Mvcrash

I did not know where to ask this, so here goes. I don't use gloves when I ride. I have no issues of numbness or pain. I was talking to an old friend who told me I should be using gloves since they prevent injury. He went on to say that gloves will prevent Radial and Ulner nerve problems. So I guess I am asking if I really do need gloves. I ride 40-70 miles a week in nice weather.

Thanks.

10 Wheels

I wear gloves as a safety protection for crashing.

Little Darwin

I enjoy gloves for the better feel on my bars, and protection from scrapes in case of crash. I have never heard of using them to prevent nerve problems, although if you are getting numbness/pain while riding, it could be a help to prevent an issue in the long term. If you are riding pain free, I don't think that you are risking nerve damage by not wearing gloves... but, I have been wrong before.

chasm54

If you have no issues of numbness or pain, then you have no problem. Were you racing or mountain biking I'd recommend that you wear mitts - they save the skin on your palms when you crash. But for ordinary, recreational riding in which you stay upright, it really doesn't matter.

Roopull

I did the sissy thing & put gel inserts under my bar wrap.

Now, if I wear gloves, it's only on long rides or when I'm going to be sweating so they keep my hands from slipping.

I've been riding for 32 years... no nerve damage here. I think you'd feel some indicators of impending nerve damage if you were at risk.

volosong

I very highly doubt that using cycling gloves will prevent nerve damage. If you have a good fit to your bike, then gloves or no, you'll be fine. As others mentioned, one of the greatest advantages manifest itself in the event of a crash. Normally, one of the first things people do when falling is to thrust out their hands to help break the fall. Bare skin on the palms of our hands on concrete or asphalt? Well, you know the result.

It's true that most cycling falls happen so fast that one does not have a chance to put their arm out. Still, it is better to have the protection.

Two other less important advantages, (for me), is that I tend to sweat a lot when cycling. Gloves absorb palm sweat and allow a more secure, firm grip on the bars. Then, a lot of gloves have a terry cloth patch at the base of the thumb on the outside of the hand. That is the perfect 'forehead wipe' to pull away some dripping sweat. If you have never experienced salty sweat getting into your eyes . . . count yourself lucky. It's not fun and, (again, for me), it requires stopping the bike, removing the sun shades, and wiping my face and eyes to remove the sweat.

Gloves are not all that expensive and well worth getting a few pair. (Wash after every ride in cold water and allow to drip dry.)

---

Right now, I have the most unique suntan pattern on the back of my hands. There are little rows of brown spots running across the back of my hand with a larger, oval shaped brown patch in the middle. It was caused by three days last weekend riding in the sun and with the crochet style gloves that I normally wear.

Cychologist

While I wear gloves for the reasons mentioned above, my triathlete son and his friends never do. Why wear something while training you won't wear in a race?

For me gloves keep my hands from going numb, give me a good grip without holding the bar tight, and give me something to wipe my face with while riding. They say it gives you protection in a crash, but I don't want that find out. Besides, if I crash (again) I don't want to catch myself with my hand. That's a good way to break a collarbone.

Zinger

I have noticed that some pro roadies in the '80s who started out not wearing gloves started wearing them later in their careers for whatever reason.

I personally like gloves with well padded palms. The wrong gloves, not so much. Sometimes it's a search for me since I've always liked crochet gloves. I'll buy about three brands and wind up giving two of them away.

Zinger

Sounds like a good way to break your wrist. I've always assumed that a failed, incomplete roll out is what breaks collarbones......And I've broken both as a kid, btw, but not in bike crashes.

John E

I have done both -- left collarbone (bicycling) and right radius / wrist (tripping on patio). I'll take collarbone fracture any day -- much less pain, much less disability.

gforeman 

You should have seen the pair I had on when I went down. They nylon was almost worn through...but my hand was not. I always wear them.

krobinson103

For 200km plus rides I always wear gloves. That length of time any grip or bar tape gets painful and padding helps prevent hand pain for longer. Ride a 24 hour ride and its unavoidable but hey... delay is good.

Rootman

Me too. Also for protection from the sun and to keep my hands from being slippery from being sweaty.

I just go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up work gloves for high impact. A pair will last me a year or better.

JanMM

I usually wear gloves but, since none of my weight is on my arms/hands when on my recumbent bikes, any old gloves will do, such as the cheapest, basic Performance brand fingerless minimally padded gloves or long-fingered work gloves from the home center.
Prior to going to the Dark Side eight years ago, I was continually searching for The Perfect Gloves.

FrenchFit 

I admit to becoming addicted to Go Fit Cross X-Trainer gloves, originally for sweaty spin class, then weights, then riding, and then running. They are perfect when you hands get sweaty, don't get soggy like Giro/s, and soft wipe surface and...CHEAP. GoFit Cross X-Trainer Gloves at REI.com

Terex

I've put gel padding on all of my bikes for minimizing vibration and because the larger radius bars are more comfortable for my XL hands. When riding at high altitudes in NM, I've been wearing TT gloves that are form fitting, pretty thin and cover from above the wrist to the middle of my fingers, blocking a little more sun. I also wear sun sleeves to minimize UV exposure.

Gloves have also minimized road rash to my hands in a couple of accidents. Sad to report, they don't prevent broken fingers or concussions.

Wildwood 

I routinely do not wear gloves for rides of an hour or less, and if it's a smooth, paved trail almost never. But then I'm the guy who is routinely moving around on the bike a lot, . Gloves almost always for rides more than on hour or on rough pavement or with other riders (because I just can't take all their comments about how great their gloves are).

jyl

I wear full finger gloves almost all the time. Stretchy SmartWool gloves, unpadded, almost like glove liners. Mostly for a little protection in case of a crash; I got into the glove habit when mountain biking.

Mvcrash

I've done about 1400 miles since last August and have not had any hand issues. I find my bike is comfortable for me to ride. I don't like wearing gloves, even in the cold, so I was not looking forward to wearing them. Since the consensus is I don't need gloves, I'll continue without them.

As always, thanks for the thoughts and advice. Be safe!!

jppe

Mvcrash-if you're getting long fine without them I wouldn't bother. The main reason I wear them is it is very humid in NC and our hands tend to get pretty slippery. There have been situations where my hands have slid off the grips and bars without gloves which can be unnerving and could also cause issues if I'm riding in a group and lose control. While riding in less humid conditions in Colorado I enjoyed not riding with gloves on occasion.

rumrunn6

in summer, I like fingerless gloves for the fabric patch at the thumb area for wiping sweat from my brow. in cooler temps I like full fingered gloves for keeping my finger tips warm, and again for the fabric patch

Northwestrider

Crash protection, and better grip are the only reasons I wear gloves, but I do wear them.

BobbyG

I started wearing padded gloves for comfort, but have now padded my bars. I wear thin cotton work gloves as snot rags. I get 'em at the dollar-store and cut the fingers off for summer. In the winter I slip them over my full-finger gloves. I wash 'em a few times, and when they start to fray, at only a buck a pair, I toss 'em.

nuke_diver

As said it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that gloves (especially cycling gloves) would help with nerve damage. Maybe weightlifting ones with wrist straps. I'm like you I never have worn gloves cycling except for temperature reasons (below 40F is about the place I need gloves and then I have some regular winter type gloves (cotton)). On a very hot day my hands to get a bit sweaty and gloves might help IDK? And on a very very long ride they might as well but I haven't gone longer than 4 1/2 hrs and my hands were fine for that.

If you are comfortable without I think you are fine. Wearing them for falls...well I don't ride with the intention of falling and if it happens there is no guarantee that you will have time to break your fall with your hands (and maybe break your wrist?) . When a minivan last ran me off the road, my hands stayed on the bars and the road rash was on my elbow and shoulder...minivans hate me

trekmogul 

I really like these myself. Have about 5 pairs of them..Robot Check