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CYCLING PERFORMANCE TIPS |
The initial discomfort is a simple skin irritation, but it decreases the skin's resistance to infection and the bacteria (which are always present on the skin of the buttocks) then take advantage of the opportunity.
Strategies for decreasing the risk of saddle sores focus on a) decreasing the initial tissue injury and b) minimizing potential for further bacterial infection. Let's look at preventative measures first.
Or make regular changes in your position on the saddle. Try sitting a bit further back on the climbs so your sit bones get maximum support from the wider area of the saddle taking pressure off your perineum. Any shift in position will give pressure points a break.
Occasionally a rider will complain of unilateral (one side) abrasions or saddle sores. This could indicate a leg length discrepancy. If it's several millimeters or more, it could help to use a shim under the short legs cleat). Another solution I have heard (anecdote coming) is a slight reorientation of the nose of the saddle to one side or another.
All these products have their proponents. For example, Pete Penseyres, the legendary two-time Race Across America winner and a former world-record holder is a believer in Bag Balm. If anyone should have the experience to make a recommendation, it would be someone who has spend hundreds of hours in the saddle and ridden 3,000-plus miles in eight days.
A light coating of inexpensive petroleum jelly will do the job as well as a commercial product (Chamois BUTT'r or Bag Balm) but in the end it comes down to personal preference. Applying to the skin before putting on your shorts works much better than trying to smear it directly on the chamois.
A friend who races swears by Noxzema. It provides a lubricant/barrier effect as well as providing a mild anti bacterial benefit.
I've read recommendations to use Preparation H Medicated Wipes with aloe and witch hazel immediately after a ride. It cleans the area and kills skin bacteria.
Hydrocortisone cream can be added to a topical antibiotic. It may help lessen the duration of inflammation.
Sometimes you can't take time off - you may be on a tour or at a cycling camp. If so, in addition to regular care keeping the area clean and using a topical antibiotic ointment, these suggestions could help.