.. Side Wall Saddle Sores ..

TheRez

Well hello there. After days of Google searching and running into Bike Radar several times during my searches I have came to the decision that it is finally time for me to make a post about my .. issue .. So I can get some more specific advice instead of trying to fit bits and pieces of Google searches into a remedy for myself ( that's if there is one )

I have recently started road biking, and I have taken to it very well, and I am one of the top riders in my local group. I guess all those years of BMX kinda carry over onto the skinny tire bikes! With all new activities I get into I generally find the first forum I can get on and start asking questions which I am pretty good at HA, but with road cycling I opted to wait it our and just RIDE, and try and figure out things for myself. Well the time has came, and I have to ask a question.


Sorry for the intro - I will cut to the chase now.

I recently got a road bike ( Windsor Fens ) I have probably put about 500+ miles on it in about 3 weeks. I ride about 30-/+ miles on weekdays and about 70+ on Sat and Maybe 30 or so on Sunday.. I have gone bike riding crazy.. I do it just because I enjoy going fast ( Ricky Bobby ) I am not on a weight loss journey etc I just like to ride.

During my first few rides I started developing pimply sores on the inner side of my thighs, along with some shearing/abrasion. The issues clear up to a tolerable level over night. I have been using Bag Balm/Beadreauxz Butt paiste/PrepH/Vasaline/Tenactin... I have gathered a pretty large arsenal of creams LOL. Well they are all great at treating the issue after the fact, but I want to get this issue stopped.

Per my reading in prior Google searches I have read these few things several times which I do and Have.

Yes - I have good riding shorts
Yes - I clean my shorts.
Yes - I get out of my shorts quickly after a ride
Yes - I stand in the saddle every so often while riding
Yes - I move around on the seat.
Yes - I lubricate my chamois before a long ride.

Fitting is the issue I am not too sure about and saddle design. The bike fits me well I believe, for I have no issues with pain anywhere other than my saddle sores..

When I got the bike I only adjusted the saddle height, and I have just been riding like a mad man since that day.

My goal is to maximize my current resources before I go out and by some high dollar seat or seek a professional fitting which I do not have the money for either.

From you guys/gals I would like some advice on things I can do that I may have not thought of etc.

One thing to mention that I have done is - I took the saddle off my Mtn bike which never gave me trouble, and I put it on my road bike. I also angled it down just a bit to get the pressure off my perineum. I read that a wide seat can push into the inner thighs ( hince my issue ) and cause abrasion/friction. ( I have not tested the mtn bk seat yet - I am letting my saddle sores heal from the ride I did yesterday ) The mtn bike seat is narrower, and at 5.7 and 135 Lbs... I really do not have a big rump for a big ol' seat LOL.

Maybe my issue is that I have not had but maybe 3 rest days in 3 weeks worth of riding. My uhmm down there area may need time to heal and " Man up " per say to this new activity.

Well Well, this turned into a blog of some sort - Nonetheless, Thank you all in advanced for any tips

andrewjoseph

Perhaps the seams of the saddle(if there are any) are causing friction.

I have brooks saddles for this reason, I avoid anything with lots of seams and kevlar. The fist saddle I had on my mtb gave me blisters on inner thigh/perineum. the kevlar and seams were rubbing too much. got a saddle without seams and kevlar and problem resolved quickly.

Nuggs

You say you lubricate the chamois, but do you also use chamois cream on the areas where you're experiencing friction? If not, you really ought to.

There are lots of specific products out there. The one I use is the Assos chamois creme. Not the cheapest but works very well for me.

MattC59

Nuggs wrote:

You say you lubricate the chamois, but do you also use chamois cream on the areas where you're experiencing friction? If not, you really ought to.

There are lots of specific products out there. The one I use is the Assos chamois creme. Not the cheapest but works very well for me.

+1

What are you lubricating your chammy with ? Get a decent Chammy cream (I use Assos too) as it will have anti-bacterial properties, as well as lubricating properties and apply it to the areas of concern.

You also mention thay you've not had many rest days. This might be part of the problem, as the affected area hasn't had chance to heal. Let it heal, then use a good cream, I'd bet that that will solve the issue

TheRez

Nuggs wrote:

You say you lubricate the chamois, but do you also use chamois cream on the areas where you're experiencing friction? If not, you really ought to.

There are lots of specific products out there. The one I use is the Assos chamois creme. Not the cheapest but works very well for me.

Yes indeed I lube myself(the area) and my chamoi.. feels horrid!

TheRez

MattC59 wrote:

Nuggs wrote:

You also mention thay you've not had many rest days. This might be part of the problem, as the affected area hasn't had chance to heal. Let it heal, then use a good cream, I'd bet that that will solve the issue

Yes I am going on my second rest day as of today in over a month it seems. My sores 95% gone I am just hoping the area can man up. Kinda like how ones finger tips who plays guitar become more calloused over time. Not that I want a callous on my sit point, but you get my point.

TheRez

andrewjoseph wrote:

Perhaps the seams of the saddle(if there are any) are causing friction.

I have brooks saddles for this reason, I avoid anything with lots of seams and kevlar. The fist saddle I had on my mtb gave me blisters on inner thigh/perineum. the kevlar and seams were rubbing too much. got a saddle without seams and kevlar and problem resolved quickly.

I never thought about the seems on the saddle. Now that I do think about I believe there is a seem running around the top edge of the saddle. This seems would be right near my troubled area also.

Thank you

springtide9

I'd say that it will take a bit of time to get to 'harden' up down there... and the minimal rest times means you are not fully healing.

Think it will pass in time.. but as you say.. could be the seat. Depends on how painful it is... to just live with it for another month and see if it heals up on it's own.

Lycra Man

I think you have two problems combined:
1. A saddle with seams, which is causing chafing and irritation
2. High frequency of riding, with no time to heal

I would let your sore areas heal before you start riding again. Try your mtb saddle without the seams, and applying cream to your vulnerable areas beforehand.

Good luck.

Lycra Man

TheRez

Lycra Man wrote:

I think you have two problems combined:
1. A saddle with seams, which is causing chafing and irritation
2. High frequency of riding, with no time to heal

I would let your sore areas heal before you start riding again. Try your mtb saddle without the seams, and applying cream to your vulnerable areas beforehand.

Good luck.

Lycra Man

I have been off the bike for 2 days strait now which is a first, and I would say I am 98% healed. My saddle sores were not too bad. I am going to ride tomorrow evening to test everything out. Different Saddle/position.

TheRez

Well I rode this evening - Good report that no saddle sores returned and no redness.

I think the biggest thing even more than changing the seats out was bringing the saddle more forward. I think all this past time I had been riding on the front of the saddle :roll: So yea when I brought the Mtn Bike saddle forward it really felt like a new bike. I did have to stop and angle the saddle more up because I was sliding forward due to the " slight downward pitch " So far so good!


Off topic from this thread * These rest days have killed me... I felt like I had sand in my legs... The rest days may have helped over long term, but jeeze... short term it was an epic fail.. lol