Chamois Cream 101*

You put

this stuff

WHERE?!?

*Everything you wanted to know

about chamois cream but were

afraid to ask

So what exactly IS chamois

cream and why do I need it?

OK guys…this is where you might want to step off the bus. It’s not that we don’t love

you. It’s not that you won’t benefit from the information. There’s just going to be a good

amount of girl talk, and we know how much you love that kind of stuff. Sooooo…continue

reading at your own risk!

Chamois [sham-ee]: noun

A soft, pliable leather from any of

various skins dressed with oil

Back in the good ol’ days, the chamois pads in cycling shorts were

made with leather. You know, the buttery-soft variety used in making

car cleaning products.

But we all know what happens to that chamois after you dry your car off and it

dries out…it gets as hard as a board and as scratchy as sandpaper.

Would you want to perch your privates on that thing and ride into the hills for a

couple of hours?

That’s EXACTLY what cyclists “back in the day” discovered. Once the chamois

got wet from sweat and washings, it would dry out, making it unbearable to ride

on. By rubbing a moisturizing “chamois cream” into the leather, the chamois

would stay soft and supple…and the riders would stay comfortable and happy

on their bikes.

Fun fact: Before the leather chamois, long-distance riders would place a slab

of raw meat in their bike shorts to help relieve pressure!

Thankfully, the modern chamois is no longer made of leather (nor of raw meat,

for that matter!). Most are made from high-density foam and covered with a

plush fabric that stays soft without rubbing any sort of cream into it.

BUT…

…just because your chamois is a soft as a she-mouse’s belly does NOT mean

you can get away without using chamois cream.

Let’s be frank.

Us gals have a

LOT going on

“down there”.

Our delicate

“petals” take a

beating when

we’re on our

bikes.

HEAT

FRICTION

BACTERIA

SWEAT

All of which can cause

PAIN

CHAFING

DISCOMFORT

SADDLE SORES

Yep…all stuff that can ruin a

perfectly good bike ride!

So what’s a

girl to do?

By applying a dollop of chamois cream before you ride, you’ll be MUCH

more comfortable and can avoid painful chafing and saddle sores.

So right about now, you’re probably

thinking, “OK, this chamois cream stuff

sounds great…but how do I use it?”

Unlike the chamois creams of yesteryear,

today’s chamois creams are designed to

be applied directly to your body, anywhere

chafing may occur…

You guessed it. Chamois cream goes

DOWN

THERE

Yep, you apply it straight to your

Girly Bits

Crotch

Nether Regions

Hoo-Hoo

Flower

Cookie

Privates

Lady Parts

Junk

Bum

Booty

…or whatever you prefer to call it.

Now that you are sold on chamois cream,

you are probably wondering, “How much

do I use?”

How much to apply is a really personal choice based on length of ride,

cream ingredients, skin type, moisture level, and feel.

We recommend starting with a quarter-sized application and adjusting

from there.

Longer rides might warrant applying a bit more…

(Helpful hint: some riders like to reapply chamois cream during rest stops on longer rides. You can fill a small

plastic jar (like a medicine bottle or cosmetic jar) with chamois cream and reapply as needed)

…same goes if you sweat a lot.

“I should have applied more chamois cream!”

…Or if you will be riding in the rain.

“I should have applied more chamois cream!”

But don’t overthink this part. Just grab a little dollop, smear it on your

girly bits, and get on your bike. Within a few rides, you’ll get your ideal

“dollop size” figured out.

Hey, I’m a little dollop!

Right about now, somebody always asks,

“But can’t I just use petroleum jelly?

Seems like it would work pretty well…”

NOPE.

Or at least we don’t recommend it. (We also don’t recommend bathing cats, but

that’s the subject of another discussion.)

Why not?

Petroleum jelly is derived from…you guessed it…petroleum. The fossil

fuel variety. It’s considered a by-product of the oil refining process. Yep,

the same stuff that goes in your car. Ewww!

Petroleum jelly can actually suffocate your pores. It can also “seal in”

any dirt or bacteria on your skin since it puts up a barrier between your

skin and the air. Not good.

Also not good: petroleum jelly can stain or discolor your clothing and

bicycle saddle. It can also break down the foam in your chamois,

reducing its lifespan. Hey, bike shorts aren’t cheap. Don’t ruin them

doing something as silly as using petroleum jelly in place of chamois

cream!

(Note that petroleum jelly is also called “petrolatum” and is used in many skin-care products,

even some chamois creams. Be sure to read your ingredients!)

For many cyclists, just the mere thought of heading out on a ride without

applying chamois cream is the equivalent of riding with a piece of

sandpaper in their shorts.

Sounds like more fun than a barrel of monkeys, right? Not!

Once you start using chamois cream and realize how much more comfortable you

are on your bike, it’s hard to ride without it.

Remember…nothing takes the joy out of your ride faster than sore nether regions.

Keep smiling…ride further…do the right thing…use chamois cream!

PS…Spread the word. Friends don’t let friends ride without chamois cream!

Guess who FINALLY started using

chamois cream?!?

The End.

Start clean. Ride happy. Finish fresh.

Discover the Petal Power Joy Ride

System…the only before, during, and

after ride chamois cream system made

specifically for women.

www.petal-power.com