London 2 Brighton - comfort whilst cycling

[Sprocket Dog]

Good morning,I'm tking part in the London to Brighton ride this weekend. I've never cycled more than 30 miles in one hit and am concerned about cycling comfort towards the end of the ride.My regular commute is 25 miles each way, so the distance shouldn't be too much of a problem, but even having an 8 hour break from the bike I still get pains in my crotch, chafing mainly and pinched skin.My bike is a Giant 4.5 XtC with the standard saddle. I usually ride wearing an Endura 3/4 length bib thingy with a padded bum area. Is there anything else I can try/change/use to make the L2B more comfortable? I've got anti-chaf gel (Lanacane) which works well when I wear a kilt, but I've always thought that it would make the padded shorts more abrasive and thus be counter-productive.Thanks,

 

[SimonC]

Do the ride in the kilt, plenty of cooling and ventilation then?

 

[MacB]

Sprocket, I've a fairly long commute and have suffered similar, though mine was exacerbated by a misaligned saddle. This resulted in a saddle sore and it's been a swine to get rid of, whilst carrying on riding. I finally seem to be making decent headway, but it's taken the following:-

wash carefully in morning
apply sudocream - I use Udderley Smooth
put on bib shorts and cycle to work
shower on arrival, paying close attention to certain areas
apply savlon then sudocream on top
put on fresh clothes and do days work
hometime - use wipes for a quick pre-ride wash
apply more sudocream
put on FRESH bib shorts
cycle home
get kit off straight away and shower or bath
more savlon and sudocream
fresh boxer shorts

I've also switched to a Brooks saddle, standard B17, and find it very comfortable.

For the LtB I'd suggest you take some wipes and cream and have a mid ride wash and re-cream, if you can I'd also change shorts as well.

 

[dellzeqq]

You'll be walking half the time. Don't worry about it.

 

[Sprocket Dog]

Sprocket, I've a fairly long commute and have suffered similar, though mine was exacerbated by a misaligned saddle. This resulted in a saddle sore and it's been a swine to get rid of, whilst carrying on riding. I finally seem to be making decent headway, but it's taken the following:-wash carefully in morningapply sudocream - I use Udderley Smoothput on bib shorts and cycle to workshower on arrival, paying close attention to certain areasapply savlon then sudocream on topput on fresh clothes and do days workhometime - use wipes for a quick pre-ride washapply more sudocreamput on FRESH bib shortscycle homeget kit off straight away and shower or bathmore savlon and sudocreamfresh boxer shortsI've also switched to a Brooks saddle, standard B17, and find it very comfortable.For the LtB I'd suggest you take some wipes and cream and have a mid ride wash and re-cream, if you can I'd also change shorts as well.

Wow, that's quite a regime Mac. Looks like a wander to the bike shop and pharmacists at lunchtime then. Do you just use regular wet wipes (Johnson & Johnson baby wipes)?

You'll be walking half the time. Don't worry about it.

Really? Distance or duration - I really don't have it in me to walk for twenty miles.

 

[MacB]

baby wipes are fine(I use non-scented), the regime is a lot but it was that or stop riding for a while. I must admit I had been wearing the same shorts for both legs of the commute. I think that was pretty damaging, especially as I sweat a lot. I had to buy more bib shorts, I've found I get on well with the Santini old team kit from Prendas. You can get them as low as £20, which is good. I have two pairs of waisted, padded, shorts, the DHB ones, but don't seem to get on with them.

I'm sure that, once all healed properly, I can ease back and things will also toughen up down there. But I'll probably carry on with the fresh shorts per commute as it is much more pleasant.

 

[Aperitif]

Bit late to suggest a narrower saddle perhaps? Maybe try your current set up with the saddle a bit further back. With all MacBludgeon's potions stuffed down your shorts nothing is going to seize up anyway!
I use Assos cream - I love the tingly feeling. (No good for the bike though ) No, seriously, I find it comfortable but not too 'gooey'...
Saddle tilt - is the position correct?
Enjoy the day, the ride, the walk, the fun of it all.

 

[Tynan]

yes, I recently tinkered with the saddle and got sore after being fine before, dropping the nose a tiny fraction fixed it at once

 

[Sprocket Dog]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I ended up using some anti-chafing gel (Aptonia stuff from Decathlon) and some industrial-strength Savlon type cream for after the cycling. I had a quick look at my saddle, it doesn't appear to be adjustable, though I didn't get much of a chance to look properly, further inspection is needed.The ride itself went fine from my POV. A fun day out with those riders not taking it seriously, though the attitudes of the few personal besters really put me off doing it again.

 

[N1ck]

Did you see the signs that said "Does your bum hurt yet?"