Saddle sores can really make cycling a nightmare for those who suffer from them frequently. They can be small, painful and distracting blemishes or abrasions, that make the riding difficult and sometimes, impossible. Cases show that professional cyclists had to abandon races because of sores that turned into cysts.

Constant rubbing of skin against cycling shorts or saddle surface leads to sores. If left unattended for long time, bacterial infection sets in, and they become painful an difficult.

Avoiding these skin abrasions

Improving the bike fit – necessary. If the seat is too high, then the hips rocks on the seat and it irritates the skin.

Standing and stretching – lifting yourself for 15-20 seconds should do the trick, because it reduces the pressure on the crotch and restores the circulation

Moving on the saddle – It’s important to get the maximum support, so try sitting towards the rear. For relieving the pressure on the skin a frequent change of position is recommended.

Smooth and soft shorts – shorts or chamois are recommended because they are soft and padded. Before finding the one that suits the individual’s skin, one has to experiment different brands.

Selecting a supportive seat – saddles too narrow, wide or soft can have their disadvantages, because, some can’t give enough support to your bones, some can create numbing pressure, some can rub the inner things.

Lubrication – to reduce friction cause by the chamois is recommended to use good ointment (petroleum jelly or balm).

Keeping clean – for each ride, wear clean shorts, and try keeping the skin dry. Washing the crotch with antibacterial soap and warm water before lubing up is also recommended.

Quick change – try to change your shorts immediately after a ride, so that way you prevent the bacteria from breeding and entering the abraded skin.

Sleep without clothes – As long as you are in bed free of clothing contact, air circulation keeps the skin dry.

At the first sign of sores medical help is recommended. Especially helpful is the acne gel containing 10% benzyl peroxide. Also, it can be tried a course of oral antibiotics.