What do you do when you start increasing the time spent in the saddle, getting ready for your next triathlon, when, suddenly, sitting on the saddle becomes a big problem?

The one thing that often seems to go along with increased riding is "saddle sores." Saddle sores are painful, but they do not have to be a part of your cycling, triathlon or duathlon life. While it is true that many new or infrequent riders will experience them, even the more experienced rider can have saddle sores, particularly if they neglect their hygiene or equipment.

What are saddle sores? The term is normally used to describe one of the following conditions:

Chafing: The constant rubbing against the saddle caused from the normal cycling motion can cause chafing of the groin and inner thighs. This is why you should buy as thin a saddle as will support you and it is also the reason why cyclists should wear good quality, skin-tight cycling shorts with no underwear.

Boils and in-grown hairs: Both of these are from bacterial infections. In-grown hairs are not such a problem and occur frequently where you have a combination of rubbing and hair in tight clothing. The condition tends to heal on its own without causing too much discomfort.

Boils, on the other hand, which look a lot like acne, can become large and hard, and they really, really hurt! You do not want to get a boil in the wrong place, or your bike will not seem so friendly to you anymore!

If this is a frequent problem, ask your physician about preventative treatment with anti-bacterial ointments. The important lesson here is to always wear clean shorts, and to get out of your cycling clothes as soon as you can after a ride.

Sore Backside: This is when the flesh that you are sitting on becomes red, inflamed, and sore. Here it is important to check the fit of the bike, and to check that the saddle is both level and wide enough to hold you up by the pointy extrusions on your rear-end that actually make contact with the padded, back part of the saddle.

Women should definitely get a saddle that is built for their wider pelvises. Highly recommend saddles are Bontrager and Sella Italia.

Skin Ulceration: Basically, this is occurs when the skin is rubbed off, causing a crater-like lesion. Ouch! If you spend long hours in the saddle, day after day, you are a candidate to develop an ulceration. This should not be ignored, and you should seek medical treatment. If you ride on it untreated, you are at serious risk of getting a much worse skin infection.

Do not get discouraged if you are a new or casual cyclist who keeps getting saddle sores. The important thing to remember is that the more you ride, the more you will condition your “soft parts” and the less likely you are to have problems.

So, how do you prevent any of these conditions?

The first rule of thumb is to find a high quality saddle that fits you. Female riders have found out the hard way as they rode on a man's saddle once: it is not a pleasant experience. Your saddle should keep your body stable, and yet absorb your weight. Be aware of overly soft or wide saddles, they can cause chafing.

Once you have found a good saddle, you need to make sure it is placed properly on your bike. It should not be too high or too low or angled incorrectly. All of these things can cause saddle sores.

You should always wash your shorts after every ride. You can even dry your shorts in the sun, because the ultraviolet radiation will help kill bacteria. This is but another good reason to have more than one pair of shorts.

As for riding technique, try riding out of the saddle over any rough spots, like railroad tracks, etc. And stand up to ride a few minutes out of every hour you spend riding to allow for better air circulation. This is even more important for mountain bikers where the trail provides its own natural obstacles.

If you get a saddle sore, the best thing for it is good hygiene. Wash it with an antibacterial soap, and wear clean underwear.

If you HAVE to ride while you are saddled with an untimely condition, you can try lubricating your shorts with something like Vaseline or chamois cream. A little scary!! It is then even more important to wash your shorts after the ride, but expect to halve their lifespan through these antics.

Good Luck!