Glad to hear that it's helping a bit Suzi.
I couldn't manage 6 hours on a bike!
Bit personal, but any reason why you don't want to use lube?
I admit that I was a bit "shy" about using it - stupid when you are about to do something very intimate with someone you have been with for 25 years. I used to pop to bathroom, lube up, and back to bed.
Now I put a bit on OH, which he quite likes. I still find it a bit intrusive- "hang on while I just grab this bottle" but less intrusive than "hang on- this really hurts!"