Uh... downstairs...
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- MattyK
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Uh... downstairs...
Postby MattyK » Wed Mar 01, 2017 3:31 pm
Any tips for relieving the pressure? unfortunately I commute daily so staying off the bike isn't really an option... Might switch to the commuter with the other saddle (Charge Spoon).
Got access to some curash cream, hoping that helps a bit.
Might have to resort to a bandaid, but hmm, hair...
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby cp123 » Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:22 pm
or just hthu?
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby warthog1 » Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:41 pm
http://lucaspapaw.com.au/
The only time I've had saddle sores I needed a week off the bike eventually to get rid of them
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby find_bruce » Wed Mar 01, 2017 5:20 pm
I would suggest using a razor around the affected area before putting an appropriate dressing on it to stop the rubbing (bandaid or whatever size it takes to cover).
- MattyK
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby MattyK » Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:53 pm
Is this where I should decide to shave my legs for the event, then forget where to stop on the way up?find_bruce wrote: I would suggest using a razor around the affected area before putting an appropriate dressing on it to stop the rubbing (bandaid or whatever size it takes to cover).
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby Dodgy-Knee » Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:07 pm
Sounds like a problem with your chamois ... I had a new pair of knicks with a weird/poor stitching pattern around the seam ... I went for a 50+km ride and just couldn't get comfortable .. it didn't hurt but I was always shifting to find the seat sweet spot ... anyway, when i got home I discovered that the chamois had rubbed two spots under my backside almost raw ...MattyK wrote:It's not a big spot or infected. Just an abraded/chafed spot at this stage… still hurts like heck though.
Anyway, keep the area clean as best you can ... antiseptic cream like Bepanthen works really well (speaking from experience) ... give it a few days to settle down and use a different pair of knicks.
This might be a bit late but a bit of handy advice someone gave me is to have a quick shower before you ride - especially if it's a hot day ... and also use good chamois cream (the stuff I use contains tea tree oil to keep the lid on any bugs that might infect hair follicles).
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:29 pm
Changing position like that will likely lead to more pain that isn't from the sore.MattyK wrote:It's not a big spot or infected. Just an abraded/chafed spot at this stage… still hurts like heck though. I played with my seating position on the way home today and reckon I can handle it for the 10k ride by sitting almost off the nose and a little to the right.
Is this where I should decide to shave my legs for the event, then forget where to stop on the way up?find_bruce wrote: I would suggest using a razor around the affected area before putting an appropriate dressing on it to stop the rubbing (bandaid or whatever size it takes to cover).
I'm in the same boat atm, suggest some form of anaethetic cream under a bandaid if there's no infection but keep an eye on things. If it starts to infect go the magnoplasm route
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby g-boaf » Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:54 pm
And in future, I'd also suggest swapping over different kit. Some people they commute morning and afternoon in the same cycling gear, don't do that. Wear fresh / clean kit in the afternoon. Don't wear your sweaty and yucky kit in the afternoon. Anything like that is a good idea. Also try the usual chamois creams, they help.
Bin those things immediately. Some of those promo kit provided with special events must be chosen by people who never ride bikes at all, or do so once a month, or less than that. Some of those things are absolute cheap and nasty rubbish.find_bruce wrote:from one particular pair of knicks (supplied as part of a charity ride)
I have one brand/line of cycling kit I go for and nothing less than that. I don't care if it is expensive - the extra money is well worth avoiding a week off the bike.
Good tip, and totally agree it might be something wrong with the shorts/padding. Some of them are just awful. I have some Champsys shorts that I absolutely must use chamois cream with or they'll cause all sorts of problems. Don't know what they did in the design of that padding, but it seems incredibly abrasive.Dodgy-Knee wrote:This might be a bit late but a bit of handy advice someone gave me is to have a quick shower before you ride - especially if it's a hot day ... and also use good chamois cream (the stuff I use contains tea tree oil to keep the lid on any bugs that might infect hair follicles).
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby MattyK » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:16 pm
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby rodneycc » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:16 pm
2013 Lynskey Helix;2013 XACD Ti Di2
2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby grantw » Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:27 am
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby Lan Wing » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:02 am
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby RonK » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:11 am
Try this.MattyK wrote:It's not a big spot or infected. Just an abraded/chafed spot at this stage… still hurts like heck though.
Not joking.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby g-boaf » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:15 am
1 hour is just a short ride for me. Maybe 4 hour ride or if I'm wearing the certain brands of kit. If I'm wearing Cuore, not necessary. Their kit is comfortable and the saddle I have on my bike is a really good one.Lan Wing wrote:Do you guys use chamois cream for every ride, or just some rides or past a certain threshold? E.g. 1hour, 30km?
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby RonK » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:15 am
Always - it's the initial period when the chamois is dry and chafes that does the damage.Lan Wing wrote:Do you guys use chamois cream for every ride, or just some rides or past a certain threshold? E.g. 1hour, 30km?
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby CKinnard » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:40 am
And it makes a diff whether it is more weightbearing or friction (fluid filled friction blister).
some generic advice for friction sores:
- lower your saddle 1/2cm at a time, until friction pain reduces. (ideally you want your knee bending 30-33 degrees. some will tell you not to muck around with the saddle, but that's inappropriate when carrying an 'injury'.
- experiment increasing and decreasing cadence to see which is more comfortable.
- appreciate that friction against the skin is more likely to cause blisters when you are dehydrated. why? because your skin is drier, less lubricated. So to avoid sores in the first place, stay well hydrated. Most cyclists don't.
- nutrition is also critical to keep extracellular fluid optimized with nutrients and at the right pH. If you are not doing a minimum 5 cups of veg and 2 cups of fruit a day (in accord with the Australian Dietary Guidelines), then your tissue will be more susceptible to failure.
- whatever cream you use, make sure you apply it more than generously. You want to be totally saturated. Most riders don't apply enough. You really have to be uncomfortably wet when you pull your nicks up. It is better to overapply than under. Over time, you can reduce the amount used until you start to notice discomfort.
- as for which cream, I favor more water based rather than oil based. You don't need the most expensive. Sorbolene creams are not expensive and are used generously by many pro teams. You are using the cream to improve hydration which reduces friction within and between epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis layers, and secondarily to reduce external friction (between skin and nicks). If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby warthog1 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:23 am
I believe it was recommended to me due to it's topical antiseptic properties, at least that was my understanding.CKinnard wrote: If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
The bloke who told me is a cyclist of note. ie very experienced so some knowledge on what works or doesn't.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby warthog1 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:25 am
Only for 100km + for me.Lan Wing wrote:Do you guys use chamois cream for every ride, or just some rides or past a certain threshold? E.g. 1hour, 30km?
I have found a saddle and fit that works.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby Tim » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:17 pm
Lucas Papaw Ointment is a bit of a con.CKinnard wrote: If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
96% petroleum jelly. 4% beautifully natural and wonderfully healing goop.
Not saying it doesn't work but it's really just very expensive Vaseline, like four times the price.
I use Skin Basics, Zinc and Castor Oil Cream. Dirt cheap, bulk quantities, no nasties and it works a treat.
For the very rare outbreak Betadine antiseptic and Lignocaine/Xylocaine cream, a topical local aneasthetic.
The local aneasthetic works best on broken or chaffed skin. It's not very effective on intact skin.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby RobertL » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:43 pm
I've used Compeeds for their intended purpose - blisters on feet - and they are fantastic for that.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby RonK » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:43 pm
CKinnard wrote:- whatever cream you use, make sure you apply it more than generously. You want to be totally saturated. Most riders don't apply enough. You really have to be uncomfortably wet when you pull your nicks up. It is better to overapply than under.
Yes - the same way the soigneur Eulle in the movie "Hell on Wheels" butters Erik Zabel's chamois.
That what I've used for years. You can buy a 500g tub of generic sorbolene cream from pharmacies for around $10.CKinnard wrote:- as for which cream, I favor more water based rather than oil based. You don't need the most expensive. Sorbolene creams are not expensive and are used generously by many pro teams. You are using the cream to improve hydration which reduces friction within and between epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis layers, and secondarily to reduce external friction (between skin and nicks). If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby warthog1 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:04 pm
4% of the active ingredient is actually a reasonable amount in comparison with alot of products.Tim wrote:Lucas Papaw Ointment is a bit of a con.CKinnard wrote: If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
96% petroleum jelly. 4% beautifully natural and wonderfully healing goop.
Not saying it doesn't work but it's really just very expensive Vaseline, like four times the price.
This link claims too strong a concentration will burn the skin.
http://mashable.com/2015/08/05/papaw-oi ... 0bwVV9eGqX
Who knows?
It's comparable price and at least as effective as the assos chamois creme I've also tried.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby CKinnard » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:06 pm
I've met a lot of cyclists of note Wartie. There's not a lot of agreement between them on what chain lube to use, let alone chamois cream!warthog1 wrote:I believe it was recommended to me due to it's topical antiseptic properties, at least that was my understanding.CKinnard wrote: If you think paw paw has some magic ingredient, eat more of it.
The bloke who told me is a cyclist of note. ie very experienced so some knowledge on what works or doesn't.
Most pros don't even realize theres' water and oil based creams, but that's the property they most 'feel' the difference between product.
It's been a while since I looked into paw paw creams, which I did because I always have patients ask about them.
The therapeutic benefits are supposed to be best from fresh green paw paw leaves, not the seeds or flesh, and that's never stipulated in the ingredients.
Further, significant antiseptic properties are well established for tea tree oil and manuka honey, so why has paw paw made a splash? Because people perceive it as fleshy, moist, soft, and full of nutrition. But that's certainly not the leaves which have the stronger therapeutic qualities.
Incidentally, ime one of the best natural moisturizers is aloe vera, not out of a bottle, but scraped off the stems and minced up to break the gel matrix. I think it has mild antiseptic properties as well, as does most plant matter, until it oxidizes. I've sometimes mixed this aloe concoction in with sorbolene cream to make the cream 'wetter'.
And those who have promoted paw paw for antiseptic properties have also promoted it as a contraceptive.
The thing is it is easier to prove contraceptive benefit than antiseptic!
Re Compeed bandages (and taping), I didn't mention these because ime they usually come off or fold over on themselves with sustained riding. Nevertheless, if you have a sore in a less friction susceptible spot, give it a try.
Another thing I've seen is riders wearing two pairs of nicks = 2 x chamois! usually an older stretched pair externally.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby MattyK » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:26 pm
It was I think from a fairly short ride on Monday, ~20km, usual commute with a bypass to Blackburn velodrome for some laps / aero bar position practice. While there I dropped my bars 10mm. But I have done a 70km ride with the bars in that position (about 40 of which was on the aero bars) so I'm not sure if that is related...CKinnard wrote:You don't say where the sore is and what type of cycling caused it. For a seasoned cyclist (one who does >3 hours a week, most weeks) to get a sore, they've usually done many more k's and/or climbs than usual, or they've had pain elsewhere that saw them adjust their saddle position.
There are two spots of broken skin, roughly corresponding to about the circled spots below:
Not sure if I got a bunched chamois or something, didn't really bother me at the time.
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Re: Uh... downstairs...
Postby CKinnard » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:46 pm
In your case, something I've done for the short term before is rotate the saddle away from the side of the effected leg....twist it 2mm away from the blister at first. then if it feels really good, back it off to 1mm and try again. if it feels not enough take it out to 3mm. I wouldn't recommend rotating more than 3mm or the other leg will more likely be compromised.
Here's something else to try. Considering the blister/s are in a non weightbearing area, and more amenable to bandaging, consider this
- saturate a gauze bandage in your favorite cream
- then use an elasticized strapping tape to hold the bandage on. Wrap the tape right around the thigh a few times.
- the tape will stop the skin from moving around on itself as much.
- don't leave it on overnight. compression of the dermis compromises optimal healing.
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