They explode eventually and you’re cured. Put some chamois cream before and Petro-jelly on after. (Chamo cream is nice bc its thick, but I’ve used any old body/hand cream before when in a pinch)
Saddle sores are just part of sitting on a saddle for many hours. They come and go (at least in my 10yr experience cycling).
One or two isn’t unusual or reason to sound the alarms (and go spend $). However, if it’s like a teenagers pimply face, that’s not natural!
I used rubbing alcohol afterwards for a while. It maybe made them heal faster, but who knows.
I’m dealing with a particularly nasty one caused by friction and ill fitting shorts on a ride last week. But I’ve rarely had issues in my years of riding. I attribute that to:
Proper bike fit
Keeping kits clean (one wear and wash, sun dry)
Not sitting around in kits after rides/races, change into dry clean clothes ASAP, even before driving home more than a few min.
Clean the nether regions with witch hazel wipe while changing after ride/race.
Daily use of Bag Balm on any hot spots that might form.
Take a couple of days completely off if they get bad enough.
I’m trying the combo of bag balm and Vick’s to get rid of the one I’m fighting right now. Already better than it was last night, and the Vicks helps it feel better too… but taking today off the bike altogether.
Chris Horner is the man, I love Horner’s Corner. When he first joined the NBC tour coverage a few years ago I instantly hated him. He came off terribly on camera. After a few stages he obviously got some coaching and now he’s a joy to listen to because he will say some things the other retired pros seem to shy away from.
For abrasions, use Chlorhexidine - Wikipedia at the end of your shower, then rinse off. Also known as Hibiclens. Generic versions are available at any drug store.
Update: the sore I had was as bad as I’ve ever had on Wednesday. I started using Vicks Vaporub Thursday afternoon. I rode three hours on Friday and it was better after the ride. By Saturday morning, it was completely gone.
As a follow-up, tried various things suggested here including vapo-rub, tea tree oil, and different saddles. Tea tree oil to keep things in check and unscented antiperspirant to keep things dry works well for me. I moved on to a specialized power arc elaston saddle which worked well until rides got over 90 minutes, then the sores would come back. Lately a brooks c17 carved is the most comfortable for long rides.
What really seems to be making the biggest difference though is correcting a leg length discrepancy. I have a rod in my right tibia, and the sores always seem to be on the right side. So I assume I have a real or functional leg length discrepancy. 4mm of shims under my right cleat has given me 2 weeks of pain-free riding, the first in years! I’m hopeful but I can’t help but wait for another sore to develop…we’ll see.
A little bit of Bag Balm on the high friction spots.
Ride.
Bibs off as soon as possible. Races, I hit the port o potty and get out of the bibs.
Away from home, hit the taint with a witch hazel pad to clean and kill bacteria, then into loose fitting boxers and whatever pants.
Shower at home.
After the shower, a little Bag Balm.
Vicks vaporub if I happen to have a sore.
Again loose boxers if dealing with a sore.
I find that 90% of my saddle sores over the years are from long periods spent in sweaty bibs. So I do whatever I can to prevent that. I had one bad sore this past season, and Vicks pretty much knocked it out in a day. Overall I don’t get very many at all.
