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review
Skincare & embrocation
Sportique Century Riding CreamSportique Century riding cream

Sportique Century Riding Cream

9
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 5, 2011

7
£13.95

VERDICT:

9
10
Exceptional in its ability to keep you comfy, and stays put as long as anything I've tried. Ideal for longer rides
Weight: 
198g
Contact: 
www.sportique.net
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If you're a fan of long hours in the saddle then you've probably got a favourite chamois cream already. Even if you swear by one particular unguent or another, you should give this Sportique Century Riding Cream a go. Because it's brilliant.

Sportique go a bit overboard in their rather flowery description of the ingredients and thought processes that gave birth to their product range, but the bottom line is that the Riding Cream is an all-natural concoction, petroleum-free, with a blend of essential oils and minerals swimming in a natural oil and nut butter base. It smells slightly medicinal and locker-roomy and is a pretty thick cream, especially if it's cold. you might need to warm it up a bit on a chilly day if you don't have forearms like hams.

Slathering it on the chammy and heading out for some long rides, it's incredibly tenacious. You stick this on your pad and it'll still be there when you get off the bike, no matter how long that is. I used it on rides from a couple of hours to a dawn-to-dusk epic, and even after 15 straight hours in the saddle on a warm day it was doing the business. No chafing, no soreness, no nothing. It really does do exceptional work.

The Riding cream is anti-fungal and anti-microbial to lower the risk of infections, and it's claimed to be skin conditioning too; I don't take great stock of how smooth my rump is from day to day but even I was impressed. Once you're done it washes out fairly easily, it's no more or less difficult to remove than other products I've used. At £14 for 180ml it isn't cheap but you definitely get your money's worth.

Verdict

Exceptional in its ability to keep you comfy, and stays put as long as anything I've tried. Ideal for longer rides.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sportique Century Riding Cream

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

They say: SPORTIQUE products are created for and by physically active people. Formulated especially for the demands of any sport, your sport, our products are as pure as competition itself. Bodies in motion want to stay in motion and SPORTIQUE echoes that demand. SPORTIQUE aims to be as unique as you are in your own sport, however you define it. Whether it be running, skiing, surfing, hiking, martial arts, bodybuilding or picking the kids up from hockey practice, or if you are mechanic, farmer, or contractor, SPORTIQUE products are as versatile as you are. Your body can only function at its full potential when all of its basic needs are met. A healthy diet, plenty of exercise and the purest of skincare products will take care of the basics, the rest is now up to you. Our mission at SPORTIQUE is simple; to provide you with only the purest as possible products formulated with natural ingredients, free of petroleum or synthetic ingredients, which can be potential carcinogens or toxic to your body. We use botanicals and naturally moisturizing oils and nut butters, ingredients we would feel safe using on our babies or even eating. We don't use any products from an animal source, in fact, we leave animals out of the process altogether as we refuse to test on them. Of course, our products are rigorously evaluated and have been awarded certificates of compliance with the strict European Union's hypoallergenic, microbiological and effectiveness laws and regulations. The remedies we rely on have been used for hundreds of years by our ancestors who turned to nature to ease, soften and soothe their skin. We continue to re-discover and implement the benefits of time forgotten, but proven formulations, incorporating herbs, botanicals, essential oils and minerals. SPORTIQUE does not pretend to impose any new miraculous cures or pretentious philosophy. We simply have a desire for a good, harmless and healthy lifestyle.

We say: You eat it if you want, we'll just rub it on our shorts

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* safe to use for both Men and Women

* highly effective against the elements

* can be used whilst wearing neoprene wetsuits

* natural formula does not harm but protects skin

* washes out no problem

Occlusive silicones create a long lasting, friction free barrier. Antifungal, antimicrobial and skinconditioning botanicals are added for superior protection from chaffing caused by tight clothes, shoes, or sport equipment. Apply generously and directly to all possible friction points.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Really good, and gets better the longer you go

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Super tenacious stuff, this

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Keeps you comfy in the saddle for longer than anything I've tried

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Similar price to plenty of others: not cheap, but worth it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Near faultlessly

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfort, staying power

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Smells a bit odd. Not unpleasant, just odd.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 190cm  Weight: 98kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Sportique Century Riding Cream
chamois cream
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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7 comments

Avatar
KirinChris | 13 years ago
0 likes

+1 for Sudocrem. Never felt the need for anything else.

I find if I do have problems down there it is often to do with shorts and fit than anything that a cream would prevent or solve.

Avatar
rootes | 13 years ago
0 likes

whilst sudocreme is good for soothing after, it is just not slippy enough for in use.. only my opinion though.

Avatar
Simon E | 13 years ago
0 likes

I don't ride big miles so haven't felt a need for chamois cream while on the bike but can recommend Weleda's Calendula nappy cream after a shower to heal saddle sores.

Savlon is an antiseptic cleanser, so I wouldn't have thought it ideal for chamois cream.

Avatar
6654henry | 13 years ago
0 likes

I have some Sportique warm up cream which is FANTASTIC, having tried various oils i found that it was superior. The massive downside to the chamois cream is that the two tubes would look exactly the same...imagine pre race rush chamois cream grab only to realsie seconds after application its the hot warm up cream 13 ....ouch. You'd be in some sort of discomfort, running to the nearest full bucket of water in which to dunk your flaming behind.

Sudocrem is where its at, £14 is just too much and you wont mix up the tubes.

Avatar
dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes

I use Sudocrem a lot too, 'cause it's cheap and plentiful and does a pretty good job. for a long ride though, this stuff really is the business. And don't forget how much that carbon bottle cage cost, eh 1

Avatar
FMOAB | 13 years ago
0 likes

A very literal description "We use botanicals and naturally moisturizing oils and nut butters..." 24

At £14 a tube, I think I'll be sticking with my £1.50 tube of Savlon.

Avatar
nick_rearden replied to FMOAB | 13 years ago
0 likes
FMOAB wrote:

At £14 a tube, I think I'll be sticking with my £1.50 tube of Savlon.

Don't think Savlon will do the same job as a good cyclists' chamois cream. The idea is that a more tenacious cream provides lubrication between pad and skin although the point is well taken about the £14. A personal favourite of mine is Sudocrem as used on baby's bottoms; much cheaper. However, don't underestimate the value cyclists place on their favourite lucky chamois creams, though. I definitely go 2mph faster and 20 miles further when I'm using Assos cream and I've recently discovered Elite Protective Cream which is the closest thing I've found to Sudocrem in its durability but smells MUCH nicer. And tingles, which is a bit kinky.

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