Wow. 81 views, each viewer has an arse and rides bikes, and only 1 person comments. This is, I believe, the source of the problem. I have asked once in a forum, and asked each of my mates, and a few randoms, how to protect your backside when riding and on each occasion every person seems reticent to talk about it. Its not like I'm asking how you pleasure your wife. If someone started a thread on gangnam style or derailleur adjustment, or even yet another elixir vs shimano brake thread we'd be up to 3 or 4 pages by now. So in the interests of backside safety I will openly discuss my experiences, and hope that those of you that have any similar issues will benefit. I'm not an expert, and I'm not especially experienced either, but this seems to work for me.
I had been riding for about 6 months when I had my first arse injury which I believe was a result of too much sweat and not using butt cream. About 5 hours of riding and I was fine but sometime during the long drive home it seemed as if someone poured a cup of sand down the back and rubbed vigorously. It was interesting that I had asked a small group of people (girls) earlier in the day what they did to protect themselves and each of them were shocked and embarrassed and said that they weren't going to discuss it. One of the girls, aside, said that she used butt cream. That was enough for me. A single assurance from a single rider, and only one experience with cheeky chaff and I was at the LBS looking for a tube.
My current method is this. If I am planning a long ride involving the SHITS (six hours in the saddle) I will shave all moving parts about a week before hand. This will give the hair and pore a chance to recover. Tell me I'm wrong but this works for me. If I ride that day or the next day it feels uncomfortable and I believe it is because bacteria can work into the pore. Now when I say moving parts, I mean my arse (yes I get in there), my sack and my perinium (the part in between). I don't shave my legs or my upper thighs. If you have ever experimented with shaving and a woman you will know that shaved and non-shaved is ok, shaved and shaved is not. If you have never experimented you haven't lived. So on that theme, its ok to have a shaved surface rubbing against a non shaved surface. I'd still use a cream but it's not a catastrophe.
When it comes to the cream, a close friend shared with me that he put the butt cream straight onto the chamois. I tried this and just felt like it was wasted. Let's face it, the chamois doesn't need the cream, your ass does. I clean the area with a wet wipe. A small packet of wet wipes is usually standard fare in my riding kit. I give it a quick clean to remove any bacteria that normal dry paper wiping will not remove. Then squirt chamois cream (butt cream should be similar enough) onto my hand and I apply directly to the site. I do not gain any pleasure in this, for those of you that are wondering. I get in the crack heavily, perineum moderately, and the creases between my thighs and butt cheeks, and the creases between my inner thigh and sack moderately, and my sack just a little. If it is more than a 2 hour ride I do this. If it is a six hour ride I do the same but use more cream.
So, now you know when you see me on a long ride, I've creamed myself. And I feel no shame.
PS. I wash my hands afterwards.
Demon