Bicycle Network: Bikes 'n' Bits

Cycling gloves for crash protection and padding

There are a range of different types of cycling gloves on the market, most with the purpose of offering protection and grip.

There are some riders who never ride without gloves. On a long ride, gloves can help absorb road shock that comes through the handlebars and if you do come off your bike, gloves can help prevent grazing which can be severe.

We use our hands for almost everything we do, so they are well worth protecting.

Half-fingered gloves

Half-fingered gloves protect the palm and back of your hands and are:

• suitable for warm and mild weather cycling
• flexible
• breathable.

Useful design features include:

• gel padding
• toweling on the back of the hand to wipe away moisture
• elastic between the fingers for easy removal
• easily washable
• reflective piping

Half-fingered gloves generally cost between $20 and $50 a pair. More expensive models have gel
padding and often last longer.

Full-fingered gloves

Full-fingered gloves:

• are suitable for cooler weather
• offer greater grip and protection for BMX and mountain bike riders
• can be water and wind proof
• have slightly less flexibility than the half fingered variety
• are not as breathable.

Extra features include:

• extension of material a short way up the wrist
• elastication of wrist.  

Most full-fingered gloves cost from $30 to $60 a pair.

Fitting gloves

It is important that your gloves fit your hands. Don’t fall into the trap of buying gloves that feel good in the shop but are too short for your fingers when you are grasping the handlebars.

The action of holding your handlebars pushes your fingers down the fingers of the gloves and if they are too small, your fingers will start to ache. This is especially true for riders with down-turned handlebars who ride with their hands on the brake hoods.

Manufacturers:

• Netti

• Tuff

• Fox

• Trek

• Mountain Designs

• Cannondale

• Pearl Izumi