The handgrips on my ridgeback are a bit past their best and looking old. I didn't expect them to be toxic though.
A couple of weeks ago I started getting a deep, bruising and very painful rash on my hands. At first I thought it must of been something from the garden. But it kept fading away and coming back again until I tied it to my cycling habits. I'm now wearing gloves until I get the chance to replace the grips.
Maybe it was all the sun this summer which has made the chemicals in the grips turn nasty but if you start getting itchy hands then maybe you should check your bike...
A couple of weeks ago I started getting a deep, bruising and very painful rash on my hands. At first I thought it must of been something from the garden. But it kept fading away and coming back again until I tied it to my cycling habits. I'm now wearing gloves until I get the chance to replace the grips.
Andrew
Years ago, I bounced my bike through a ditch infested with poison ivy. Unfortunately, it took me ages to figure out that the grips were contaminated with poison ivy. Your description doesn't sound like poison ivy but is it possible you've contaminated them with something and now every time you touch them, you're re-infecting yourself?
Years ago, I bounced my bike through a ditch infested with poison ivy. Unfortunately, it took me ages to figure out that the grips were contaminated with poison ivy. Your description doesn't sound like poison ivy but is it possible you've contaminated them with something and now every time you touch them, you're re-infecting yourself?
The bike has been washed since the problem began which should have removed any surface contaminants.
It isn't a surface rash as the surface of the skin is fine if a little inflamed when a new patch starts, the worst is the deeper inflammation and bruising. It's had me climbing the wall some evening when it's at it's worst itchiness. The doctor agreed with my guess about the bike and suggested hydrocortisone.
Apart from chemicals in the grips themselves being the problem my only other thought would be that some git soaked them in something while the bike was parked on the street - which doesn't really seem very likely.
