Do chamois creams really do what they're advertised to do? I'm thinking that chamois creams will help on long rides..say, 45 miles or so...

I've used Assos and it works great, but the best as far as cost goes as got to be Bag Balm. Cheap and really effective. I get mine at Walgreens and remember, a little dab will do ya'.

chris
ne iowa

I swear by chamois cream. Assos is the best, but as I've said on here before, I make my own due to cost. For best effect, I find you really need to add tons of Assos, which starts adding up. Anyway, here's other posters on the same subject as well as my home recipe. I may make a new version of homebrew this weekend, if it works, I'll report back in a week.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=23339&highlight=Chamois+cream

I've only ever used Assos. In the beginning, I used a ton of it, now I know where I tend to need it to prevent saddle sores etc, so I can make it last. When I first started doing higher milage rides, it really made a difference.

here is my guide to chamois cremes.

assos--one of the best and most expensive, you gotta like the little tingle it gives you. Look for a less expensive knock off from Soma Fabrications some time soon.

chamois buttr--also good but without the tingle

born cyclist creme--expensive vaseline, it works well but seeps through your chamois and can leave embarassing stains on upholstery

q oleum--don't think it is available in the US anymore, also expensive vaseline

a & d diaper ointment--makes you smell like a baby's bottom and work well during the ride. has the added benefit of soothing the chafe afterwards.

noxema or generic knockoff--oft overlooked but cheap and effective. it gives a great tingle in the shower afterwards

vaseline--cheap alternative to various other chamois cremes

I recomend chamois creme to anyone who has chafing issues or does long rides. If you are suffering from reoccuring chafing or saddle sores try different chamois brands so the seams don't sit in the same place each day.

I read the ingredients on diaper rash creams. The leading brands are 40% zinc oxide. Zinc oxide in the tube runs about 20% -- according to a quick, store shelf survey.

Other ingredients in diaper rash creams are beeswax and mineral oil, sometimes glycerin, laural stearate (no clue what this is, but I think it's an emulsifier lotion -- binds the grease into a paste or lotion).

Anyway . . . A&D Diaper Rash cream. Locally there's a 99 cent store that sells this stuff in a 4 oz tube, for 99 cents. And the bottom line is (pun intended) we're really trying to stop a diaper rash . . . are we not?

Oh yeah . . . and if you want to "fire up" the sensation, try Zostrix -- although this is intended as sarcasm, I feel obliged to warn that Zostrix can burn and cause blisters, or at least feel like it's going to burn and cause blisters. Dangerous stuff!

I'll forgo the butt blushes, and the "minty fresh" . . . I'm just looking for a cream that will prevent chafing.

The zinc oxcide stuf is really messy. I like the CVS brand A & D ointment, its not as smelly or sticky as the real A & D. But butter is good and bag balm is good.

euro-trash, any luck on the new brew? i'm curious b/c i'm going to have to start using chamois cream for the hot summer and am intrigued by your brew. sounds like the way to go-- what have you been trying to tweak? also, do your brew get immediately absorbed or does it stick around long enough to lubricate?

There's a new one out that I absolutely love- Sports Slick. Not only is it a thick (durable), Bag-Balm like "vaseline", but it contains anti-bacterial & antifungal ingredients. BY FAR my fave. I just discovered it, and I'm going back to buy a year's supply!

http://www.sportslick.com/

Lubriderm Moisturizing Cream or any knock-off brand (CVS, etc) will also work. It's about $5 for a big jar, and lasts a long time. :)

I love the Assos and there is always several different auctions on Ebay selling it.

:)

I love the Assos and there is always several different auctions on Ebay selling it.

:)

And a company named Assos, you figure they know how to make cream for your bottom.

Yea, I may resort to the Assos, but by eurotrash's description, sounds like I could be paying $5 for a month's worth rather than $17. I may take a shot at the homebrew, see how it works and then compare it with some Assos. Thanks for the tips!

My vote goes to chamois buttr. I'm partial because Assos is mail-order only here, chamois buttr is in every bike shop.

I wash my shorts, bibs, jerserys, etc., in the clothes washer on a the über-gentle cycle. Does anyone have experience with washing chamois-cream-laden shorts with jerseys, etc.? Maybe the cream is all absorbed after a ride? I'd be worried that the cream would get all over the rest of my clothes...

Any thoughts? Thanks.

great and the container is huge.It should last you aloooong time.But I don't get the "tingle".What's up with that? I might have to check that out. just for the "tingle".. :-) Assos, what a great name for this stuff.

evs

Yea, I may resort to the Assos, but by eurotrash's description, sounds like I could be paying $5 for a month's worth rather than $17. I may take a shot at the homebrew, see how it works and then compare it with some Assos. Thanks for the tips!

Sorry I forgot to report back. I think I've hit a point of diminishing returns on additions to my chamois cream. Adding additional menthol didn't do much. My original recipie works well and doesn't cost too much. In addition to the lubrication provided by the Utterly Smooth, the most important ingredient is the Witch Hazel or wintergreen Alcohol to kill any germs.

To answer some other questions, no, I don't have a problem with staining other clothes in the washing machine.

It seems to stay on for about 3-4 hours, similar, maybe not quite as long as Assos.