Reason #1
Points-of-contact, these are three areas of scrutiny and argument for Velominati; saddles, chamois creme, shoes, socks, handlebar tape so why not gloves?
Picking grit out of your palms is bad.
Yes, it is very bad. The fear of this might be the number one reason people get into the habit of wearing gloves, and it does become a habit, like donning a helmet. And just like picking gravel out of your scalp, which is also very bad, avoiding that activity is worth it. Points of contact on the bike are one thing; points of contact once off the bike are another. So do we wear gloves only to protect our hands if we crash? Or do we wear them to stay more comfortable on the bike?
I’m regretting typing this as I type it but I don’t crash often, once every few years, and usually for stupid self-inflicted reasons. The last two times I have crashed and they were stupid and self-inflicted, both times I came away with nothing more than some light abrasions and a sore hip. I was wearing gloves. But I can’t even say if my hands got involved in either crash; all one understands is sliding across the road in a tangle of limbs, bike and embarrassment. Still, gloves are not uncomfortable to wear. There is no big downside to donning gloves as one kits up.
Racing produces crashing. One would think racing Paris-Roubaix would produce the most crashes yet the number of people racing sans gloves is remarkable. There is Boonen and most of his Quick-Step badass teammates battling over the stones without gloves. They want to feel the bike more than protect their hands. They are tough.
Riding naked feels great.
That would look very bad but it might feel very good. Riding without gloves feels a little like something is naked and it does feel great. If you always ride with gloves, try it. It makes for a very different ride. Handling the brake hoods or handlebars without gloves is so much more tactile. Recently forgot my gloves and re-remembered why I’ve spent around a third of my time bike riding without them. It just feels right. There are no Rules about glove wearing nor should there be. Does one look or feel more Pro without gloves? I do. If one feels like they have to wear gloves to protect their hands on the bike then it might be worth investigating how one’s weight is distributed on the bike. Hands should not be doing much weight bearing.
If we subscribe to the argument that we should dress for the crash not the ride we wouldn’t be wearing little more than lycra. Riding is a balancing act in many ways. If you ride you have to accept injury and accidents as parts of the deal but unless you are racing criteriums on a weekly basis, the pleasure of riding naked might outweigh the fear of crashing naked.
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@Ron
Minion? Doesn't he get confused between women and sheep or was that Marcus? (Oh, and being from Scotland, albeit not the northern part) I'm allowed to make that joke. To wit: Why do Scotsmen wear kilts? Because sheep can hear zippers.
I'll get me coat.
@Owen
Thank fuck for some common sense, I was a bit worried that the off season was taking too much of a toll.
@wiscot
I was pretty sure it was Marcus that struggled with gender differentiation but I've a nagging feeling it was Scaler. Marcus is a triathlete and both he and Minion had a thing for sheep.
@chris
RIGHT! Scaler sounds right to my fading memory. Thanks! Okay, where is Scaler these days?
Is it a Mate or a Lass going hands over Ass there in the lead photo???
@Owen
My white fi'zi:k tape looked good for exactly one day. Then I went for a ride. It's been dirty and crappy looking ever since. Scrubbing helps a little, but it's more of a gray now. I don't understand why everyone says it cleans up so well. Maybe I got the wrong type? I sure as hell don't want some slippery gloss tape. Makes me want to go back to good old fashioned basic black.
@Buck Rogers
Fignon is captured here winning with p*nache wearing his winning, white p*ttards.
@universo
Ah, got it. Not sure what the hell I was thinking when I wrote "because he won sans gloves" as he obviously has beautiful white gloves on. Tracking now!
@MangoDave
Haha! Yep, you got the wrong kind.
Try a wet rag and some dish-washing liquid (or clothes-washing). Rub the solution in then use the damp rag and scrub.
@Oli
I've tried just about everything except for laundry detergent. Dish soap and scrubbing with a clean nylon brush worked the best so far.
Great stuff G-dog... and a strange thing, the wearing of gloves for me. Mountain bike, always, full finger, coz you need the crash protection but have never felt right without them.
Road, in summer I never wear gloves, started that because of hideous hand tan lines mainly, but now it just feels too hot and not connected to the bars. Which is even stranger because weraing thertmal gloves in winter doesn't worry me one bit.
For the cobbles in Spring, usually a pair of warm uns with a pair of padded fingerless over the top. You ain't feeling nothin anyway!