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bend 36 chamois cream
the ideal bike ride would feature few, if any, distractions. the bicycle would be fettled to within an inch of its quick-release levers, paying particular attention to any clicks or creaks that might have previously advertised themselves. the tyres would be inflated to their optimum pressure, while the chain would shine in the noon-day sun. the previous evening, each and every item of battle clothing would have been carefully laid out, ready and waiting to be donned prior to a healthy breakfast of porridge oats, topped with mixed fruits and accompanied by a glass of orange juice, an espresso, or both.
the parcours du jour would have been planned in advance, based on previous observations, and laid out according to an appropriate timescale, allowing for a strategic arrival at the coffee shop in time for luncheon. nothing, not even the council's yellow jcb trimming the grass verges would stand in our way.
of course, life's not like that. on the saturday morning ride, i ride up by the high school and down school street to avoid the traffic on main street. as i passed by the currently closed leisure centre, a woman stepped out from between two parked cars with a dog not on a leash. that dog headed straight for my front wheel, before stopping inches away. and i thought it was only cats that had nine lives. a few hundred metres along shore street, the car in front suddenly pulled to a halt to have a chat with folks exiting a parked vehicle. in trying to avoid the chatees, i almost hit one of them.
all this before i'd even left the safety of the village.
the island is twice or three times as busy as it was during lockdown; no longer is it possible to complete the 65km route in complete loneliness. i am trying to be forgiving of visiting motorists who seem oblivious to passing places and why they're there. i simply smile when one of them drives past a signposted lay-by, forcing yours truly to pull over, and again when oncoming traffic pulls in to let the car in front pass by, then pulls out as i near their licence plate. after all, i'm not actually going anywhere in particular; the fact that neither are they, is really of no nevermind.
however, in order that i remain steadfast in the face of adversity, i need to ensure that everything over which i have direct control, has been controlled. and though it might seem a tad superficial to the casual onlooker, i have long been fastidious in my application of chamois cream. i am old enough to recall the days of owning bibshorts that featured a real chamois leather pad. after washing, it was necessary to revive their inherent softness of nature by liberal application of chamois cream. failure so to do would have you riding for team brillo pad, enforcing a walk reminiscent of john wayne, and severe likelihood of having brought tears to your thighs.
modern day synthetic bibshort pads have allegedly removed any requirement for application of chamois cream to the nether regions. i know of riders who express disbelief that i still continue this age-old tradition. however, several of the major bibshort purveyors also offer tubs of chamois cream for sale, and it seems only right and proper that the pelotonese should pay heed. i'd never leave home without it. however, it has become apparent over the years, that not all chamois creams are equal.
many of those i have in the bathroom cabinet resemble the consistency seen in a tub of double-cream, offering the user the luxury of a low-viscosity application. however, the consistency of the bend 36 chamois cream is closer to that of clotted cream. this engenders a tad more effort, but i think you'll find it to be worth it.
of course, bend 36 chamois cream offers more than simply relief from potential chafing, for which the thick consistency is designed. however, its formula is also adept at preventing any infection (in all the years i've been riding a bicycle, using chamois cream, i have never once suffered from saddle sores or unwanted infections). it also prevents bacterial and fungal infections. from a reviewer's point of view, probably the best comment that can be made is that once on the bike, i never noticed it. and at only £13.49 for a 150ml tub, you'd have to think really hard for an excuse not to purchase a tub from prendas ciclismo.
unless you prepare with cream protettiva anti-sfregamento, you'll always remain an inseguitori.
sunday 9 august 2020
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