Returning to cycling, sore skin on vulva

[PandoraRocks]

I've just taken up cycling again after a gap of many years. I bought a bike off Ebay - Pendleton Brooke hybrid - and I'm practising on cycle paths as my skills are very rusty.

I went out yesterday and rode for an hour, my longest ride yet. Lots of stop/starting, getting used to gears etc. Apart from a helmet, I wore normal clothes. I was a bit sore down below when I finished and was horrified to see a tiny patch of raw skin on the inside of my vulva, presumably where I've been sitting.

The saddle is reasonably comfy and I'm in my 50s if that's relevant. I cant ride again until it heals. Has this been caused by the saddle or is it crappy menopausal skin that's the problem? I don't want to abandon my new hobby before I've even started!

You just need to buy some padded cycling clothesIt is worth investing makes all the difference .

And use chamois cream - gamechanger

^^what they said. Padded shorts and chamois cream. Sudocreme is an easy-to-obtain stopgap to treat the chafed bit. I used it for about 6 months when I didn't have proper cream and it works fine but is hard to wash out.

You can buy padded cycling knickers if you don't want shorts, you just wear them instead of your usual undies. Whatever you do don't wear undies if you get cycling shorts, you really will chafe then!