My Pearl Izumi Elite riding gloves have finally arrived. Bought it off ebay. It took such a long time to arrive. About 19 days. Apparently imported from the US. But I found the price is the same as I would pay if I were in the US.
It has just arrived this evening by DHL courier. So I am yet to test it properly. Just wore it on my palms to check the fit. They fit snug despite being size L. From day one I was feeling the need to get a pair of riding gloves, particularly when riding the road cycle. My palms sweat profusely. Perhaps more because of the synthetic tape. But a pair of gloves seemed rather essential.
I chose the half-finger type gloves rather than full fingered ones because I thought those would be too warm for summer use in Calcutta.
I chose the half-finger type gloves rather than full fingered ones because I thought those would be too warm for summer use in Calcutta.
After using the PI bib shorts, I realised it pays to invest in good gear. So went for these. They are expensive, with gel padding on the palm. I am hoping they will make cycling a little more comfortable and keep my palms dry.
First Use Impressions - 26th January, 2017
Today I went for a 50 km long ride around Calcutta on the Hero MTB. So it was a perfect occasion to test the gloves. If I had to describe my reactions in brief it would be: no great shakes. I am not saying it's a waste of money. My palms never sweated during those 50 odd kilometers or even if they did I did not realise it. The fingers above the area covered by the gloves did sweat though. I did not get those impressions of the grooves on the handle on my palm - something that typically happens after a longish ride. These are two major positives. But what I mean by no great shakes is, wearing these do not translate into any discernible, immediate comfort, like the bib shorts do. The gel padding did not make the handle bar any softer or more comfortable. At least I did not feel any cushioning effect.
But the fact that my palms did not sweat is great. Actually the palms did sweat. But I guess the fabric and ventilation system ensured that it was soaked up and evaporated quickly. So the breathability of the gloves must be good.
I must add that these were tested on the MTB type bike where you hold the handle in a certain way, that's totally different from the way you hold the handle of a road bike. I have to test it out on the road bike soon and give a more comprehensive report.
I must confess, I am a noob when it comes to cycling gloves. These are my first cycling gloves. So I am not comparing them against anything. I cannot tell you if they are better than X or worse than Y. As I go along the way, I am sure I will be using many more gloves. My review would perhaps mature more after that.
First Use Impressions - 26th January, 2017
Today I went for a 50 km long ride around Calcutta on the Hero MTB. So it was a perfect occasion to test the gloves. If I had to describe my reactions in brief it would be: no great shakes. I am not saying it's a waste of money. My palms never sweated during those 50 odd kilometers or even if they did I did not realise it. The fingers above the area covered by the gloves did sweat though. I did not get those impressions of the grooves on the handle on my palm - something that typically happens after a longish ride. These are two major positives. But what I mean by no great shakes is, wearing these do not translate into any discernible, immediate comfort, like the bib shorts do. The gel padding did not make the handle bar any softer or more comfortable. At least I did not feel any cushioning effect.
But the fact that my palms did not sweat is great. Actually the palms did sweat. But I guess the fabric and ventilation system ensured that it was soaked up and evaporated quickly. So the breathability of the gloves must be good.
I must add that these were tested on the MTB type bike where you hold the handle in a certain way, that's totally different from the way you hold the handle of a road bike. I have to test it out on the road bike soon and give a more comprehensive report.
I must confess, I am a noob when it comes to cycling gloves. These are my first cycling gloves. So I am not comparing them against anything. I cannot tell you if they are better than X or worse than Y. As I go along the way, I am sure I will be using many more gloves. My review would perhaps mature more after that.
