"Hey Al! How's the Summer?

ASSos v. BUTTr:

I have used both and both do a fine job. Assos is a bit more ... medicinal. It contains menthol and seems to do a slightly better job than Buttr. The menthol is soothing (not at first though) and has a lingering smell that reminds me of cleanliness. Both products should be rubbed into the chammy before wearing - Assos says overnight, but I do it 10 minutes before wearing.

Now, is the slight ""benefit"" of Assos worth the extra $$?? I think so, but will use either.

BTW, LA was shown using Assos on OLN and many places sold out of it thereafter. I wouldn't be surprized if the price increases soon."

YES!

My wife and I are long time users of Borne chamois creme and have rarely had problems. Then, our LBS stopped carrying Borne (apparantly, we were the only customers who bought it!) and we tried Assos. YUCK!!! First, the menthol is not a welcome ingredient. Second, we both started accumulating saddle sores galore such that the 50 - 60 mile rides we never thought twice about felt more like 150 - 160 miles to our nether regions. Thankfully, we used up the Assos and are back on Borne. Significant improvement. I realize our experience is not typical, many people swear by Assos. We just swore at it.

Hi,

Years back, I used to have to shift about on my saddle (due to chamois movement) uncomfortably, sometimes manually adjusting the chamois (or my privates--this was quite a while back, mind you) in order to be temporarily comfortable. I'd heard about chamois cream/creme and that many/most racers used it at the time, so I figured that it had to serve some purpose.

I tried it, and it worked brilliantly, immediatly solving my problem. I've used it before every ride I've been on for years now, and it makes a really great difference in comfort by forming a proper bond between my body and the pad (what it's designed to do). Some companies say that it can be rubbed into a pad, but I've always applied it to my nethers just before pulling my bib shorts on; if I have excess left on my fingers, I rub it into the pad itself. Don't use enough so that you're all gloppy down there, but don't skimp on it, either; you want the effect. More is better than less, since the pad will absorb any excess and will soften accordingly.

Assos does contain menthol, which I was skeptical about at first, hearing so many varied reviews, but unless you're rubbing it into certain, um, open areas down there (which, of course, is both unnecessary and improper for the desired effect of chamois cream), it's just great and does have a nice scent (to me) and a very clean, somewhat tingly feel for the first couple of minutes thereafter.

I've also used Chamois Butt'r and it's great stuff as well without the menthol. (The menthol of Assos isn't enough to have fellow riders smelling it--unlike, say, BenGay's strong, penetrating menthol odor for other sports applications--so it won't be embarrassing.) Use whatever's the most convenient. The approx. $18 tub of Assos will last about a season, depending on your mileage: not a large investment at all for the comfort and hygeine it affords.

Apply and enjoy the ride,
Andy

(more than a few) Years ago, when down-tube and bar-end shifters were the only options, before 'mountain bikes', when TdF winners all had european names...

Cycling shorts and jerseys were all made of real wool and the chamois was real sheepskin chamois.

As i recall (so long ago) the trick setup for the chamois pad was a hydrous lanolin solution, which was rubbed into the pad. This served to keep the chamois soft and pliable, also made one's skin soft and smooth, and prevented moisture-induced rashing.

Quite often, the chamois would outlast the shorts and be sewn into the next pair.

Alas, real chamois are no longer offered, though I wonder if lanolin (hydrous or anhydrous) would work with the new 'chamois' padding.

btw: a 1-pound tub of lanolin retails for under $10 at Duane Reed.

Chammy creme softens the chammy and protects the nether regions. In former times, chammies were leather and needed it applied the night before. Now, with new materials, it is no longer absolutely necessary, but a preference. I use it on longer rides and/or on the hotter days or when chaffing occurs from friction. Some use it, some don't.