Many moons ago, before the invent of lycra, sweat-wicking fabrics, memory foam and seam-free bib shorts, cyclists apparently used to use a steak as their only cushioning on the bike. After a day in the saddle tenderising the meat, they also had a quick protein-rich meal read to go on their arrival home… Yeah I don’t think it’s for me either.
Things have changed a lot. Zwift, turbo trainers and GPS cycle computers have revolutionised the way we cycle, but one unfortunate truth remains: Cycling isn’t comfy. It’s a taboo subject, “the cyclist’s undercarriage”, but it’s time we talked about it. What’s even more under the radar, is the female cyclist’s undercarriage. Most of the cycling magazines and advice pages we trawl through are specifically aimed at men and worse still, are written BY male authors – no offence, but it’s difficult to take advice about my “delicate areas” from someone who has a very limited grasp on my functional anatomy, let alone the advanced problems it can cause when paired with competitive triathlon.
In my previous blog about getting started in cycling (worth a read even if you’ve been on two wheels for a while) https://wonderclinic.wordpress.com/2020/05/09/so-youve-started-cycling/ I mentioned the importance of a good saddle. This means employing some expertise of your local bike shop, or indeed some corrugated cardboard and foil to measure your seat bones and some awareness of your own unique “characteristics”. The fab team at Cobb saddles have a good little quiz guide which is a great starting point https://totalwomenscycling.com/fitness/cobb-saddles-ask-innie-outie . Make sure whichever saddle you choose has either a central relief channel or a complete cutaway section to eliminate any pressure on soft tissue areas; continued pressure in the wrong areas can lead to numbness, soreness and long term sensation issues – not good! Your local bike shop will probably be happy to loan out trial saddles to you to try and there are more and more online sites that will do the same with 30 day return polices and so on. My personal favourite range are the ISM saddles. I have been with my ISM PN 1.1 for 5 years now and it has a perfectly worn butt groove perfectly suited to my unique wonky hips! The ISM saddles are designed to eliminate any soft tissue pressure on the nose of the saddle by getting rid of it altogether and they also have options for all types of widths, thigh clearance and specialties such as triathlon and hill climbing.
But when you’ve got the perfect saddle and perhaps even the best fitting bib shorts, there’s one more CRUCIAL piece to the puzzle…
CHAMOIS CREAM
Bum butter, butt oil and many other names are given to the lube used to make cycling a pleasure not a chore. But why is it so important? I can tell you, from a triathlete and also a medical point of view…
A gradual build up of miles is often advertised as the best route to building up “resilience” in the skin and avoid saddle sores from cycling. In the same way that a constant rubbing slingback will cause a callous and unsightly but “practical” area of hardened skin, the same could be true if you gradually build up your miles and and grimace through the chafing. But I’m not sure I want a bikini line of callouses… Likewise, the new explosion of turbo trainers and virtual training programmes such as Zwift, will lead to some very unpleasant sensations and most likely a John Wayne style walk for a few days afterward if you’re not careful. The worst part about indoor training, is that unless you are blessed with the most up to date trainers, you’re pivoting about a very stationary and abusive saddle, unlike on the road where your bike moves with and around you. Very long miles and indoor training introduce a repetitive rubbing, over and over and over and over and over…especially when your thighs are the size of mine!
This constant friction can lead to redness, irritation and compromised skin. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it leads to a deteriorating barrier between your delicate skin and the outside world. Couple this with hair follicles (which we rarely leave to their own devices in that area…) and a lovely, sweaty, warm, moist chamois and you’ve got yourself a party for bacteria and fungi! A vulnerable chafed skin and lashings of bugs can lead to folliculitis, infected saddle sores and worse still, abscesses. It can lead to really big issues including permanent scarring and discomfort – trust me! Don’t get me wrong, the technical fabrics out there these days are amazing, but even the slimline chamois and taped seams are no match for your hot June nights on the indoor trainer when it comes to blood, sweat and friction.
The aim any good chamois cream is not only to help your skin glide effortlessly past your lycra and well chosen saddle, but to protect your delicate barrier through anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties too.
How to tell your Anchor from your Lurpak.
All butters are most certainly not equal. I’ve tried a whole hamper of different formulations over my cycling career. The main things I focus on are female specific formulations with a barrier style cream consistency to keep bacteria out and moisture in, as well as balancing your skin’s microbiome to make sure everything stays ship shape ‘n shiny in your shorts. Here’s my top 3 arse savers:
- Assos chamois creme – women’s pre-ride – Well worth the £10 price tag for 75mL, but beware double-dipping with their potted product. The small size makes it perfect for holidays and buttering on the go. There’s a menthol addition which can be a love it or hate it style divider – think Original Source mint shower gel…you get the picture. Personally I find it soothing and cooling, but it’s not for everyone…
- Paceline Chamois Butt’r Her – a staple for a lot of women and a good bang for your buck at £12.99 for 235mL, comes in a hygenic tube with plenty of soothing and conditioning agents like aloe vera and shea butter to help keep things soft and supple and prevent the dreaded callous formation away.
- Hoo Ha Ride Glide – you have to try it just for the comedy name. Again, another women specific formulation, packed with natural anti-bacterial agents to help fight irritated follicles and skin infections as well as reducing inflammation that can develop.
And if the worst happens…?
You know, while you’re still trying to find the perfect shorts/saddle/butter combo, you might unfortunately end up with some saddle sores. I’ve been there. It’s pretty stingy stuff and it takes a little while for everything to heal. Make sure you look after yourself if this happens. Avoid beautifying your bikini line for a while (one less thing to worry about at least!) and pay careful attention to skincare. Trusty Sudocrem is great for irritated skin to help soother your adult nappy rash and make sure you use a female specific shower gel to keep things in good working order – when the barrier is already compromised, you want to be encouraging all the normal skin bacteria to be working their magic, rather than splashing yourself in alkali and making your body work twice as hard to heal. You might need to take a break from the bike until the sore starts to heal (depending on how bad it is) and I have also been known to keep a frozen bottle of water between my thighs during an afternoon nap if things need the heat and inflammation taken out of them!
Most ladies are happy to share the unique solutions they’ve found to their cycling problems and you’re not alone if you’ve ever felt like cycling might just not be for you because it’s so uncomfortable. But armed with the knowledge, that doesn’t have to be the case. It might be a taboo subject, but skin is skin. The knowledge I’ve shared here is based on both my extensive personal experience of trial and error (I now have the perfect combination and hopefully sharing my mistakes will help you find yours a lot quicker!) but also my love of all things skincare. My facial aesthetics qualifications mean I am better able to understand EXACTLY what athletic skin needs and having applied that knowledge and to my own life, I’m competing and training with more confidence and comfort that ever before.
Now you’ve taken care of “that end” of things, come over and chat to me about solutions to your outdoorsy skin, to help take you from make-up addict to bare-skinned beauty.
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