Hello! So I’m preparing to go out for my second longer bikepacking trip. The first was a roundtrip from PGH to D.C. on the GAP and C&O, and this one will be from Buffalo to Manhattan on the Empire State trails. My first trip was amazing except for the saddle sores I developed en route. I’m not sure of precisely where I went wrong, but I’m really hoping to fix my mistakes this time around.
Last time, I made these decisions/mistakes: I wore bike shorts with a pretty thick chamois, used a decent but unremarkable bike seat, applied chamois butt’r only after a problem had occurred, and kept my tire pressure relatively high. Repeated impact rather than friction seemed to be the problem, but it’s hard to say.
This time, I plan to wear these shorts: [https://www.rei.com/product/881810/zoic-ether-bike-shorts-and-liner-mens](https://www.rei.com/product/881810/zoic-ether-bike-shorts-and-liner-mens), apply chamois cream early and often, and keep my tire pressure relatively low. And I’ve bought a Brooks B-17 (which will be *mostly* broken in by the time my trip starts).
So, my questions: Do y’all think these shorts will work out better than a traditional thick-chamois road-bike short? Do my other pivots based on “lessons learned” seem to make sense?
I loved being on the trail for a week so much, but the saddle sores nearly derailed the whole thing, so I thank you, emphatically, in advance for any help!
by jschrifty_PGH
1 Comment
I use something similar for commuting, and from time to time I still get them. For me, it also comes down to what underwear I’m wearing after I’m off the bike (e.g. if it’s got any pinchy seams). Washing and soaping before and after the bike seems to help