Chafing chamois seam
OughtFour
replacements and experienced the same problem, painful irritation where the
seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
I've never had this problem before but now I wonder how I ever avoided it. I
wonder if there is some characteristic I should be looking for in my hunt
for the right saddle, or counterintuitive saddle-positioning trick.
I know saddles are personal and subjective, but at this point would be
grateful for any advice, personal stories, whatever.
I put about 1000 miles on my first replacement saddle, wondering all the
time if it was right, before the saddle settled the question for me during a
century ride by really hurting me. This was a Bontrager saddle somewhat like
the Serfas that had failed.
I decided to try something really different next and got a Forte Pro SLX (
http://tinyurl.com/m9d3l ), a racy saddle from Performance. When that
flunked the ride test I got a Forte Pro RS1 ( http://tinyurl.com/4jll74 ),
an Arione knock-off. Again, ouch.
As you can see, these are very different saddles. However, in every case the
problem was chaffing along the seam that stitches the chamois to the shorts.
Otherwise these saddles were all fine, though I'm not sure how suitable the
SLX would be for a century ride.
I own three pair of shorts of varying makes and vintages, and all chaff. I
don't think the problem is the shorts. The stitching on all of them seems to
be in good shape.
I like to do long rides and have been looking at saddles that seem to offer
good support. Should I try something with more padding? Is there something I
am missing?
Thanks for whatever light you can shed.
smokey
> Since the leather on my old saddle failed, I have tried three different
> replacements and experienced the same problem, painful irritation where the
> seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
>
> I've never had this problem before but now I wonder how I ever avoided it. I
> wonder if there is some characteristic I should be looking for in my hunt
> for the right saddle, or counterintuitive saddle-positioning trick.
>
> I know saddles are personal and subjective, but at this point would be
> grateful for any advice, personal stories, whatever.
>
> I put about 1000 miles on my first replacement saddle, wondering all the
> time if it was right, before the saddle settled the question for me during a
> century ride by really hurting me. This was a Bontrager saddle somewhat like
> the Serfas that had failed.
>
> flunked the ride test I got a Forte Pro RS1 (http://tinyurl.com/4jll74),
> an Arione knock-off. Again, ouch.
>
> As you can see, these are very different saddles. However, in every case the
> problem was chaffing along the seam that stitches the chamois to the shorts.
> Otherwise these saddles were all fine, though I'm not sure how suitable the
> SLX would be for a century ride.
>
> I own three pair of shorts of varying makes and vintages, and all chaff. I
> don't think the problem is the shorts. The stitching on all of them seems to
> be in good shape.
>
> I like to do long rides and have been looking at saddles that seem to offer
> good support. Should I try something with more padding? Is there something I
> am missing?
>
> Thanks for whatever light you can shed.
Have you tried making adjustments to your saddle height and tilt? I've
put on new saddles that chafed and found that if I lowered them a
fraction of an inch it took some of the pressure off my crotch. If the
nose of your saddle is too high, that can also cause chafing. The
usual recommendation is to start with a level saddle and go from
there.
Smokey
dusto...@mac.com
> Thanks for whatever light you can shed.
http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/
Instead of wet, try dry.
Just make sure you get the _Anti_ MBP, not the other stuff. --D-y
Bill Sornson
Finally, some helpful advice around here...
Bill "gonna miss this place if RR drops Usenet" S.
dusto...@mac.com
You're welcome, Bill.
Forgot to mention: use tons of it and don't worry about ignorant
comments-- although I haven't heard any and due to a long-running
problem that has kept me off the bike at times, my seat bag is AMBP-
colored.
Oddly enough, I never had a real problem until I started using Assos
Lancecreme, and that udder stuff that comes in the green can, a few
years ago. No fun at all, the AMBP helps tremendously.
Available in finer motorcycle stores (and Whole Foods, too). --D-y
andre...@aol.com
> Since the leather on my old saddle failed, I have tried three different
> replacements and experienced the same problem, painful irritation where the
> seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
>
> I've never had this problem before but now I wonder how I ever avoided it. I
> wonder if there is some characteristic I should be looking for in my hunt
> for the right saddle, or counterintuitive saddle-positioning trick.
>
> I know saddles are personal and subjective, but at this point would be
> grateful for any advice, personal stories, whatever.
>
> I put about 1000 miles on my first replacement saddle, wondering all the
> time if it was right, before the saddle settled the question for me during a
> century ride by really hurting me. This was a Bontrager saddle somewhat like
> the Serfas that had failed.
>
> flunked the ride test I got a Forte Pro RS1 (http://tinyurl.com/4jll74),
> an Arione knock-off. Again, ouch.
>
> As you can see, these are very different saddles. However, in every case the
> problem was chaffing along the seam that stitches the chamois to the shorts.
> Otherwise these saddles were all fine, though I'm not sure how suitable the
> SLX would be for a century ride.
>
> I own three pair of shorts of varying makes and vintages, and all chaff. I
> don't think the problem is the shorts. The stitching on all of them seems to
> be in good shape.
>
> I like to do long rides and have been looking at saddles that seem to offer
> good support. Should I try something with more padding? Is there something I
> am missing?
>
> Thanks for whatever light you can shed.
The best thing is diaper rash ointment. It is essentially zinc oxide
cream that doesn't break down while riding. Apply liberal amounts to
your chamois. Actually, apply very liberal amounts. You can get it at
your local pharmacy. A big tub of it is about $12.00.
travis...@gmail.com
This company sells replacement pads for shorts, very hi-tech, perhaps
what goes into the best, or the most expensive shorts today.
http://store.aerotechdesigns.com/prrecrpad.html
For just the top layer, I somewhere saw a stock of just the true
chamois, european cut and sewn. Just $5 each. Velo-Orange,
Melpintoimports?
Harry Travis
OughtFour
"smokey" <smokeys...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:89c14d88-69c1-4033...@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>Have you tried making adjustments to your saddle height and tilt? I've
put on new saddles that chafed and found that if I lowered them a
fraction of an inch it took some of the pressure off my crotch. If the
nose of your saddle is too high, that can also cause chafing. The
usual recommendation is to start with a level saddle and go from
there.
Thanks. Nose down as much as I could tolerate did seem to help a little on
my test rides. Also, counterintuitively, seat forward. I'll fiddle with
height, though I'm afraid it may already be on the low side.
Thanks for your advice.
dusto...@mac.com
Well, I tried the diaper rash ointment, too. Didn't seem to work for
me, not to say it won't for others.
If you look, you should be able to find Zwitsal, a Dutch product. My
mother-in-law brought some to the US for us, by test it works a lot
better than most of the grocery/drug store stuff found in the USA.
Babies R Us?
There is one other superior product that is "medical", not common but
available and having failed to trip my memory, I'll re-post when the
name pops up. Both it and the Zwitsal were "emergency" use with our
kids when they were in diapers-- notwithstanding "it's just zinc
oxide". --D-y
Tom Kunich
news:6ou6k.6671$7A1.2227@trndny04...
> Since the leather on my old saddle failed, I have tried three different
> replacements and experienced the same problem, painful irritation where
> the seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
The San Marco Concor is also OK but it has a more limited seating position
where it is comfortable. The Regal has a lot greater positioning error where
it is still comfortable.
oughtfour
and such. I suppose it may come to that, at least for really long rides,
though I'm hoping (still) to find the right saddle & position to
minimize the burn first. At this point 40 miles is about all I can get
away with! I did better than that on the Bontrager.
Thanks again, and keep it coming if there is more!
Pat
"oughtfour" <lus...@rnospam.net> wrote in message
news:o0z6k.6687$7A1.6429@trndny04...
Just wondering--is it your shorts? Are they slipping around a bit? Worn out
and too loose?
dusto...@mac.com
> Since the leather on my old saddle failed
OK, start over: what kind of saddle was that? --D-y
John Forrest Tomlinson
OughtFour
"Pat" <tm...@tmail.com> wrote in message
news:6bvv5hF...@mid.individual.net...>
> Just wondering--is it your shorts? Are they slipping around a bit? Worn
> out and too loose?
Thanks. I own 3 pair of shorts of varying makes and vintages. I get the
chafing with all of them. The fit seems OK.
Seem to me the hunt for the "right" shorts could be at least as frustrating
as that for the right saddle, with the added bonus of not being able to
return the shorts that don't work.
dusto...@mac.com
Again, since you didn't have a problem until the old saddle died,
let's get back to that old saddle...
My sputtering ESP seems to be telling me that this saddle is thought
to be irreplaceable due to age, not being in production any longer, or
maybe it was one of those all-leather models that got wet and turned
into an ass-hatchet that was (as ass-hatchets are well known for) very
uncomfortable in ways other than chafing. ffft zzztt ssssszzz
And the brand/model of the old, at least semi-comfortable saddle
was...? --D-y
OughtFour
<dusto...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:aeba191d-621c-4909...@25g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>Again, since you didn't have a problem until the old saddle died,
let's get back to that old saddle...
It was a Serfas Cosmos, something like this http://tinyurl.com/4pvuzx .
That's a conventional-looking saddle with (or so I thought at the time) just
a tad more padding than I actually needed. But no chafing issues, despite
being wider than any of the replacements.
No cuttout either--I've never had that problem.
I didn't run out and get another one because I thought I could do better. I
didn't think I needed quite so much padding and the saddle itself was built
a little lopsided. (VERY little, but you still notice things like that.)
The Bontrager I first replaced it with was of the same ilk but gave a little
better support, one thing I liked about it.
Do you think I should return to something a little more cush? I'd miss the
support, but obviously need to find something I can live with.
Thanks.
dusto...@mac.com
> It was a Serfas Cosmos, something like thishttp://tinyurl.com/4pvuzx.
> That's a conventional-looking saddle with (or so I thought at the time) just
> a tad more padding than I actually needed. But no chafing issues, despite
> being wider than any of the replacements.
Bingo. Wider.
Conventional?
<http://saddlemuseum.blogspot.com/2006/01/selle-italia-turbo-
special.html>
Well, those used to be "conventional", but the shape is what is of
interest.
> No cuttout either--I've never had that problem.
No cutout, but a mighty deep valley, compared to "conventional",
flatter saddles. It was a shape that worked so well you didn't even
notice! <g>
> I didn't run out and get another one because I thought I could do better. I
> didn't think I needed quite so much padding and the saddle itself was built [oops, he said a little crooked].
> Do you think I should return to something a little more cush? I'd miss the
> support, but obviously need to find something I can live with.
If you still have the old one, take measurements for remote buying, or
take it with you to the bicycle store and get the very closest thing
you can IRT shape, and width, "cush", everything and maybe even color.
If they have one that is slightly lop-sided the way your old one was,
go for it.
Meanwhile, treat your sore place. IME what works is alcohol rubs. A
fair number per day, and it's good to run around uncovered while the
stuff evaporates completely. Kills some germs at least, helps toughen
the skin (like guitar players have known for many years).
Others have good results from ointments, etc. but I tried all that and
if anything, anything moist (incl. Assos, the saddle creme of
champions) made it worse.
(bear with me dept.): Make sure your shorts are clean. Tide Free or
Arm and Hammer "dermatologist tested" Free work for me, I air dry
because it's the dryer mostly, not the washer, that kills lycra. Put
them chamois-out in the bright sun (UV rays for germ killing) for a
half-hour or so, lycra under the padding so it doesn't get sunburnt.
This is to head off the next problem you might encounter with ongoing
irritation, a saddle sore.
The Anti-Monkey Butt Powder works. It's got calamine and talc for
moisture absorption (like with poison ivy) and dry lubrication.
Your integument is compromised, you need to fix that as well as go
back to what worked.
Think about your posture while you ride, and if you're rubbing, get up
off of that thing!
You may have simply changed your saddle height and/or tilt when you
replaced the old saddle enough to "find" a setup that was wrong,
wrong, wrong. Putting a duplicate on there, in the same position,
might just fix things. Good luck! --D-y
thejen12
> <dustoyev...@mac.com> wrote in message
>
> news:aeba191d-621c-4909...@25g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>
> >Again, since you didn't have a problem until the old saddle died,
>
> let's get back to that old saddle...
>
> It was a Serfas Cosmos, something like thishttp://tinyurl.com/4pvuzx.
> That's a conventional-looking saddle with (or so I thought at the time) just
> a tad more padding than I actually needed. But no chafing issues, despite
> being wider than any of the replacements.
>
Jenn
OughtFour
"thejen12" <jenn...@hotmail.com> wrote
>Go back to a wider saddle.
(as did dusty ofsky--thanks for your thoughts all)
That would be the logical conclusion, eh? Though none less than Sheldon
Brown writes that wide saddles and too much padding each can _cause_
chaffing. (So who to believe: the late Captain Brown, or my own lying butt?)
I think I will try fiddling with the position of the second saddle (which I
still have) but if that doesn't do the trick, scare up a Serfas or
reasonable facsimile thereof.
Thanks again.
dusto...@mac.com
> "thejen12" <jennro...@hotmail.com> wrote
I knew a couple, back in the day, man and wife. Normal looking people,
etc. etc. She rode the man's Turbo saddle of the day, he rode the
ladies', which was considerably wider.
If you know (or found out, in your case) that something was working
for you and that lovin' feeling went away with a change of equipment,
why would you not (budgetary considerations, for one) go back to what
worked? Especially with the penalty you're paying?
Oooh, if I could just put a Serfas saddle on and cure... wait a
minute, wait just a second here.... --D-y
Paul M. Hobson
> Since the leather on my old saddle failed, I have tried three different
> replacements and experienced the same problem, painful irritation where the
> seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
Dumb question: why can't you get a new version of your old saddle?
--
Paul M. Hobson
.:change the f to ph to reply:.
OughtFour
> OughtFour wrote:
>> Since the leather on my old saddle failed, I have tried three
>> different replacements and experienced the same problem, painful
>> irritation where the seam of my shorts rubs and chafes my tender flesh.
>
> Dumb question: why can't you get a new version of your old saddle?
>
>
like about by old saddle, and I thought I could do better.
In retrospect, maybe not.
almos...@yahoo.com
> <dustoyev...@mac.com> wrote in message
>
> news:aeba191d-621c-4909...@25g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>
> >Again, since you didn't have a problem until the old saddle died,
>
> let's get back to that old saddle...
>
> It was aSerfasCosmos, something like thishttp://tinyurl.com/4pvuzx.
> That's a conventional-looking saddle with (or so I thought at the time) just
> a tad more padding than I actually needed. But no chafing issues, despite
> being wider than any of the replacements.
There's a Serfas Cosmos saddle on ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/bike-seat_W0QQitemZ120274708846QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120274708846
thejen12
> "thejen12" <jennro...@hotmail.com> wrote
I think Sheldon meant "too wide" a saddle, but in your case the wider
saddle
sounds like it's just right! Have you ever tried the Specialized Ass-
o-meter to
see how wide a saddle you really need? Get measured at your local
Specialized dealer.
Jenn
OughtFour
"thejen12" <jenn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d4d3f4cc-d250-492e...@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 20, 5:35 pm, "OughtFour" <lus...@rnospam.com> wrote:
> I think Sheldon meant "too wide" a saddle, but in your case the wider
> saddle
> sounds like it's just right!
Evidently!
I think that Sheldon was writing about a different kind of chafing--one that
I haven't experienced--when the inner thighs rub the sides of the saddle.
See http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html where he writes,
"Saddles with excessive padding are also a common cause of painful chafing
of the inner thigh, as rides become longer."
and
"If the saddle is too wide, it is likely to cause chafing of the inner
thigh, especially in hot weather."
My problem involves the stitching around the edge of the chamois, and not
the "inner thigh" either. So I guess that on wider saddles, I'm sitting
directly ON those stiched seams, more or less imobilizing them, but on
narrower saddles, they are free to move...and rub.
This is counterintutive especially since my sit bones are fine on the
narrower saddles. So, I'm not sure that Specialized's improbable measurement
device would catch that. Still I appreciate the suggestion.
Yesterday I got out my old damaged saddle, the Serfas, and coverd the rips
and cracks with electrical tape. (Funny how much it had deteriorated in the
last 9 months). Put it on my bike just to test and got the most comfortable
ride I've had all year. So I think that is the solution I'll try next. Hard
to remember now just what I didn't like about that saddle.
I'll hold the Specialized strategy as plan B, maybe. They look like nice
saddles.
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts.