Cycling UK Forum

I have had no real issues with Saddle Sores until loosing weight on a Diabetes Type 2 diet.
Now I have a tiny Cyst right on the tip of my coxyx.
Research suggests a number of remedies;
Teatree Oil
Magnesium Sulphate paste
Lanacane
Anti Biotics prescribed by Doctor
The best advice came from a Bike Fit expert who strongly favours micro set up including packing up shoes and fixing cleats further back.
He dismissed exotic saddle shapes and materials, Chamois creams and fancy shorts as Mug Bait.

arnsider wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 8:58am Now I have a tiny Cyst right on the tip of my coxyx.

I recommend asking a doctor to have a look at it.

Jonathan

Well, my Doc can only talk to me by phone and that's after completing a triage questionaire online. so I'm looking for home remedy.

Jdsk wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 9:07am

arnsider wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 8:58am Now I have a tiny Cyst right on the tip of my coxyx.

I recommend asking a doctor to have a look at it.

Jonathan

I agree with Jdsk, get it looked at by a doctor.

Experience has taught me that finding a saddle that sits well with your specific anatomy is money well spent. Remember the criteria may change with age, fitness and body habitus. What was good 10yrs ago may no longer be so. Personally I've found the short nose, widish (~150mm) saddles with a wide central cut out are great. You may need something else.
It's wise to look after your butt by investing in good quality well fitting padded cycle shorts, apply chamois cream directly to the skin in areas prone to chaffing, stand on the pedals and unweight your saddle frequently (that periodically restores blood flow to areas under pressure). Never wear underwear under your padded shorts - the seams will damage your skin making you prone to sores, boils and abscesses. Post ride shower and change out of your cycling shorts without delay.
I've had saddle sores and worse and the above approach is working well for me.

I did not get to see my Doc with my tailbone "Cyst". Instead I spoke to him on the phone and he gave me a one week course of broad spectrum ahti biotics.
Well that wasn't a resounding improvement and there is still a residual soreness sitting for longish periods.
Time will tell.
I watched a You Tube video where a long distance traveller recommended Tea Tree Oil for both prevention and treatment.
I had foud the mag sulph paste to be quite stinging and uncomfortable.
I searched around and found Nelsons Tea Tree cream in 30ml tubes at around £5.50.
I did buy a pot of Veloskin chamois cream at £14 from Mud Dock cycle shop in Bristol.
I think I'll stick with the tea tree until the problem resolves, then go back on the veloskin.
I am trying out a Bontrager Verse Comp short nose saddle , but on a 33 mile round of Ingleborough, I was sore on the home straight. I've put my trusty B17 back on to try to get a preference either way.

I suffer from cysts fairly regularly. I've tried all the above - lanacane powder, magnesium sulphate paste, Sudocrem, tea tree oil, etc. The last one (right on a sit-bone) was so nasty and prolonged I went to the GP who put me on a course of AB's. This was just before a 600 miler so needed sorting.

In the end I was so desperate I squeezed the life out of it. Excruciatingly painful but it worked. Puss came out and it died down within a couple of days. I treated the area with TCP regularly to prevent infection. Not recommending this for everyone but as a last resort this did the trick for me.

arnsider wrote: ↑8 Aug 2024, 7:26am I've put my trusty B17 back on to try to get a preference either way.

You can mould your leather saddle to fit your nethers. I did this years ago with some success.

http://www.billbostoncycles.com/brooks_pro.htm

Of course, the thing remains as hard as a rock afterwards.

Well, the comments about treating leather saddles are to me a bit prejudicial. I agree its not a good idea to use things like neartsfoot oil or leather boot dubbins, but in my experience, Proofide is more of a waterproofer and doesnt penetrate the chrome finish of Brooks saddles.I use it sparingly and carry a rain hood for wet cafe stops. Both myeslf and a pal ruined Brooks Saddles using boot softeners. Not that long ago, you could buy a B17 for less than forty quid. Now you wont get much change out of one hundred!