Body Glide vs chamois cream
#1
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Body Glide vs chamois cream
As a runner I use Body Glide to prevent chafing. I use it as a chamois cream substitute on longer rides. Does anybody have experience with both and would like to compare? I have a long 125 mile 15,000' ride coming up soon and in the past what has suffered the most has been the arse. I suspect that having an additional application along might be helpful as either product will wear off during the ride.
Thanks
Thanks
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What is Body Glide? I presume it's a brand of cream. There are hundreds of different brands/types of chamois cream too. So what exactly are we comparing here? I expect they are much the same type of thing, just marketed differently.
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I use body glide if hiking in humid conditions. Mine comes in a large capstick-like device, you rub it onto areas subject to friction. It is a solid probably made from wax, oils, and other ingredients. There is a place on my underarm that I use it to prevent chafing when hiking. Rule 5 does not apply when backpacking.
I used to sing the praises of Lantiseptic cream but they changed the formulation, it is no longer as thick as it used to be. I am now experimenting with 100% lanolin. I seek a barrier from salt and undesirable organisms more than a lubricant. So, something very thick that does not break down. Bag balm is fair. Wish I had a good recommendation. The menthol or whatever they put in Assos stuff helps with soreness but as a lube, it does not last long.
I used to sing the praises of Lantiseptic cream but they changed the formulation, it is no longer as thick as it used to be. I am now experimenting with 100% lanolin. I seek a barrier from salt and undesirable organisms more than a lubricant. So, something very thick that does not break down. Bag balm is fair. Wish I had a good recommendation. The menthol or whatever they put in Assos stuff helps with soreness but as a lube, it does not last long.
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As a runner I use Body Glide to prevent chafing. I use it as a chamois cream substitute on longer rides. Does anybody have experience with both and would like to compare? I have a long 125 mile 15,000' ride coming up soon and in the past what has suffered the most has been the arse. I suspect that having an additional application along might be helpful as either product will wear off during the ride.
Thanks
Thanks
BTW, I'm a runner also. This product works as well as Body Glide and is cheaper. Sold at Walmart among other places. Also, I use Liquid Skin or some generic version for nipple chafing. I sweat too much for band aid type products. Not that much of a problem on the bike, so I just put some friction control type stuff there.
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/produ...iction-defense
Last edited by seypat; 06-15-22 at 08:18 AM.
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I would take whichever brand comes in a small application package so you can take it along for multiple applications during the ride. It doesn't take a lot of time/effort to reapply.
BTW, I'm a runner also. This product works as well as Body Glide and is cheaper. Sold at Walmart among other places.
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/produ...iction-defense
BTW, I'm a runner also. This product works as well as Body Glide and is cheaper. Sold at Walmart among other places.
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/produ...iction-defense
+1
That is what I use. I think the little one is in the travel section
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BTW, I'm a runner also. This product works as well as Body Glide and is cheaper. Sold at Walmart among other places. Also, I use Liquid Skin or some generic version for nipple chafing. I sweat too much for band aid type products. Not that much of a problem on the bike, so I just put some friction control type stuff there.
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/produ...iction-defense
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/produ...iction-defense
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Shameless plug and full disclosure - I am directly a part of this company - but ButtonHole Chamois cream.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
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I have Body Glide in a stick and tube. I prefer the squeeze tube but I’ve always liked Gold Bond products so I’ll try this out for sure.
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The stuff I use is called "Glide". Likely the same thing, originally used by triathletes to reduce chafing in the wet suits. Little cigarette pack sized yellow plastic container. Its all I uses as I found it to be the most persistent anti-chafing solution, better than all the chamois creams I've tried. REI sells it,
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Shameless plug and full disclosure - I am directly a part of this company - but ButtonHole Chamois cream.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
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#12
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Waters60:
What's the 125 mile, 15,000 ft climbing ride you will be doing?
What's the 125 mile, 15,000 ft climbing ride you will be doing?
#13
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I'm overweight. I ride, now, 25 milers on roads. The Gold Bond didn't work as well as Body Glide did when I weighed 20 lbs more than I do now. Gold Bond is cheaper, though.
I've never used 'chamois cream'. That's partly because I object to the use of 'chamois' when referring to modern pads, and more because I haven't found a cream that doesn't have petroleum products in it. Petroleum Jelly reportedly can clog pores, which dermatologists think is not good for human beings. Neither BG nor GB use petroleum. I've also used a product called 'unpetroleum jelly''; I git better results with both BG and GB.
I've never used 'chamois cream'. That's partly because I object to the use of 'chamois' when referring to modern pads, and more because I haven't found a cream that doesn't have petroleum products in it. Petroleum Jelly reportedly can clog pores, which dermatologists think is not good for human beings. Neither BG nor GB use petroleum. I've also used a product called 'unpetroleum jelly''; I git better results with both BG and GB.
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I've ridden a few centuries in recent years on my fix gear in recent years, riding to and from the start finish so ~130 mile days. I just apply plenty of Bag Balm before I leave the house and forget about it. Don't bring any (or anything else) because I won't need it.
Bag Balm's been around for 120 years and probably used as chamois fat 110 years. I've been using it 30 years. Plenty of time for the issues philbob57 is worried about to show up. Haven't heard them yet. I know for me, if I use enough, ongoing issues don't get worse and new ones don't show up. (Well, it doesn't do the magic and make bad seats good but if I had to ride them ...)
Oh, yes, my centuries don't have the huge amounts of climbing but fix gear descents are radically harder on the undercarriage than going uphill! Big tailwinds aren't entirely a blessing either.
Bag Balm's been around for 120 years and probably used as chamois fat 110 years. I've been using it 30 years. Plenty of time for the issues philbob57 is worried about to show up. Haven't heard them yet. I know for me, if I use enough, ongoing issues don't get worse and new ones don't show up. (Well, it doesn't do the magic and make bad seats good but if I had to ride them ...)
Oh, yes, my centuries don't have the huge amounts of climbing but fix gear descents are radically harder on the undercarriage than going uphill! Big tailwinds aren't entirely a blessing either.
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Petroleum Jelly promotes healing... its how it was discovered by oil rig workers.
Fun fact - polysporin is almost all petroleum jelly. they just use the white version so you don't think it's just PJ. the other stuff is antibiotics, the over-use of which causes other issues and in most cases where polysporin is used, cheaper PJ would be a better choice.
PJ is a decent pad lube
Fun fact - polysporin is almost all petroleum jelly. they just use the white version so you don't think it's just PJ. the other stuff is antibiotics, the over-use of which causes other issues and in most cases where polysporin is used, cheaper PJ would be a better choice.
PJ is a decent pad lube
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not to derail, but at what distances does chamois cream become very useful? Ive ridden 80 miles in gym shorts without much issue (chronic saddle sores and butt chafing notwithstanding, it beats the issues ive had with padded bib shorts.) Can you use this product with regular underwear and basketball shorts?
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Uhhm, it's worth a try? If you think that chronic saddle sores and butt chafing is no biggie, I think it's fair to say that your standards are outlier and there's a good chance that YMMV.
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I'm overweight. I ride, now, 25 milers on roads. The Gold Bond didn't work as well as Body Glide did when I weighed 20 lbs more than I do now. Gold Bond is cheaper, though.
I've never used 'chamois cream'. That's partly because I object to the use of 'chamois' when referring to modern pads, and more because I haven't found a cream that doesn't have petroleum products in it. Petroleum Jelly reportedly can clog pores, which dermatologists think is not good for human beings. Neither BG nor GB use petroleum. I've also used a product called 'unpetroleum jelly''; I git better results with both BG and GB.
I've never used 'chamois cream'. That's partly because I object to the use of 'chamois' when referring to modern pads, and more because I haven't found a cream that doesn't have petroleum products in it. Petroleum Jelly reportedly can clog pores, which dermatologists think is not good for human beings. Neither BG nor GB use petroleum. I've also used a product called 'unpetroleum jelly''; I git better results with both BG and GB.
Heck you're local - pm me where you are near and I can probably tell you which shop near you carries it.
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Chris Horner suggested using Noxema. He said he used it during his pro career. I had been using Assos but gave it a try and it worked well. Saving a lot of money too.
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for extra on while on a ride, priced though for convenience

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Shameless plug and full disclosure - I am directly a part of this company - but ButtonHole Chamois cream.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
We used to have 8g packets for re-application along the ride. We hope to have those back again but a lot of riders will use a small reusable container to take some along for super long rides.
The BH spreads really easy and application is a breeze. Kucharik was super thick, and had incredible staying power. Anyway, ButtonHole works good, and I will continue to use it.
#24
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I went with Horner's Noxema suggestion. Seemed going well until I did a 600km brevet in two solid days of rain. I only re-applied at the overnight at around 350km; probably in those conditions a mid-day reapplication is essential.
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Most of my cycling friends who are fans of mid-ride re-application* use small plastic screw-top containers (like the ones that folks store their contact lenses in) which they refill at home from the far more economical large sized chamois cream containers.
*perhaps interestingly, all of my cycling friends who are fans of mid-ride re-application are female.
*perhaps interestingly, all of my cycling friends who are fans of mid-ride re-application are female.
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