PI Bib shorts & grippers

[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.

[Catrin]

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

Never thought about this

[GLC1968]

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

I was going to suggest the same thing. If the bibs keep you warmer, that might be why they trigger it. I can't wear bibs except on cold rides - they make me too hot.

I had this problem when I lived and rode in NC where it was much hotter. If my core temp got too high, I broke out in an UGLY rash of huge whelts on my legs. It didn't matter which shorts I wore, what the grippers were made of or where they ended on my legs. It was purely body temp related. The rash would be angry and swollen and hot to the touch (sometimes days later) and it would often be a full week before all traces of it were gone. It also always happened right at the edge of my tan lines, but that might have been coincindence.

The only thing that permanently solved it? Moving to the PNW. Actually, I only had the problem during the hot summers...never during the spring or fall in which I also wore the same shorts. Dumping lots of cold water on myself and ice in my sports bra during the hottest rides helped keep the core temp down sometimes. I could tell when the rash was forming though and then I knew that I'd failed at keeping cool!

[OakLeaf]

I don't know why I only get the rash on the top of my thighs, either, but it's definitely from the silicone grippers. I don't get it when I turn the legs up or when I wear other shorts.

My only guess is that it's actually a sort of abrasion, that the silicone grips so hard that it damages the skin when my legs move. But that's a total guess... I suppose if it were correct, then the amount of rash would correlate inversely with the number of panels of the shorts.

[Catrin]

I was going to suggest the same thing. If the bibs keep you warmer, that might be why they trigger it. I can't wear bibs except on cold rides - they make me too hot........ Dumping lots of cold water on myself and ice in my sports bra during the hottest rides helped keep the core temp down sometimes. I could tell when the rash was forming though and then I knew that I'd failed at keeping cool!

I have been riding in some very hot weather - and it is the long rides on which I pull out the bibs. Didn't think about this possibility - and I don't "feel" any hotter in my bibs than regular shorts. I've two long rides this holiday weekend, so will experiment with my other shorts to see if the same thing happens.

I don't know why I only get the rash on the top of my thighs, either, but it's definitely from the silicone grippers. I don't get it when I turn the legs up or when I wear other shorts.

My only guess is that it's actually a sort of abrasion, that the silicone grips so hard that it damages the skin when my legs move. But that's a total guess... I suppose if it were correct, then the amount of rash would correlate inversely with the number of panels of the shorts.

The rash I got Friday, which is indeed a rash and not the sunburn I thought it to be, covers the top of half my thigh It was red and swollen for several days, looking better today but more itchy so I keep putting lotion on it. It is almost gone now though, and it didn't bother me on my recovery ride yesterday. The reason I know it isn't a sunburn is that it doesn't bother me to have clothes touching it - and as bad as it looked that would not have been possible.

Thanks for the input on this...

[GLC1968]

The rash I got Friday, which is indeed a rash and not the sunburn I thought it to be, covers the top of half my thigh It was red and swollen for several days, looking better today but more itchy so I keep putting lotion on it. It is almost gone now though, and it didn't bother me on my recovery ride yesterday. The reason I know it isn't a sunburn is that it doesn't bother me to have clothes touching it - and as bad as it looked that would not have been possible.

Thanks for the input on this...

It really sounds similiar to what I had. I did some research at the time, and lots of reading pointed towards a histamine reaction of some sort. In my case, triggered by heat, but I imagine any number of things could do it. And yeah, mine was only on the front of my thighs, too. No where else on my body even though plenty of other places were hotter or more exposed or whatever. Very odd!

I *think* there is an old thread here somewhere where I posted photos. I know we had a big discussion about this back in the day and I had planned to post pictures (I can't remember if I did or not!). Let me see if I can locate the thread...

Edited to add: I found the thread. I guess I never took photos but there are lots of descriptions here.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...at+rash+thighs