This is a first. I’ve just developed a saddle sore on my crotch where I sit on the saddle. Feels like an ingrown pimple or something. It’s a small hard nodule and quite tender. I’ve never had one of these before and haven’t got a clue how to treat it. Will be doing a tri this weekend so it won’t be a comfy bike leg.
Any suggestions? Cream, etc? Thanks in advance.
It might be a pimple. Might be an ingrown hair, too. Saddle sore, IME, is usually more generalized and not pinpoint pain, but I suppose that is just a clarification of terms issue. I kind of think of saddle sore as generalized tissue soreness from chafe or bad positioning. A day or two off of the saddle usually straightens those kinds of issues out, for me anyway. For now, some antibiotic ointment on the affected area and keep it clean and as dry as possible would be what I’d do. Have someone check to see if its an ingrown hair which can be exposed or a pimple to POP! (you need a REALLY good friend for this)
Wash with anti-bacterial soap after your ride and wear clean shorts for every ride. When I ride in to work I bring a fresh set of shorts for the ride home. Go without underwear when you can and let your crotch air out. I’ve used some stuff called Boil-Ease to help with the pain while riding but I don’t think that it would survive the swim for your tri this weekend.
Good Luck!
“It might be a pimple. Might be an ingrown hair”
I think that’s probably what it is. Damn uncomfortable to sit on. I’ll have to get the wife to have a good look at it since I can’t see down there myself. Thanks for the advice.
It must be love.
J.
This may sound a little strange, but I have really good luck with Tea Tree oil. It is a natual antiseptic and astringent. It will tend to dry them up fairly quickly, unless the pimple has progressed to become a boil or even worse a carbuncle. The last two may take antibiotics to help clear up. If it is a pimple, be careful not to squeeze it to drain it, the bacteria could be pushed into the deeper layers of the skin resulting in the above worse problems. I do feel for you, dambed painful in that area.