High Performance Chamois Cream for Training and Racing
Scientifically Formulated for Women’s Sensitive Skin
by Jenn K.
Here I am again trying a new chamois cream. I will say that if I was on a deserted island with my bicycle I would want some dznuts bliss with me. This stuff is the bomb!
You may have heard of dznuts which is a chamois cream that was designed for Dave Zabriskie (DZ) of Team Garmin-Transitions. Now the ladies have dznuts bliss that was designed in conjunction with the Columbia-HTC women’s cycling team. Dznuts bliss offers the same pro-level protection as the dznuts pro chamois cream, but without the tingling sensation.
While I was working at the AMGEN Tour of California this year I stopped at the Garmin-Transitions tent and there was the dznuts bliss. I found it funny that two days before the start of the tour I almost purchased some bliss on-line. I was training for a century ride and I was looking for some other options for a chamois cream. Once I saw the product and talked to the representative I ended up purchasing two bottles. I figured what the heck, if I don’t like it I can give it to one of my riding buddies.
First I want to discuss the key features and ingredients of dznuts bliss.
Key Features:
Anti-bacterial: Pre/probiotics complex reduces the chance of infection and encourages beneficial skin flora growth.
Anti-inflammatory: Decreases itching, prickling and discomfort.
Wound-healing: Strengthens natural biological skin defenses and promotes healing in previously damaged skin.
Anti-chaffing: Moisture absorbing polymers isolate excess moisture, protecting delicate skin against the chamois.
Key Ingredients:
All the ingredients are natural and plant derived.
- Tea tree oil which has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
- Masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium) which is an herb found in the Swiss Alps used by ancient Greeks for wound healing and calming properties.
- Shea butter
In the past I have used cakey creams and creams that tingle. At first I liked the tingling sensation, but then I found it made me feel too warm down there. So, I decided to go back to a cream that does not tingle. However, I needed one that lasted a long time and prevented and treated saddle sores. It seems that when I start training for high mileage rides I start to get sores or really itchy. This is mostly because I am spending many hours and back to back days on the saddle with little recovery.
Dznuts bliss has a creamy consistency that is not greasy or cakey. It glides on smooth and absorbs into my skin quickly. When it is on my skin it feels like there is a light protective barrier. When I pull up my shorts after applying the cream I do not have bold, white streak marks all over my shorts. At times I had some on my fingers when I pulled up my shorts. There were a few faint white areas where my fingers touched, but they were easily rubbed away. The cream has a light scent that I think is from the tea tree oil ingredient. I think it is a fresh and energizing scent.
I used the dznuts bliss on all my training rides for two weeks leading up to my Little Red Riding Hood Century in early June. I was sold! I had no major sores or itching. If I missed an area and got some irritation, I put the bliss on after my shower and the irritated area was healed in time for my ride the next day. When using the bliss my skin was not sticking to my shorts from the pressure on my seat.
It was my century ride day and I applied my bliss. I was worried that I may need to reapply, mostly because I was riding with a new saddle. There was a sample packet of dznuts bliss in my goodie bag. So, I put the packet in my rear saddle bag. What was great is that I did not need any extra bliss on my ride (it is still in my bag just in case I need it). I love this stuff! After riding for over 6 hours my skin was not irritated and there was no reason for me to reapply.
Since my century ride in early June I have been riding 3 plus days a week and I always use my dznuts bliss before all my rides and as needed after to clear up any irritation. What I like most about this product is how quickly it heals my skin once irritation develops. I have never missed a ride using this product due to a sore are down there. Plus I have been able to ride 11 days in a row, which is a personal record for me. Also I ripped my inner liner (in several areas) of my mountain bike shorts, which caused my skin to rub on the outer shell for a few hours. I will say my skin was very irritated because I did not put the bliss on those areas. I applied the bliss and I my skin was clear and I was able to ride the next day.
The only downside to this product is the expense. It is $24.00 for a 4 oz. tube. This product is more expensive per ounce than any other cream I have used. I can live with the expense since it works. Plus a little dab goes a long way. My tube that I opened two months ago still has plenty of cream left in it, and I ride 3+ days a week.
For those of you who are chamois cream virgins, no need to worry. There are application instructions on the bliss box and tube. These instructions are humorous, which is great for such a personal product.
Dznuts bliss can be purchased at www.dz-nuts.com.
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