Butt Blisters?

[thr1961]

I am still quite new to the world of rowing, but have been making steady progress along the Beginner Pete Plan and am in the last week of the August challenge.

Awkward as it may be, I am developing, umm, blisters on my backside and not sure how to best eliminate the cause. I have a Model D and am using a Hornet Waterspots pad. The problem actually began as my distances went up and I started using a pair of JL Racing shorts as opposed to my Boathouse shorts.

Bottom line (pun intended) -- what are some things I can do to manage this and finish the monthly challenge? I have tried adding a towel and also using some antibiotic ointment to reduce friction, but all advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

[KeithT]

I am still quite new to the world of rowing, but have been making steady progress along the Beginner Pete Plan and am in the last week of the August challenge.

Awkward as it may be, I am developing, umm, blisters on my backside and not sure how to best eliminate the cause. I have a Model D and am using a Hornet Waterspots pad. The problem actually began as my distances went up and I started using a pair of JL Racing shorts as opposed to my Boathouse shorts.

Bottom line (pun intended) -- what are some things I can do to manage this and finish the monthly challenge? I have tried adding a towel and also using some antibiotic ointment to reduce friction, but all advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

I have never quite solved this one either. I use to get a sore/blister at the very bottom of my tail bone (just off to one side a bit) and the more I rowed the less frequently I would get it but it would still happen. I got a concept2 pad (basic, small thin) and it seemed to help but to this day I will still randomly get it. I can do a 20K one week with no issues and then do a 15K another week and get it and have worn the same shorts (usually JL Racing as well). I have tried using a fan while rowing too in order to reduce sweat but doesn't seem to matter. I don't have excessive layback on my rowing stroke either but don't have the best posture and wonder if that adds to it. Sorry, I don't have an answer but others will chime in but it's something many of us deal with.

[ampire]

I am still quite new to the world of rowing, but have been making steady progress along the Beginner Pete Plan and am in the last week of the August challenge.

Awkward as it may be, I am developing, umm, blisters on my backside and not sure how to best eliminate the cause. I have a Model D and am using a Hornet Waterspots pad. The problem actually began as my distances went up and I started using a pair of JL Racing shorts as opposed to my Boathouse shorts.

Bottom line (pun intended) -- what are some things I can do to manage this and finish the monthly challenge? I have tried adding a towel and also using some antibiotic ointment to reduce friction, but all advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Go commando, as in just wear the spandex compression shorts alone, no underwear.

If you have the issue at your ischeal tuberosity (sitz bones) you could try the C2 foam pad or buy a new seat, I ended up buying an Endurerow seat which was pricey but very worth it to me.

Also, personally I found the seam on the hamstring of the JL racing shorts to cause issues so I switched to a brand that doesn't have that seam, Aerotech Designs compression shorts unpadded.

[Dangerscouse]

I haven't ever had this issue, and I never knew it was so prevalent.

Do you think that you're very slightly lifting off the seat with each stroke? As it can only be caused by friction, I can't think of any other issue?

As a, possible, solution put a mark either side of the monitor arm, showing where a straight line is when the chain is fully extended, and make sure you stay on, or below this line. This should keep you more grounded, rather than lifting up.

[winniewinser]

I am still quite new to the world of rowing, but have been making steady progress along the Beginner Pete Plan and am in the last week of the August challenge.

Awkward as it may be, I am developing, umm, blisters on my backside and not sure how to best eliminate the cause. I have a Model D and am using a Hornet Waterspots pad. The problem actually began as my distances went up and I started using a pair of JL Racing shorts as opposed to my Boathouse shorts.

Bottom line (pun intended) -- what are some things I can do to manage this and finish the monthly challenge? I have tried adding a towel and also using some antibiotic ointment to reduce friction, but all advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I suffered badly with this as I got into longer distances so have been through the pain . The post row shower was quite excruciating and even sitting on the sofa after a long row wasn't much better.

What worked for me was originally to get the C2 seat pad with the cut out for the tailbone area. That helped the rubbing initially but it did come back after a while.

Next stops was to look at what I was wearing....less layers and only ever something with no seam going anywhere near that area. For me that was Under Armour 2.0 Heatgear shorts which I wear either on their own or under some basic shorts. You don't want any material bunching up there to rub. As I row at home I can get away with just the UA shorts but probably wouldn't in the local gym
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/under-armour-h ... 6MEALw_wcB

I also switched to wearing a headband to stop too much sweat getting down that area....I think that helps a bit.

Finally a good lathering of Chamois Buttr to prevent rubbing.....I think that has definitely helped too. I think the combination of that and the UA shorts is what sorted me out.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chamois-Buttr- ... B01FK3OL3I

I think I had quite a big layback in my stroke initially which has lessened over time so that may also be a contributing factor.

The final move has been to a Citius Remex seat pad which has also made longer distances more comfortable with less pressure on my sitting bones. Very expensive but it works for me.

Good luck!

[ampire]

Hi,

I suffered badly with this as I got into longer distances so have been through the pain . The post row shower was quite excruciating and even sitting on the sofa after a long row wasn't much better.

What worked for me was originally to get the C2 seat pad with the cut out for the tailbone area. That helped the rubbing initially but it did come back after a while.

Next stops was to look at what I was wearing....less layers and only ever something with no seam going anywhere near that area. For me that was Under Armour 2.0 Heatgear shorts which I wear either on their own or under some basic shorts. You don't want any material bunching up there to rub. As I row at home I can get away with just the UA shorts but probably wouldn't in the local gym
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/under-armour-h ... 6MEALw_wcB

I also switched to wearing a headband to stop too much sweat getting down that area....I think that helps a bit.

Finally a good lathering of Chamois Buttr to prevent rubbing.....I think that has definitely helped too. I think the combination of that and the UA shorts is what sorted me out.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chamois-Buttr- ... B01FK3OL3I

I think I had quite a big layback in my stroke initially which has lessened over time so that may also be a contributing factor.

The final move has been to a Citius Remex seat pad which has also made longer distances more comfortable with less pressure on my sitting bones. Very expensive but it works for me.

Good luck!

That citius remex pad looks pretty cool. Do you find the added height a change on your form or foot position?

[winniewinser]

That citius remex pad looks pretty cool. Do you find the added height a change on your form or foot position?

Can't say I've changed my foot position at all. The pad helps with form as it sloped back to front under your hips. Best investment for me after the C2

[thr1961]

Thanks all. I am interested in the Citius but it looks like it has to be ordered from Europe? I will try going back to basics and using the boathouse shorts as I first did. I also went back to wearing a shirt as the tip about the headband (which I already use) made me think that sans shirt a lot of swear is heading straight to the problem area.

I have 16k to go for the Dog Days challenge and I am optimistic I will get there despite the discomfort.

[winniewinser]

Thanks all. I am interested in the Citius but it looks like it has to be ordered from Europe? I will try going back to basics and using the boathouse shorts as I first did. I also went back to wearing a shirt as the tip about the headband (which I already use) made me think that sans shirt a lot of swear is heading straight to the problem area.

I have 16k to go for the Dog Days challenge and I am optimistic I will get there despite the discomfort.

Yeah the Citius is a Danish product so may not be easy for you to get if you're outside of Europe.

The Chamois Buttr cream is a great barrier and not too expensive so maybe give that a go.

Good luck with your remaining Dog Days metres

[Carl Watts]

Never had the problem. I row in a variety of lycra type materials always single layer no underwear. Some have worn right through and have holes in them now but never any blisters. No seat pad used here either found them to be uncomfortable you just row and your backside adapts without a pad.

[ampire]

Thanks all. I am interested in the Citius but it looks like it has to be ordered from Europe? I will try going back to basics and using the boathouse shorts as I first did. I also went back to wearing a shirt as the tip about the headband (which I already use) made me think that sans shirt a lot of swear is heading straight to the problem area.

I have 16k to go for the Dog Days challenge and I am optimistic I will get there despite the discomfort.

I use an EndureRow seat which is similar to the Citius in that it has more ergonomy in its design compared to the original C2 seat, with holes for the bones in the buttocks. It replaces the entire seat rather than as a pad, it is pretty nice and greatly reduced the pain I was experiencing on my right ischial tuberosity (right sitz bone). Its sold in the US, but its pricey, I paid $115 for it. The only downside is I sit lower on it as it is a thinner seat then the original, and that seems to have increased some discomfort I feel in my upper back, maybe has to do with where my handle finish position is in relation to the chain sprocket.

You should also consider buying two of the C2 foam pads and stacking them, that is another solution but it is much cheaper.