Review: HandUp Original Not Boring/ Most Days Gloves
In cyclocross, hand ups are considered grounds for disqualification. Perhaps it’s the act of receiving outside help from spectators. Maybe it’s not the act of taking the hand up, but the gesticulation that’s considered the offense. Whatever the reason, Tennessee-based Handup gloves has every rider covered with minimalist gloves for cycling and beyond.
Functional gloves are an interesting collection. At creakybottombracket.com we’ve tested minimalist gloves that essentially dissolve with use. Other gloves claim to have ‘cured’ issues never reported by adding straps and snaps. We all know those perfect gloves - they are the ones that feel just right and fit like … well… a glove. When time came to add a bit of flair to the cycling kit, a pair of Original - Not Boring Gloves from Handup were ordered by jumping on one of their collaboration gloves.
It is essential that cycling gloves function over style. Any little movement in gloves, especially for disciplines requiring hand repositioning, can create torsion which leads to the possibility of irritation. Gloves that don’t fit wind up being discarded, and that’s not why they were brought to the ride. Full finger gloves are at greater risk of floating around the hand. Handup features a helpful size guide that puts me in a large, a surprising size for me. Putting faith in their sizing, a large was clicked into the cart and finalized.
For absolute attention-grabbing gloves, we decided on the white Pabst Blue Ribbon Handup gloves. With the easily recognizable beer label on the outside of the glove, these are sure to catch the eye of a discerning fellow rider. The details don’t stop there. Down the back of each middle finger is the PBR establishment claim. Pabst has been brewing beers for more than 180 years. When both gloves come together, the palms command, “Beer Me” along with two blue ribbons on the fingertip of each pointer finger. For this weekend’s Sly Fox cyclocross race, I no longer have to shout for a hand up, instead I can request a beverage through gestures to fly below the referee radar. Handup is putting in the heavy work.
The fit and feel of the gloves are of strong quality. Out on the road bike, the gloves feel suctioned to the hands, proving the sizing guide correct. On one cold night ride, the Not Boring Gloves kept the hands warm. These aren’t gloves meant for cold days - Handup has separate options for those conditions. The fabric is reliable in thickness but not adding bulk. The towel thumb is large and easy to find when grinding out miles of rough terrain. In short, these gloves are some of the most comfortable we’ve ever used. And to carry the Pabst Blue Ribbon insignia along adds to the flair. I really enjoy riding with these Not Boring gloves.
It is suspected that Handup as a company does not want me to stop using these gloves after a bike ride. With the autumn leaves cascading down currently, Handup would be impressed to find out I used these gloves to rake the leaves or to do light work on the push mower. Handup also sells flannels and corduroys and much more. Add accessories like Handup wool socks and a matching PBR Handup hat, and my whole autumn choring aura is complete. The gravel bike might even get rolled out just to maintain a presence while the final mow of the season happens. Add a can of Milwaukee’s finest and the outdoor chore list will increase the likelihood of a longer ride later. If Sundays are for picking stones, then the Original Not Boring gloves will be taken along for the chore. Once the field is clear, we’ll hop on the cross bike to race through the Fox Hole and hold up the Pabst Blue Ribbon Cycling gloves to request a “Beer Me.” Moved by how well everything worked out, it just might being me tears. Luckily the Handup sweat cloth is easy to find to wipe away the tears. With the PBR label facing outward, all this can be done with maximum style points as the race referee informs me I’ve been disqualified.
