Experienced cyclists consider bike gloves essential, no matter what the season, how casual they are about the activity, or how brief their rides are. In balancing on a bike, you inevitably place weight on your hands and gloves protect those hands from becoming numb. They also prevent nasty abrasions on your palms if you accidentally fall, since most of the time when falling you land hands first. Typical road bike gloves have half fingers that allow you to shift easily. They are made with gel or padding in the palms that ease the shocks of riding and give you a cushion against pinched nerves. During winter road bike rides and year round on mountain bikes, full-fingered gloves are recommended to shield your hands from cold and wind. Lobster-claw mittens are available for those whose hands get really frozen.
What to Look for
The most expensive gloves are those made for downhill mountain bikers and cost as much as $100. More typical full-fingered mountain bike gloves have tiny ventilation holes on the backs for warm-weather rides, or are made of a water-resistant material. They cost $30 and up. Design features to look for in both full-fingered and half-fingered gloves include a patch of terrycloth to wipe away sweat, reflective piping to allow your hand signals to be seen at night, and padded sections throughout the palm area to prevent numbing. Depending on manufacturer, half-fingered gloves can cost from $20 to $60.
Common Pitfalls
Some lightweight and stylish half-fingered gloves primarily benefit competitive cyclists who care about every added gram of weight. But occasionally they do not have enough padding to be comfortable for recreational riders. Beware of cheap mass-produced gloves that are so poorly stitched they start to unravel almost as soon as you put them on. Better gloves come in sizes for both men and women, so find pairs that are neither floppy-loose, nor so tight they make it hard to grip your handlebars properly.
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