Chamois cream

markp2

i suspect this question may elicit some indelicate answers but.......................
I keep reading about this stuff and other riders ask what sort I have used but I don't actually know what you do with it!!
None of my cycle clothing contains any chamois - is it of any use?
Thanks,
Mark

londonlivvy

I'll step away from all the innuendo and give you a boring straight response!

I gather in the olden days, the pad on your shorts would actually be made of chamois skin - but now things (thankfully) have moved on a bit.

Chamois cream is applied either to the shorts or to the skin directly (in the groin area) and the aim is to stop chaffage and saddle sores. I find it invaluable on long rides but wouldn't bother when just riding to work.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/cycle/7/Short ... ois_Cream/

TheStone

Great for long rides, or touring, but don't use for commute and shorter rides.

attica

londonlivvy wrote:

I find it invaluable on long rides but wouldn't bother when just riding to work.

I too find in invaluable on anything longer than say a 50 mile ride, I'll quite often apply it to the pad of my shorts the night before a big ride then give myself an extra slather just before I put my shorts on.

One question for Livvy though, I have female friends who eschew the use of chamois cream for "lady reasons", is this poppycock?

Coriander

Attica wrote:

londonlivvy wrote:

I find it invaluable on long rides but wouldn't bother when just riding to work.

I too find in invaluable on anything longer than say a 50 mile ride, I'll quite often apply it to the pad of my shorts the night before a big ride then give myself an extra slather just before I put my shorts on.

One question for Livvy though, I have female friends who eschew the use of chamois cream for "lady reasons", is this poppycock?

All the brands I've seen have always said it must not be used near mucous membranes. I've always taken that to mean that women shouldn't use it. Not that I ever ride far enough to warrant use, but I'd be interested to hear from other women who have used it.

londonlivvy

Attica wrote:

One question for Livvy though, I have female friends who eschew the use of chamois cream for "lady reasons", is this poppycock?

Yes and No. Depends how sensitive you are, I suspect. Certainly ladies need to be far more careful about where you apply it, and avoid what are euphemistically referred to as "mucus membranes". Basically the join of legs vs groin only, otherwise you're in a world of pain.

attica

:shock: Cripes!

thanks Livvy.

Is that "world of pain" if you apply it in the wrong area or if you don't apply it at all?

tailwindhome

mucus membranes

I could have happily lived the rest of my life without encountering that phrase.

ETA

It would be a great name for an awful metal band though

jrduquemin

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

mucus membranes

I could have happily lived the rest of my life without encountering that phrase.

Me too, it sounds wrong on so many levels :-)

BentMikey

HAhahahaaahaaahaaaahaa!!!



I'm happy to say that I've never had to use chamois cream, ever.

attica

@BentMikey
This is a touch unfair but...

You didn't look nearly as smug last time I saw you :twisted:
How are the repairs going after The Ashdown?

Also, if you don't need chamois cream, why are you wearing cycling shorts?

londonlivvy

Attica wrote:

:shock: Cripes!

thanks Livvy.

Is that "world of pain" if you apply it in the wrong area or if you don't apply it at all?

Let's just say that if you apply in the wrong area it upsets ph balances and that can be quite ouch. If you don't apply it at all, I find that sore / chaffy, particularly if doing long rides on consecutive days.

Apologies if this counts as TMI..

Headhuunter

I go for 60-70 mile rides with my club sometimes and I've never felt the need to "lubricate" myself... Each to their own...

attica

Well put Livvy, Just the right amount of info if you ask me.

Time I stopped - ahem - probing though :oops:

BentMikey

Attica wrote:

@BentMikey
This is a touch unfair but...

You didn't look nearly as smug last time I saw you :twisted:
How are the repairs going after The Ashdown?

Also, if you don't need chamois cream, why are you wearing cycling shorts?

LOL, I wasn't very happy, was I? Got the bike back together on Weds and did my first commute on her again last night. Bike shorts? I don't think I'd like to do a long commute in normal clothes, lycra is much more practical, and although I don't need the chamois, it keeps the wind off.

MadammeMarie

Coriander wrote:

All the brands I've seen have always said it must not be used near mucous membranes. I've always taken that to mean that women shouldn't use it. Not that I ever ride far enough to warrant use, but I'd be interested to hear from other women who have used it.

I used it and it saved my cycling.

BentMikey

Quite a few of my friends are fairly hardcore long distance cyclists (I'm not), and many use chamois cream. Apparently Sudocreme (i.e. nappy cream) is excellent and cheap, so no need for any specialist cream. One of the main purposes is to avoid sweating, because salt crystals are a big cause of damage down there.

attica

BentMikey wrote:

Attica wrote:

@BentMikey
This is a touch unfair but...

You didn't look nearly as smug last time I saw you :twisted:
How are the repairs going after The Ashdown?

Also, if you don't need chamois cream, why are you wearing cycling shorts?

LOL, I wasn't very happy, was I? Got the bike back together on Weds and did my first commute on her again last night. Bike shorts? I don't think I'd like to do a long commute in normal clothes, lycra is much more practical, and although I don't need the chamois, it keeps the wind off.

LOL, I guess a chamois would make a good (bi-directional) wind break
Glad to hear you're back up and sitting on the bent

NGale

while it may not be good for the lady parts, I have found it to be quite a useful moisturiser on the bottom and thighs :shock:

cjcp

BentMikey wrote:

Quite a few of my friends are fairly hardcore long distance cyclists (I'm not), and many use chamois cream. Apparently Sudocreme (i.e. nappy cream) is excellent and cheap, so no need for any specialist cream. One of the main purposes is to avoid sweating, because salt crystals are a big cause of damage down there.

Sudocreme is the absolute business.

Stone Glider

+1 Sudocrem the cyclist's friend.

NGale

cjcp wrote:

BentMikey wrote:

Quite a few of my friends are fairly hardcore long distance cyclists (I'm not), and many use chamois cream. Apparently Sudocreme (i.e. nappy cream) is excellent and cheap, so no need for any specialist cream. One of the main purposes is to avoid sweating, because salt crystals are a big cause of damage down there.

Sudocreme is the absolute business.

The badgers nadgers so to speak then

tlw1

only had this conversation about this last night with the wife & she said use sudocreme & I told her "what do you know, you don't cycle".................. :oops:

BentMikey

I think that's a flowers, and sorry you were right moment!! Assuming you want to avoid losing brownie points that is.

tlw1

BentMikey wrote:

I think that's a flowers, and sorry you were right moment!! Assuming you want to avoid losing brownie points that is.

its an option, but obviously I will just pay the extra to avoid losing face!

merkin

Sudocrem is great stuff. Helps us fat blokes out in the summer chaffing season.
It should have had a mention in the "why have kids?" post a couple of weeks ago, as I never knew about it's miracle properties til having kids. :P

PBo

merkin wrote:

Sudocrem is great stuff. Helps us fat blokes out in the summer chaffing season.
It should have had a mention in the "why have kids?" post a couple of weeks ago, as I never knew about it's miracle properties til having kids. :P

ditto the magic in a pack that is wet wipes.....!

PBo

Garmin rider Dave Zabriskie has his own brand of chamois cream called ...

...DZnuts......

slogan: protect your junk.....


I heared a rumour/joke that he was developing one for the ladies called

......DZlips !!!!!

Make of that what you will - shudder to think what the slogan will be.

well, I can think of a few, but not sure I should share on a polite forum like this.....

roger_merriman

another vote for sudocreme though I rarely use it but if needed it works a treat.

as to mucus membranes well I never was squeamish, but since work now involves personal care....