Thigh abrasion

[Williams]

Here is a problem I didn't anticipate. New carbon fiber bike, first really
hot ride of the season. Sweat drips onto top tube. Inner leg (lower thigh)
occasionally hits top tube.
As long as there is plenty of sweat, no problem. As the sweat dries, there
is annoying squeak every time my leg hits the top tube. (I know I am
wasting a little power too :>)

After a while, I began to feel pain with every contact. I got a slight
abrasion from the occasional contact.

This never happened on my old Litespeed Classic (brushed finish). I always
ride with knees in close to the top tube -- it's just the way I am built.

I did not apply sunscreen today, and I think that may have helped. Any
other suggestions for preventing this? I guess I am asking about an
acceptable lubricant.

Thanks!

Craig

[John B.]

On Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:18:50 -0500, "Williams" <cwil...@oohay.com>
wrote:

Long pants?

--
Cheers,

John B.

[AMuzi]

I don't know about the skin issue but for copious sweat wash
the frame well with a little soap in hot water, rinse well
and allow to dry. Apply an automotive 'race gaze', non
abrasive finish enhancer, with a damp cloth, allow to dry
then buff with a clean cloth. You'll be amazed at how much
less surface area the finish will have. That will at least
help the sweat to fall away faster and keep it out of the
finish on a micro level.



--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

[Williams]

I don't know about the skin issue but for copious sweat wash
the frame well with a little soap in hot water, rinse well
and allow to dry. Apply an automotive 'race gaze', non
abrasive finish enhancer, with a damp cloth, allow to dry
then buff with a clean cloth. You'll be amazed at how much
less surface area the finish will have. That will at least
help the sweat to fall away faster and keep it out of the
finish on a micro level.



--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Thanks, Andrew. I will try to find the "finish enhancer."

Craig

[AMuzi]

On 6/11/2013 8:23 PM, Williams wrote:
> I don't know about the skin issue but for copious sweat wash
> the frame well with a little soap in hot water, rinse well
> and allow to dry. Apply an automotive 'race gaze', non
> abrasive finish enhancer, with a damp cloth, allow to dry
> then buff with a clean cloth. You'll be amazed at how much
> less surface area the finish will have. That will at least
> help the sweat to fall away faster and keep it out of the
> finish on a micro level.

> Thanks, Andrew. I will try to find the "finish enhancer."
> Craig

Any auto shop which caters to the fast-car crowd will have a
selection. Ask for race glaze or show glaze. Don't buy
anything for polishing or buffing or for restoring aged
finish on the package - those have abrasives in the mix.

[James]

On 12/06/13 10:18, Williams wrote:
> Here is a problem I didn't anticipate. New carbon fiber bike, first
> really hot ride of the season. Sweat drips onto top tube. Inner leg
> (lower thigh) occasionally hits top tube.
> As long as there is plenty of sweat, no problem. As the sweat dries,
> there is annoying squeak every time my leg hits the top tube. (I know I
> am wasting a little power too :>)
>
> After a while, I began to feel pain with every contact. I got a slight
> abrasion from the occasional contact.
>
> This never happened on my old Litespeed Classic (brushed finish). I
> always ride with knees in close to the top tube -- it's just the way I
> am built.

I would be modifying my pedaling habits. With a little stretching and
maybe a packer under the inside edge of your cleat (assuming you ride
with some kind of cleated shoe/pedal system), you should be able to keep
your thighs away from the top tube. You will eventually erode the top
tube surface otherwise, and your skin of course.

Try doing the splits - legs out sideways. Stretch the inner thigh muscles.

> I did not apply sunscreen today, and I think that may have helped. Any
> other suggestions for preventing this? I guess I am asking about an
> acceptable lubricant.

I don't think a lubricant will work in the long term. Anything you try
will likely wash off and dissipate during a ride.

--
JS

[Dan O]

On Jun 11, 5:18 pm, "Williams" <cwilly...@oohay.com> wrote:
> Here is a problem I didn't anticipate. New carbon fiber bike, first really
> hot ride of the season. Sweat drips onto top tube. Inner leg (lower thigh)
> occasionally hits top tube.
> As long as there is plenty of sweat, no problem. As the sweat dries, there
> is annoying squeak every time my leg hits the top tube.

FWIW I get this occasionally, too, when climbing out of the saddle.
Not enough to hurt, really, and mostly, I guess, just when I get
sloppy.

> (I know I am
> wasting a little power too :>)
>
> After a while, I began to feel pain with every contact. I got a slight
> abrasion from the occasional contact.
>

Ouch.

> This never happened on my old Litespeed Classic (brushed finish). I always
> ride with knees in close to the top tube -- it's just the way I am built.
>
> I did not apply sunscreen today, and I think that may have helped. Any
> other suggestions for preventing this? I guess I am asking about an
> acceptable lubricant.
>

SWAG: Armor All (do they still make that?) on the bike; Wet brand
silicone on your leg.

> Thanks!
>

HTH - I'm just guessing about the combination, but made the mistake of
putting Armor All on my motorcycle saddle once and had a hard time
staying on the bike. (And all I can say about Wet silicone is that it
*does* reduce friction significantly. ;-)

And then, you could always trade your new bike for a sweet old Miyata
mixte.

[Duane]

Are you saying that on your other bike your leg hit the top tube but it
didn't bother you? Seems like you need a fit.

Are you using cleats? What type? Look reds?

[thirty-six]

Eat herrings and drink cold-pressed olive oil. Almond oil, coconut
oil or sesame oil are the simplest topical applications. I heard that
almond oil is effective as a topical sun protection and it may just be
that if you have oily skin, you have all the "sun protection" you
need. i advise you not to apply synthetic "sun screen". It'll
likely mess up bone metabolism, lead to poor aerobic capacity and
cause muscle pain.

[thirty-six]

I was thinking "Well, I used to do that, no bother" but in reality I
did reduce saddle height a fraction and the catching of the top tube
did stop (although that was not the reason for adjustment). I was
having difficulty in setting seat height because my cranks were too
long for the effective range of motion that I had. I corrected "leg
length" by bringing the cleat on my longer leg back by 2/3 of the
difference and then it was easy to get the saddle height correct. it
was only after correcting cleat position for leg length and correcting
saddle height that I was able to develop souplesse so that I could
sprint to 238rpm. Crank length on that bike still too long so I'm not
comfortable when out of the saddle for long. Gearing is appropriately
low so as to allow for more seated riding in the hills.

[Gregory Sutter]

On 2013-06-12, Williams <cwil...@oohay.com> wrote:
> Here is a problem I didn't anticipate. New carbon fiber bike, first really
> hot ride of the season. Sweat drips onto top tube. Inner leg (lower thigh)
> occasionally hits top tube.

Here are some things you could reasonably try:

- change your pedaling position, if possible (put your knees more inline).

- pedal extenders would give you more clearance, but a wider stance.
http://www.kneesaver.net/

- frame polish, a brilliant suggestion from A. Muzi.

- stop shaving your legs, so the hair can protect your skin, roadie!

- human balm: "Bodyglide"
http://www.rei.com/product/745879/bodyglide-anti-chafe-formula-13-oz

- human lube: silicone, quite versatile, lovely stuff.
http://www.goodvibes.com/display_product.jhtml?id=22FM04

--
Gregory S. Sutter Mostly Harmless
mailto:gsu...@zer0.org
http://zer0.org/~gsutter/