Bicycle Gloves And Why They Can Save Your Life

Serious cyclists always invest in a decent pair of bicycle gloves. Fashion statements aside, the experienced cyclist will know that his or her hands will be subjected to harsh environments that will not only harm the cyclist's hands, but will also make it challenging to finish a lap.

Your Hand Are Subjected To Harsh Weather
Think about it, when you are cycling, your hands are left to grip the handlebars for a long duration of time thereby causing it to be exposed to weather elements be it the scorching sun, wet rain or icy breezes. Incidentally, a cyclist's hands are most at risk during cold weather as the hands are left stagnant while cold winds blow around it. While the hands are not dynamic during a bicycle ride, these body parts are still very important so it would be prudent to protect them with gloves.

Your Bare Hands Are Injury-Prone
When you cycle, your hands are gripping the handlebars. This constant grip is abrasive enough to cause red marks and blisters on your hands. For road bikers, you may come across road bumps and potholes that upon impact will also cause harm unto your fingers that are holding onto the handles. In both of these situations, gloves will help provide a layer of padding that will absorb the shear and impact forces that would have otherwise cause pain to the cyclist. Do note however that getting gloves with excessive padding is a bad idea! Excess padding have the potential of compressing the nerves in your hands and that could lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Five Different Types of Bicycle Gloves
There are five main variations of bicycle gloves. One can opt for fingerless cycling gloves that are usually paired with drop-bar touring bikes. Windproof full-finger gloves are great in chilly weather but should not be used in the rain. For much colder weather, we recommend that you invest in winter gloves that are also waterproof. If for some reason, you feel like cycling in sub-zero temperatures, you should then opt for the classic mittens. Lobster-claw gloves are derived from mittens, and the highlight of this kind of glove is that it provides easier access to brake-levers.

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