Down Under

(This article was originally published

in my sports page column Self-Propelled

in the October 2-8, 2011 issue of the Baguio Chronicle

--- a weekly newspaper based in Baguio City, Philippines.)

SORES in the groin area, the upper leg and the butt area can be a nuisance. Worse, they force you to take time off from cycling.

The best treatment for saddle sores is preventing them. The most common sores include blocked or infected glands, which show up as lumps, chafing problems and pain in the pelvic bone area where your weight may be resting.

Be certain your bike is set up correctly. A saddle that is too high can force the rider to reach for the pedals, causing either pressure or chafing. A saddle that is too low doesn't allow the legs to support the body and puts excess pressures on your crotch. The bike seat should not be tilted too far up or down. This creates pressure, causing you to constantly push back in the saddle.

To help prevent chafing, slather your genital area and upper thigh with a good chamois crème. Wear padded cycling shorts without underwear. Cycling shorts are designed to reduce friction from seams, and the padding helps reduce pressure on sensitive areas.

Good hygiene is essential after the ride. Take off your dirty shorts, wash your crotch and don't wear those shorts again until they have been cleaned. Don't suddenly increase weekly or daily mileage on the bike.

If problems persist, a different saddle may help, especially one with a soft or cutout area near the nose.

As a self-treatment, soak in comfortably-hot bath water one to three times per day to help boils surface and drain. Use antibiotic ointments to aid healing. Apply moleskin with an area cut out around the sore to help keep pressure off the sore itself.

For the lady bikers, Gale Bernhardt has a lot to say. But before that, let me tell you a little about her.

Gale Bernhardt was the 2003 USA Triathlon Pan-American Games and 2004 USA Triathlon Olympic coach for both the men's and women's teams. Her first Olympic experience was as a personal cycling coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Thousands of athletes have had successful training and racing experiences using Gale's pre-built, easy-to-follow training plans.

According to her, several disorders related to the vaginal area are lumped under the term vaginitis. Three of the most common problems women experience are vaginitis (sometimes referred to as crotchitis), bacterial infections and yeast infections. Some causes of these problems include warmth, moisture, poor hygiene, overzealous hygiene, chafing of the inner labia, oral medications (such as antibiotics) and allergies.

Crotchitis is irritation or inflammation of the inner labia, urethra, clitoris and the skin around the vagina. Redness, itching and pain are trademark symptoms. Crotchitis is different from saddle sores. Both conditions, however, share some of the same causes such as friction, pressure, warmth and moisture.

The preventative measures for saddle sores will also help prevent crotchitis.

Keep the crotch dry and ventilated when off the bike. Breathable fabric underwear and loose fitting shorts or dresses will allow air to this area, making it less inviting for germ growth. After urinating, wipe from front to back or pat the area dry. This reduces the chances of contaminating the vaginal area with stool. Aggressive wiping and rough toilet paper can also irritate the area.

Once you have crotchitis, a non-prescription cream may relieve the itching and help make a bike ride more comfortable. This can be particularly helpful if crotchitis occurs during a multi-day bike tour.

A second type of vaginal problem is bacterial vaginosis. Its primary symptom is foul-smelling, profuse, watery vaginal discharge. Typical treatment includes an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor.

Yeast infections are the third type of vaginal problem. They often produce vaginal discharge, which is thick, foul-smelling and is accompanied by intense itching. After a doctor confirms the condition is a yeast infection, reoccurring yeast infections can be recognized by the woman and treated with over-the-counter medications.

The vaginal environment is a delicate balance of organisms, including normal bacteria and lubricating secretions. When normal secretions are replaced by a discharge that is smelly, unusually thick, or copious, or the vaginal area becomes inflamed or itchy, it is time to seek help. Do not allow a small problem to expand to a larger one.

Until then and have a safe ride all the time. Put on that cycling helmet each time you get on your bike. Remember: YOU CAN BEAT THE EGG WITHOUT BREAKING THE SHELL.* (SP19)