Leather And Elastomers

Smell the glove...... It smells like leather! Get yer mind outta the gutter!

So, a little back story is in order here. Generally speaking, I do not wear cycling gloves when it is warm enough to not have to wear full fingered gloves. The reason being is that short fingered, cycling type gloves always make my fingers and hands go numb. Like really quickly. Sometimes I can put on a pair of summer cycling gloves and my hands start tingling within minutes, I don't even have to be riding!

This brought me a lot of frustration and pain until I discovered Ergon grips and started riding radical drop bars like the Luxy Bar. There were still times when my grip was compromised due to sweat or when I biffed and scraped up my hands, but at least I could feel my digits! I couldn't figure out why I had such an issue. I tried all sorts and brands of short fingered gloves and nothing worked for me. Eventually I just gave up trying.

Well, then I got an email from this guy in Texas that runs a business called Recovered Cycling. He had designed some leather cycling gloves, had them made overseas, and wondered if I wanted to give them a shot. They were called "Cuero" gloves, ("leather" in Spanish), and were pretty classy looking. Short fingered, but......well, it had been a long time. Maybe these would be different? I was advised to measure my hand in a certain manner and then to order the gloves. I decided to order a size larger than I was guided to. Then I waited......

Well, they showed up, smelling all leathery and awesome, and looked even classier than I thought. They fit perfectly, (glad I sized up!), and I rode with them on my 50 miler on the 4th.

No hand numbness!

That was nice! And the gloves are working out well, obviously, but I need to do some more rides to see how they wear in and hold up. Stay tuned...........

The Twin Six Standard Rando with the Redshift ShockStop stem on it. This stem is the business.

I also have been blessed to be able to try out this stem from Redshift Sports. Okay, so this guy from Redshuft sent me an email at my RidingGravel.com address and it says something about a "suspension stem". I briefly looked at it and shook my head before sending it to the trash bin. I never gave it a second thought. Suspension stems! What a load of crap those things were! (YES- I actually tried one back in the day) I worked on many of the more notable ones and saw a few rare ones in my time, but all were eventually destined for that mtb parts dust bin, never to be seen again. Good riddance! I couldn't imagine how this Redshift one could be any different.

Then the guy sent me another email.

Out of respect for his persistence, I actually went to their website and dug around a bit. Okay.....maybe. Just maybe this is different. I emailed back with questions, and I got answers, and eventually I got a stem in for review. So, okay.......I was all wrong about the ShockStop. It actually does what they claim and it is nearly an "invisible" component. Go ahead and click the link above to read my review so far.

So, between those two things, and the puffy WTB Byway tires don't hurt either, my Cowchipper equipped T-6 Standard Rando is now a fun bike to ride again. Not that it  wasn't when I got it, but my shoulder injury I got the Winter the bike was purchased really changed things for me and then that bike's set up was painful. These new items have really made that bike a go-to rig once again.

Note- WTB sent over the Byways, Redshift sent over the Shockstop, and Recovered Cycling sent over the Cuero gloves at no charge for test and review to RidingGravel.com. I chose to chat about them here on G-Ted Productions.  I have not been paid nor bribed for these reviews. I will strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

Leather And Elastomers

Smell the glove...... It smells like leather! Get yer mind outta the gutter!

So, a little back story is in order here. Generally speaking, I do not wear cycling gloves when it is warm enough to not have to wear full fingered gloves. The reason being is that short fingered, cycling type gloves always make my fingers and hands go numb. Like really quickly. Sometimes I can put on a pair of summer cycling gloves and my hands start tingling within minutes, I don't even have to be riding!

This brought me a lot of frustration and pain until I discovered Ergon grips and started riding radical drop bars like the Luxy Bar. There were still times when my grip was compromised due to sweat or when I biffed and scraped up my hands, but at least I could feel my digits! I couldn't figure out why I had such an issue. I tried all sorts and brands of short fingered gloves and nothing worked for me. Eventually I just gave up trying.

Well, then I got an email from this guy in Texas that runs a business called Recovered Cycling. He had designed some leather cycling gloves, had them made overseas, and wondered if I wanted to give them a shot. They were called "Cuero" gloves, ("leather" in Spanish), and were pretty classy looking. Short fingered, but......well, it had been a long time. Maybe these would be different? I was advised to measure my hand in a certain manner and then to order the gloves. I decided to order a size larger than I was guided to. Then I waited......

Well, they showed up, smelling all leathery and awesome, and looked even classier than I thought. They fit perfectly, (glad I sized up!), and I rode with them on my 50 miler on the 4th.

No hand numbness!

That was nice! And the gloves are working out well, obviously, but I need to do some more rides to see how they wear in and hold up. Stay tuned...........

The Twin Six Standard Rando with the Redshift ShockStop stem on it. This stem is the business.

I also have been blessed to be able to try out this stem from Redshift Sports. Okay, so this guy from Redshuft sent me an email at my RidingGravel.com address and it says something about a "suspension stem". I briefly looked at it and shook my head before sending it to the trash bin. I never gave it a second thought. Suspension stems! What a load of crap those things were! (YES- I actually tried one back in the day) I worked on many of the more notable ones and saw a few rare ones in my time, but all were eventually destined for that mtb parts dust bin, never to be seen again. Good riddance! I couldn't imagine how this Redshift one could be any different.

Then the guy sent me another email.

Out of respect for his persistence, I actually went to their website and dug around a bit. Okay.....maybe. Just maybe this is different. I emailed back with questions, and I got answers, and eventually I got a stem in for review. So, okay.......I was all wrong about the ShockStop. It actually does what they claim and it is nearly an "invisible" component. Go ahead and click the link above to read my review so far.

So, between those two things, and the puffy WTB Byway tires don't hurt either, my Cowchipper equipped T-6 Standard Rando is now a fun bike to ride again. Not that it  wasn't when I got it, but my shoulder injury I got the Winter the bike was purchased really changed things for me and then that bike's set up was painful. These new items have really made that bike a go-to rig once again.

Note- WTB sent over the Byways, Redshift sent over the Shockstop, and Recovered Cycling sent over the Cuero gloves at no charge for test and review to RidingGravel.com. I chose to chat about them here on G-Ted Productions.  I have not been paid nor bribed for these reviews. I will strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.