When pounding the pavement or striving to hold on the back in the fast bunch, the pain of muscle burn and your lungs exploding is to be expected.
What comes as a shock is the agony of chafing.
All those small, repetitive movements as your legs stride out and your thighs rub ever so slightly, the burn that develops as your arm swings against your shirt or the rubbing of your sensitive skin between your bike bibs and the saddle, can cause more pain than the physical exertion itself.
And worse – the effects of chafing or saddle sores can last for days!
The first signs of chafing irritation is likely to be slight rubbing, then a burning sensation that deepens to pain. In severe cases, it can lead to blisters.
Not what you want on your inner thighs, the sensitive inner arm or nipples (usually from your shirt – men, looking at you).
To prevent chafing you need to reduce friction – and a simple way is with an Anti-chafing and Chamois Cream. This lightweight gel can be applied anywhere on your skin where you feel friction when you exercise.
When you shower after your run or ride, use an anti-bacterial body wash in the area to help prevent infection.
And if you’ve just come back from a ride or run and are currently lying in despair at your chafing pain points, apply some aloe vera or good old Bepanthen (yes, the same thing you apply for nappy rash).
Good luck out there and with the repair. The only way to avoid chafing it to avoid friction, and Fast Legs Anti-Chafing and Chamois Cream will help make it happen.