How To Stop Saddle Sores
Saddle sores can really ruin a good days cycling. The good news is it is really easy to prevent saddle sores, and soreness when cycling in general, for both men and women.
There are three main issues to look at when avoiding getting sore on a bike: Riding position, equipment and chamois creams.
Riding Position
It really doesn’t matter how wonderful your shorts and chamois cream are, no amount Bum Butter will solve problems caused by a poor set up.
Saddle Angle: Different bikes require different saddle positions. As the bike gets more racey and head down it will put more pressure on your genitals. Less racey bikes with a more upright position will but more pressure on your sit bones. However a good starting place is a level saddles.
Fore/Aft: The fore and aft of the saddle again is very important. Too far back and it will put pressure on your balls or fanny. To far forward will increase pressure on your sit bones. A good place to start is to set the fore and aft head centre of the saddle rails. Many saddles have marking showing the max fore and aft position. Stick it in the middle.
Experiment: Now you know that. Go for a ride and if you have pressure at the back try moving the saddle back. Too much pressure on your genitals, then move the saddle forward.
Go Pro: A professional bike fitting is easy to find nowadays. Pro shops have a jig for establishing the best position. However any good bike shop will be able to sit you on your bike, take a look and make well informed adjustments.
Equipment
Saddle
Oh, this is a can of worms. I once gave my friend a Brooks cambium saddle for our ride across the interior of Iceland. It was my favourite saddle by miles. Two days into the wild volcanic desert of Iceland he described the saddle as an “arse hatchet”! The point being that choosing the right saddle is very important, and everyone gets on well with different saddles. You will find below 3 of my favourite saddles.
Top Rated Saddles
1. Brooks England Men's C17 Cambium Bike Saddle. This is my go to saddle. It is made from rubber, with a fabric topping. The rubber flexes and give you a very smooth ride. This is my everyday mountain bike, road and gravel saddle. Check out the options on Amazon.
2. Ergon Men's SMC Sport Gel Saddle. Ergon bike components are all about ergonomics. A lot of work has gone into this saddle, and it shows. A surprisingly flat saddle that feels odd on first contact, but feels great after 10 hours. My bottom never grumbled even after very long days. Lighter than the Brooks Cambium above, so this one can be found on my Titanium Salsa Warbird gravel bike. Check it out on Amazon.
3. Brooks England B17 Saddle. Heavy, old fashioned, and super classy. This saddle is not for everyone as it will look out of place on many sporty bikes. However, once the leather has broken in you will be gliding along in a perfectly shaped leather hammock. With its turbo classy looks, you will find this on my retro bikes and clunkers. There are some great deals on Amazon
Shorts:
Quite simply get some good quality padded cycling shorts. That is very important. Don’t wear anything under the shorts such as knickers (it is OK to wear Bum Butter). If you want to avoid the 80’s keep fit instructor look that bare Lycra creates, then pop some baggy shorts over the top. Cycling specific baggy shorts are best as they will not have a central seam right between your legs.
Make sure the pad in your cycling shorts is clean. Ideally wash after every ride. Most cyclists have several pairs of shorts that they will use in rotation. A sweaty pad can easily harbour bacteria, and that is certainly something you should avoid.
Top Rated Cycling Shorts.
1. Altura Mens Tempo Undershorts. Where these under your baggy shorts, or even jeans. The subtle Altura Tempo Men's Cycling Undershorts are designed for those looking for added comfort where it matters without going for the full cyclist look. Buy on Amazon.
2. Endura Men's Hummvee Shorts with Liner Shorts. A practical baggy short packed full of features, with a removable inner padded short. These have everything covered. I have used these when touring, and whipped out the inner and used just the outer to walk down the beach cafe. Lots of colour option on Amazon.
3. Altura Progel Plus Men's Cycling Waist Shorts. It's all about the pad. The Progel pad has been re-engineered using Italian materials and an innovative moulded design exclusive to Altura. The pad includes dual density foam and rooted gel which not only provides excellent comfort but will retain its anatomical shape ride after ride. More details on Amazon.
Chamois Cream:
Why do we call it chamois cream?
Pre the 1980’s the pad in cycling shorts was actually made of chamois leather. Nowadays we still call them chamois, but they are really just pads. Hell, go back far enough and cyclists would pop a beef steak down their shorts to act as a pad!
What is chamois Cream?
Bum Butter chamois cream is an antiseptic skin lubricant. It is applied direct to the area between your bum and genitals. A good smear around your genitals is also a good idea. Also apply it anywhere that you experience rubbing, such as on your inner thighs.
How does chamois cream work?
Bum Butter forms a barrier between your skin and your sweaty shorts. It is also very slippery so it reduces friction, so you won’t get saddle sore. What’s more the addition of tea tree oil makes it naturally antiseptic which prevents bacteria causing an infection. It works incredibly well. Check out this review from Road.cc and 100+ reviews on Amazon.
What about the ladies?
Bum Butter is totally fanny friendly and compatible with female genitals. Women are rather different to men down there, however both men and women can have similar issues. Bum Butter is especially formulated to be effective for women without any unwelcome "Zing" or stinging. Bum Butter has been used by many top female cyclists, including Olympic Gold Medal winners. They gave me feedback and introduced me to the term “flap mash”. For more information on female specific saddle sore issues, have a look at this great article from Cycling UK. “Are you an innie or an outie?”
Fun fact... did you know about 30% of all the Bum Butter we make is sold to women, and this proportion is increasing.
Chamois Cream Do Not Do's:
E45 / Sudocrem: Don't use Sudocrem as a chamois cream. It may be good on a babies bum, but babies don't ride a bike all day. It is not slippery enough to be effective as a chamois cream. Sudocrem also makes a real mess of padded shorts and can be very difficult to wash out. Some shorts never really recover from Sudocrem use. The pad can absorb the cream and lose all its cushioning powers. Good cycling shorts cost £60-120, it's dumb to ruin a good pair of shorts by not using Bum Butter. Sudocrem is a bad cycling cream.
Vaseline: Can Vaseline be used as chamois cream? No. Vaseline should not be used as a chamois cream. Never use Vaseline to prevent saddle sores or soreness when cycling. It is a petrol based product. You would not drink petrol so fix a sore throat, so why smear it on your most delicate body parts? Despite feeling slippery, it will not help you in anything other than the very very short term. There are also credible safety concerns with a German consumer organisation advising against its use.
Campers and scouts use Vaseline as a fire starter, as it is very flammable. To illustrate that its not something you should put on your skin, watch the video here if you want to know how to light a fire with Vaseline..
Three best Cycling Chamois Creams
1. Happy Bottom Bum Butter. Best in test at Cycling News, and made from natural ingredients. "Happy Bottom is my go-to chamois cream. It's more solid than most; more of a paste than a cream, meaning it stays put and doesn't wear out."
Customers like the comfort, effectiveness, and scent of the skin moisturizer. They mention it saves them a lot of discomfort, soothes chafed, sore dry skin, and smells nice. Some say it's worth every penny. Buy at Amazon.
2. Chamois Butt'r Anti-Chafe Cream. A white paste of a cream. It's OK. But the paste can weird in your shorts. Customers like the functionality, cooling effect, and ease of riding of the body lubricant. They mention it works well, has a cooling sensation, and makes riding much more pleasant. View at Amazon
3. Muc-Off Luxury Chamois Cream. I have not tried this, because, stated in an Amazon review, PETROLATUM is listed as the second ingredient. However... Customers like the quality, scent, and comfort of the cycling equipment. They mention it works well, reduces irritation and discomfort, and offers great value for money. Customers are also satisfied with its longevity and chafing resistance. However, some customers differ on the cooling effect. Buy at Amazon
