how do the tour de france riders keep from chafing and getting sore asses?

Question

I've been watching a bit on tv and it seems they have some padding inside the pants in the crotch and taint area. I can't ride for an hour without getting horribly sore. What do they use for protection?

Answer 1

For starters, they all have the saddle that fits their individual needs. Thor Hushovd, a larger rider, will need a different saddle than Michael Rasmussen, and so on. If you pick a saddle that fits your butt and not the most padded one, it helps a lot.

Second, their shorts are very nice, with the more expensive brands' best chamois pads in them to regulate temperature, absorb road shock, wick away sweat (the main cause of chafing) and eliminate seams. Add a good chamois cream to that to lubricate/protect their butts, and it's all good.

Primarily for pro cyclists, the sheer amount of miles they put on the bikes in a year means their taints are nearly immune to everything. Seriously, if you rode over 20,000 miles per year I'm sure you could sit on anything without a problem!

If all that fails, however, they also get paid to abuse their bodies and ride through loads of pain.

Answer 2

They do have padding inside the bike shorts, but I can guarantee they all have saddle sores when they get done with the tour. Armstrong even said so in his book, stating that the first few weeks after the tour are spent recuperating with fluids, rest, and treatment for saddle sores.

Answer 3

1. They do get sore.
2. They do have padding, and special creams they rub into the padding to help.
3. If you build up your tolerance, you would be surprised at how much you could stand too. However, it takes time, starting small and building up.

Answer 4

The pants are indeed padded, and there are creams and stuff that are approved by the ICU (international cycling union).

Answer 5

testosterone cream heals it right up. Ask Floyd.

Answer 6

by taking steroids

Answer 7

Well, they probably have a drug for that too.