Preventing Saddles Sores + Bliss Review & Giveaway!
06. Jul, 2011 
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Over the last several decades, bike saddles and cycling clothing have been changing to make cyclists not only faster, but more comfortable. Cycling shorts evolved from wool shorts with real leather chamois crotches to tight fitting LYCRA® shorts with a synthetic chamois. (Even better, cycling clothing companies designed women’s shorts with the chamois anatomically designed to fit women.) In those early days, the authentic leather chamois would become stiff like the leather it is, and the solution was to soften it up with chamois cream. Cyclists discovered a little extra chamois cream felt nicer on the skin as well and helped prevent saddle sores. The modern synthetic chamois portion of the cycling shorts offered improvements in comfort and so as a result, modern chamois creams aren’t meant to be applied to the chamois, but to the skin itself, to prevent saddle sores or to help heal them.
If you haven’t had saddle sores, consider yourself lucky. But if you put a lot of miles on your bike in a short amount of time, you will probably get them. If you are riding in hot conditions, the combination of friction + sweat/salt on the skin is more likely to result in saddle sores. Riding in wet conditions will also cause problems as the wet skin will be more tender and susceptible to the chafing. How bad can saddle sores become? Some cyclists on multi-day endurance rides speak of saddle sores which become bleeding wounds. Who wants to not be able to complete an event, not because they aren’t fit enough, but because sitting on the saddle has become unbearable?
A Review of DZ NUTs Bliss
I recently rode in a 6-day 450 mile event and it was the perfect opportunity to try out DZ Nuts Bliss chamois cream which is specifically designed for women. The first three days I rode hard and applied Bliss first thing each morning. However, the fourth day I forgot to use it. By the time I hit mile 50 on a warm ride through the desert, I could feel the pain. It made me want to finish the ride standing up. That night in the motel room, I put Bliss on the saddle sores before bed and reapplied a few times the next day, which was my rest day. The next day, I did NOT forget to put on the Bliss and was able to enjoy the 90 mile-ride because I had no pain. I learned a valuable lesson about chamois cream and really became a fan of Bliss.
Why did DZ Nuts make a special cream just for women? “It is women-specific because women have a unique physiology. Bliss also has a less intense tingle (than DZ Nuts) designed for a woman’s sensibilities.” (Bliss was designed with a lot of input from the HTC-Columbia pro women’s team .)
Like many chamois creams, Bliss is meant as a lubricant and skin barrier to help prevent chafing and saddle sores. Bliss also has probiotics to discourage pathogenic yeast and bacteria. I was glad to hear that the formulation of Bliss includes soothing plant based polymers and not harsh chemicals or preservatives. It has anti-itch ingredients which are important to reduce the feelings some cyclists get of prickling and itching. Lastly, it can be applied to already existing sores after a ride or before bed to help heal the skin.
Eight Ways to Prevent Saddle Sores:
- Chamois cream isn’t meant to be applied in teaspoon-sized, well rubbed-in amounts. If you want it to work, you’ll want to slather it on. For an especially long ride, put on more. Alternatively, for a long day, re-apply after several hours.
- Get a good saddle that fits you comfortably. We’re all different. A saddle that works wonderfully well for your friend, may not be right for you and vice-versa. If you are on a cruiser just riding a few miles, those cushy, wide saddles are great but trust us, if you are going for faster, longer rides, the narrow saddles will cause less chafing. Some road bike saddles do come with a bit of gel padding if you need it.
Change your bike seat if it's uncomfortable for you!
- Get a good bike fit. The saddle needs to be positioned correctly for you!
- A pair of good quality cycling shorts with a well designed chamois will be more comfortable than a cheaply made one. The fabric of your shorts should fit you smoothly, have flat seams, and there should be no wrinkles in the fabric at all. If you are a committed cyclist, it’s worth it in the long run to invest in higher quality shorts or bibs.
- Are you working up to prepare for a long endurance ride? Increase your mileage gradually.
- Wash and dry your bike shorts between each wearing. Underwear isn’t meant to be worn under your cycling shorts as it will increase chafing. There is at least one caveat to that; women who are riding during a heavy period may have no choice and need to wear underwear at that time. In that case, choose underwear made of technical fabric with minimal seams.
- During long rides change your position on the seat as needed: stand up, move back, move forward—whatever works!
- If you are losing weight, you will notice less saddle soreness eventually. A thin cyclist puts a reduced amount of pressure per square inch on the saddle and that results in less saddle soreness. (This isn’t to say that thin cyclists don’t get saddle sores; they do, just ask some pro cyclists. The legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx once had to drop out of a few races because of them.)
DZ NUTS Giveaway
DZ Nuts is offering a giveaway for readers of Cycle & Style: a tube of DZ Nuts Bliss (4 oz.) and also one of DZ-Nuts Bald Shaving Cream (200 ml.)
DZ Nuts Bald Super Smooth Shaving Cream is a soap free lubrication that prevents razor burn and razor bumps and won’t clog the razor. The soothing botanicals leave skin cooled, soothed and moisturized.
Comment below for your chance to win! (We can mail within the US or Canada.)
Contest lasts through July 22, 2011
An excellently timed review! The Texas heat has gotten so bad that I’ve started having saddle troubles and need to look into solutions. Thank you!
Where of where can this be bought???? Love the idea it is designed for women! Just did my first 2-day 150 mile ride! But Ouch!!! I really need this!
Thank goodness. For my mid life crisis, I got in to biking. Guess that is better than some of the other options. Tee hee. I have a Madone that I named “Millie”. It is so nice to learn (without having to ask the questions in a very low voice at the bike shop) about “those” issues. Just so you all know, it doesn’t take a long bike ride to get things ouchy down there!! I am new at this, and still cant get over the fact that you aren’t supposed to wear undies with bike breeches.?
Great info!
Considering that I am leaving next month to cycle the atlantic coast, I really could use some of this! thx.
This is my 2nd summer using DZ Nuts Bliss. It just plain works! There are other chamois creams out there that may cost less, but keep in mind you get what you pay for. Definitely trust this review!
Chris,
DZ-Nuts Chamois Cream & other products can be bought at many bike stores (you can request your local bike shop to carry it if they don’t). Or online from DZ Nuts. (Links to their site are in red in our giveaway section.) Congrats on your first 150 mile ride! That’s a big accomplishment!!
I’m new to long rides–this would be perfect!
I have only used Chamois Butter and would love to try something specifically designed for a women!
Thank you for the Bliss-ful review Cycle & Style! (:
Chris – dznuts Bliss can be purchased at our website (www.dz-nuts.com) or at your local bike shop. Please let us know if they don’t carry it.
Please “Like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dznutspro)to be part of more Giveaways and discounts. Good luck to the winner on July 22nd!!
The ladies from Cycle & Style are truly amazing and do an outstanding job to promote cycling! Thank you!
As stated above, dznuts Bliss is Women specific, because women have unique physiology. It is formulated for women by professional female cyclists and a pharmaceutical chemist, using the latest in biotechnology when formulating Bliss to provide:
·Probiotic – instead of harsh chemical biocides or preservatives, use of probiotics which discourage the growth pathogenic yeast and bacteria and encourage the growth of beneficial skin flora. This is done by controlling the environment on the skin with soothing plant based polymers.
·Natural woundhealing actives heal existing saddlesores and prevent future ones.
·Anti-chafe – superior lubrication and skin barrier for ultimate protection.
·Less intense tingle…designed for a woman’s sensebilities.
·Anti-itch ingredients. Promote comfort by reducing the feelings of prickling and itching
I cannot wait to use this cream! It’s going to be a life saver! Hope I win!
I would love to try this women’s specific cream. As a randonneusse, I’m always looking for things that make the 200+mile rides more comfortable in the saddle. Great review and a great giveaway, Cycle & Style!
Fabulous information. I had just googled saddle sores recently looking for something made for women! Look no further!
I love love bliss!…I got some bliss samples ..tried then and loved them!..wish I had bought some……would love to try Bald..the reviews have been great!
Thanks for the info!
Anxious to try this product. I like the fact that it’s has some natural ingredients.
Fabulous! I must try this…never had saddle soars last year (my first on a bike), but I have gotten a few this year. Would like to try something besides what my hubs buys! I love that it has probiotics…I tend to have yeast problems with long excersize.
great post! Maybe you can help me with another pain. I have been experiencing severe pain in my left elbow and numbness in my fingers on long rides. Even after the ride, I continue to be sore for a couple weeks. Is this something that can be remedied by a bike fitting or possibly by gloves?
Katy,
Regarding your pain: I have a question for you, is your elbow locked in place while you ride? A bad fit (you are putting a disproportionate amt. of your body weight onto the handlebars) or the wrong type of gloves (weirdly, they may be too padded) may cause these issues for you while riding. If you are lucky enough to live in a city where there is a medical professional who does bike fittings, a prescription can be given to get a medical bike fit and it is covered under most healthcare plans! Here is an example of such a physician: Dr. Massimo Testa–and here is a link to find out what I am talking about: http://intermountainhealthcare.org/providers/profile.html?id=33931&brand=ih
Max Testa is a great guy and a fabulously caring doctor–and he may very well be able to give you a recommendation for a biomechanic bike fit with a medical professional in your area. (He lives in Salt Lake /Park City, Ut. currently.)
Thanks! I do not wear gloves now but I may start to see if that helps. Otherwise, I will def check out a medical bike fitting – that is a great idea.
Great review! I’d love to try out Bliss!
Great review, thanks for all the info. Sounds like an excellent product, I’d love to try it.
I’ve very happily used Chamois Butt’r in the past. I’d love to see how this compares.
I like the product, when left in my bike bag in the car during a ride (summer 2011), the cream separated into liquid and solids. Do I need to bring a cooler for my dznutts?
Yep I need this too!!!
I recently got a sample of this, tried it and loved it! Would love to get a whole tube to use since I’m building up to a century ride!
Great news especially here in the heat of New Orleans!!
I’m 70 and ben riding 4 years now,I need all the help I can get.ride around 30-40 miles a day three or four times a week.
Great review. I’m getting ready to do a 10 day bike tour across Italy and this was very helpful. I will definitely need this for my trip.
I live in FL – it’s a blazing 95 without counting the heat index and humid as a rainforest. After 4 years of cycling I got a new bike and my first saddle sore – ouch! I’d love to see if it works.