Fifty Plus (50+) - Do you wear gloves when you ride?

I'm sure most do when the temps are cold enough to warrant it.......or even when it's so warm it helps with perspiration and keeping the hands from slipping off the bars and hoods.

I took my riding stuff to work today but forgot to include any gloves ( I must have 10 pairs-gotta color coordinate). The weather was perfect for riding naked. I didn't miss the gloves too much except to help with a "runny nose"-prevalent for me this time of year due to allergies. I did 50+ miles and was fine.

How bout you?

How bout you?

Always. Mesh in the summer, solid in the winter, full fingered on the mountain bike, cut-offs otherwise.

Some people say--with good reason, I reckon--that gloves protect your hands in a fall. However, I very often ride without them, especially in warmer weather and don't seem to miss them.

Always. Mesh in the summer, solid in the winter, full fingered on the mountain bike, cut-offs otherwise.

Is white mesh acceptable after Memorial Day, or can it be worn all year round?

Is white mesh acceptable after Memorial Day, or can it be worn all year round?

Year round, in SoCal. We've relaxed the social standards.

Some sort of glove year around. I'm not sure if it's the gripshifters or the size of the grips but without gloves, the MTB can chew up hands. The road bike is much smoother but once used to gloves than feel funny without them.

Gel half fingers in warm weather. Liners with silicone gripper dots under those below 55deg, full fingered windproof below 50deg. heavier below full fingers below 40deg, sometimes the liners too if I get really adventuresome...have found the soft fabric patch a "must" on the backs of any glove.

Gloves: Always
My hands get cold easily, so in the winter ... even in sunny CA, I look like I'm going skiing.

But in summer, just in case... gloves always.

Always. Kind of like my helmet, it just feels funny without them.

I have a range of gloves. For real cold, I wear ski gloves. Less cold I wear some leather gloves. When it gets warm I have some short finger biking gloves with serious amounts of gel. Least of all, I may go glove free when riding my recumbent.

I find that they help my grip. Also I've got some serious scuff marks on one glove heel that reminds me what the pavement would have done to my hand if the glove had not been on.

I always wear gloves. Without them I get numbness in the hands.

On my upright bikes - always. I need them to cushion the impact on my thumb joints.

On my recumbent - usually not, unless it is below 55-60.

I've gotten accustomed to them and wear them all the time. I'll forget my helmet before I forget my gloves. My hands will get numb without them.

99.99% - Once or twice I forgot to take them. I'm a glove (and liner) collector. I can't have enough. I often take spares to cover different weather conditions over the day's commutes.

Always. Fingerless in summer and full fingered in winter.

Always. Kind of like my helmet, it just feels funny without them.

+1 ;)

Always. Kind of like my helmet, it just feels funny without them.


+1

I like 'em - not only for comfort, but they saved my hands from some damage during my bike/car 'altercation' last year.

I will use leather gloves regardless of the weather and when up in the mountains on some singletrack absolutely. Gone down a few times and saw what could of happened to my hands otherwise.

Full fingered pretty much always.

Always unless I forget them (rarely). Usually half finger.

Yes, full fingers during the late fall, winter and early spring. Then half-finger the rest of the year. I always try to find half-finger gloves with a closure that leaves a distinctive "sun tan" block on the back of my hand. Most cyclist immediately recognize that mark and it serves as one way to meet new fellow riders.

I don't need them to protect my hands from my bike, but I use them for gripping the Gripshifters in warm weather and keeping warm when it's cold out.

I think we are now up to +3 on the - feels funny without them - post.

I wear full-finger mountain bike or BMX style gloves year-round, partly for protection and partly because my fingers can get painfully cold during winter and/or early morning rides.

Any time the temperature is below 40 F.

Paul

Many years ago, always some kind of glove...since I've been riding again, only when it is cold out...

I wear short fingered gloves every time. When I first started riding I didn't wear them and sure enough I took a bad spill. Ended up damaging a nerve in my little finger near the palm. I'm sure if I had been wearing gloves it wouldn't have been so severe and I might have saved some nerve damage. Years later I don't have any permanent effects but it did leave a nasty scar. I can't ride without gloves now, it just seems unnatural.

I always wear gloves when riding and adjust the type to the temperature. On the last time trial, I did not wear gloves to reduce drag. I plan on checking out TT gloves.

Always - I feel naked without them. Also provides another element of protection from the sun (in addition to sunscreen).

I have never worn gloves except to fend off the cold, which is seldom here in Florida since I usually skip riding if it's that cold. I was interested, however, to see a couple of people say that gloves help with hand numbness. I had never heard that before, though I've only recently been lurking this board. Is there any particular brand, or characteristic of the glove, that I should look for to help with this?

I have never worn gloves except to fend off the cold, which is seldom here in Florida since I usually skip riding if it's that cold. I was interested, however, to see a couple of people say that gloves help with hand numbness. I had never heard that before, though I've only recently been lurking this board. Is there any particular brand, or characteristic of the glove, that I should look for to help with this?

I've used the Ironman gloves to relieve the hand numbness for the past couple years. I recently learned Pearl Izumi had a similar glove and just received a pair I ordered last week. I haven't had a chance to try them so I don't know if they work as well as the Ironman.

Here's a little info on the Ironman gloves
http://www.bikemag.com/gear/062305_spenco/

I wear them every ride....cut-off finger gloves in warm weather and full fingered under 60 F. I've fallen a couple of times and they really help, in addition to helping combat numbness.

They came in handy once for use against a vehicle driver. Beyond that, it was difficult to shift.

I used to only wear gloves when it was cold. Now I have a pair of the old fashioned half finger leather and mesh ones that I like when it is hot enough that sweat runs onto the hands, they really help with keeping the bars dry then. They are also good in the rain. When it is nice weather, I still don't use gloves.

Always. I don't like the thought of not being able to wipe:eek:

I always wear gloves when I ride. I like the Performance mesh back cotton gloves. In Dec, Jan, and Feb I wear glove liners under them on the colder mornings (it does get in the lower 30's here then).

only when it's cold, as in not far off freezing and lower

Is white mesh acceptable after Memorial Day, or can it be worn all year round?

Down south we wouldn't dream of wearing white after Memorial Day.:o

Mountain biking and fingerless gloves used to be worn- Mainly to give grip on a Muddy bar- but they were basic and no padding. Then the Full finger MTB gloves appeared and saved the knuckles from a lot of cuts and bruises- They became the main glove for me- but still no padding. Then I went Road and turned into a softie. I needed the padding to stop the hands from hurting- and it had to be in the right place. Then there was the winter riding- I needed a full finger glove that was warm and finished up with Sealskinz and they are good. Wheras a $10 pair of mountain biking gloves were adequate- I now find that I am looking at $100 gloves to give me comfort.

This road riding is turning me into a whimp.

After bandaging up a fellow rider that went over the bars and hit the pavement with his palms, I always wear gloves. Yeah, I now ride a LWB recumbent, so this is unlikely. But I have the habit. Yes, I always carry first aid, and plenty of riders are glad I do. bk

Always. Kind of like my helmet, it just feels funny without them.

+1 Always.

When the temps are cold enough to warrant it.......or even when it's so warm it helps with perspiration and keeping the hands from slipping off the bars and hoods.

+1 and I also think of it as my part of my safety gear. Fingers are really tuff to bandage. So I like to keep them protected.

Yeah, all of the time. Last thing I want is to have a fall and loose all of the skin on my palms. It does require me to pull them off at stop lights in the summer and wring the sweat out of them. You would be surprised how much runs down your arms into the glove, I probably get 20ml or so an hour.

Yes, always.

Padded mtb gloves every ride (doesn't feel right riding without them)
Brown jersey gloves over for cold weather.
White cotton photo gloves under for cool weather.

Almost always wear fingerless gloves, but didn't start until about 15 years ago when I headed out for a 660 mile tour. They maybe help with hand numbness, but I'm not sure how much. When it's colder (below about 40°F) I wear lightweight windblock gloves. At this point it just feels weird to ride without gloves.

I wear fingerless with no gel, when its warm, full fingered when its cool, and mittens over the full fingered when its really cold, and yes I can shift with mittens on. I'm taking fingerless and full fingers with me to San Francisco next week cause cold damp sets off my arthritis, and a vacation with a flare just isn't that much fun.

Is there any particular brand, or characteristic of the glove, that I should look for to help with this?

I've had reasonably good luck with Specialized BG gloves. They're half-finger gloves with leather palms which have serious gel pads, mesh back, and flannel back on the thumb. This is the best pair I've tried so far.

Cycling can be done without gloves????