jrickards

Got a bit of chafing in the groin area yesterday morning, forgot to apply chamois cream before I left yesterday afternoon and had to stop on the route home (disappear into the bushes at the side of the road) and apply the cream because it was getting quite sore. However, it was too late, even with cream this morning, it was tender. I'll apply lots this afternoon and then see how it goes. I don't want to have to stop biking in to work this week but I might if I can't get it under control.

Any recommendations for treatment? Do others suffer the same? Do you just grimace and get through it and it will heal/adjust on its own (like the soreness of the sit bones at the beginning of a new season)?

fietsbob

Ride long enough warrants proper bike shorts with a smooth, absorbant liner , is that what you wear?


on tours Wearing bike shorts [long days riding] clean shorts and clean skin seems sufficient.

wearing denim pants? their woven fabric wont give like jersey knits . there is a chafing source.

My riding, local distances, is in sweatpants , and track-suit trousers to avoid that ..

the sci guy 

gold bond

jrickards

Yes, the proper lycra stuff.

It seems as if when I get sweaty and go for longer rides that I encounter this problem. Although it is cool/cold these days, since last Monday, my commutes have extended to 55min to avoid construction on my previous 40min route and the terrain has changed such that during the current ride, there are less opportunities for coasting than on the previous so much of the ride, I am continuously pedaling and putting in an effort (light at times, moderate for much of it).

jrickards

Hmm, I think I've got some buried in my locker, I'll try that. Thanks

MikeyBoyAz

keeping it clean and dry when you're not riding will accelerate healing also. I am lucky at work shorts are permitted (no one cares, its just a cubicle). Baby powder is in great supply with 3 under 5yo @ my home so that's what I use.

ThermionicScott 

Y'know, I never use the stuff, but I wonder if regular use prevents the skin from toughening up. Might be worth trying to go without now and then and see if that helps in the long run.

fietsbob

Ontario Province is Cooling off, soon, that should help.

jrickards

That's kind of what I was asking when I wrote:

The Gold bond seems to be cooling and relieving the area. I'll continue to ride this week unless it becomes unbearable.

modernjess

I use Chamois butter for long days in the saddle only. If I forget I apply Aquaphor after a shower if I'm feeling a little chafed.

It's really only an issue If it's hot, I forgot to pre-treat, and I've been out on a very long hard road or mountain bike ride. Otherwise it's not an issues. A tube of Chamois butter lasts years and years.

sam21fire

Yep, chamois butter during the longer/hotter rides, gold bond after a shower. If I still feel chafed the next morning I'll refrain from riding for a day to heal. You certainly don't want to ignore the chafe if it lasts more than a day or so. Showing that area to a MD because you need antibiotics could be entertaining..but not for you.

Dwayne

Could also be a saddle issue. Never had a problem with chafing and only use anti-chafe lotion on rides over 100 miles (if I remember to put it on), until I switched to an Adamo Race seat on the commuter. I'd be fine at the beginning of the week, but by Thurs I was hurting. The nose is wide on it and just rubbed me the wrong way once I was using it day after day. No problems after switching to a Brooks. Just throwing that out there, could be your seat.

jrickards

Good thought but, although I don't have a "fancy" saddle (although that may not really matter if it fits properly), I'm beginning to think it might be the shorts. If I have the shorts pulled up against the crotch, and I sweat, the material rubbing against the skin seems to be the source of the problem whereas if, when I feel the beginnings of the chafing, I stand up and, from the bottom cuff, pull the shorts down a bit and away from my crotch, the issue seems to go away. It might be occurring now because I'm wearing tights over my shorts (cool mornings) and they may be pushing my shorts up, the afternoon rides without the tights seem to be much better (although, if I've already developed a bit of soreness from the morning's ride, that will still be a bit tender but doesn't seem to get any worse).

Surrealdeal

For treating the chafe I recommend bag balm, just a light coat per application. A tin of the stuff will last nearly forever. In a pinch I imagine that Vaseline would work too but bag balm just seems to have some sort of mystical healing powers.

AusTexMurf

This......
Spent over 16 hours in the saddle last Saturday, on two different bikes.
Both with Brooks Flyers.
Wearing running shorts, no padding, no underwear.
No probs, here.
But used to it and the brooks helps.
But, best stuff for chafing, IMO, is all natural
Shea Butter.


Can't beat it for skin ailments.
And no chemicals.

dramiscram

I use this: https://www.jrwatkins.com/products/f0...-d22467b7c586/

rumrunn6

don't think this is something you can "ride through" let the chaffing heal.

my skin always feels better after a long hot soak in an epsom bath. but you might need a couple days off the bike with odorless desitin cream

https://www.desitin.com/how-to-treat-...rid|8333547069

https://www.amazon.com/Desitin-Clear-.../dp/B001E96NRK

pdlamb

Best after-ride treatment around.

Before/during a ride, a bit of chamois cream is better. But if OP needs it for an hour's ride, I'd think something's wrong with the shorts, the saddle, or how he's wearing the shorts. Gotta tuck everything in so nothing is rubbing while you pedal.

lostarchitect 

That makes it worse for me. I'm fine in the summer, but when it gets cold, well... I guess the "shrinkage" makes the old wedding tackle more unyielding.

fietsbob

I refuse to imagine how that bit of external anatomy helps you move the bicycle forward .

jrickards

This looks perfect, partly because I get to tease my wife by placing it on the shelf beside my nut butter!

I'm beginning to think that it might be my tights over my shorts because I've only been wearing last and this week and this is when the problem started to occur. I was fine yesterday afternoon because I was wearing shorts only (and chamois cream and treated during the day with Goldbond) and this morning, I paid attention to how my shorts were fitting while under the tights, reset the shorts and was fine during the ride.

rhm

"Fancy" is not, in my opinion, relevant. The important criterion is padding. Padding causes friction, which leads to chafing. That's the main advantage of a hard leather saddle; no padding. Secondary advantage: leather breathes, so moisture doesn't build up.

Dwayne

A couple years ago I had a pair of shorts that were wearing out, the material was getting loose where the leg meets the crotch. I think it was bunching up and rubbing my skin as I was riding rather than staying in place against my skin, that caused discomfort and chafing at the time. Like you said, your tights might be moving your shorts around, that could definitely cause it. Have some leg warmers you can use instead of the tights?

jrickards

No, no leg warmers but I see your point.

jrickards

Selle italia but not a top model, middle or lower, very little padding, opening in groove in centre so it might provide some degree of venting. However, given that morning temperatures have been 1C-6C (34F-43F) this week and that I travel at an average of 26kmh (16mph), I need more than just shorts to fend off the cool, damp (misty and foggy) "fast" moving air. It was nearly 20C (68F) on the ride home (no tights) and less chafing, despite the obvious warmer temperature in the seat area so I don't think it is the skin temperature that is the problem. This summer, obviously, was much warmer and no issues. Like I said, I'm leaning toward the fit of the shorts and how it might be changed with the tights over top.