[HairOfTheDog]

Dirty, crusty pad rubbed him. I felt it as soon as I picked up the pad. The rub is a little behind where the ideal saddle spot is, but is probably where the saddle usually ends up after a good climb.

You can even see one of the wrinkles in the pad corresponds with the wrinkles on him.

Dang, looks really ouchy. He's not ouchy now, but he sure was right after the ride. Can't see that in the pics, of course, but the pad feels really crusty. And I thought I was the one that was obsessive about things being clean. I usually hose it out every third time out or so, but maybe I haven't been good enough about it. I don't think it's ever felt as crusty as it does now. Combination of more sweat and that gunk we got up there.

Maybe this burn/rub, rather than muscle soreness, explains his backsoreness we detected after the ride. I guess I'm relieved it's not a pressure sore (I don't think), that's harder to solve than a new pad, and maybe the hair won't come back in that tell-tale white. I've been wanting a new pad anyhow, this one was getting pretty flattened and was worn out.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My bet on his soreness would be it was caused from the pad being worn out and maybe crusty. That sort of thing has probably happened to most riders at times. I don't think i would even bother trying to clean it for future use. I'd just get a new one, and go from there. The chriopractor guy that worked on Harley said my pad caused part of his soreness, and it wasn't even old. Just dirt and hair build up on the pad. I've been putting a navajo under mine now.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

Well at least you have a pretty good idea of what caused it. That loose skin will slough off and you probably won't even be able to tell it. I think that pressure sores are the only ones that turn white.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think I would let it heal pretty good, I don't think the hair has to be fully grown back, then get a new pad and take him on the same ride again and see how he is. That would give you a definitive answer.

Becky