Serious cyclists - a personal question! (sorry tmi warning)

[amazonianwoman]

I'm training for a 600km+ charity bike ride in August and managing to do c. 30mile rides at the weekend.

Everything is going well except for my lady bits They're killing! (no, this isn't a wind-up)

Does anyone use any kind of lubrication/chafing cream, er, in intimate areas? Have been recommended Sudocreme but I thought that was to help dry out the skin ie like calming nappy rash? DH uses something called Assos chamois cream when he's cycling but I'm a bit unsure about slathering that on my fanjo...

I don't think it's helping that I'm over 40 and getting a bit drier anyway (told you it was tmi)

I wear padded shorts & have a good saddle.

If no-one can help here, I'm going to have to embarrass the hell out of one of the cute male sales assistants in Evans Cycles...

Definately ditch the underwear! You should notice an improvement straight away!

Don't have any other advice to offer that hasn't already been given here, but the more you cycle the more you toughen up and are able to take the pressure down below, so with time you should get more comfortable.

Good luck

Re: the lube thing - I'd probably use olive oil or similar, tbh. More moisturising than KY, not so heavy as vaseline.

I didn't have cleat peddles you could flip over, but they worked ok with regular shoes - some clip peddles are very small, others are normal-sized.

Have just remembered I have some Zita West natural oil stuff I was meant to rub into perineum to stretch it before birth - yuck. Never used it and never needed it, so now it will be put to good use. Thanks for prompting me NQC!

You can get SPDS that are inside platforms, so they can be used like ordinary pedals or as SPDS (get double sided ones, btw). In fact, I think it's still legally required that bike shops only sell bikes with pedals that have relfectors on them, so they always have to be the platform type.

You can't use toe-clips with cleats, though.

I love my cleats and we use them while pulling DS in the trailer. I might not with a bike seat though... but the power transfer is so much better than I think I'd have trouble getting the trailer up big hills without them!

Definitely try riding commando! And I've found that real chamois is more comfy than the synthetics or the fleece - I think it depends on the person.

Also, my DH paid for me to get a bike fitting and pedalling lesson (just on rollers) at a local bike shop a few years back. It was the best thing ever - my bike was so much more comfy and I noticed a big improvement in my performance. I'd recommend it, but make sure that it's at a proper bike shop with someone who knows what they're talking about!

Well, trotted off to Evans Cycles this morning to buy a new saddle, but they didn't have the spongy pad to measure my arse sitting bones, so will have to venture into the middle of Manchester to be measured there.

Still, I somehow managed to leave the shop £50 poorer but with a spangly new pair of Shimano SPD shoes If they make pulling trailer + DD + DS + toys + picnic any easier, then it will be money well spent

Aberdeenhiker, had thought about a proper bike fitting, but just know that I'd come out with a new bike...

I've got the half-cleat/half-pedal thingies as I only use SPD shoes on long rides - I'm just not confident enough as a rider to be able to deal with all the stopping and starting in the city - they do make a huge difference on long rides though - esp hilly ones .... (I hate hills - wish we lived in Holland not south London ...)

dh swears by sudocrem and definitely definitely go commando under cycle shorts

All I can say is, do NOT mistake your chafing cream with tiger balm and then set off in a rush...... OUCH!

I love my gel saddle cover, especially when it has been raining and it comes out of the office with me all dry and warm ... will re-read stuff on cleats etc as have just riding with DS.

Yikes, tiger balm "down under" Interesting sensation

Got a new Specialized woman's saddle this afternoon

Was mightily relieved that my arse wasn't too wide to fit on the gel mat. Can't wait to try it out.

Thanks for all the advice