Uh, was this contact with Poison Oak?

[royta]

I went to visit my grandmother in Burbank on Friday, before she left for Provo. I live in Corona and didn't want to sit in traffic. So, I left my house @ 4:45A and did a little ride above her house in the Verdugo Hills while she was still sleeping. I created a geoladders route with it. Stough Canyon - La Tuna Canyon Loop

Anyway, I had a little run in with a PO bush on the La Tuna Canyon singletrack. It was a left hand switchback, but I wasn't even paying attention to it. As a matter of fact, I wasn't paying attention period, because the trail was easy at that particular point. I must have fallen asleep or something. Anyway, my bike lays down on it's left side, and I continue forward. After coming to rest on the trail on the other side of the plant life, I realized what I had just done. I let out a quiet, "Oh d*mn". I realized I had rolled/skidded/slid through a PO bush. So much so, that I had ripped a small 1 foot clump of leaves and tiny branches off the bush, and left it in the trail where my body had come to rest. My right knee was actually stained green from sliding through the bush. Unfortunately, I still had over 10 miles of riding to do, and it was starting to heat up outside.

Anyway, I'll post some more pictures once the rashes start to develop nicely.

[LBmtb]

Oh man, that sucks! Did you wash yourself thouroughly once you got home? Make sure you give a good washing to the bike, clothes, camelbak, and everything else to prevent future exposure on it.

Awhile ago somebody recommended zanfel on here. After the holy jim/trabuco ride I was pretty positive that I had touched it so went out and bought some zanfel ($40 for 1oz!) but to my amazement I never developed a rash.

[Krunk]

don't wait till you get home , next time carry at least 1 gallon of water in your car.

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by Krunk

don't wait till you get home , next time carry at least 1 gallon of water in your car.

Not trying to flame or anything... But what difference would that make? The poison oak substance is oil. Water wouldn't wash it off. Do you mean to say that everyone should have water AND some detergent? I always heard that dish soap could wash off posion oak/ivy.

Personally, I've never gotten it so I couldn't say.

Great, now that I wrote that I'll get it on the next ride.

[dstepper]

I know people that leave citrus degreaser in their car. I am not sure that would help unless you can get back to the car in about 30 minutes.

If I was highly alergic I would be caring degreaser or alcohol with me. Even some alcohol wipes would help.

[ArrrKelly]

I have had good results with Benadryl Gel. It minimizes the reaction and itchyness, for me anyway.

[Krunk]

Originally Posted by gurp13

Not trying to flame or anything... But what difference would that make? The poison oak substance is oil. Water wouldn't wash it off. Do you mean to say that everyone should have water AND some detergent? I always heard that dish soap could wash off posion oak/ivy.

Personally, I've never gotten it so I couldn't say.

Great, now that I wrote that I'll get it on the next ride.

Don't worry i don't think you we're flameing ,But

Soap does not help and may even spread the oil, I forgot to leave out the Alcohol thats what Vodka is for to wash out the oil or better yet use Rubbing Alcohol and drink the Vodka.

Distepper,

Nice tip with the alcohol wipes better then carring a bottle.

[Pain Freak]

I've used rubbing alcohol after a ride that we were buried in the stuff and I never broke out from it and ususally all I have to do is look at it. And Zanfel works wonders. I'd still buy it at twice that price. For light exposure I just use Tecnu and that knocks it out for the most part. And some dish soaps do work. The oil is cut by the dish soap, but it barely works for me. Other guys I know swear by it. I'll stick with Tecnu and Zanfel.
Zanfel is prescription only I believe.

[LBmtb]

Zanfel isn't prescription. I got mine from sav-on last time.

[Schecky]

I always do the wash down with ample amounts of Dawn in the shower after a ride - so far so good.

[pshloss]

Tecnu is reasonably priced and effective if used within a few hours of contact. I had a close encounter a couple of weeks ago and it worked well. The citrus degreaser idea is good, too. I found some citrus degreaser wipes at Auto Zone that I carry now. Good for grease or P.O.

[Frozen208]

Originally Posted by Krunk

Don't worry i don't think you we're flameing ,But

Soap does not help and may even spread the oil, I forgot to leave out the Alcohol thats what Vodka is for to wash out the oil or better yet use Rubbing Alcohol and drink the Vodka.

Distepper,

Nice tip with the alcohol wipes better then carring a bottle.

Yeah the Vodka does not work, unless you are immune to the PO.

[Buzzsaw]

Tecnu works well after a ride through the PO. It usually does the job for me. All I have to do is look at the Shieate and I get it.

Something that probably will shock some. I use bleach once the oily "Stuff" shows up. It burns/dries out the oil pretty quick. I haven't scared yet, at least on the outside. Or, scrub with Tecnu then take a super F'n hot shower. Ohhhhhhhhh it feels good. wait, wait....I'll stop there.

The turner looks like it might need to be "decontaminated" so hand it over and I'll take good care of it......and oh yeah get all the PO off it.

[duke777]

The PO is oil based like a few people said and from what I heard(have not tried yet, but it was a tip from a very experienced rider) windex works really well. Just spray and wipe, like your window. I feel your pain man. I had it once and my whole left leg swelled up so much that it was difficult to bend or walk.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Seems like I got PO about 2 weeks ago and didn't know it. Thought it was a mosquito bite and it spread all over behind my knee.

What do you use once the rash has already flared up? The pharmacist at Sav-on recommended hydrocortizone and Benedryl but it still iches.

[LBmtb]

Originally Posted by mtbracer36

Seems like I got PO about 2 weeks ago and didn't know it. Thought it was a mosquito bite and it spread all over behind my knee.

What do you use once the rash has already flared up? The pharmacist at Sav-on recommended hydrocortizone and Benedryl but it still iches.

I wouldnt use Benadryl cream unless you know from previous experience that it worked. Hydrocortisone cream is good as is calagel. Don't take hot showers - that seems to make the itching and rash worse. If you take an ice cube and slowly run it over the rash it numbs the itch and feels good.

[royta]

OK, I've already got a pretty good sized patch on my right leg. There are a few spots on the left leg. I've got a irritating on my back right along the belt line. I've got a large blister hear and there on my wrists. I've got a couple small blisters along my belt line, but on the front, because I had to take a leak out there. Normally, it takes about 5 days before I get any blisters, and I've already got this much in just over two. The worst I've had it before was just a 1" diameter patch.

Anyway, is it OK to ride when you're legs have it? I guess the only thing you really need to worry about is having brush, or a crash, ripping open the blisters. Is there anything I need to worry about, because I want to ride early tomorrow morning around 5:30. The spot would be Vail Lake, and the mustard is tall and wets your legs down pretty good.

[Pain Freak]

Roy when I had it, I rode anyways, I'm not sure if it made it any worse. But I don't think it makes any difference. Good luck.

[LBmtb]

Doc kind of left the riding decision up to me but heat irritates the rashes. Also if you're getting slapped going through overgrown singletrack, that's just as bad as scratching it. You're not gonna die if you ride with it but it might help the rashes linger a bit longer.

[royta]

Thanks PF. It's my wife's turn to take our oldest and the neighbor's two kids to school this week, so hopefully she can take our other two with her so I can ride.

Originally Posted by LBmtb

Doc kind of left the riding decision up to me but heat irritates the rashes. Also if you're getting slapped going through overgrown singletrack, that's just as bad as scratching it. You're not gonna die if you ride with it but it might help the rashes linger a bit longer.

Well, mustard is a lot easier on the legs than chaparral.