With this Movember Challenge happening at CYKL, I find myself riding more. In 4 weeks I have taught over 25 classes. My legs are starting to feel tired, but I’m doing my best to take hot baths, and do some extra stretches. What seems to be hurting more than my quads, are my lady bits. Unfortunately, I have been riding in a pair of shorts I picked up 3 years ago (when I was 10 pounds heavier), and now they’re giving me grief!
The golden rule of cycling comfort is: ALWAYS wear a GOOD pair of shorts that fit (snug as a bug), and I broke my own golden rule. I thought “whatever, I can teach in them, it’s not like I’m riding 100+kms in them”….I was soooo wrong. With every ride my lady bits were more angry. This is a bit embarrassing to put on the internet, but it’s the harsh reality when it comes to cycling, especially for women. NO ONE ever talks about the “s” word. Sores, saddle sores to be exact.
Last week I got my first saddle sore. And my lord almighty, it hurt. I quickly googled “saddle sore” and was even more frightened to learn that when left untreated they might get so bad that it needs to be drained by a doctor. BARFFFFFFFFFFFFF!
Believe me when I tell you, I was never more nervous in my life to find a solution to my little problem that didn’t involve my family doctor and a syringe. Upon more reading it, one website had some tips in clearing up the problem, and I’m here to tell you that these tips worked! Thank god the cheetah is all better.
Tip #1 Throw out those shitty-ass-poor-fitting shorts. Indoor or outdoors you need to wear good shorts, that fit properly. Enough said.
Tip #2 Adjust your saddle. Take a look at your set-up, and see if you’re sitting too far back or forward on the saddle. I moved my saddle forward about 2cm and it help keep my sit bones on saddle, even when I was riding more aggressively (sliding forward and powering through my quads, which is a dirty habit because I should be using my hamstrings and glutes as well). This helped.
Tip #3 Get some Benzagel Acne Gel – 5% Benzoyl Peroxide, smear a tiny dab on the tender area twice a day. This will help clear up the infection.
Tip #4 – Generously apply the chamois cream. I have been using Seat Saver from Hammer Nutrition. It helped but I don’t love the cream. There is a liquid in it that separates from the rest of the cream, and it squirts every where when I squeeze the tube. What a vision you must have of me at this point. Embarrassing.
Tip #5 – Take off your shorts right after riding and shower! Don’t lounge around in your spandex, especially when they are wet and gross after class or a ride. Bacteria and other grossness like to form. Common sense.
Tip #6 – Sleep in the buff. Let that lovely area air out over night. Wearing pj’s or undies at night doesn’t let the area breathe. Go nude and it’ll help speed the healing process.
It took about 5 days for everything to return to normal, but I now know why pro cyclists pull out races due to saddle sores. It’s a serious injury.
Thought I would share. Promise to keep chatter about my cheetah to a minimum here.
Rocket Girl 2011
ch. She hasn’t started to train me yet, but I have been hitting the streets 3 times a week for 6 to 8kms of light running. My legs and body have been feeling great. I’ve learned to relax and have fun running instead of getting stressed out about my pace, stride or form.
My man.