Riding without gloves - why?
06-10-18, 02:48 AM
#127
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06-11-18, 07:07 AM
#128
meh
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Well... I might be a glove-free convert. During a long ride on Friday, my gloves were causing some pressure so I took them off for the last 20 miles, and kinda like it. On Monday, I started my 40+ miles without gloves, no issues except the lack of a snot rag. My new Breezer Radar Pro has bartape that feels good on my bare hands and doesn't lose grip when my hands get sweaty. And my hands don't get as sweaty without gloves. I think this might be the core reason more competitive riders are going gloveless: less sweaty hands and bartape is better for grip and comfort. Saturday will be a big test - Westside Dirty Benjamin (gravel century).
06-11-18, 08:36 PM
#130
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08-20-18, 08:00 AM
#133
meh
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I'm seeing more and more competitive riders go without gloves, both local club riders and the pros. I'm a fan of gloves to manage sweat on my hands for better grip, plus they're great for wiping away snot. I get that gloves are not necessary for every ride, but when it's cold, I want to keep my fingers warm. While watching spring classics I'm seeing many pros riding with bare handed in cold/wet temps - 
Why?
Why?There were a few times I was struggling with sweaty hands, but no worse than gloves getting wet with sweat and I can dry my hands off quicker rubbing them on my shorts and some air flow.
08-20-18, 10:25 AM
#135
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I started riding a road bike when I was in school in Philly. My Univega Nuovo Sport came with that cello type tape, that offered no padding whatsoever. Riding in the city daily, glass was unavoidable. One of the local bike club guys that I did laps around the Schuylkill with showed me how to rub my front and rear tire to get off any glass before it made its way into the tire. Wouldn't want to try that without gloves. So I guess I just got into the habit back then, and still wear gloves today.
Tom
Tom
08-20-18, 03:33 PM
#136
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Last Sunday I showed up at a ride with two right hand gloves. It was a warm humid day for a ride along the California coast. I decided to go "au natural". I'm usually a glove guy, and this felt a little wierd at first, then I realized how comfortable it was. I wouldn't do it every day, but every so often it's nice to change things up a little, even if it is by accident. Just don't have an accident without your gloves. Years ago I had a bad crash and broke my arm and wrist, and some other important stuff. The EMTs cut off a nice Specialized glove I was wearing. I still have one nice one. And a cut one that I saved as a souvenir. The gloves did their job. No hand injuries, but lots of other places, though. Back to Sunday's ride, I use Brooks leather bar wrap on my Raleigh, and the leather got stained from my sweaty, gloveless hands.
Last edited by Slightspeed; 08-20-18 at 03:36 PM.
08-20-18, 09:08 PM
#137
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Last Sunday I showed up at a ride with two right hand gloves. It was a warm humid day for a ride along the California coast. I decided to go "au natural". I'm usually a glove guy, and this felt a little wierd at first, then I realized how comfortable it was. I wouldn't do it every day, but every so often it's nice to change things up a little, even if it is by accident. Just don't have an accident without your gloves. Years ago I had a bad crash and broke my arm and wrist, and some other important stuff. The EMTs cut off a nice Specialized glove I was wearing. I still have one nice one. And a cut one that I saved as a souvenir. The gloves did their job. No hand injuries, but lots of other places, though. Back to Sunday's ride, I use Brooks leather bar wrap on my Raleigh, and the leather got stained from my sweaty, gloveless hands.
08-21-18, 06:54 AM
#138
meh
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Yes and no - it depends on the bar-tape. I have some bar-tape that requires gloves or it's slippery. However, the two bikes with Origin8 Pro Cork are great without gloves. I've struggled with pinched nerves and numbness in my hands during 100+ mile rides. Bare hands with the right tape has resolved this issue for me.
Reference, 240 miles in one day, on gravel, no gloves:
https://tmbimages.com/Cycling/Gravel...es/i-VJkq9cS/A
For the record, I'm not talking anybody outta using gloves, but I'm saying you needs to use gloves.
Reference, 240 miles in one day, on gravel, no gloves:
https://tmbimages.com/Cycling/Gravel...es/i-VJkq9cS/A
For the record, I'm not talking anybody outta using gloves, but I'm saying you needs to use gloves.
08-22-18, 06:25 PM
#140
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Yes and no - it depends on the bar-tape. I have some bar-tape that requires gloves or it's slippery. However, the two bikes with Origin8 Pro Cork are great without gloves. I've struggled with pinched nerves and numbness in my hands during 100+ mile rides. Bare hands with the right tape has resolved this issue for me.
Reference, 240 miles in one day, on gravel, no gloves:
https://tmbimages.com/Cycling/Gravel...es/i-VJkq9cS/A
For the record, I'm not talking anybody outta using gloves, but I'm saying you needs to use gloves.
Reference, 240 miles in one day, on gravel, no gloves:
https://tmbimages.com/Cycling/Gravel...es/i-VJkq9cS/A
For the record, I'm not talking anybody outta using gloves, but I'm saying you needs to use gloves.
08-22-18, 07:38 PM
#141
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I stopped wearing gloves a year ago.
On my standard 20 - 35 mile rides they served no purpose for me so once my last pair wore out I was done.
No issues with discomfort or numbness and handlebars are not difficult to hold onto securely in any conditions on the road.
One less thing to worry about
On my standard 20 - 35 mile rides they served no purpose for me so once my last pair wore out I was done.
No issues with discomfort or numbness and handlebars are not difficult to hold onto securely in any conditions on the road.
One less thing to worry about
08-23-18, 09:12 AM
#142
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Not wearing gloves is a good excuse to shave the back of your hands. 
08-23-18, 09:23 AM
#143
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I find that gloves have very little effect on numbness on rides over 100 miles, and I generally don't get it on shorter rides. I stopped wearing them for a while for comfort reasons and because I felt like I had a better grip without them and they were nasty when it was really hot. However, I just bought a pair of cheap Pearl Izumi that are quite comfortable and reduce (not eliminate) some of the callousing on my hands, and aren't too terrible in the heat.
I still consider them optional, however.
I still consider them optional, however.
08-23-18, 09:58 AM
#144
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What I like about gloves is how they allow my hands to maintain a good grip even when I am sweaty. What I don't like is how fitted gloves' fit can vary so much from pair to pair, or from wet to dry, causing tightness -> numbness in fingertips. My solution is loose fitting cotton gardening gloves. They still provide grip when I'm sweaty, but there are no fit issues. And they're really cheap, so if you lose or misplace a pair, no big deal.
08-23-18, 11:42 AM
#145
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I was born in 1974 where we road bikes all the time in all season without helmets, and gloves and any other protective wear. We jumped on everything we can find and rode everywhere.
So why no gloves as well as no helmets? Don't need it!
So why no gloves as well as no helmets? Don't need it!
08-26-18, 12:03 AM
#146
Bicyclerider4life
I am not a competitive rider. My "racing days" ended several years before they started.
I ride without gloves, mainly because I misplaced them.
I ride without gloves, mainly because I misplaced them.
08-26-18, 02:41 AM
#147
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"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
08-26-18, 04:59 AM
#148
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08-26-18, 05:28 AM
#149
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Been riding without gloves since a month - just bought a pair from 100% as its starting to get cold
08-26-18, 06:18 AM
#150
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This is what keeps me wearing them. 
I too went down ended up with a broken humerus right up at the head. Still doing some PT and only back on the bike seriously in the past couple weeks. Without gloves, feeding myself, shaving or combing my hair would have been painful and difficult for a time, skin savers they are.
I too went down ended up with a broken humerus right up at the head. Still doing some PT and only back on the bike seriously in the past couple weeks. Without gloves, feeding myself, shaving or combing my hair would have been painful and difficult for a time, skin savers they are.
Last edited by bobwysiwyg; 08-26-18 at 06:44 AM.
