When did cycling gloves go out of fashion?
#51
Senior Member
Ah yes, the dreaded "glove stank". I have conquered mine with the following method. After every ride:
While rinsing out my bottles in the kitchen sink, I remove my gloves and drop them in the sink, letting the water run on them. Then I give them a couple squirts of hand soap, smush them around for a few seconds, rinse throughly under the tap, and wring them out. Then I hang them in the water heater closet. Next day, they are dry without even a hint of "stank".
While rinsing out my bottles in the kitchen sink, I remove my gloves and drop them in the sink, letting the water run on them. Then I give them a couple squirts of hand soap, smush them around for a few seconds, rinse throughly under the tap, and wring them out. Then I hang them in the water heater closet. Next day, they are dry without even a hint of "stank".
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#52
That's not a center stand/kickstand - it's a crank arm. The low resolution of the photo makes it impossible to see details, but since pro bikes don't have kickstands, that must be a crank arm with the pedal angled downward, in line with the crank.
You probably meant to type "Batcycle" (or whatever it's called), not "Batmobile."
You probably meant to type "Batcycle" (or whatever it's called), not "Batmobile."
I recall from the first of Nolan's Batman series, while driving the Batmobile, Batman rotated from conventional sitting reclined, to some "battle mode" where he was on his stomach, head forward, which didn't make sense to me but looked cool. It wasn't until one of the later movies that the Batcycle separated from the Batmobile (a pretty good engineering trick in reality, whereas most of the other things in the movie, were more reality based).
#53
"Stank" on anything: Normal washing works fine, but if less possible, a spray with dilute ammonia will often kill, it's a simple antibacterial. This is basically just window cleaner without any blue dye or a tiny bit of soap as a surfactant to make the liquid spread out and not ball up. I use dilute ammonia as a general purpose cleaner, 9:1 diution in a spray bottle, a bit higher concentration if needed. A couple sprays in sport shoes and leaving overnight can do wonders, sometimes you don't need to totally wet, the evaporating vapors also can work. For any carpet or upholstery cleaning, dilute ammonia is great, as it requires no separate rinsing, it just evaporates, whereas any kind of soap or detergent requires a lot of rinsing. I'll spray on spot, then wet larger area (for carpet I use a garden sprinkling can with hot water and some ammonia), then suck off with a wet vac (shop vac, cleaned out, filter removed). Spots that don't clean, hit with a stronger cleaner (like citrus cleaner for drops of oil from bike). Usually I buy the lemon-scented ammonia at the big-box home/construction store, dirt cheap, like$1.50 for a gallon IIRC. Always check small hidden spot to make sure cleaner is safe for what you are cleaning.
#54
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In my racing days I made a conscious effort to remember to not let go of the handlebars until after I hit the road. But after that, glove leather was nice sacrificial stuff to have.
The pros now and gloves? Some (both pros and amateurs) never liked gloves. Some never go without. Many follow the trends. Gloves will come back. Someone will figure out an advertising angle and reap the growing market. Get their gloves on a rider who's seen. The benefit of gloves in crashes will never go away.
The pros now and gloves? Some (both pros and amateurs) never liked gloves. Some never go without. Many follow the trends. Gloves will come back. Someone will figure out an advertising angle and reap the growing market. Get their gloves on a rider who's seen. The benefit of gloves in crashes will never go away.
#55
just another gosling
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Yeah, never ever, ever put your hands out like that when you go down. Holding onto the bars in his case not possible, but tuck and roll! Most of the guys I ride with have that tell-tale broken collar bone bump from doing approximately this.
One of the riders in my group was a no-gloves guy. You know, one of those riders who just never goes down, right? But then he did, and right in front of me and did put his hands out. It's fine thing until it isn't.
One of the riders in my group was a no-gloves guy. You know, one of those riders who just never goes down, right? But then he did, and right in front of me and did put his hands out. It's fine thing until it isn't.
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#56
Grupetto Bob
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#58
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I like gloves because I use white bar wrap. It keeps the wrap cleaner for longer. Just wash your gloves frequently. Also, they are great for wiping sweat off your brows.
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#59
Very few people (including pros) would crash often enough to reliably make conscious decisions like this. Unless you are a stuntman crashes are very unpredictable one-offs with no guarantees and very little conscious thought processing.
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#60
Senior Member
Another guy on Bike Forums said that if he raced, even in the Pro Tour, he'd easily avoid crashes because he'd once taken a motorcycle handling course.
#61
Senior Member
Crazy that this topic popped up - a few of us were talking about this last week. Right now, my finger is bandaged (stitches) and I can't get a glove on. So, I'm riding without gloves. Even in the cool temps, the morning dew and humidity makes the bar tape feel slick. In the summer, the sweat makes it even more slick. For me, it has nothing to do with protecting my hands when I crash and everything to do with keeping a comfortable grip and NOT crashing.
#62
Senior Member
I only wear gloves when riding in cold weather.
#63
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Strongly advised for everyone.
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#64
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I’m at the other end of the scale - always wear gloves and most times full finger gloves (even on hot days)
possibly because I’m accustomed to wearing gloves / full gloves on a motorcycle
often wear the gloves pictured above - $7 per pair …good inexpensive glove … available on Amazon and eBay … when they get trashed or smell I throw them away and move on to the next pair
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With a background in motorcycle riding/racing, wearing gloves just feels natural to me. That being said, I'll sometimes go gloveless on shorter rides...no really good reason, I'm just trying to address the tan lines at my wrists. My identity as a smug cyclist means I take pride in my tan lines at the sleeves, however, even I think the wrist line looks weird.
#66
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My oval tan spots with the tan freckles on my knuckles were a fashion statement in high school.
In my mind, at least. ;-)
In my mind, at least. ;-)
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#67
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So, you get into the shower wearing your helmet, gloves, sunglasses, watch, etc, but no clothes? That must be a sight.
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#72
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I ride in the Florida heat. Those times I’ve forgotten to put my gloves on I’ve regretted it - sweaty hands makes for an uncomfortable slippery grip on the bars and hoods. Also, when I ride my 70s bike with skinny high pressure tubular tires, I like to wipe the tires while I’m riding with my gloved hand after going through a gritty patch of road. And then there’s that hand protection thing in case of a crash or fall (it’s happened).
#73
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