To enjoy your riding you need to be comfortable on your bike seat. For many riders using a chamois cream can be an important part to preventing soreness and maintaining the health of the parts of your body that contact the bike seat.
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Bike seat comfort is so important to your riding enjoyment but many riders can find spending time on a saddle unpleasant and a barrier to riding. Using a protective chamois cream can be an important part to a feeling of comfort. It is easy to use and no one is going to know you are using it… unless you choose to share your comfort secrets. So lets understand a bit more about chamois creams and help you determine whether it should be part of your strategy to comfort on the bike.
What is chamois cream?
It is a lubricant that you place between your skin and your riding pants for protection. It will ease friction and the buildup of heat and/or pressure. These things happen as you spend time on your bike repeatedly pedaling.
Chamois cream can also be used to soothe and heal symptoms of skin irritation, inflammation and points of tenderness. Chamois creams that are natural (like BioMaxa in the photo) are better for your skin and the health of your whole pelvic environment. Those that include anti-bacterial properties will control build up of problem causing bacteria & reduce infection of your skin and hair follicles.
SHOP – Chamois Cream
Who should use a protective chamois cream?
Chamois cream can be used by anyone that rides a bike. It is particularly relevant if you are new to cycling, trying to build up distances quickly or “breaking in” a new saddle (getting used to the shape and where the saddle contacts your body). It is highly recommended if you are experiencing any skin issues as a result of your cycling.
Chamois creams are often used as a preventative to problems by cyclists who are planning long rides and/or repeated days of riding. For example; touring, bike packing, multi day riding or regular long commuting. Also by anyone racing long distances or participating in an endurance type event.
Why use chamois cream?
A chamois cream works in several different ways
- reduces friction
- minimises inflammation and occurrence of saddle sores
- decreases the likelihood of ingrown hairs caused by rubbing
- stops the build up of bacteria
Use as a Protective Lubricant – Preventative
This is the best way to use your chamois cream as you are trying to prevent any negative effects of spending time on your bike. You don’t have a problem and want to keep it that way. During or post ride if you have noticed any slight problems you will now want to use your chamois cream liberally on your next ride to assist in your ability to ride in comfort and to prevent worsening of the issue.
Use to Soothe
Be aware of any feelings of tenderness and any burning sensations while on the bike. Pain and discomfort are generally indicators that something is not right. Redness, inflammation, swelling etc…see section below on SADDLE SORES. After your post ride shower use small amounts of cream to assist with recovery and healing.
Use to Heal
If you do have an issue it will be as a result of time riding and sometimes it is just one of those things that riders have to deal with. Some riders are more susceptible to skin irritations. If you have a problem it means it’s time to rest. Keep the problem area clean and well ventilated. A natural chamois cream can now really help with the speed of your healing. Once your skin has repaired do your best with preventing a recurrence by using protective chamois cream.
Saddles Sores
The main thing that chamois creams are trying to prevent is saddle sores. The definition of a saddle sore covers several different forms of irritation to the skin. A saddle sore is the outcome of the combination of heat, pressure, friction and bacteria growth created while riding a bike. They can present in several different forms. The most common are
- hard painful lumps
- fluid filled cysts or abrasions (like a friction burn)
- infected hair follicles
Prevention is the best action
Using a natural chamois cream is the best form of protection from getting saddle sores. If you are serious about the health of this region of your body you must also consider your saddle and your padded riding pants. Do they both support comfort for the type of riding that you are doing? Saddles and padded pants come in all sorts of designs so it is best to match their features to your riding style and your unique body needs.
More Tips for Prevention/Management
- bike pants/shorts with clean and new chamois (very old gear won’t be helping).
- never wear anything else between your chamois and your skin (no normal underwear)
- have a chamois/padding that has an antibacterial treatment and promotes good airflow with channels or density changes around the areas you are having issues with
- immediately getting out of bike gear when ride is over and showering
- always wash your bike pant/shorts after every ride
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