When it comes to applying chamois cream on the road – assuming it’s an organized ride with at least a couple rest stops – here’s a tip to keep you lubed up and your hands clean.
On rides longer than 75 miles, I put a single application of chamois cream in a snack-pack sized ziplock baggie. Then, when it’s time to reapply, I head to the closest port-a-potty, simply turn the baggie inside out and apply.
The baggie acts as a rubber glove, keeping your hand clean. Then just toss the baggie out and you are done. If you are riding something longer than a century, just take multiple baggies filled with single applications.
This solution is better than those little single packs of chamois cream for a couple of reasons:
- Those single-application packets cost far more than a big tube of chamois cream.
- The single packs still require you to use the hand-on-skin application process, leaving your hand a slippery mess.
My dermatologist told me to use corn starch rather than a cream. To be fair, I was using Vaseline, not chamois cream, which led to discomfort because it’s not breathable. The corn starch has worked well for several years now. It’s also dry, which solves the mess problem. And it’s cheap too!
How do you thumbs up this? This is a really solid idea 🙂
And all those plastic bags that you’ll be throwing out will help to fill the oceans (and our fish) with plastic bits… fail…
SERIOUSLY! Chamois cream is wiped off so easily with a toilet tissue, grass, on your socks, etc., it’s definitely not greasy! I’m with YeOldeBuzzard … all those plastic bags going to a land fill or worse. What do people do if they have to put a chain back on or fix a flat. Come on people, get real.
Get OFF the plastic complainer train! Seriously!
This tip is BRILLIANT!
You have to have SOME method of carrying the stuff, and yes, sometimes, you DON’T HAVE access to things to wash up or wipe off. ONE TINY zip type baggie, easy to stuff, easy to dispose later, And the most important thing, having this along can SAVE YOUR BACON BITS if you have another 30 or 40 miles to go and chafiing has become a problem.
I use an empty small hotel shampoo bottle that can “suck” a chunk of chamois cream out of a tub when it’s squeezed and released. I keep it in my kit bag and carry it on rides longer than 60mi. It’s portable and reusable.
I found carrying wipes (baby & disinfectant) in small baggies the answer to cleaning my hands after anything I may have to do during a ride. They don’t take up any real space and don’t add weight
You can do the same with a single pack and save a whole one use plastic bag.
I prefer to use my significant other’s hand for the application of chamois cream.
This is much more fun and I will reciprocate if asked!