Saddle Sores - Please Discuss (not a dinner conversation)

[007webgod]

I've had this annoying saddle sore problem all year long. Usually after long rides, 50 miles or more, I'd get small sore spots on the inside of both legs, high up towards the nether region. Sometines it would be like a pimple or an actual skin abrasion that might scab. I found Desitin worked wonders for healing it up quickly.

Well, this last weekend I did a 50 miler followed by a 90 miler the next day and now I've got a serious saddle sore on the left side. This is not just a pimple or abrasion, there's an actual bump under the skin. I don't know if it's just swollen, built up scar tissure, or what but it's very tender and definetly not a good thing.

So, I've been considering taking a couple weeks off for the off-season and now seems like a good time to do it to let this heal up. I just hate the thought of two weeks off the bike. I seriously might go nuts. Also, I think it's time for a new saddle. The Selle Italia SLR has got to go but I have no idea what to replace it with. I tried the Arione once for a week and loved it on the first ride but then hated it on the next couple so I sent it back. Maybe I needed to give it more time and try adjusting it more. I have no clue as to what saddle to try. I do some racing so one of them super heavy Brooks type saddles is out of the question.

I try to sit back on the saddle on the sit bones but apparently the upper inner thigh area, one small spot in particular on both sides, is taking a good deal of the pressure also from the sides of the saddle. So, I would love to hear some saddle recommendations, especially if you've used an SLR and found a similar more comfortable saddle. Actually I'd love to hear any recommendation or stories you may have relating to this problem.

[atlroadie]

Originally Posted by 007webgod

I've had this annoying saddle sore problem all year long. Usually after long rides, 50 miles or more, I'd get small sore spots on the inside of both legs, high up towards the nether region. Sometines it would be like a pimple or an actual skin abrasion that might scab. I found Desitin worked wonders for healing it up quickly.

Well, this last weekend I did a 50 miler followed by a 90 miler the next day and now I've got a serious saddle sore on the left side. This is not just a pimple or abrasion, there's an actual bump under the skin. I don't know if it's just swollen, built up scar tissure, or what but it's very tender and definetly not a good thing.

So, I've been considering taking a couple weeks off for the off-season and now seems like a good time to do it to let this heal up. I just hate the thought of two weeks off the bike. I seriously might go nuts. Also, I think it's time for a new saddle. The Selle Italia SLR has got to go but I have no idea what to replace it with. I tried the Arione once for a week and loved it on the first ride but then hated it on the next couple so I sent it back. Maybe I needed to give it more time and try adjusting it more. I have no clue as to what saddle to try. I do some racing so one of them super heavy Brooks type saddles is out of the question.

I try to sit back on the saddle on the sit bones but apparently the upper inner thigh area, one small spot in particular on both sides, is taking a good deal of the pressure also from the sides of the saddle. So, I would love to hear some saddle recommendations, especially if you've used an SLR and found a similar more comfortable saddle. Actually I'd love to hear any recommendation or stories you may have relating to this problem.

Had a similar problem, began treating every ride surface(bibs, skin) with chamois cream before every ride. Has cut down significantly on issues. I did not, however, have thight problems. Also consider a saddle that doesn't have stiching. My Sella Italia Gel Flite TI has stitching right where the my butt sits, and it is irritating. Ditching it soon.

[FinaEstampa]

There's plenty of discussion of saddle sores on cycling message boards with good advice. Here's how I've dealt with them:

1 - Let the current sores heals
2 - Wash shorts after every ride
3 - Use a good chamois cream (Assos works for me), but there are others
4 - Shift your wieght frequently on the saddle (constant pressure on one spot limits blood flow which, in turn, aids the formation of sores)
5 - Try other saddles.

[Spinfinity]

[QUOTE=007webgod] Sometines it would be like a pimple or an actual skin abrasion that might scab ...

there's an actual bump under the skin. I don't know if it's just swollen, built up scar tissure, or what but it's very tender and definetly not a good thing. QUOTE]

I use BodyGlide to prevent the abrasion/chafing/blistering and hydrogen peroxide when I get a bump that's like a giant zit. I consider the bumps a more serious problem.

I'm certain from reading other posts on the subject that many products do for people what BodyGlide does for me, but I much prefer it over greasier stuff and it lasts very well in the rain or on hot days when the sweat's flowing.

My wife gets more of the second kind of sores than I do. She swears by disinfecting her shorts and her saddle with some kind of stuff she gets from the hospital where she works. She doesn't use peroxide when she gets them and mine go away much quicker when I use it. She told me why it's bad for me, but I can't remember because I wanted to ignore the message.

[terry b]

Hey Sunshine - you're not afraid to ask this in the Love Forum are you?

I went through a phase last summer with the little bumps you are describing. Never developed into a full blown sore, but cause for concern nonetheless. Two things became obvious - some of my bibs were not ideal for the shape of my anatomy (I was riding on the seams) and my saddle was fractionally too high. (I'd recently messed around with it a bit after doing some fit research.)

You might try lowering it just a tad and you might review the quality and shape of your shorts. A steriod cream cleared up my problem initially, but making the other changes has kept it away permanently.

Prior to adjusting the height, I could not stand an SLR for this very reason. Now I do centuries on them. My favorite saddle though is the Pave which has a similar shape but is bit less austere. Also have a couple of Ariones and like you - enjoyed them at first and hated them later. I have managed though to bring them back in by playing with height and tilt.

[coonass]

Sounds like you've developed a boil...
My method of treatent is as follows:
1) Heat some vinegar in a coffee cup; very-warm to very, very-warm.
2) Soak a small cotton pad (~2.5" x 2.5") with the hot vinegar and place it on the boil...the first application will be intense as the boil will be tender...the hotter you can stand the heat, the better....
3) Let the pad remain on the boil until it cools off (~3 minutes)....repeat this 3-4 times insuccession...
4) After the 4th application, you should feel that the boil has come to a head, but is a little less tender; go ahead and force the head to drain.
5) Repeat this about twice a day for a couple of days; and you should be able to ride on the 3rd or 4th day...
6) The discharge of the boil is contagious...be sure to cleanse your hands and area of the boil....the discharge can develop more boils.

Before riding; always cleanse the 'neither' area with an astringent (ie, Witch Hazel) and apply Body Glide....Body Glide does not contain Petrolatum (Vaseline) so it stays with you the whole ride.

[mpm32]

Video of the removal of a saddle sore, not for the squemish.

Saddle Sore Removal

Mild man butt nudity.