Undercarriage Multi-Day Hygiene

[Richard G]

I noticed this topic come up in the bum butter thread, and I'm wondering if anyone has any good advice to share.

On the WRT this weekend I took some anti-bacterial wipes with me for use around my undercarriage at the end of the day. Whilst they didn't stop the damage that was being done (I have massive problems with my perineum getting shredded), they did seem to stop me getting anywhere near as sore as I normally would do. Especially given I haven't ridden outdoors for 9 months so my body is definitely not hardened to it.

Is there any sort of good wipe / cream combination that might help? I can't help feeling that the wipes I had might have been a touch extreme for use in sensitive areas.

I know that Dave swears (lol?) by a particular routine and I'd be happy to try out some different options as I have a few multi day rides coming up.

[Dave Barter]

I use baby wipes and every sink I encounter on the way. Never drink from a basin within 50 miles of me. I also slather on witch hazel

[Richard G]

Cheers. Have never considered using witch hazel. Sounds hardcore!

Edit - Interesting, apparently helps with inflammation. That could definitely be useful for me. Do you buy the gel / cream?

[sean_iow]

I use anti bacterial wipes although I also wondered if they might be a bit harsh? As well as my undercarriage I also give the chamois a wipe over. I also make sure to get some air to my bits/get the shorts off.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm fairly convinced that I've never suffered because I don't use or wear anything beneath my baggies. Obviously, that provides plenty of ventilation to everything.

[Dave Barter]

There’s ventilation and cleanliness. I’m not convinced you’d get away with nothing on a 20 day plus outing. A boil can end a trip. I know that only too well. Witch hazel is the best thing I’ve found for keeping them at bay.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I’m not convinced you’d get away with nothing on a 20 day plus outing

Possibly not but many people appear to suffer far earlier than that Dave.

Witch Hazel, also great for sunburn

[ton]

I have never worn cycling shorts. They made me sweaty and sore. I wear M&S undies which I rotate with a second pair. I wash the worn pair once done for the day.

Never get sore down below.

[lune ranger]

Any trip longer than 3 nights and I wash my shorts every evening in water using whatever soap I’m carrying for me.
Longer (week+) trips I’ll have two pairs of shorts and alternate them each day.
The undercarriage gets washed with soap and water every day as far as is possible.
No problems with sores using that routine over months of cycle travel.

[BigdummySteve]

One tip I heard somewhere is to never wash your shorts in biological powder, apparently any residue try’s to dissolve your arse

[TheBrownDog]

Paw paw ointment is a good option for a shredded perineum. Aussie cyclists swear by it for treating existing saddle sores. Not much good for preventing them in my experience, but a dab is very soothing in the evening when you've cleaned up and things have cooled down.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Get some Tiger Balm slapped on

[lune ranger]

Get some Tiger Balm slapped on

No way hippie.... what you need is Ralgex

[GregMay]

Wash whenever you can. Dry put your bits often (I sleep with nowt undercarriage on for that reason, leg warmers stay on mind). Find a chamois with a lot of venting. Stand up on descents to promote "cooling" effect. At night try your best to dry out your shorts - I adopt the inside my jacket while I am sleeping technique. This became quite... intoxicating during the latter stages of the TDR.

[Richard G]

Some good info here, cheers. This definitely just isn't sweat / chammy related as I've now had it happen both when I'm wearing a pad and when not. Seems to get worse when I'm getting on and off the bike a lot, very rarely an issue if there's not a lot of hike a bike. Also, I'd expect it to be worse at race pace if it was just heat related too, and it's definitely not.

I should try some cutout saddles again.

[Jurassic]

I should try some cutout saddles again.

Despite having a Selle Italia Max Flite Gelflow saddle (with a cut out) on my gravel bike, I'd always thought that cut out saddles were a bit of a gimmick to some extent. Recently though I decided to try an Ergon SM saddle on one of my mountain bikes after suffering with perineal numbness on longer rides. First impressions weren't very positive, it didn't feel very comfortable and seemed very sensitive to fore and aft and level adjustments but I persevered with it and either it broke in a little or my arse adapted to it. What was very noticeable though was that it completely eliminated any perineal pressure. After a month of use I bought one to replace the Selle Italia on my full sus bike and when I can justify the outlay I think I'll be trying the SR (roady) version on my gravel bike. Ergon grips have been my go to for a while now and although I know saddles are a very personal thing I'm quite impressed with the saddles as well.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Wash whenever you can. Dry put your bits often (I sleep with nowt undercarriage on for that reason, leg warmers stay on mind). Find a chamois with a lot of venting. Stand up on descents to promote "cooling" effect. At night try your best to dry out your shorts - I adopt the inside my jacket while I am sleeping technique. This became quite... intoxicating during the latter stages of the TDR.

[Richard G]

Recently though I decided to try an Ergon SM saddle on one of my mountain bikes after suffering with perineal numbness on longer rides. First impressions weren't very positive, it didn't feel very comfortable and seemed very sensitive to fore and aft and level adjustments but I persevered with it and either it broke in a little or my arse adapted to it. What was very noticeable though was that it completely eliminated any perineal pressure.

Cheers. Maybe I can find a loan one somewhere.

[yourguitarhero]

My technique is:
Pants:
Endura shorts with clickfast liners. I take 2 or 3 liners and rotate them. Wash/dry the not worn ones when you get the chance.
Washing:
I also take a washcloth/flannel. Find it works a lot better than baby wipes and is a bit better from an environmental/throwaway point? I also have some small silicone re-fillable travel toiletry bottles I fill up with face wash.
Sore bits:
I take some sudocream and put that on any rubbing/chafing.

[Charliecres]

Overheating is where problems seem to start for me. I rarely have issues in cold weather but when it heats up I get what I assume are inflamed pores or sweat glands that provide a good focus for chafing.

That said, I’ve never had a serious problem, even on multi-day trips.

My regime is nothing more than: wash my undercarriage when I can, using whatever’s available, apply chamois cream every morning, wash shorts if I get a chance.

[UnderTheRadars]

A wire brush and antibacterial hand gel that we’re all carrying now, sorts the adults from the children

[ledburner]

A wire brush and antibacterial hand gel that we’re all carrying now, sorts the adults from the children

You're a right bright Arse (Ar'se)

[ledburner]

A wire brush and antibacterial hand gel that we’re all carrying now, sorts the adults from the children

You're a right bright Arse (Ar'se)

That missed the profannyity filter!

[FLV]

I suffered with a chamois is hot weather, I've been experimenting without the chamois lately yet have only tried an overnighter so far.

I've also changed saddles with the loss of the chamois and now have 3 different ones on the go!

I'm using montane dart undies as there's no seam accross the cheek. A major advantage for me is they take up next to no room to carry a spare pair for day 2 or 3 and dry very quickly.

As ever, ventilation in heat, try to keep yer arse dry in the wet.

[redefined_cycles]

I wash my bottom with good old clean water over the latrine/toilet/squatting over a hole position. If it's after having relieved self then it'll be a wipe first.

We got taught by the prophet Mohammed (SallallahuAlayhiWasallam/PBUH) a clean hand dirty hand technique. Whereby we eat with the right hand (unless good reason we're unable to) and wash bottom with the left hand. Obviously after toilet duties it'll be a good old wash of hands with water etc...

Once everything's clean proper then I find the sores don't come as quickly and less likely to become infected so able to ride further. This one year i made a sudocrem/honey concoction to ride to Bristol. Not sure if that's 2hat killed my ST trousers but basically the lather on my bottom and on the chamoise caused a nice barrier but it seeped through slightly so I waa stuck to saddle some of the ride

Btw, I'll be careful not to go use any sinks anywhere within Daves range thanks for the repeat warning