Embrocation in both warm and hot varieties; by Chamois Butt’r
It’s hard to believe I’ve been riding bikes as long as I have without trying embrocation.
Intended to aid in keeping warm, it works by stimulating blood vessels, and moving blood into the affected areas. It also acts as a seal against the elements, protecting exposed areas.
The ingredients list is somewhat long; water, petrolatum, lanolin, cetearyl alcohol … and other stuff, similar to the ingredients in hot sauces, which is why care is required to avoid accidental application to sensitive nether regions.
Bottom line – the stuff works. The properties of embrocation are well known in the road side of the sport. I’ve been primarily using it for commuting, but it has worked extremely well for trail riding.
My experiences to date with the muscle warming cream has been extremely positive, if not magical. I dislike wearing tights in wet weather, as being covered in wet clothing only serves to enhance the misery when cold and wet. Paired with waterproof shoes and wool socks (and a good jacket and waterproof shorts) I’ve been able to get away with wearing shorts much longer than I thought I’d want to. Note that I’m not a hairy person, and on top of that, while I don’t shave my legs, I keep my leg hair short, which facilitates getting this stuff on and off.
I was sent both the warm and hot formulas to try, and for commuting and riding with mellow sustained output, have primarily been using the hot. For intense riding, I’ve been sticking with the warm, as the effects of the embrocation are kicked into over-drive with the increased movement.
If you’ve never tried it, you’re totally missing out. It’s only $20 for an 8oz jar (pictured above) and well worth the investment. Check it out at Chamoisbuttr.com
