Can we talk about shorts pads?

[HertzvanRental]

The logic behind chamois cream is not just to reduce friction etc to reduce sores but it is its antibacterial ingredients which benefit a rider to prevent saddle sores and infections which can put you out of action. I make my own chamois cream, all antibacterial products and for what you pay for a small tub, I can make a kilo at a time. Sadly Boots have doubled the price on one of the ingredients, and just because they put it into a tub with a dispenser and put £4 on the price. Robbing sods.

As for having a chamois pad in your shorts, I found out last year, you do not need one. On a 240 mile Audax, realised after 13 miles, I only had my unpadded bib tights on and forgot to put my padded shorts on, as it would waste to much time turning back, I carried on and it never crossed my mind till I finished and never suffered in any way.

Recipe, perchance?

 

[zacklaws]

Tub of Boots Aqueous Cream, Tub of Boots Derma Cream, 70ml Witch Hazel, 10ml antibacterial essential oil (you can use any so long as its antibacterial, I use Tea Tree Oil, stinks like rotten socks though). Mix the two creams together, add the Witch Hazel, then slowly stir in the oil. When mixed put back into the tubs. As I mentioned earlier, one of the ingredients doubled in price, the Derma cream since they started putting it into a dispenser tub, but if you prise the top off and refill it it with the chamois cream it makes it easier to dispense. I have tried the creams from other cheaper sources but only Boots own brand works the best.

Its not my recipe, its a well known one made by a rider and used by the pro's which was on the now long gone website, Gazzetta della Bici, and with a contribution by Bradley Wiggins wife of adding the essential oil. An application of this will last me an entire 400K audax and even a 600K one and even stays on in the rain. If I recall, it went on sale which is why there is no website with the explicit details for it and my search for it online now make me believe it became called Enzo's buttonhole chamois cream. Somewhere on one of my many backup DVD's, I have all the webpages saved about it.

Here's a bit of a link to it with some basic details:-

http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2012/04/02/homemade-chamois-cream-recipe/

 

[HertzvanRental]

Tub of Boots Aqueous Cream, Tub of Boots Derma Cream, 70ml Witch Hazel, 10ml antibacterial essential oil (you can use any so long as its antibacterial, I use Tea Tree Oil, stinks like rotten socks though). Mix the two creams together, add the Witch Hazel, then slowly stir in the oil. When mixed put back into the tubs. As I mentioned earlier, one of the ingredients doubled in price, the Derma cream since they started putting it into a dispenser tub, but if you prise the top off and refill it it with the chamois cream it makes it easier to dispense. I have tried the creams from other cheaper sources but only Boots own brand works the best.

Its not my recipe, its a well known one made by a rider and used by the pro's which was on the now long gone website, Gazzetta della Bici, and with a contribution by Bradley Wiggins wife of adding the essential oil. An application of this will last me an entire 400K audax and even a 600K one and even stays on in the rain. If I recall, it went on sale which is why there is no website with the explicit details for it and my search for it online now make me believe it became called Enzo's buttonhole chamois cream. Somewhere on one of my many backup DVD's, I have all the webpages saved about it.

Here's a bit of a link to it with some basic details:-

http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2012/04/02/homemade-chamois-cream-recipe/

Thank you.

 

[HertzvanRental]

Tub of Boots Aqueous Cream, Tub of Boots Derma Cream, 70ml Witch Hazel, 10ml antibacterial essential oil (you can use any so long as its antibacterial, I use Tea Tree Oil, stinks like rotten socks though). Mix the two creams together, add the Witch Hazel, then slowly stir in the oil. When mixed put back into the tubs. As I mentioned earlier, one of the ingredients doubled in price, the Derma cream since they started putting it into a dispenser tub, but if you prise the top off and refill it it with the chamois cream it makes it easier to dispense. I have tried the creams from other cheaper sources but only Boots own brand works the best.

Its not my recipe, its a well known one made by a rider and used by the pro's which was on the now long gone website, Gazzetta della Bici, and with a contribution by Bradley Wiggins wife of adding the essential oil. An application of this will last me an entire 400K audax and even a 600K one and even stays on in the rain. If I recall, it went on sale which is why there is no website with the explicit details for it and my search for it online now make me believe it became called Enzo's buttonhole chamois cream. Somewhere on one of my many backup DVD's, I have all the webpages saved about it.

Here's a bit of a link to it with some basic details:-

http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2012/04/02/homemade-chamois-cream-recipe/

Following the release of the "recipe" in June, I have today concocted a batch of your "Super Elixir" chamois cream.
I shall await it's application with interest!!

 

[zacklaws]

I have a ride faster version, just add 4 teaspoons of chilli powder and apply the cream liberally around the butt.

 

[Cannondale Lady]

Very interesting and helpful for this new and very sore female rider!

 

[Katherine]

Very interesting and helpful for this new and very sore female rider!

Check out the cycling underwear from Velovixon
http://www.velovixen.com/shop.html?cat=216

 

[sionhughes]

Try D2D's shorts http://www.d2dcyclingclothing.co.uk/ . Recently bought some and im mightily impressed. Quite thick pad, but very comfortable. They have a great returns process so if you don't like the look of the pad when you get them, send them back.

 

[F70100]

It is the moisture (sweat) that causes sores and companies like Assos work hard to find a way to wick this away from friction areas between bum and saddle.

I've seen what they did there!

I'm finding that after 18 months, 2300 miles and many washes, that the pad in my Endura bib shorts doesn't seem as effective as it once was. Thank goodness it will soon be Christmas...

 

[Crandoggler]

I think; unless you're a lightweight rider, you'll get sore after so many miles. Obviously the pad is only the tip of the iceberg, but if we're staying with pads my experience is as such:

I personally use B'TWIN cycling gear from decathlon. The pad is perfectly fine and I don't get sore as such, just irritated after 40 miles or so. Then again, I'm 6ft 2 and the best part of 17 stone. So is it any wonder? I'd assume if I weighed 12 stone with my anatomy, I'd cruise for miles as if I was on a cloud.

I also use bib shorts, and always will. The pad stays where it should, doesn't slide or move about and stays tight to me. I've never used a cream.

 

[zacklaws]

One of the main uses of chamois cream is not so much to provide comfort but to prevent infections, boils, saddle sores etc. The inside of a chamois in your shorts can become an unhygenic place, especcially if you do not change them every day or you are on a very long ride. On short rides, I do not use it at all. Also some chamois in shorts require a very low temperature wash and that is not enough to kill the bacteria off, one pair of mine requires a cold water wash, so basically its just getting a rinse with some soap powder, so when I wear them next, their just clean dirty shorts with a good chance of picking up an infection

 

[bpsmith]

I am happy with the pad in my regular bibs. Bought some cream for a 3 day charity ride earlier in the Summer and now don't ride anywhere without it. Certainly makes a big difference when rides get a bit longer, and keeps things clean as mentioned above.

I wash mine after every ride, but I am currently not commuting so it's no hardship. 30 degree washes aren't particular amazing for germs.

 

[ayceejay]

One way to cope with this is to dry them outside, the sun will kill a lot of germs.

 

[bpsmith]

That would be nice, but overnight in South Wales kind of puts pay to that.

 

[ayceejay]

You need more than one pair then