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How do you prevent a massacre in your lady garden?
Just wondering how other ladies manage to prevent things getting sore when on the bike.
I've tried shorts with thin padding, shorts with alot of padding and a padded seat and nothing seems to be making much of a difference.
So..what do you do?
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Comments
goes for wimmin and men
Are your bars low enough ? If they are too high - then all your weight is on your saddle - if the balance is right then only 2/3 of your weight is on it.
You can get chamois cream - Wiggle do something called Saddle Butter or something. Thats meant to be good.
butter???
rancid lady garden on a hot day...
Actually, I think my bars are a bit too far forward (or my seat too far back) and so alot of pressure is going through the front bits. Maybe that's what's doing it.
I like the idea of saddle butter though....Change your saddle. Definately avoid thickly padded shorts and padded seat covers, as they will tend to 'bunch'.
Saddles are individual things, what works for one person may not 'fit' someone elses. But it yours isn't working then try a new one, give is at least 5 rides of increasing duration to get used to it.
Regular cycling will help too, part of it just comes from time in the saddle.
and HTFU
I'm not sure I want my bits toughening up - callouses and hard skin doesn't sound too appealing!
Do most bike shops allow you to buy a saddle and swap it after a few days if it's not right for you?
don't add any padding on the saddle like these Tesco spin gel saddle things... is carp!
the Specialized Body Geometry ones for girls seem to be received well.
botty butter in fact
also know as assos chamois cream, or the ozone one is very good.
Have a look at wiggle, usually about 10 quid a tub. Last you 3-4 months!
Well worth it
I was expecting horror stories of waxing gone wrong
finding a saddle that's right for you may take a lifetime - if ever - as everyone has a different anatomy so what suits someone else may cause you agony. and many wimmin don't get on with wimmin specific saddles - my missus for one - she hates them.......
but get the bike fit done and see what happens. not all shops will lend saddles to try and frankly, unless you can try for a good length of time, you may learn nothing. if you buy and don't like it - there is always e-bay!
Saddle - make sure you have one with cut outs if it's your bits that are suffering, There are plenty to choose from. You might need to try a few before you settle on the one that suits you. (I'm up to 4 tried and tested and discarded so far)
Position is crucial. Make sure that the height and reach is good so that you aren't shifting in your seat as you pedal. And that the saddle is horizontal. You need it to be as level as possible.
Vaseline / body butter up beforehand. Prevent the chaffing before you start.
Good fitting shorts - I cycled yesterday with new tri shorts with no 'cushioning' and was fine in the chaffing department. Compare that to last weekend wearing my winter bike tights which are well padded but are now too big for me - oooh raw and hurty just because they were shifting underneath me. I was sudocreming big time afterwards.
But as others have said HTFU. That doesn't mean calluses. It means getting your body used to being on the bike for longer periods which you can only do by going out for longer.
www.crotchguard.co.uk
Brilliant stuff. Use liberally. Helps with HTFU.
The glass is half full and all that..
If you're sticking a glass in there that may be part of the problem.
Ride for less than 300miles at a time and don't wee in your shorts!
I've only twice had a serious problem, once at bala riding a new saddle and last weekend. Usually I use either assos chamios cream or any random nappy cream - trick is to be generous with it.
I think my problem last week was a combination of riding for a very long time, not reapplying cream often enough and not having put my tri bars in the right place - I did think about stopping to move them after the first 100miles but though it was a lot of faff!
Saddle makes a massive difference. As others have said, you want a hole in it or I'm thinking about trying one of the ones with a completely open front althoguh not sure if that might just move the problem.
Specialised Body geometry are the best I've found so far.
Surgical spirit toughens things up doesnt it - or is that for feet ?
You went on Saturday and they still hurt! Dear god. I couldn't wee when I got home.
Flips
Next time we get together remind me to tell you about the state of my lady garden after LEJOG
After a while, nothing worked
Ouchy
Get the bike set up checked firstly, secondly as Nam suggested work on your core, thirdly dont do too much too soon and build up gradually and use any of the previously mentioned ointments ...
I use tri shorts with very little padding and nothing else.
I smear myself with vaseline and that definitly helps. I only use it on the longer rides now as I'm trying to HTFU.
I finally started going commando style a few weeks back and that definitely makes a big improvement.