monk

Has anyone tried riding with no gloves - - and instead maybe putting an extract wrap of tape on your handlebars? Unless you're on an awfully long ride I would think the extra cushion on the handlebar would be just as good as the gloves. And good quality bar tape has excellent grip even when moist.

badkarma

I don't like wearing gloves in the summer, I just feel like I have more control with my hands on the bars. I've never had an issue being glove-less, but gloves are good at preventing road rash all over your palms in case you fall - it's a risk I'm willing to take.

BigFloppyLlama

I do fine without gloves in terms of comfort, but I wear them in case of a crash or I need to wipe road debris off my tires while riding.

TheKillerPenguin

IMO, you don't even need an extra layer of bar tape.

okpik

I rode for a couple of year w/o bar tape or gloves, now I just use bar tape unless its cold out. As long as your comfortable then its all good isnt it?

gloves padded too much or in the wrong places can cause nerves to get pinched

ed073

training-no gloves.

racing-gloves.

Dead Extra #2

I also use gloves for road rash prevention. The terry cloth on a lot of them also makes a handy sweat-wiper.

RDW3261

I agree they are mainly for road rash prevention. If you never fall you will never have to worry.

theshoemaker

I've never worn gloves and I've never needed them in a crash. But I've never had a bad crash. As time goes on I keep thinking that at some point I'll get some without any sort of palm padding, just for the crash protection factor.

urbanknight

I rode an hour without them and my hands felt a little sore from the hoods (not the bar, so extra tape wouldn't help), but I still wear them most of the time and I was glad for that when my front wheel collapsed sending me over the bars.

Ih8lucky13

I honestly feel naked without my gloves, I actually feel more secure having them on.

H1449-6

I don't wear gloves unless it's too cold not to.

Single wrap of Cinelli cork or Brooks leather does it for me.

jschen

I don't need gloves for comfort even with relatively thin bar tape. Padding (on the gloves or the bar tape) is a poor substitute for good fit. Not much weight/pressure is supposed to be on your hands.

roadfix

I still can't feel the tips of a couple of my fingers.

ADlBOO

+1

Duke of Kent

I only have tape right before my hoods and on the drops. The tops are completely bare. If I have my hands there, it's because I'm going up hill, probably less than 15mph, and wrenching on them, not putting my weight on them.

In terms of gloves, I only wear them for racing or when it is cold outside. And my racing gloves are actually golf gloves. Not padding but the leather protects my hands if I happen to eat it.

c4s6

I crashed last week, have a 2"x6" abrasion on the back of my upper arm and a 2"x4" abrasion on the back of my forearm. Trashed the glove but the hand is injury-free.

No one plans to crash but it happens sometimes. Wearing gloves is a minor inconvenience.

TheKillerPenguin

Its a personal preference thing. I've crashed hard 4 times without gloves. Once I cut my palms up a bit, but it wasn't too bad. And I had a *****in tar stain on it for a week Still, I only wear gloves when its cold out.

nocondorfx

< wears gloves only when its cold.

michaelmc

+1

bonzo_351m

Never wore gloves until i spent a good amount of time picking tiny rocks out of my palms. Been wearing gloves ever since.

FIVE ONE SIX

i wear them all year round. honestly, i feel naked without them too...

Lucky07

+1 One time was all I needed. I understand why some people ride without though. It's one less thing to worry about.

But for me, gloves protect my palms, soak up a small amount of vibration, provide some sun protection & lately, keep them warm.

urbanknight

I have to disagree with you on this. Road bikes use a rather forward position with the torso almost flat out in front of the hips. To make all of that rest on the butt would require a more upright position. I do agree that you shouldn't have excessive pressure on the hands, but that's an improper grip more than fit. Just my opinion, so I could be wrong.

voltman

I use the Pearl Izumi Team gloves. No padding, but a relatively grippy surface.