by Mike Dayton
editor of American Randonneur,
the newsletter of Randonneurs USA.

In 2003, during the 760-mile Paris-Brest-Paris, I developed two ugly pressures sores. The bottom line: I couldn't sit down for the last 40 miles.

This year, despite hours of skin-soaking rain in PBP, I had zero problems. The difference ? Lantiseptic Skin Protectant. Savvy randonneurs have been singing its praises for years.

Jeff Bauer, an accomplished long-distance cyclist from Tennessee, says he proselytizes about the stuff "with a fervor that would make a Jesuit blush. Begone all you false worshipers of Bag Balm, Chamois Butt'r, and Assos Cream."

Don't look for Lantiseptic at your local bike shop. You're more likely to find it at a nursing home, where it's used to treat adult diaper rash and pressure sores.

Lantiseptic contains a mix of beeswax and lanolin, a substance produced by wool-bearing animals. It's renowned for its healing and water-repelling qualities.

And its tenacity. "Lantiseptic has the viscosity of caulking compound," Bauer jokes. "It's best applied with a spackling knife."

Sticky, yes. But coat your chamois and your shorts stay put. This eliminates friction and chafing.

And since Lantiseptic repels water, it can withstand sweat and rain -- even the heavy downpours that nailed riders in this year's PBP.

One downside : The stuff can be tough to wash completely out of bike shorts.

But Lantiseptic lover John Ende dismisses that complaint. "It is like putting oil onto your baseball glove," he says. "It conditions the chamois permanently."

Lantiseptic comes in a several sizes. I'm a fan of the 4-ounce tube, which is small enough to carry on multiday events. The manufacturer also makes 5-gram and 15-gram packets, perfect for tucking in a jersey pocket.

You may have a hard time finding Lantiseptic. Ask your local pharmacy to order it or buy it online from a medical supply company, such as Bruce at http://www.brucemedical.com/laskpr.html. A 14-oz. jar costs about $15.

Note : Be sure to get Lantiseptic's Skin Protectant, not its Therapeutic Cream.

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