Lube Job at Valley Forge

Before we left California, the REI guy that alerted us to the special bike shipping deal, also whispered to us, “don’t leave home without ‘Chamois Glide.'” This product which comes in a deodorant bar-sized container, advertises itself as a: ‘no mess, invisible, saddle-sore-stopper.’ Both Mike and I bought bars, shipped them off to New York with the bikes and thought no more about it. Turns out our friend’s advice was sound.

On our fifth day in the saddle, as we entered the Valley Forge National Park, I suspected some sores might be developing. So at our next stop I repaired to the restroom and read the directions on my little applicator. What I did then could best be described as applying stick deodorant to the bottom half of my tush.

I emerged feeling quite silly, not to mention slippery, and climbed back on the bike. Problem apparently solved. Later in the day, however, clouds began to cover my sun. I mentioned to Mike that I was feeling a case of saddle-sore-itis coming on, and that I had used the stick at our earlier stop. He reminded me that the REI guy had said on a recent ride, he had used the stick multiple times per day. That did it; from then on every time I dropped my drawers (yes, with biking ‘girdles’ on, men do the drop thing) I greased up. But in my mind, this miracle-producing product will always be associated with our traverse of George Washington’s famous winter training grounds.

To be continued.