Cycling gloves: types and choices

Cycling has recently become very popular. When traveling long distances, cyclists are required to wear helmets on their heads, but complete and reliable equipment includes the presence of bicycle gloves.

Cycling gloves perform several important protective functions for cyclists.

• Sweat and Weather Protection. The bicycle wheel is equipped with rubber handles. At high speed and long riding, the athlete’s palms can sweat, and in case of accidental collision with a hummock or small hole, the likelihood of slipping out of his hands increases. Bicycle gloves are made of special material, which provides reliable grip. Gloves help hands hold the steering wheel clearly. When a cyclist enters the rain, they prevent wetting and slipping hands on the handlebars.
• Prevention of the formation of corns. When traveling without gloves, the friction between the handlebars and palms increases, which can lead to the formation of corns. This will cause inconvenience when driving. An attribute such as cycling gloves will reliably protect against this problem.
• Brush load reduction. As a result of long skating and keeping your hands in one position, fatigue and numbness in the hands can occur, which can lead to a fall from the bicycle. On the inside of the accessory there are gel inserts that reduce the load level from this part of the hand while holding the steering wheel for a long time.
• Wiping sweat from your face. With intense pedal work, sweat builds up.It is very unpleasant if he begins to drip from his forehead, but you do not want to waste time and lose crucial minutes (especially during the competition). In this case, bicycle gloves will help to sweat away, as in the area of ​​the palms and thumb there are inserts of soft tissue.
• Hand protection when falling. Unfortunately, when driving at high speed, there may be a fall situation. Gloves will reliably protect hands from abrasions and wounds in case of such troubles.

Bicycle gloves come in many forms, they can be selected for the appropriate weather conditions and a specific driving style. They differ in airflow properties and degree of protection. Male and female options are not much different from each other in appearance (the only difference is the color scheme).

Cycling gloves are divided into the types described below.

• Mitts (fingerless). Summer option, ideal for use in warm weather. It is made from a breathable protective material that covers only the palms, and the fingers remain completely open. Hands do not sweat, but gloves do not guarantee effective protection when dropped. More such an option is suitable for riding on city slopes.

• Classic. Standard with finger compartments. They are equipped with breathable properties and are divided into models depending on the season. Demi-season cycling gloves are quite warm, waterproof and, at the same time, pass air well. Made of synthetic textile with leather inserts.

• Winter options are layered: foam material is laid inside the material, which provides heat. Despite their high density, they are comfortable and provide fingers with free flexion. Any models of classic gloves fully protect your hands when dropped. This option is indispensable for fans of cycling, riding at any time of the year.

• Reinforced. These models are equipped with an additional level of protection in the form of inserts, clips and stripes made of thick material or plastic. They guarantee a high degree of brush protection against injuries. They are used in professional cycling and extreme skiing.

For sewing this outfit accessory, the materials presented below are most often used.

• Lycra and spandex. Elastic synthetic fabrics that are quite popular when creating sportswear. Provide maximum fit to the hands and perfectly absorb moisture. Summer gloves are made from them.

• Neoprene and fleece. These are compacted types of fabrics that effectively protect against low temperatures and moisture. Are applied in production of demi-season and winter copies.

• Membrane tissue (gortex). It is used in the warmed models. It has excellent waterproof and water repellent properties, prevents fogging of the palms.

• Leatherette. Artificial coating resembling genuine leather. Separate inserts and stripes for autumn and spring options are made from it.

• Air mesh. Represents a three-layer knitted grid. Used in the tailoring of summer models or as inserts in warm options for accessories.

• Gel and carbon fabric (carbon). It is an additional element. It is used in reinforced models as separate protective inserts.

• Genuine Leather. It is used for finger patches in the area of ​​palm bends from the inside, in any glove models (depending on the design). Leather inserts provide better grip and protect your hands from scuffing.

It’s better to buy gloves in specialized sports stores so that you can try on them, and not place an order immediately in an online store, as you can make a mistake in size.

You can independently determine the size of the bicycle gloves using the table below. To do this, you need to measure the width of the palm under 4 fingers (from the index to the little finger) or the length of the middle finger - with the correct shape of the hand, these values ​​coincide. Then correlate the obtained data with the dimensions from the table.

Bicycle gloves produced by leading brands have a stylish design, comfortable fit on the arm and have good air throughput. They will prevent slipping of the hand from the steering wheel and partially reduce unpleasant vibrations during intensive riding.

Below are the brands that have gained the highest popularity among athletes and cycling enthusiasts.

• Fox Bicycle gloves of this company are rightfully considered to be one of the best. They are presented in a wide assortment and in different price ranges. A great advantage is the variety of children's and teenage models that take into account the characteristics of the age structure of the hand. In summer, the outer side is made of perforated types of fabrics, due to which a good flow of air comes in. The interdigital compartments have easily extensible knitted inserts that provide maximum comfort.

• Cube A distinctive feature is a catchy and fashionable design. Each model has 6-7 color variations. Gloves combine comfort in use with high functionality. They are compact, practical, comfortable to sit on the hand and easy to care for.

• Giro. This company provides a large selection of products for all seasons of the year. Summer options have a classic design, but meet all the requirements: breathable, moisture-absorbing fabrics with perforated nylon inserts. Winter analogues are made from different materials: membranes, fleece or natural wool.

• Scott. Bicycle gloves of this brand are a combination of convenience and practicality. They have a good degree of wind protection. Cuffs are very convenient, in which special loops are designed for tight fixation, preventing the ingress of moisture and cold air.

• Stark. The company offers a variety of models: from simple textile options to reinforced with additional inserts to protect joints. A huge selection of knitted warp mitts with gel and silicone pads will appeal to cycling lovers and professional athletes.

• Stels. The company lures customers with pleasant and affordable prices. Bright youth models from the Italian non-slip serino and lycra fabric are especially popular. Gloves provide a snug fit to the hand and a firm grip on the steering wheel.

When choosing such a sports accessory, first of all, you should be guided by convenience, durability and functionality. Design design is a secondary component of equipment.

When choosing, the following rules must be observed:

• it is advisable to choose the winter model more in size - this will make it possible to put on extra gloves (under the bottom of bicycle accessories) from thin knitwear at low temperatures or too cold winds for better insulation;
• it is better to choose gloves in the second half of the day (preferably in the evening), since at this time of day the limbs may be slightly larger due to possible swelling;
• a guideline of the correct size should be not only the length of the fingers, but also the location of the stripes and inserts, as they provide optimal traction with the steering wheel;
• gloves with cuffs made of soft fabrics (knitwear or suede) are convenient to use;
• the fastener on the wrist cuff should be firmly fixed and at the same time have a small margin;
• finger compartments should not fit snugly on the skin or be too loose in volume - an increase of 3-5 mm is sufficient;
• it is better to give preference to models with inserts made of genuine leather, which are located between the thumb and forefinger, as this part is more susceptible to wear;
• it is undesirable for the cold period to get too dense models - they contribute to profuse sweating;
• the upper part of the bicycle gloves must be sewn from breathable synthetic fabrics;
• for summer skiing, models with perforations made of leather and mesh materials are better suited;
• for extreme riding or in mountainous conditions, you should choose options with rubber inserts and stripes for better hand protection;
• the presence of reflective elements on gloves is necessary for fans to ride in the dark;
• anti-slip attributes will be appreciated by owners of bicycles with hard steering grips;
• models with two fingers stitched together (forefinger and ring finger) will protect against injury during a fall.

Cycling gloves are recommended to be washed as often as possible, observing the necessary precautions. Hand washing more effective. In extreme cases, you can use the washing machine, but only using the program "hand wash".

Due to frequent use and washing, the accessory is prone to wear and deformation (especially in the thumb, palm and wrist). After washing, dry the product with a bath towel and hang it away from heat sources (drying in a horizontal position on the battery is unacceptable).

During use, leather inserts are compressed and become coarse - for prevention, they can be moistened with special creams.

The clasp requires careful handling - it can not be tightly pulled so as not to damage in a short time.

Gloves should be used for seasonal purposes. Knitted options should not be worn in the rain or in the cold, and reinforced - in the summer.

Manufacturers establish a warranty on their products. The usual warranty period for bicycle gloves is 1 month, but in some cases (depending on the type of model and company) it may be longer. For products made of genuine leather, the minimum warranty is 40 days.

See how to choose cycling gloves in the next video.