Chamois Butt'r's Little Brother and Sister

Everyone knows about world's best chamois cream, but Paceline Products and the Chamois Butt'r line also have a couple other good products as well.  After a solid year of putting them through the works, I can now lavish them with some words of praise.

The Sports Wash is a great addition to the post ride/race clean up protocol.  No water around?  Needing to remove the embrocation?  No worries, just spray liberally to skin and wipe off with a rag or paper towel. With Sports Wash, you have no excuse climbing aboard the podium a dirty mess. It works extremely well at removing embrocation, COMPLETELY, so that you don't have that intense burning sensation on your legs, ALL ... THE ... WAY ... HOME.

Sports Wash contains green tea extract, aloe vera gel, and peppermint. It has a nice fragrance and is non irritating on intact skin.  I would caution its use if you have any road rash or open wounds.

Sports Kit Wash is the go-to cleaner for your high end cycling kits or swimsuits.  It is recommended for handwashing your items, but I have also used it in my washing machine on the delicate cycle.  It does a nice job of removing any Chamois Butt'r residue.  I have also used it as a pre wash, soaking my dirty kits in it, when I didn't have the opportunity of washing them immediately post ride/race.  It won't get heavy mud (think red clay) stains out.  For that, I recommend Progold Degreaser + Wash!  Where I have really noticed its effectiveness is with my swimsuit.  Frequent washing with it has increased the life of my suit; no more "saggy bottom" after a season's use.

So, there you go.  Two more awesome "Made in the USA" products by Paceline Products!

Chamois Butt'r Her Review

After 25+ hours saddle time in Idaho which included the Marathon XC Nationals in Sun Valley followed by 10+ hours in Pennsylvania prepping for and racing the XC Nationals in Bear Creek,  I have a real appreciation for the "Her" line of Chamois Butt'r.

Chamois cream of champions!

I first mentioned this product here.  Now that I have had many hours of ride time I am ready to step on my soap box.

Idaho was hot, dry, and dusty.  Pennsylvania was hot and humid.  Ride times in Idaho were 3-5 hours; I slathered on a generous two finger helping and did not need to re-apply.  Ride times in Pennsylvania were 1-3 hours.

My saddle contact points remained happy throughout ... no chafing, no sores.  Some say that this product is too thin and gets "sweated" away quickly.  Although the product may seem to have disappeared after an hour's saddle time, it continues to work albeit on a "microscopic" level.  The tea tree oil, aloe vera, and lavender oil all inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.  So even after my ride when I spent extra time in my chamois enjoying a soak in the cold mountain waters or consuming my recovery drink and chatting about the ride or the race course with my friends, Chamois Butt'r Her was keeping me protected.

Sure, there are "thicker" products on the market.  But they contain waxes, parafins, and heavy doses of lanolin, which are all difficult to wash out of your chamois.  I know from personal experience just how quickly it can destroy a chamois.

There are products out there that are comparable to Chamois Butt'r Her with regards to the ingredients, but they also come at a much higher cost.

My only complaint is that it is not offered in a tub.  Trying to get the last ounce or so from the tube is about as hard as herding cats.  But if you want an all natural product produced here in the good 'ol US of A, you really need to try this product.  It comes in an 8 ounce tube for $15 and in convenient 0.75 ml reapplication packets.

Thank you Paceline Products and Chamois Butt'r Her for being part of a magical formula that helped me to attain a 2nd place at Marathon Nationals and a 1st place at XC Nationals, both SS style!

Her' Chamois Butt'r

Last week I received the newest in the line of Chamois Butt'r products, a formula designed just for women.

It is different than Chamois Butt'r in that it contains aloe vera, green tea leaf extract, tea tree oil, shea butter, and lavender oil.  It is also pH balanced for women.  I have used it on 4 training rides of about 2 hours each.  Riding conditons have been dry with temps in the mid-80's.  I must say that it is as good as the Eurostyle that I also use.

The one thing that I REALLY like about this product, which doesn't have anything to do with its performance, is its fragrance.  It brings back fond memories of my daughter at an early age.  Her Chamois Butt'r smells just like Johnson's Baby Lotion.  By the way, the fragrance is all natural.

I am looking forward to challenging the product's durability in a little over a week when I head to Idaho for 10 days of epic riding, finishing with the Marathon Nationals in Ketchum.  If it is anything like its counterparts,  my nether regions will be happy, happy, happy!

Hit me up for some, if you see me out on the trail!

Eurostyle Embrocation Review

From the makers of Chamois Butt'r

I had the pleasure of using this for the first time this winter and early spring.  This product comes in two levels of heating:  warm (suggested for 70 degrees and below) and hot (suggested for 50 degrees and below).  It comes in an 8 ounce tub and has a creamy, non-greasy formula.  I chose the HOT as my legs/knees can handle temperatures above 50 degrees in their naked form.  And I hate to wear anything more than just shorts when on the road bike.  Tights and leg warmers are like "straight jackets" for my lower extremities.  I feel all bound up and cannot move freely nor generate the power comfortably.

As these embrocations are in tubs similar to Chamois Butt'r Eurostyle, measures have been taken to ensure that one does not get these products mixed up ... which could be painfully disastrous!  The labels and lids are red, and the embrocation itself is orange in color.

Makes legs happy!

Makes tush happy!

I recommend applying it at least 30 minutes before you are ready to ride.  You don't need much; a two-finger dollop will do.  One tub lasted me almost two months.

Warm legs and knees makes it so much easier to get into the groove with my training.  By the time I headed out the door, I was feeling a tingly warmness.  This "barrier" made the temps feel at least 20 degrees warmer.    And to me, that can be the difference between a "dead leg" session and a "sparkly leg" ride.

Immediately upon finishing a ride, I take diligence in removing the embrocation.  There is nothing like stepping back inside a warm house and having your legs "on fire" to get you moving to a source of soap and cool water.  Warning:  don't step into a hot shower without removal first!  

If you don't have soap and water readily available, I recommend this.

16 ounces of bliss ... well, at least until a  real shower if found.

This is great for removing the embrocation as well as just cleaning the dirt, sweat, and grime off you.  All of these products are Made in the USA, too!  You can find out more info at Paceline Products.

As much as I hate the cold and wet of winter, I can take some comfort in knowing that this embrocation will make it a little more bearable.  Can't say that I am looking forward anytime soon to using this product again.  I am kind of enjoying the jersey and shorts weather and not having to think about what to wear.

Patiently waiting for next winter.