I am butthurt

**The Suit** · 10-09-2017, 07:15 PM

In many thousands of miles of cycling, I've never had any significant problem with chafing/saddle sores. Until yesterday. Two days ago I had a little bit of tenderness on my butt after a 2 hour road ride, but thought nothing of it. Yesterday, about halfway through a 4 hour ride my butt started hurting -- the kind of pain associated with irritated skin. An hour later I could barely sit on the saddle, much less pedal. Fortunately the rest of the ride was mostly downhill, but getting home was tough. After a painful shower and changing into real clothing, I could barely sit on a chair. Today is better, but I'm still not comfortable sitting.

I'm at a loss to explain why the sudden attack of skin irritation when I've never had the problem before. Mileages & time on the saddle were pretty much the same last week as every other week this summer. Shorts were the same shorts I've worn all summer.

Has anyone here experienced or have an explanation for a sudden attack of saddle soreness? Or should I just chalk it up to 'one of those things' and revel in my newly-toughened butt callouses?

**BigDaddy** · 10-09-2017, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by The Suit

Shorts were the same shorts I've worn all summer.

Ok, SOLVED. $50 please.

Seriously, if that's the first pain you're ever experienced biking, you're living a charmed life. No idea about your rash, but I would advise seeking a professional.

**TBS** · 10-09-2017, 07:38 PM

New laundry soap?

**Vt-Freeheel** · 10-09-2017, 07:39 PM

Stop shaving your ass against the grain, likely an ingrown hair gone wild.

**muted** · 10-09-2017, 08:11 PM

why did I click on this

**mtngirl79** · 10-09-2017, 08:27 PM

Maybe you have a yeast infection.

**kidwoo** · 10-09-2017, 10:02 PM

Don't ride for a few days.

Then you'll have a callous.

And it won't happen again.

**grinch** · 10-09-2017, 10:28 PM

Probably a tick embedded in the backside of your sachel. Should be fine

**nest** · 10-09-2017, 10:33 PM

Fournier

**snoqpass** · 10-09-2017, 10:34 PM

Sudden onset butt itch is real

**GoldMember** · 10-09-2017, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by TBS

New laundry soap?

My first thought, too.

**jono** · 10-09-2017, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by muted

why did I click on this

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

Maybe you have a yeast infection.

Clicking finger yeast? Is that a thing?

**Mofro261** · 10-09-2017, 10:53 PM

Callous ass

has a ring to it.

**grinch** · 10-09-2017, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mofro261

Callous ass

has a ring to it.

My favourite punk band

**jetski** · 10-10-2017, 12:02 PM

Sit bone, taint or hole? Where is the discomfort coming from. I need to know for proper diagnosis

**Jonny Snow** · 10-10-2017, 12:24 PM

Ass cancer.

**beaterdit** · 10-10-2017, 12:53 PM

Sounds like an ingrown hair. Don't want details but have you gotten a look at the area? Can you see or feel a lump? Jeezus don't really want to go there but a hand mirror can be useful. Either way, hot baths with epsom salt will help. Bacitracin to the area at night, chamois butter for riding, or even for daily life if it's that painful.

**mall walker** · 10-10-2017, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by The Suit

revel in my newly-toughened butt callouses

this phrase has a nice ring to it

**Jack Burton** · 10-10-2017, 01:13 PM

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/rider.../?id=keith0606

**The Suit** · 10-10-2017, 03:04 PM

The butthurt is already subsiding, luckily. No change in laundry soap, so that's not it. I'm pretty sure it's not an ingrown hair, as the irritation was pretty symmetrical on both sides. I would expect something like an ingrown hair or a buried tick to be in one specific spot.

I'm thinking maybe my chamois is just worn out. They should put wear bars on those things.

**GoldMember** · 10-10-2017, 03:07 PM

I think Jack Burton's post above is good advice. And yeah, a new pair of shorts might help.

**bagtagley** · 10-10-2017, 06:44 PM

Similar situation for me this summer. Lots of riding with no issue, then all the sudden sever butt burn in the shower after a long ride. It kept coming back, even on short rides. New shorts eliminated the problem.

**mmmm...pow!** · 10-10-2017, 09:06 PM

New shorts, huh? I've got a rotation of three pairs of shorts, one being maybe ten or twelve years old. Should I be worried about my ass spontaneously combusting?

**MTT** · 10-10-2017, 10:07 PM

I have not been riding much, but when I do I always wear bike shorts with the padded ass and crotch under whatever I happen to wear.

I never build up a tolerance to riding but it solves the problem.

I even wear the things under my ski pants now - Really comfy and warm