Cycling gloves may not be an essential part of your cycling gear, but they are a great addition to your cycling closet and offer many benefits.
Namely, they're an extra layer of protection if you find yourself involved in a crash: road rashes on the palms of your hands are never fun, so wearing gloves can protect your skin, literally.
Not only that, but depending on the type of glove you buy, you can also benefit from gel or foam padding on the palm of your hand to make your ride more comfortable, as well as a sticky silicone print to help you grip the barbell securely so you have full control of the bike.
A final great use for gloves is the ability to wipe sweat from your eyes and dirt from your nose.
What to look for depends a lot on what type of riding you are doing. As mentioned above, if you do road riding in the summer and are trying to avoid sweating, then a lightweight, breathable fabric would be a great choice for hot weather.
If you ride a lot in dark or low light conditions, you may want to look for gloves with high visibility and/or reflective details, as they are an important part of communicating your intentions to other road users.
Padding on the palm of your hand is another thing to consider. If you ride on rough terrain, whether it's gravel roads or potholes, using some padding to cushion the impact will help you ride longer and stay comfortable.
The fit of cycling gloves will vary depending on their weight, but in general, look for a fit that doesn't compromise dexterity or limit range of motion. Gloves that are too tight may block circulation; too loose and the gloves may clump together and cause hot spots or even blisters.
If you feel numbness or nerve pain in your hands after a long ride, you're not alone. It's actually fairly common, which is the main reason why cycling gloves come with a variety of padding options.
This numbness is often referred to as handlebar palsy, which can be caused by pressure on the ulnar nerve (which runs along the forearm and palm) after leaning on the handlebars for an extended period of time.
While a quality pair of padded gloves will help, you should also consider changing the position of the barbell so that you are more upright and change your hand position frequently while riding.
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Half-finger cycling gloves - or linked-finger gloves - are more commonly used for road riding and feature a lightweight, breathable material on the back of the hand and a synthetic leather palm to prevent wear and tear. With unobstructed fingertips and no loss of dexterity, you'll be able to use your smartphone and touchscreen with ease.
However, the half-finger gloves are not perfect, with reduced protection, comfort and suction cups that are difficult to remove from your hands, and the resulting tan lines are considered to be the usual reasons to avoid them. We usually wear lightweight, full-finger gloves for when we're storming, stacking or riding on mixed surfaces.
Cycling gloves come with a variety of different levels of padding, from racing gloves that provide minimal cushioning, all the way up to plush gel padded versions designed to keep your palms comfortable for hours on end.
There are several different schools of thought regarding padding. Most brands prioritize cushioning for the heel of your hand, while others focus on placing the padding in the middle of your palm to relieve nerve pressure. What works for you depends on personal preference and the terrain you ride on - glassy smooth aprons don't require padded riding gloves, while hours of scrubbing gravel may.
Most riding gloves have synthetic leather palms that breathe well and stand up to general wear, tear and abrasion.
If you're like us, the moment you start pedaling, your nose starts running too. Look for riding gloves made of wool or terry cloth for thumbing nose wipes, as this material is softer on the skin.
When the temperature is high, it's easy to forgo gloves altogether - the less you wear them, the cooler you'll be, right? Maybe, but as we mentioned above, if you find yourself unfortunately sliding across the tarmac, your hands will thank you for wearing gloves that protect them.
Thankfully, there are many hot-weather riding gloves and mittens designed specifically for mercury rise. These will be made of lightweight fabrics that are both breathable and moisture-wicking.
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