tube and elbows in. Think of flowing water a nice flowing pedalling motion. If you end up rocking all over the place (generally when your tired) that is when saddle sores start as your hips will start shifting all over the place on the saddle causing rubbing on your undercarriage. You should be comfortable reaching the bars as well. Not stretching too far foward or upright when in the saddlle or out of it.

You might also consider a suspension seat post. Not a crap one, but a decent one.

HTH.

Jon8a

IME saddle sores look like large angry spots and if you get them go and see your GP as they can get nasty if not sorted out. I was prescribed narrow spectrum antibiotics (flucloxicillin).

They are cause by damaged skin (through abrasion) becoming infected with staphalococcus aureus (naturally present on your skin).

Causes are hot sweaty arse, bad saddle, chamois, wrong position. You can try chamois creme but my GP (a cyclist as it happens) recommended against it as it softens the skin making matters worse. I would buy more tights and wash them, as hot as the label allows with plenty of washing powder to kill off all the nasties growing in there. Try and hand up your tights somewhere for them to dry out at work or just fold them loosely. Don't leave them in a bag. Baby wipes for your arse, before and after the ride.

If you are just sore but have no lumps or spots then you just need to cut back a little bit until you get used to the amount of riding or change saddles. Saddles are a bit hit and miss but once you find one that you like remember what it is and stick with it because they are very personal.