Ideas on dealing with abrasions in sensative areas.

[Celtic Dragon]

Forgive the slightly bashfull nature of the post but over the last few rides a problem has reared its head I've never experianced before. Abrasions at the inside top of my legs.

Before everyone shouts Chamios creme, I've got some and used it, whilst its helped, it hasn't got rid of the problem entirely. The problem area is from the tendons on the hip joint to about 1.5 inches back. Or basically where the pad in the shorts folds round the saddle to protect my leg against friction, nothing wrong there, its doing what its supposed to. However the result is slightly painfull for a few days afterwards, the the longer the ride the more I'm aware of it so I'm convinced its deffinatly friction related.

I did buy the best fitting shorts I could find my local tri shop stocked (Bontrager) so I'm confident in they they are decent quality. I've used them off and on for about a year and their washed after every ride, but as the distance and time goes up this problem has cropped up.

Its got me wondering if its hair thats causing the problem, as I look like a Werewolf! Yes even there! So before I get the Immac out, has anyone got any other ideas / remedies. MTFU and wait for the areas to harden and get used to the problem is an option, but walking is wince inducing at present.


Let the ps taking commence!

[R1gtr]

Don't worry Chewbacca it is probably just the shorts, I wear DHB and they seem to be pretty good, maybe worth trying a new pair before getting the garden shears out. Plus if you shave your gooch hair and nutsack it will come back all stubbly and prickly, you can imagine how bad the friction would be then!

[Celtic Dragon]

I've got some dhb leggings but their a lot thinner than my current shorts. Im frightened that they will be transparent!

[Dammit]

Both sides, or only one?

[R1gtr]

R1gtr said:

That's only a problem for those behind you so just give them a try,or grow your arse hair till it is so thick there is plenty of padding!!

on a serious note maybe a small rub of vasaline or sudocream on affected areas before heading out?

[grumbledoak]

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[Celtic Dragon]

Dammit said:

Both sides, or only one?

Both legs, but right leg a lot more so. I dropped the saddle height already as it was a smidgen too high.

[WinstonWolf]

Get the razor out, it'll either cure it or it won't

[Birdthom]

I had similar with the edge of the Chamois rubbing, drew blood on a long wet ride in the peaks and I am now permanently scarred on both inner thighs.

Get shorts with a different shape pad and lube yourself up.

It's such a glamorous sport, eh?

[agentnomad]

Are you using wash powder or liquid? as at 30 deg the powder does not dissolve fully and you end up with tiny bits of powder drying out in the seat pad until you sweat and then grind it into your skin.

Try a different make of shorts

Try a different saddle

[Celtic Dragon]

agentnomad said:

Are you using wash powder or liquid? as at 30 deg the powder does not dissolve fully and you end up with tiny bits of powder drying out in the seat pad until you sweat and then grind it into your skin.

Try a different make of shorts

Try a different saddle

I get it on both the roadie and MTB.

A shorts trial is on the cards, I'm just waiting for a nice box from Belkin to turn up at the office tomorrow

Lycra stuff is washed with liquid, and everything is done at 40 deg, my washing machine doesn't have a 30 deg setting.

[Dammit]

Celtic Dragon said:

Both legs, but right leg a lot more so. I dropped the saddle height already as it was a smidgen too high.

Hah, you are way ahead of me- I got this on the left, saddle was too high forcing me to sit canted on the saddle.

[Rolls]

Sudacream after your rides will also help heal any sores ime

[Magic919]

Sudocrem is better :-)

[Xpuffin]

If you do any regular stuff then the same shorts for a year is pushing it.
I'd start with a new pair.

[Celtic Dragon]

Looking at strava, the shorts have done 177 miles, 91 of those in the last 3 months. I'd expect a pair of shorts to last longer than that!

[JEA1K]

Just a point on this, its something I suffered with for a while and just thought the answer was to MTFU! Basically it was the saddle .... I have quite large thighs and the inside was rubbing severely to the point of seeing blood at the skin surface after a long ride. It was a crappy Bontrager R1 saddle which caused it as the edges of it were actually quite sharp. I now ride Bontrager Affinity RL and Paradigm RL (both 148mm wide) and don't get any serious chaff-age so worth testing a saddle swap.

[TwistingMyMelon]

New shorts, my best pair were great, after a few centuries and wet rides they are starting to cut in and not as comfy as they are

Also consider a new saddle as that could be exacerbating it

[Celtic Dragon]

For those that said shorts, give yourself a pat on the back. Went out yesterday in the Belkin bibs I bought and no chafing Just saddle sore.

I haven't resorted to Immac yet.