Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Other Chamois Cream's Claims and Petroleum... You down with OCCC?
Today I learned of a new chamois cream on the market claiming to be the best out there and the longest lasting... hey, I know this is Friction Freedom's claim, but let's analyze why certain creams work better than others and why.
Did you know that properly made apparel and fabrics are actually sown with basic physics in mind? Have you ever had a tear in your trousers and it wasn't on the seam, leaving you no choice but to throw it away or use a patch to cover it up? Properly made clothing uses thread that has a slightly less tencil strength than that of the fabric, specifically designed so that when stress is applied to the fabric, the thread(seam) gives way saving the fabric, then the piece is easily sown back together looking and performing like new! Less thought out apparel doesn't use this basic principle causing tears in the fabric making a patch the only way to salvage the piece.
This principle carries very similarly over to chamois cream. If you have a cream that lasts forever or is hard to get off your hands, then it will probably last longer than the fabric (YOUR SKIN!). Most of the formula's that last forever are petroleum based... hey petroleum jelly is very inexpensive and it serves a great purpose, but not as a chamois cream. Petroleum based products are fantastic for after you've showered, cleaned your application spot and you're done creating friction in that area. For example: Bag Balm is for soothing cows nipples AFTER milking, not DURING!
Petroleum also stains your bibs/shorts, so unless you plan to only wear black shorts and saddle, plan on staining your team clothing and white saddle.
Bleeding: Really, petroleum lasts longer than your skin... the last thing you want in your shorts is an open wound! Try putting petroleum jelly between your thighs and go run 5 miles and tell me if I'm wrong... please prove me wrong!
Mostly WATER BASED chamois creams are on the other side of the fence, they last 2 minutes and are absorbed into the skin. Most of these creams are inexpensive, but if they don't work why would you use it?
Friction Freedom is mostly water and lanolin based with it's proprietary blend of emulsifiers which gives it a thick, viscous feel while still be soft to the skin and of course some other key ingredients that make it great.
My goal isn't to talk bad about others products, I just want everyone to be educated. I have spent countless hours researching, testing and exploring this subject and feel I have some applicable knowledge. I've ruined multiple saddles and bib shorts trying all kinds of products before Friction Freedom came up with it's formula that is safe.
Friction Freedom has the proper physics to be strong and long lasting, but to give way before the skin does, keeping your skin happy and giving you comfort day after day.
Did you know that properly made apparel and fabrics are actually sown with basic physics in mind? Have you ever had a tear in your trousers and it wasn't on the seam, leaving you no choice but to throw it away or use a patch to cover it up? Properly made clothing uses thread that has a slightly less tencil strength than that of the fabric, specifically designed so that when stress is applied to the fabric, the thread(seam) gives way saving the fabric, then the piece is easily sown back together looking and performing like new! Less thought out apparel doesn't use this basic principle causing tears in the fabric making a patch the only way to salvage the piece.
This principle carries very similarly over to chamois cream. If you have a cream that lasts forever or is hard to get off your hands, then it will probably last longer than the fabric (YOUR SKIN!). Most of the formula's that last forever are petroleum based... hey petroleum jelly is very inexpensive and it serves a great purpose, but not as a chamois cream. Petroleum based products are fantastic for after you've showered, cleaned your application spot and you're done creating friction in that area. For example: Bag Balm is for soothing cows nipples AFTER milking, not DURING!
Petroleum also stains your bibs/shorts, so unless you plan to only wear black shorts and saddle, plan on staining your team clothing and white saddle.
Bleeding: Really, petroleum lasts longer than your skin... the last thing you want in your shorts is an open wound! Try putting petroleum jelly between your thighs and go run 5 miles and tell me if I'm wrong... please prove me wrong!
Mostly WATER BASED chamois creams are on the other side of the fence, they last 2 minutes and are absorbed into the skin. Most of these creams are inexpensive, but if they don't work why would you use it?
Friction Freedom is mostly water and lanolin based with it's proprietary blend of emulsifiers which gives it a thick, viscous feel while still be soft to the skin and of course some other key ingredients that make it great.
My goal isn't to talk bad about others products, I just want everyone to be educated. I have spent countless hours researching, testing and exploring this subject and feel I have some applicable knowledge. I've ruined multiple saddles and bib shorts trying all kinds of products before Friction Freedom came up with it's formula that is safe.
Friction Freedom has the proper physics to be strong and long lasting, but to give way before the skin does, keeping your skin happy and giving you comfort day after day.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Neil Shirley & Friction Freedom
This just in from Neil Shirley...
"My team, Kelly Benefit Strategies just won the overall at Tour de Beauce in QUebec. It was freaking hard but we pulled it off. I was able to take 3rd on the Mt Megantic stage which was the toughest stage of the race with a mountain top finish.
Friction Freedom kept me comfortable all six days of the race even with a couple of cold, wet days.
Thanks again, Neil"
Another happy rider, well... Neil Shirley is more than just another rider, he's frick'n amazing! Check out www.neilshirley.com.
"My team, Kelly Benefit Strategies just won the overall at Tour de Beauce in QUebec. It was freaking hard but we pulled it off. I was able to take 3rd on the Mt Megantic stage which was the toughest stage of the race with a mountain top finish.
Friction Freedom kept me comfortable all six days of the race even with a couple of cold, wet days.
Thanks again, Neil"
Another happy rider, well... Neil Shirley is more than just another rider, he's frick'n amazing! Check out www.neilshirley.com.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Chamois Cream?
Chamois Cream... I put that where? Seriously? Is this a joke?
These words mean something different depending on who you ask, but I think the general rule of thumb is that it's a product used to protect against chaffing on you undercarriage while wearing a chamois (the pad that is in cycling shorts/bibs).
I am 6'4", 225lbs. I use a saddle that is quite popular among riders. If I am above the average weight for a cyclist, yet sitting on the same surface area of a saddle as the average or below average weight rider, simple math would indicate that more pressure per square inch of the saddle surface is being applied to my undercarriage, right? Now, I know there are many factors and one being that I could use a saddle with a larger surface area, but I've tried these and they are not comfortable. There are also factors like bike fit, weight distribution, riding style, etc... the list can go on. My point is that the heavy riders are likely to have more undercarriage discomfort than the average weight riders.
After my first few road rides 6 years ago, I was experiencing a lot of saddle pain and discovered chamois cream. The cream helped make sitting in the saddle bearable, but seemed to only last for a short while at best. Saddle Sores came and went. The pain while riding came and went with the sores, but I knew there had to be something better. I knew the pro's used something: Remember "The Lance Chronicles" on TV when there was a shot of Lance taking a third of a jar of Assos Brand Chamois Cream onto 3 fingers and dropping his hand into his bibs to lube his taint on camera? If Lance needs it, then I guess I don't feel so bad.
After trying every brand available, I knew there had to be something better out there. But where? Was there a better chamois cream? Could I make a cream that was better? And if I could, who would buy it?
Aha! ...freedom from the friction of riding? After 2 years of blood, sweat and saddle sores, a scientist ready to kill me for changing the formula so many times, too much money to justify "butt cream", wife support, family support, bro support(the kind that would test an unknown product on their family jewels), 4 pairs of stained bibs and 2 ruined saddles(from other brands of chamois cream), and some fun too, we had a product we believed to be good, really good, actually the best longest-lasting, safe cream available.
And so Friction Freedom Chamois Cream was born...
These words mean something different depending on who you ask, but I think the general rule of thumb is that it's a product used to protect against chaffing on you undercarriage while wearing a chamois (the pad that is in cycling shorts/bibs).
I am 6'4", 225lbs. I use a saddle that is quite popular among riders. If I am above the average weight for a cyclist, yet sitting on the same surface area of a saddle as the average or below average weight rider, simple math would indicate that more pressure per square inch of the saddle surface is being applied to my undercarriage, right? Now, I know there are many factors and one being that I could use a saddle with a larger surface area, but I've tried these and they are not comfortable. There are also factors like bike fit, weight distribution, riding style, etc... the list can go on. My point is that the heavy riders are likely to have more undercarriage discomfort than the average weight riders.
After my first few road rides 6 years ago, I was experiencing a lot of saddle pain and discovered chamois cream. The cream helped make sitting in the saddle bearable, but seemed to only last for a short while at best. Saddle Sores came and went. The pain while riding came and went with the sores, but I knew there had to be something better. I knew the pro's used something: Remember "The Lance Chronicles" on TV when there was a shot of Lance taking a third of a jar of Assos Brand Chamois Cream onto 3 fingers and dropping his hand into his bibs to lube his taint on camera? If Lance needs it, then I guess I don't feel so bad.
After trying every brand available, I knew there had to be something better out there. But where? Was there a better chamois cream? Could I make a cream that was better? And if I could, who would buy it?
Aha! ...freedom from the friction of riding? After 2 years of blood, sweat and saddle sores, a scientist ready to kill me for changing the formula so many times, too much money to justify "butt cream", wife support, family support, bro support(the kind that would test an unknown product on their family jewels), 4 pairs of stained bibs and 2 ruined saddles(from other brands of chamois cream), and some fun too, we had a product we believed to be good, really good, actually the best longest-lasting, safe cream available.
And so Friction Freedom Chamois Cream was born...
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