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Women and Chamois cream

by pepita1
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 17:24
10

I am having some difficulty getting comfortable on my saddle. I've changed saddles from a WSD Bontrager (original to the bike), to a WSD Fizik Arione Donna and now a Cobb Cycling VFlow. I've also been professionally fitted to the bicycle (which was very helpful) but am still having difficulty. I also am wearing bottoms that have very good WSD chamois pads. I have not tried Assos as yet (I hear once you have you never go back) because they are quite expensive. But as yet, I have not tried chamois cream...

My questions are:
1. What does chamois cream actually do?
2. Is it hygienic? And easily washed out of clothing?
2. Is chamois cream a possible remedy for a woman experiencing 'in the saddle' chafing?

Thanks for any info or suggestions...and don't laugh! It really is painful during and after rides!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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10 comments

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
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My wife found my chamois cream today and asked me what it was. She didn't stop laughing for ages.

Felt like I was revealing a guilty secret! 7 4

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Super Domestique | 12 years ago
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My wife tried a few saddles but found those with gel, etc very uncomfortable.

I really like charge saddles so bought her the charge ladle to try and she highly recommends it. Although this was for her mtb so it might not look sleek enough for a road bike.

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ortonangel | 12 years ago
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I had massive issues with saddle sore, mainly around the front where sensitive parts were chafing together and I completely relate to the above description of feeling like you've been rubbed with sandpaper. Chamois cream does help a lot, as it lubricates everything so there's much less friction and chafing. But finding the right saddle is what made the biggest difference.

I went through so many saddles and some were better than others. I recently finally found my 'forever' saddle and I think it might be worth you having a go, as it sounds like you have similar problems to me. It's called the Adamo and it's by a company called ISM: I believe it was originally designed for male triathletes to help resolve the perineal pressure issue, but they've unwittingly designed a perfect women's saddle!

It has a very short nose and doesn't join at the front, meaning there is absolutely zero pressure or even contact with my sensitive frontal area. It's a funny-looking saddle but it's transformed my riding experience and loads of my female cycling buddies have gone off and bought one after trying mine. I've been seeing more and more of them about and I've even recently started spotting them in some of the bigger Evans stores. Anyway, don't know where you're based but I got mine from Sigma Sports, their website has good pics of the saddle: http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/BrandCat/14359/1464/ism-saddles.asp

Seriously, I can't recommend this saddle enough!

Hope that helps 1

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pepita1 replied to ortonangel | 12 years ago
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Thanks for the info...I am on the Cobb V-flow saddle and though I still get some pain/numbness it is much less than with the other saddles I've tried. I'm familiar with the Adamo saddle from ISM and may have to try it out if the Cobb doesn't work out. The Cobb has an 180-day comfort guarantee so I've got 4 months or so to go.

I'm doing the Dartmoor Classic in June so I was gonna put as many miles on the Cobb as possible but if by February I'm still having difficulty, I may need to look into the Adamo.

Thanks again for the advice.

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londonplayer | 12 years ago
0 likes

Try Selle Italia with well-padded bib shorts/road tights. I'm obviously speaking from a male perspective but when I ride my Selle Italia Prolink with Decathlon road tights (a massive comfy pad on the inside), it almost feels too comfortable. It feels like you're sitting on a sofa.

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Tony Farrelly | 12 years ago
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You might also like to check out this stuff, it's called Hoo Ha Ride Glide, and it's a chamois cream that is supposedly formulated especially for women - we've got some coming in in test, not by me obviously.

http://4alloutdoors.org/reviews/health-and-safety/hoo-ha-ride-glide/

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pepita1 replied to Tony Farrelly | 12 years ago
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tony_farrelly wrote:

You might also like to check out this stuff, it's called Hoo Ha Ride Glide, and it's a chamois cream that is supposedly formulated especially for women - we've got some coming in in test, not by me obviously.

http://4alloutdoors.org/reviews/health-and-safety/hoo-ha-ride-glide/

Thanks for the info as I did purchase the Hoo Ha Ride Glide and never leave home without it!

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pepita1 | 12 years ago
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I think I'll at least give it a try, if only to eliminate it!

Funny thing is I don't ever recall having any trouble when I was younger (I've come back to the bike after an absence of 21 yrs) so it's a bit frustrating. It ruins my pedalling and by the end of a 40 miler it feels as if I've been sitting on coarse sandpaper!

You mention pressure issues which I, too, experience (though after the professional bike fit, there has been some improvement) but you don't mention the steps you've taken to help. I'd be grateful if you would share your experience. Thanks

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Anna D replied to pepita1 | 12 years ago
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Unfortunately, there isn't much to tell. my biggest issue was pressure- my lady bits felt like a small person was standing on them. all of a sudden, after about 2 months of riding, i could barely go 10 minutes without terrible pain. I went through 4 saddles (i'm on my fifth now)- a specialized dolce sport (stock on the dolce sport bike), specialized jett compact gel, specialized lithia comp gel, selle italia SLK, and finally a selle royale respiro athletic. I had a bike fit, which didn't help much (mainly bc i think they didn't do a good job). another problem I had was getting a saddle that was wide enough- if the saddle wasn't wide enough for my sits bones, it felt like sitting on two nails!

eventually i tried a different bike shop. they adjusted my bike fit and let me try out a couple of saddles. the selle royale is wide enough and has a large enough of a cut out that my lady bits aren't smooshed and my butt is well supported. The pain isn't totally gone, but that might be because i'm not riding my bike as much as i should be. in any case, it's eons better than it was, so i'll take it!

i would just suggest trying out lots of saddles and don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion on the bike fit (because my first shop didn't do so well with me). or even go back to the shop who gave you the fit and ask them to reevaluate. i never found chamois cream to be much help, as the pressure was the issue for me, and chamois cream isn't going to help that!

good luck, and you can visit my bog for more information!

Anna

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Anna D | 12 years ago
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I've also had serious saddle issues, so i know it's no laughing matter. if your issue is pressure related (like mine is!), chamois cream won't make a difference. if your saddle issue IS chaffing related, the chamois cream will definitely help. it just provides a barrier between your skin and your shorts. you can use any chamois cream, as most of it is naturally derived, but it might be helpful to find female specific chamois cream (hooha ride glide is good!), as lady bits aren't the same as man bits and are a bit more sensitive than man bits.

it's as hygienic as any cream you put on your body! and it washes out.

GOOD LUCK. i sympathize- i've had massive saddle issues and fixing it isn't an easy task.

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