Nipple chafing in cycling and surfing
Short answer
Cyclists get nipple chafing from a flapping or sweat-soaked jersey and cold wind on the chest. Surfers get it from lying on a board and paddling, often with a rash vest or bare chest rubbing on wax. In both, a snug layer and a barrier that stays on when wet prevent it.
Key takeaways
- Cyclists: a loose or wet jersey and cold wind are the main triggers.
- Surfers: paddling on a waxed board without a snug rash vest or wetsuit rubs the chest.
- Triathletes face both: a wet chest from the swim, then hours on the bike and run.
- A fitted layer plus a waterproof barrier over each nipple prevents it.
On this page
Nipple chafing is not only a runner’s problem. Cyclists get it from a loose or soaked jersey and cold wind across the chest. Surfers get it from paddling on a waxed board, with the chest rubbing on the board or on a loose rash vest. Triathletes can get both in one race. The prevention is the same in every sport: a snug layer, plus a barrier over each nipple that stays on when wet.
Cycling
On a bike your arms are fixed, so the rubbing comes from your jersey moving in the wind and on rough roads. The main triggers:
- A loose or flapping jersey, especially on descents and in crosswinds.
- Sweat or rain soaking the jersey so it clings and drags.
- Cold wind chilling the chest, which makes nipples erect. A 1983 letter in JAMA described this as “bicyclist’s nipples”.
How to prevent it:
- Wear a race-fit jersey or a close-fitting base layer underneath.
- Add a wind vest or jacket on cold descents.
- Put nipple covers or tape on before long rides, and in cold or wet weather.
Surfing
Lying on a board and paddling puts your chest against the deck for long stretches. Wax is rough, and salt water and sun dry out the skin.
- Bare-chested paddling on a waxed deck rubs the nipples directly.
- A loose rash vest can move and rub as much as it protects.
- Long sessions add up, just like long runs.
How to prevent it:
- Wear a snug rash vest or wetsuit that does not shift when you paddle.
- Apply water-resistant nipple covers to dry skin well before you paddle out. Test them on a shorter session first, since salt water and wax are hard on any adhesive.
- Rinse with fresh water after surfing and let the skin dry.
Triathlon
A wet chest from the swim, a sweaty jersey on the bike, then a run in the same top. If you race in a trisuit, check where the zip and seams sit, and put covers on before the swim so they are already in place for the ride and run.
Gym and physical work
Long cardio sessions, rowing and hours of yard work or physical labor in a T-shirt can all chafe. The same rules apply: a fitted, quick-drying top and a barrier on long days.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
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50 pairs per box. 1.38 in (35 mm) across with a 0.79 in (20 mm) gauze center pad. Breathable and water resistant.
Questions runners ask
Do cyclists get nipple chafing?
Yes. A loose or sweat-soaked jersey rubs the chest, and cold wind makes nipples erect so they take more friction. A 1983 letter in JAMA named it 'bicyclist's nipples'.
What is surfer's nipple?
Surfer's nipple is chafing or irritation from paddling on a surfboard, where the chest rubs on wax and the board, often without a rash vest or wetsuit.
Do nipple covers stay on in the ocean?
Water-resistant covers are designed to stay on through sweat and water, but salt water, wax and long sessions are hard on any adhesive. Apply to dry skin well before you paddle out and test them on a shorter session first.
Sources
- JAMA, 1983. Bicyclist's nipples. 1983-01-01.
- Cleveland Clinic. Chafing: how it happens and how to treat it.
