Doc’s All Natural Saddle Sore Ointment

2015 Valley of the Sun Stage Race

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ChampSys Pro Cycling Team
Connor, Drew & Kevin getting a ride

Champion Systems/Stan’s No Tubes Pro Cycling Team: News from Inside the Race

Doc’s Skincare is proud to be the skincare sponsor for the Champion Systems/Stan’s No Tubes Professional Cycling Team in 2015.  We’re providing them with a mountain of chamois cream & saddle ointment plus all they need to keep their hides intact with the best in natural skincare for athletes.

A few of the guys on the team got in some early season action down at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race in Arizona.  Being a team with a strong criterium background, they started the race focused on the final stage: the Jorden Bischoff & Hiser Criterium.  The final stage was 70 minutes long and featured a 7 corner course around the Arizona State Capitol.  Drew Christopher and Kevin and Conor Mullervy were kind enough to share their first person accounts of the race.

Kudos to the team for the strong stage 3 finish…read below:

Day 1

Kevin Mullervy

  • Hometown: Centennial, CO
  • Years as a Pro: 4
  • Specialty: Crit racing/all-around
  • Highlight Finish as a Pro: Athens Twilight 2013 

Today was the TT at Valley of the Sun Stage Race. I think this was the first stage race for all of us in over a year let alone a TT. The only races we did last year were criteriums with a few road races thrown in. Going into today we knew we had no chance winning the race or even getting a top 10 with absolutely no aero gear. I don’t even know the last time I rode a TT bike. So our goal of the day was to get a good opener for the weekend and not blow it all in a race we knew we couldn’t win. We know not doing well in the TT we would have no chance in the overall GC but that was not our goal beforehand. Our focus is tomorrow’s RR and Sunday’s crit. So during today’s TT, I started pretty easy for the first 10 min to get warmed up, then the rest of the race I broke it up with 4 minutes hard and 2 minutes easy. It actually made the race to by fast and make it feel just like another training day with intervals. 

We are happy to report we didn’t get DFL. Now it’s time to rest up for tomorrow’s hot road race.

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Day 2

Conor Mullervy

  • Hometown: Littleton, CO
  • Years as a Pro: 5
  • Specialty: All-around
  • Highlight Finish as a Pro: 4th US PRO Nationals Crit-2014; 5th Overall Poyang Lake Stage Race

Stage 2 was 96 miles in the hot hot desert of AZ. We had 6 laps on a course with a decent rolling climb each lap, the climb wasn’t the hard part it was all the wind

The first lap was covered with attacks and counter attacks but nothing was staying away. The second time over the climb Kevin made it into a group that got some distance over the top. It shortly got brought back before some more counter attacks started flying. I was rolling up to Drew to let him know that I wasn’t feeling good though before I got next to him a move went right in front of me and I just followed wheels up to the main break.

The break of about 12 of us staring working well together and got a good gap quickly. This would be the winning break of the day. The group worked well together until a lap and a half to go when the group started attacking each other.

Three guys were able to get away with one lap to go. The remainder of us tried to bring them back but most guys had one guy represented out of the three up the road and had no reason to work. With a half a lap to go, five more guys bridged up to us. On the cross wind section they got to the front and guttered the group. I started cramping super super bad and was unable to hold on. I dropped off and rolled into the finish about 5k out and was able to stay ahead of the field.

Not exactly what we were looking for today though we all learned a lot. Tomorrow is the crit in downtown Phoenix and the three of us are looking forward to it. 

Day 3

Drew Christopher

  • Hometown: Denver, Colorado
  • Years as a Pro: 1
  • Specialty: Criteriums, Breakaways, Leadouts, One-Day Road Races
  • Highlight Finish as a Pro: 6th place at 2014 Professional Criterium National Championships

Today was the 3rd and final stage of the 2015 Valley of the Sun stage race. It was the criterium stage and the one Kevin, Conor, and myself were most looking forward to. It was still a full field of about 70 guys; including several teams with 6, 8, and even 9 guys.

The race started fast and aggressive on the flat 7 turn, figure 8 course. Quickly, the team of the overall leader established control at the front of the race. Conor took an early flyer and was able to get into a small breakaway group but it was neutralized in a few laps. I followed a wheel into the second breakaway attempt of the day and helped drive the pace until that group was also caught. The next breakaway went away hard and fast, establishing the most significant gap thus far and it included Kevin. Kevin’s move worked well together and looked very threatening. However, with 4 laps left in the race their group was neutralized as the peloton surged toward the finish.

The finish was now sure to come down to a field sprint. I used my last bit of effort to help Conor move into the top 10 with a couple laps to go and he did very well to hold position coming into the sprint. The sprint came down to a long drag race led by the large teams in the race. Conor had did a great job to freelance his way into those leadouts and managed a strong 4th place at the finish.

The weekend had it’s ups and downs for all the of us. Fortunately we are all headed into some nice rest now as we continue to prepare for the high priority races in March and April. Back to Tucson now for the sun drenched, salt stained, training miles.

Treatment of Saddle Sores

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Saddle Sore Treatment
Another nice cycling photo by Wallyir on www.morguefile.com

Curious about the treatment of saddle sores?

Like death and taxes, saddle sores seem to be an inevitable part of a serious cyclist’s experience. If you are proactive, saddles sores SHOULD be a short-lived hiccup in your riding experience. Left unchecked, saddles sores can progress into legitimate medical and/or surgical illnesses requiring prescription medications and painful procedures. Therefore, it is imperative to address these problems head-on when they first arise.

Try Doc’s Natural Saddle Ointment

Soothe those sore spots & get back on the saddle faster

Click here to BUY NOW

Definition of saddles sores

“Saddle sore” is a nebulous term and can mean anything from a horrible life-threatening infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues to just feeling bruised from a long hard day in the saddle. For our purposes we will refer to saddles sores as an actual visible lesion of the skin and/or subcutaneous tissues of the crotch. Saddle sores come in two basic varieties: skin breakdown (e.g. chaffing and ulcers) and subcutaneous lesions (e.g. boils, carbuncles, furuncles, abscesses, and other “lumps”).

Treating saddle sores

Areas of skin breakdown can usually be healed rapidly with a short-term decrease in riding volume or, better yet, complete rest. The area of skin breakdown should be cleansed with simple soap and water twice daily. Avoid hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol as they can inhibit normal wound healing. A topical ointment like Neosporin (or other over the counter triple antibiotic ointment) and/or Doc’s Natural Saddle Sore Ointment can speed up the healing process.

Subcutaneous lesions are typically a more serious condition than skin breakdown type saddle sores. Additionally, these lesions can be quite painful. If at all possible, a complete break from riding is the best path to a speedy and uneventful recovery. As above, cleanse the area twice daily. Although ointments like Doc’s All Natural Saddle Sore Ointment can soothe subcutaneous lesions, most do very little to speed the healing process as they cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to reach the area of concern. For subcutaneous lesions that produce thick drainage and areas associated with fever or intense redness of the skin, see your physician. Antibiotics and surgical drainage of these lesions can be necessary in some cases.

***You should seek medical attention if:

1. You notice an area of intense swelling and redness around ANY saddle sore.

2. You develop a fever associated with a saddle sore

3. Your saddle sore worsens after treating it as above

4. You develop drainage of thick material or pus from a saddle sore

Prevention of Saddle Sores

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Doctor Bob's Bike Photo
Check out Doctor Bob’s (no connection to Doc’s Skincare, LLC) other cycling photos on www.morguefile.com

Here’s our top 10 list for the prevention of saddle sores:

  1. Bike fit – This is THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT measure you can take to prevent saddle sores and general discomfort on the bike. If you are a serious fitness, recreation, or competitive cyclist, you owe it to yourself to pay for a professional fitting session. Inquire at your local bike shop.
  2. Cycling shorts – There are just a few pieces of equipment in cycling where, relatively speaking, you should spare no expense. Quality bike shorts will have a molded pad in the crotch area made of COOLMAX or similar polyester-based material. This material is designed to wick away moisture, provide cushion, allow for airflow, and prevent chaffing.
  3. Saddle – A quality bike saddle or seat is of obvious importance when it comes to the comfort of your posterior. Saddles come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, cushion thickness and type, and construction. Since no two pelvises are the same, try out as many saddles as possible before settling on the right one for you. Many shops (including www.competitivecyclist.com) have programs where you can test drive multiple saddles before purchasing. Some manufacturers have models of varying widths that can accommodate your specific pelvis measurements (e.g. Body Geometry by Specialized). You might be surprised to find that the cushiest and widest saddles are often the most uncomfortable.
  4. Skin – clean and dry is your mantra when not riding. Always try to remove your shorts as soon as possible after riding. Head to the shower as soon as possible too. If you do not have an active sore or chafe, then assure after showering that your crotch is dry before putting on undergarments.
  5. Undergarments – Between rides, wear lightweight undergarments that allow for maximum airflow and do not promote moisture build-up (cotton is king here).
  6. Laundry – Do not wear shorts twice without washing them! You’re not cultivating a mushroom farm.
  7. Unctions and tinctures – Old school riders swear by dousing their most delicate areas with isopropyl alcohol when ramping up early mileage with the thought that this toughens up their skin. If you can withstand the sting, then this will certainly aid in drying your nether regions after a post-ride shower. Beware, it hurts and may not be entirely necessary.
  8. Inspection – Take a look at your crotch frequently. Look for areas of chaffing, redness, and little bumps. You might be surprised by what you find! Some of these spots can be fairly asymptomatic so you’re only going to know that they are there if you look. Pay close attention to “little bumps” as they can grow into large boils and abscesses. The best remedy for these little bumps or chaffed areas is time off the bike or a decrease in mileage. You can also try a variety of ointments available on the market (e.g. Doc’s All Natural Saddle Sore Ointment).
  9. Rest – Just as your body needs rest to accommodate a training load, your crotch needs time away from the bike.
  10. Chamois cream – Either you use it or you don’t. Most people become habitual users once they try it. Chamois creams were initially created to condition chamois pads when they were made out of actual animal hide. These days, a chamois cream is essentially used to decrease friction between a rider’s skin and chamois pad. Some brands use bontanical ingredients to hinder bacterial and fungal growth which are big culprits in non-healing saddle sores. Beware of brands that use mineral oil and silicone as they can breakdown modern chamois pads and clog the airflow properties inherent to the material used in chamois pads.

Try Doc’s Natural Saddle Ointment

Soothe those sore spots & get back on the saddle faster

Click here to BUY NOW

Prevention is the best avenue to a healthy bottom and many happy miles of riding. What do you do when you get an actual sore? Check back for our next post regarding the treatment of saddle sores.

The saddle sore that lost the tour and other sores throughout history

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Ever had a sore butt from riding? You’re not alone! Even the pros get sore derrières. In order to make you feel in good company, we’ve compiled some of the more famous or infamous saddles sores throughout the history of professional cycling.

• Eddy Merckx

Ever the consummate champion and the purest vision of a cycling strongman, even the Cannibal was sidelined by saddle sores. After the 1972 Tour de France, Eddy was so hobbled with sores that he stayed completely off of the bike for an extended period of time to heal. It was during this time off the bike that he solidified plans and resolved to attempt the hour record. Unfortunately, that was not Eddy’s only struggle with saddle sores. In 1976, his sores were so severe that he did not start the Tour de France despite a dominating spring campaign. He eventually underwent a surgical procedure to treat these sores.

Interestingly, Eddy was known for chronic bike fit woes. In fact, after fitting Eddy’s son Axel, Andy Pruitt (a bike fit specialist extraordinaire) theorized in his writings that Eddy might have had a leg length discrepancy like his son Axel Merckx. Imagine what Eddy would have done if Andy Pruitt had been in business during the 60’s and 70’s!

• Sean Kelly

Another “hard man”, Sean Kelly quit the 1987 Vuelta a Espana two days from the finish while in the lead due to a saddle sore. What a way to go out of race!

• Laurent Fignon

On the receiving end of an 8 second beat-down by Greg LeMond in the 1989 Tour de France, FIgnon was purported to state that he likely lost the Tour due to unbearable pain from saddle sores. Nevermind that LeMond was hobbled by sores on his feet and still managed to roll out with the 2nd fastest time trial in Tour history to take the yellow jersey. Despite our pro-LeMond stance, Fignon’s saddle sore is a relatively unknown facet of perhaps the most dramatic Tour de France in history.

• Greg LeMond

After a convincing 3rd Tour de France win in 1990, Greg LeMond bowed out of a few of the usual post-Tour criteriums due to saddle sores. These sores were so intense that he was apparently unable to move without obvious pain. Marking the decline of a great champion and the end of an era, LeMond abandoned the 1992 Tour de France on the l’Alpe d’Huez stage blaming unending torture from saddle sores.
• Oscar Freire

Oscar Freire missed defending his world champion road race title in 2005 due to a saddle sore that required an operation in June and kept him from serious training until October of the same year. That’s some serious time off!
• Lance Armstrong

Last but not least…Even Lance Armstrong has been hamstrung by saddle sores. In fact, one saddle sore nearly cost him a Tour de France title, impressive career, and cycling dynasty. During the 1999 Tour de France, Armstrong tested positive for corticosteroids. Armstrong had been using a steroid cream for saddle sores. After producing a medical certificate for use of the cream, Armstrong was not disciplined and was allowed to race on to win his first of seven Tours. During his “Comeback 2.0”, Armstrong found himself standing out of the saddle more frequently than normal in the 2010 Tour de France due to saddle sores. Between a sore butt and a body that had bounced off the tarmac no less than 3 times, it is a miracle that he even finished that Tour.

Saddle sores are a part of serious cycling and have even lost races and have changed professional careers. Fear not! There are measures you can take to prevent and treat these troubling problems. Look for subsequent posts covering prevention and treatment on saddle sores.