Cycling has some ugly truths. Yes, we’re going to be talking about saddle sores today. Putting our bodies through countless hours of rotary abuse takes a toll. We obsess about recovery, nutrition, bike maintenance, kit, etc. But we often neglect to take care of our skin and put up with unnecessary discomfort.

Enter VeloSkin, who reached out and asked if I'd like to try their skincare range, with the opportunity to become an ambassador if I enjoyed them.

I only endorse world-class products and brands that align with my values. Otherwise, all my credibility gets spat out the back, and my recommendations become meaningless. After putting VeloSkin through its paces, I have gladly welcomed their products into my daily routine.

I unboxed my care package, span the lids off and instantly knew I was in for a treat. VeloSkin is a metro-cyclo-sexual dream.

Chamois Cream

First up, the flagship product in any cycling skincare range, chamois cream. Veloskin have created a beautiful product for an ugly reality, saddle sores. I’ll try not to overshare.

Never had a saddle sore? Then your arse is either made of cowhide, you don’t ride enough, or your bike fit is immaculate, and your pedal stroke is smoother than Francesco Moser’s.

As for the rest of us, I've heard and experienced some horror stories. The most common cause of saddle sores is an incorrect bike fit - the wrong saddle position/height/rotation/reach, leading to incorrect weight distribution. It's rarely the saddle's fault and is usually caused by a saddle that is too high. 

Undue pressure can lead to numbness, chaffing, and inevitably, a saddle sore. All the chamois cream in the world can't help you if your fit is incorrect. If you regularly get saddle sores, take a look at your bike fit.

In 2015, I rode the Wiggle Dragon Ride Devil Sportive - 326.3km with 4979m of elevation. It was a long day in the saddle (10:59:35), made even longer by some position changes that didn't quite agree with me. By the end, it felt like I was riding on sandpaper, and I couldn't piss straight for days.

My dad told me that my grandad made him spontaneously ride 160km on the back of the tandem, which wasn’t set up properly for him - and the poor sod couldn’t ‘get it up’ for a while after.

Even with an optimum position, saddle sores can still arise. Long and/or consecutive days in the saddle, such as stage races, sportives, cycling weekends, big training blocks - can often lead to chaffing and sensitivity. 

On the road, chamois cream reduces the friction caused by pedalling and road buzz. Indoor training removes the issue of road vibration, but your cadence tends to be a bit higher, and the lack of coasting increases saddle contact and the chance of abrasions. 

Sweaty fabrics cling to your body. Moisture, salt, bacteria, and friction create a cutting compound that eats through flesh like a parasite. Good kit will wick away moisture to solve this issue, but there's no escaping a clingy sweat-fest while training indoors - making chamois cream essential on the turbo. 

Above is the result of a hard turbo session. The wet sweaty fabric clings to your body and the seams imprint on your skin. Imagine what sweat can do to your ‘saddle contact area’ without chamois cream?

Preventing saddle sores is simple:
• Dial in your bike fit
• Ride in the best bib shorts you can get your hands on
• Use quality chamois cream to reduce chaffing as much as possible

(I highly recommend Le Col Pro Bib Shorts. Here's a 20% discount code to use at the checkout and help soften the blow: GARETHWINTER20 )

Saddle sores are a universal problem. However, the specifics vary across genders. I can only speak from my perspective as a male, but Orla Chennaoui wrote a brilliant piece from a woman’s perspective in Rouleur edition 101.

Veloskin Chamois Cream is PH neutral, making it suitable for all. When I posted a picture of the Veloskin range on my Instagram Story, my Auntie Sally replied that she had been using it long before me, as recommended by Velovixen.

Over the last decade or so, I have used pretty much every chamois cream on the market. I like to try lots of different products until I find my favourite. Veloskin is the most impressive and luxurious I have experienced. It's silky smooth, anti-bacterial, soothing and cooling to any existing chaffing, and smells good.

Not only is the product best-in-class, but it's vegan, plastic-free and packaged in tins, similar to Rapha skincare or something on the shelves of Harrods.  

Head to my onlyfans for a product demo…

Shaving Cream

I’m in the shower working up a thick luxurious lather on my legs with a shave brush and VeloSkin’s Traditional Shave Cream thinking:

But then I was like, “Well, this is the whole point of self-care.” Too often we tell ourselves we are not worthy. That’s just a bullshit inferiority complex. We all work hard, train hard, live stressful lives, etc. We owe ourselves a good pamper.

VeloSkin Shave Cream is packed with luxurious ingredients. Firstly you are hit with the citrus scent of orange oil which tones the skin, coconut oil and kelimillet conditions, jojoba oil combats razor burn with its anti-bac properties, raspberry seed nourishes, argan, shea butter and aloe vera hydrate and moisturise, cucumber oil minimises drag, wheat protein increases skin firmness.

As you can see, a lot of thought has gone into this premium shave cream. You have to brush this cream over your skin and glide a blade over to know what I’m talking about.

I love the ritual of shaving. I think it stems from the romance of old advertising, and maybe the fact that my grandad used to shave twice a day - a routine that was drilled into him by the RAF. I must get my obsessive militance from him.

Gino Bartarli’s era is the coolest of all time. The shaving memorabilia on display at Rapha Soho is proof of this. Rapha’s skincare range bought cool back to cycling - using tins and natural ingredients instead of plastic tubes or aerosol foam. VeloSkin have taken this up a level with their products.

The whole cosmetic industry has transformed our mindsets to believe shaving should be a quick, effortless job. I like how Veloskin respect the ritual. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

VeloSkin delivers a closer shave, meaning I don’t need to shave my legs as often. Perhaps just twice a week is enough now, and I only need to shave my face once a day. Coupled with the post-shave lotion, you’re in for a close shave without irritation.

I’ll review the other Veloskin products, such as the soothing gel, in another blog post. Otherwise, I’ll send you to sleep.

Summary

Is skincare essential for cyclists? After experiencing how good it can be, yes, I think so.

If you would like to give VeloSkin a try for yourself or surprise someone with a gift, here’s a 10% discount link to help out: GARETHWINTER10

I hope you enjoy VeloSkin as much as I do.

G