thdave

Seems to be a recurring thing now. Second time in a month this boil of my left buttocks was too painful for me to sit on my bike. I wonder if others have experience with this. I need advise.

This has been going on for over a year. I've read that you need to wash the infected area real well and apply heat to the area. I've been doing that with some success. Yet, it still comes back, this time with vengeance.

Hate to miss rides on days such as these.

Given the location, a prime spot for support during normal riding, I wonder if cycling caused the infection in the first place.

truman

In general, friction causes cycle sores. Fit issues cause friction. Cycle sores are a message to you that your fit may be slightly off.

To be more clear: friction leads to rubbed-off hairs which can become ingrown when they re-emerge, leading to such boils. I'm prone to them myself. Using a saddle that minimizes contact with moving skin helps a lot.

Pscyclepath

Follow the hygienic advice above, then HTFU. Cut a hole in the saddle the size of and at the location of the boil, and keep riding. It's what the pros do ;-)

cbchess

do you use padded shorts? what about chamois creme?

10 Wheels

Time to see a Dr. Get it cleaned up.

thdave

To be more clear still: What are fit issues? Fit of the seat to my arse? Or fitness of my arse, ie. fat or folds?

I've got to sit on my saddle with my arse--just can't get around that. Don't want to buy a new saddle, and I can't cut anything out of it. I don't have those kind of saddles on the bikes I ride.

Also, I don't use any special bike clothing and don't want to start.

Anyone ever apply moleskin over the boil? I've used it on my feet with success and wondered if it would help.

truman

By fit issues, I'm referring specifically to the up-down, fore and aft and tilt adjustments of the saddle. It's possible that sliding it forward or backward on the rails, even a couple of millimeters will relieve the contact that's causing the sore. There's no quick way of knowing what's working, though. It's a matter letting your bum heal, considering where the sore appears, adjusting the saddle and evaluating the result over several long rides.

Having a real bike fitting at a place that knows how to do it can help, but that costs more than a new saddle. Given your unwillingness to change clothing or saddles, you're pretty much limited to trial and error in posture and fit.

jester711

+1

I had a pimple on my mid-calf that I scratched off. I didn't think anything of it, and went to work the next day as normal. The following day, it was exposed to a lot of sweat and was rubbed by my sock. I ended up getting a staph infection from it, and I classify it as the worst pain of my life so far.
Get it checked out.

rumrunn6

soak in a hot bath with epsom salt for a minimum of 20 minutes after every ride

DataJunkie

Go to a doctor.

cycle_maven

Get a real pair of cycling shorts with a chamois (not too thick!). Butter the chamois up with a little Bag Balm, and keep everything as clean and dry as you can. Problem solved (at least for me it was).

frankenmike 

This is a shame, because it really helps IME(At least bike shorts). I rode standing up for six weeks(removed seatpost to remove the temptation to sit) to let a sore heal once- soaked in shallow epsom salt baths every night, not just after rides.

AdamDZ

Also bike clothes provide better ventilation and drying. Boils like to form where skin is sweaty, dirty and exposed to rubbing. Keep your skin clean and dry. Or, you may have some issue that may be addressed by a doctor. There was a time I was really prone to getting boils in all the least comfortable places for like a year. So there may be something with your physiology that causes this.

Does the boil form in the same place? It may need a good cleaning.

CommuterRun

Go see a dermatologist. The Dr. should not only be able to help in preventing boils from reoccurring and treating them when they do, but will also be able to rule out, or identify, underlying problems that reoccurring boils may be a symptom of.

CCrew

+1. An internet diagnosis doesn't work here. Something like this if treated improperly can become cystic, and youll have more issues than you have now.

It's not that you haven't gotten good advice for the occasional occurrence, and many of us have had this happen - this just seems to be reoccurring which means it's time for a professional.

TomT74

If you don't care for the look of bike shorts, try liners. They are basically lightweight shorts with a thin pad, designed to be worn under normal clothes. But, get the boil cleared up first.

tjspiel

I don't bother with cycling clothes on shorts trips at moderate paces. As I go longer distances with higher degrees of exertion, I really benefit from having bike shorts. I tend to use tri shorts because of the minimal chamois but if I'm going 30 miles at a fast pace, the cheap ones will leave me raw in places I'd rather not be. The right shorts make a world of difference.

But if bike shorts aren't your style, consider the liner. There's a reason clothing like this exists. I know it violates some folks view of what cycling should be but if you're hurting to the point where you can't ride, I think it might be time to reexamine what is most important.

Joe_Mo

This guy has 2000 points and is now complaining about a saddlesore?

FreddyV

I know the issue. I've been having similar boils, or as I preferred to call them bumps, and I got rid of them. My problem was that the saddle was too low and it was causing friction at my perineum. The perineum got sore, and a little bump appeared. 3 Days later it was a big bump, and I just popped it. I bled it out and I was fine riding half an hour later. (Yes, the popping does hurt)

gerv 

You guys go to a specialist to treat a boil? No doubt he'd look at it, order a round of tests and put you on something you can't afford.
Or, you could:
1. Start taking soaking baths every night.
2. Keep the affected part clean.
3. Use anti-bacterial OTC ointment.
4. When better, use Assos or other creams to prevent friction.


Edit: after thinking about this, maybe you guys do have a point, especially if it keep recurring.

Here's what WebMd suggests:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/boils

DanBraden

I recently had a sebaceous cyst removed from the upper cleft of my buttocks that was plaguing me for months. It'd flare up, I'd apply compresses, eat advil like candy, and try to avoid surgery at all costs. When the flare ups started being accompanied by drainage I realized that if I left it alone, I could be in a really bad situation. I'm lucky enough to have health insurance from my job, so I arranged a couple of doctors appointments and finally had it properly diagnosed and removed. The problem, as I understand it, with popping a cyst, using compresses, or depending on your natural machismo to heal the cyst lies in the nature of the cyst itself. Since the cyst is a collection of debris surrounded by a membrane unless the cyst is removed in entirety it may become infected or reoccur.

Check out some videos on youtube about cyst removal, you may discover that with sterile technique and a little teeth gritting you can remove it yourself, YMMV

BestSportEver

Wow that video is awesome

colorisnt

Not a guy, so I have different conformation, but if you have a big boil, it needs to be treated by a doctor. Don't try to pop or drain it yourself. You will end up with a staph infection and things will be a whole lot worse.

How long is your commute every day? I commute to work, but it is a SHORT commute - no need for shorts. However, I never ride my road bike without them. I generally never do less than 20 miles, so it wouldn't make sense. If you don't want to end up injured, take care of yourself.

turtlewoman

"you may discover that with sterile technique and a little teeth gritting you can remove it yourself"

OMG!!!!!

Leebo

My mountain bike shorts look good and do the job they are made for. Some slight padding, reduced friction( no seams) and moisture management. Why not go with what works?