The ECCC's "Ask A Pro" Forum

Here is a forum where riders can ask questions of experienced pros - no question too basic or too advanced! Email your questions to amyw[at]alum.dartmouth.org.

Dear Amy,

I'm in my first season of racing and my question is kind of embarrassing, so I'll keep it anonymous...

What's up with shami-cream? I thought it was meant to keep you comfortable and stop chaffing, but occasionally I still get off my bike and have some soreness- particularly in the area where the shami borders the spandex. It happens with most of my shami-shorts, so I don't know what to do. Should I consider wearing underwear AND shami lotion underneath?

Thanks for the column!!!
sore-girl.

Amy Wallace, 2005 ECCC Champion, Responds:
Dear Sore Girl -

First of all, you should definitely NEVER wear underwear with bike shorts - see this FAQ for more on that. Second, I think you must mean "chamois-cream", not "shami-cream". And yes, chamois cream is in fact meant to keep you comfortable and stop chafing. In addition, chamois cream is anti-bacterial which will help prevent saddle sores. So, if you don't already use chamois cream, look into it! You will stay happy and healthy if you use chamois cream every day on a clean pair of shorts. That's right, a clean pair of shorts... you are getting quite intimate with your bike shorts every day and they definitely should get washed every day! If you are still confused about the benefits / proper usage of chamois cream... ask a teammate.

As for your soreness in the area where the chamois borders the spandex... umm I don't know. Is that all the time, or just when it rains out? seriously, sometimes shorts (a.k.a. ass-cutters!) will do just that when they get wet, and will create some serious rawness in the area of the stitching if you're out riding in the rain. But, that is certainly not an area where you would use chamois cream. Or maybe the stitching itself on your shorts is the uncomfortable part... maybe your shorts are too small for you, or maybe you sit on your saddle funny and you are sitting on the wrong part of your butt. make sure that when you're sitting on the saddle, you are not sitting on any stitching and you are actually sitting on the chamois pad!

Amy