Subject: RE: Saddle Sores for a beginner Not to get personal, but for clarification by Saddle Sores do you mean your butt is sore from the saddle, or that you have actual sores (lesions, bumps, irritation ) caused by the saddle? Two different problems.
If you're just sore, as the other posters replied, you just need to get acclimated to sitting on a saddle. If after a couple of weeks of consistant riding you're still having the problem, you may want to consider a different saddle.
To prevent actual sores: never wear your bike shorts twice without washing them; use a chamois cream, or some other lubrication on your chamois and/or crotch; change out of your shorts as soon as possilbe after a ride; keep that area clean and dry. Saddle choice is important in the prevention of sores as well.
If you have the misfortune of actually getting a sore, continue to follow the above advice and to dry the sore out you can use some rubbing alcohol (yes it will sting as badly as you think ). Another trick is to apply some acne medication. Less sting, and the medication will dry the sore. It should disappear in a couple of days.
scott |