jon c. 

I always wear gloves. I find them more comfortable. Probably somewhat self fulfilling as what you're used to tends to feel comfortable, but if I leave without them it feels odd and I usually go back for them.

Don't have a problem with tan lines as I spend a lot of time in the sun. My problem in that regard is blindingly white feet. No show socks don't solve that.

San Pedro

I wear gloves, but I don't have tan lines. I'm not sure why I started wearing gloves in the summer, but I did crash once this year where there were a lot of rocks on the side of the road and the gloves did protect my hands.

In the winter my hands get cold easily, so I'll wear two pair if needed.

Tall socks are dorky with shorts, so that's why I go short socks. Got to impress the ladies!

f4rrest

Nifty idea.

dagray

yes I always wear them. I didn't used to wear them as a kid, but after being run off the road and skidding on pavement for 100+ feet on my palms back in 1987 (I was 17) I won't ride a bike without them.

TMonk

I hate using gloves. I've had road rash on the top of my left hand from a ~40mph crash before too. I try to remember to wear them in riskier or more dangerous rides, but I'm often lazy about it.

wrldtraveller

I must wear gloves because I have experienced emergency stopping and having myself go over my handlebars, skinned my palms (that time without gloves) then i decided to get a pair of gloves. Then a car cut me off and i had to emergency stop and went over the handlebars, now I never go without a pair of gloves. The one i use are light weight for summer use, no fingers, mesh gloves, so very comfortable to use. slight padding which helps during long rides.

W

FIVE ONE SIX

i never wear gloves, haven't in over 10 years. i used to get numbness issues when i rode with gloves a long time ago, and no matter which gloves i used i could never get rid of it, then one ride i forgot to put them on and i didn't get any numbness. so i started riding without gloves, and it never happened again...

and yes, i used to hear it from everyone that i used to ride with about how i should always ride with gloves and how i'm going to mess up my hands if i ever go down in a crash at speed with no gloves, but i ride much more casually now than i used to years ago...

it does make your selection of bar tape that much more important though...

Maelochs

LOL ... broke one shoulder, separated the other, not a scratch on my hands either time. I need to learn proper technique, i guess.

hogger453

I don't except in the winter.

Jim from Boston

I always wear gloves, especially on sunny days to acquire a distinctive, classic cyclist’s tan. In particular I wear gloves with a crocheted back for that “reticulated” tanning pattern, with the strap line. It’s a variation of Rule #7 of the Velominati,

I was once asked if I am a golfer from that pattern, but I think golfers only wear a glove on one hand.

bargeon

Thread winner

Hope you posted this in the sox thread.

ltxi

takenreasy

Nope, no gloves for my rides unless it’s for warmth. A proper fitting bike should pose no threat to a rider’s bare hands.

RoadLight

Hi bargeon,

I wear cycling gloves but my tan lines are mild because I wear UPF-50 sun sleeves whenever the sun is strong. I have to be careful of sun exposure because of skin cancer. When the sun is up, I wear Giro LTZ II gloves because they come farther up the wrist to overlap the end of my sun sleeves. Hence, no tan line on the wrist. I also like the aero profile of the Giro gloves.

The sun sleeves I wear are from Pearl Izumi.

When I ride early in the morning (no later than 2 hours after sunrise), I don't use sun sleeves and simply wear a pair of Pearl Izumi Elite gloves with gel padding.

Kind regard, RoadLight

GeneO 

Yes. Use them to keep sweat off bars, firm grip on hot days, comfort and lastly to wipe snot off my nose.

noodle soup

What about the surface of the road?

f4rrest

Yes, on every ride, because I like the smell of sourdough and strong cheese.

T Stew

Only thing I wear for protection is a helmet.

For the hot half of the year I minimize everything else. I like to be as light and cool as possible.

As far as sweaty grip goes, or vibration to the hand, I've not had a problem. Even with the super thin plastic taped bike with no cushion (my Prologue, my main ride all last year) I have done 50 mile rides without any hand soreness griping onto practically solid aluminum.

A couple weeks back I was on a 63 mile group ride on a hot and super humid day. Sweating profusely by the first stop early in the morning still in the 70s out. Got the hoods and tape pretty sweaty and was the first time they felt a little slick - Campy Veloce ergos and Fizik Classic Performance 3mm tape. But it wasn't a big deal I didn't have to use a death grip to prevent from slipping off or anything.

Maybe some people have more oils in their sweat, or their hands are more sensitive to vibration or muscles fatigue more having to grip harder. Everyone is different. I seem to be a bit tougher all around in terms of comfort / fatigue having done up to centuries and mini tours of a few days close to century distances without needing gloves, shoes, padded shorts, or any of that. Makes me a bit odd since I don't look like a cyclist at all but saves a boatload of money!

Dan333SP

This is uncomfortably accurate.

indyfabz

takenreasy

I was primarily referring to numbness. If you crash and go hands first, that would suck.

noodle soup

that makes sense.

GreenAnvil

No gloves, at least not until the weather cools down significantly.

Rollfast

We never knew, we thought he was the King Of Pop...

jeffreythree

I forgot my gloves on an afternoon ride last week and regretted it. First my hands were sweaty, then it started running down my arms onto wherever I was gripping at the time. Plus, the gloves I use have a bit terry cloth on top of the thumb to catch that annoying drip of sweat that hangs on your eyebrow for ages before moving on to the inside of my eyeglasses lens. I am more comfortable in our heat riding with gloves.