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.
SMILE when you ride
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 chamois cream can be an important part to your 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 to ease friction, build up 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 & 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.
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Who should use chamois cream
Chamois creams can be used by anyone that rides a bike. They are 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).
Chamois creams are often used 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 & occurrence of saddle sores
- decreases the likelihood of ingrown hairs caused by rubbing
- stops the build up of bacteria
Use as a Lubricant
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.
Use to Soothe
Keep an eye out for feelings of tenderness and any burning sensations. Pain and discomfort are generally indicators that something is not right. Redness, inflammation, swelling etc…see section below on SADDLE SORES. You will now want to use your chamois cream liberally to assist in your ability to ride in comfort and to prevent worsening of the issue. After cleaning post ride consider using small amounts to assist with 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 recovery.
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 and friction created while riding a bike. It 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 a saddle sore. 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.
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