PI Bib shorts & grippers

[Catrin]

Have you contacted Pearl Izumi yet? Maybe they can provide some insight...

These are the silicone grippers on all 3 pairs?

The grippers all LOOK the same, and they are all three PI Elite shorts or drop-tail bibs.

I think that turning the leg up yesterday may have been a mistake. Sure the skin was getting irritated, but I forgot to put on sunscreen yesterday. Because the PI Bibs are so much shorter than my other shorts, the exposed skin has not seen the sun, at all, for a long time. The sun was quite bright yesterday though it wasn't very hot....

I apparently mixed in a whopping good sunburn along with whatever contact reaction I had with the grippers - that is the only reason that I can think of why it is still warm to the touch...though not very painful, thankfully.

I've a 30 mile ride scheduled tomorrow, I don't think I will be wearing my bibs for it...

Good thought about contacting PI, they might have a thought. Seems to me that if I was sensitive to silicone that the others would cause a problem as well - perhaps they might switch them out for me? I know, I am dreaming, but you never know

[Becky]

Earlier this summer, I got a wicked sunburn right under the silicone gripper of a pair of Terry shorts. It was this little patch about an inch wide and ~4 inches long- very funny looking! I think that, although I vigorously lathered on the sunblock, the gripper moved and rubbed it off. I didn't realize this until much later...post-burn

Just thinking out loud here... The fact that the others don't bother you makes me think it's not an allergy or sensitivity...

[Catrin]

Earlier this summer, I got a wicked sunburn right under the silicone gripper of a pair of Terry shorts. It was this little patch about an inch wide and ~4 inches long- very funny looking! I think that, although I vigorously lathered on the sunblock, the gripper moved and rubbed it off. I didn't realize this until much later...post-burn

Just thinking out loud here... The fact that the others don't bother you makes me think it's not an allergy or sensitivity...

It is odd, but I always get this rash underneath the grippers whenever I wear the bibs - which is just weird. Generally it is gone very soon after taking them off, this is the first time I've actually burned and it is wicked.

I just looked at my naked legs - white calves, tanned knees and lower quads, wicked burns above the tan, and white skin above that - if I HAD a partner I would scare that person off

[Becky]

That is sooooo weird!

I was thinking of you and this dilemma today while wearing my Pearl bibs with the same gripper

[Catrin]

I just came in from a 20 mile ride in 91+ temps with pretty high humidity. I wore another pair of my PI Elite shorts (the non-bibs) and there was no problem at all. Now these hit me closer to the knee than my bibs do- THEY hit me above my mid-thigh. They are a little short for my liking, but make my long rides so very much more comfortable!

If the grippers are the same, and they appear to be, then something else must be different. The fabric feels a little different between the two. I looked at the tag and, assuming that "main" means the actual shorts part, they seem to have the same fabric - but the bibs have nylon as part of the fabric. This might be in the "bib" part and not in the legs, but I do wonder. There has to be something different between these and my Elite liner and Elite regular shorts.

I am not giving up on the bibs - they cost too much and really do make a noticeable difference on my long rides. I just might call PI and talk with them about this. I don't expect anything out of them, but perhaps this has come up before and there is a solution.

[Dannielle]

I get rashes on the top of my thighs from shorts with grippers too. I have a couple pairs of shorts that have no grippers (so much more comfortable!) but they have thin pads. It's always a toss up whether I want thigh comfort or butt comfort lol.

I haven't figured out the rash yet either but I have found it gets a little scabby/dried out and goes away after I've been in the pool.

[withm]

I think it's just a heat rash. I get it intermittently regardless of the shorts or grippers.