Many cycling enthusiasts buy special clothes, helmets, glasses, forgetting about the need for cycling gloves. This approach is fundamentally wrong, because the hands that need additional protection play an important role in this sport.
Why are cycling gloves needed?
First of all, cycling gloves are needed in order to provide protection for your hands in case of falls. After falling, the cyclist often puts his arms forward. If you have gloves on your hands, the skin suffers to a lesser extent.
On long trips, cycling gloves protect the palms from blistering. In addition, they are needed in order to prevent the burning sensation that can occur in hot weather from contact with the rubber grips.
Cycling gloves provide a firm grip on the handlebars. This is especially important in hot weather, when the palms start to sweat, and also in the rain.
Choice of cycling gloves
Cycling gloves come in short (cropped) and long (with toes). The former are perfect for calm skiing in warm weather. The second option provides more protection, so it is indispensable in case of cold weather and extreme skiing.
An important consideration when buying cycling gloves is their size. They do not stretch, so their fitting must be careful. Moreover, it is advisable to do this in the evening, when the hands are slightly swollen. Do not forget that gloves should not tightly hug your hands. If you have gel pads, you need to make sure they fit in the right places.
When choosing long gloves, it should be noted that there should be a small gap (3-6 mm) between their ends and fingers. This is necessary so that your fingers do not freeze in cold weather, since the air does not transfer heat well. When purchasing winter cycling gloves, it is advisable to take products with a margin so that you can wear thin gloves under them. This is due to the fact that it is sometimes cold in some bicycle gloves.
In warm weather, good ventilation of the gloves is important. It is ensured by the presence of holes and nets on the back of the product.
In most cases, the lower part of the gloves is made of suede, and the upper part is made of synthetic materials, which are well ventilated and wick away moisture. It is advisable to have a patch between the thumb and forefinger, as this area is vulnerable to rubbing.
More expensive cycling gloves are equipped with gel inserts that soften the pressure exerted on the hand. An alternative to this can be the purchase of grips (special handles that are put on the steering wheel where they hold onto it) with such inserts. They are handy for cycling, but poorly suited for competition riding.
Your own visibility on the road at night can be ensured with the help of reflective elements. This is especially true when indicating the turn by hand. There are models of gloves with integrated turn signals, which light up with a certain pressure with your fingers.
Velcro on cycling gloves should be done well. For your information, in order not to disrupt blood circulation, it is better not to overtighten it.
