Winter and STI/Brifters: What gloves do U suggest?
 

My winter bikes will have Shimano 105 STI shifters. I have a wide range of gloves that work well down to 35F. Below that level, I use windproof & waterproof mittens, but finding the small shift lever on a 105 shifter with mittens is a problem.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a warm, windproof glove that I can use with my shifters?

Should I just get those BAR MITTS / Pogies that cover the hands and shifters and block the wind?

I've not had any real issue with any gloves, lobsters, or mittens with my 5600 series 105 levers. When wearing lobsters or mittens, it's easier to hit the paddle with the side of my finger. Neither shifting nor braking on the main lever is an issue.

I'm already having trouble with my newer 5700 series 105 levers. The paddle is smaller and it snuggles right up to the lever without the 4mm gap the 5600s have. When it's wet, I have trouble with both bare and gloved fingers. Can't wait to see what it's like come winter…

seems like a guilt based suggestion.. :roflmao:

I say go for it , see if it works for you. report back..

seems they , pogies, will keep the Brifter mech out of the grime and such
as well

I use Bar Mitts on my brifters.
+ They take up less room in the pannier than bulky gloves when the afternoon commute is much warmer than the morning (typical in TX)
+ They are easy to stick your hands into compared to putting on thick gloves/mitts
+ Very warm but if your hands get too hot, just bring one hand out to cool it off
+ Waterproof
+ Easier to work zippers, wipe nose, get things out of pockets, grasp water bottles, punch buttons on lights/computers

- Very limited hand positions and a little cozy. I'm OK since I ride on the hoods 99% of the time.
- Not elegant

I'm trying these this year. I've put in my order but they haven't started production for this season yet.

http://www.trails-edge.com/retail/te...mfbikemits.htm

I prefer the Performance Century gloves down to freezing to anything else. Lobsters take me 30 seconds or two shifts to adjust to when it's freezing.

I used STIs on my winter bike for about a year. Operating them with gloves and even Mitts wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. You might have to alter your technique a little and you might accidentally push the brake lever along with the paddle once in awhile.

As far as recommendations go, any decent ski glove with a substantial cuff to cover my wrists works pretty well to a few degrees below 0. Then I need to break out the ice fishing mitts.

I believe that it was someone in this forum who gave the advice that the key to warm fingers is keep your wrists warm. There seems to be some truth to that so I make sure that there's no gap between the glove and the jacket that will allow cold air to get to my wrists directly.

In general, keeping your core warm helps keep the body from limiting circulation to your extremities.

I've been interested in this topic since last winter. I found that my low-end Shimano brifters present no problems at all, even when I wear thick, bulky ski mitts, thanks to the thumb-trigger design, which seems superior for cold-climate use. I'm not sure why more expensive shifters use the double paddle. It just looks more awkward to me, with or without gloves.

Shifting from the drops doesn't work well (or at all) for most people with the Sora type thumb trigger. Campy did a better job with theirs.

Guess that's it, tj, but I can't say I've ever wanted to shift from the drops. If I did, I wouldn't hesitate to move my hand a couple of inches to do it.

Can a rider still use the drops when the Bar Mitt is installed?

I used to live in Maine, where I commuted year round - no weather in San Jose, so all my winter cycling gear is in a box, but...

I wore a pair of gloves that I got a cabellas where they were sold to snowmobilers - they were a soft leather outer (possibly deerskin?), with fur lining and a knit cuff. They weren't cheap, but they were worth it.

I'll suggest a different, but tried and true approach: layers.

Spend $20 or $25 on a pair of merino wool glove liners. Wear them under your choice of Sealskin waterproof gloves, latex ones like the doctor has, or the cheap rubber gloves they sell at the grocery store for washing dishes. The wool gives you warmth and comfort, and wicks your sweat away, while the outer layer shields you from the wind and the water. If it's not terribly windy, I find that the merino glove liners work just fine by themselves.

http://www.backcountry.com/images/it...BX0309/TIT.jpg