QUESTION: In the current changing weather where I live, short-finger gloves aren’t enough protection for weekend rides starting at 8 a.m. But by 10, long-fingered gloves are too hot and I have to stop to change. Is there a better way? – Roger M.
RBR REPLIES: Here’s what I do: Start cool fall rides (or winter rides, depending on where you live) wearing regular short-finger cycling gloves with long-finger polypro gloves over them. Then when the temperature warms, sit up and pull off the long gloves. They’re lightweight, so they stash easily in a jersey pocket.
For an afternoon ride, do the opposite. Start with your short-finger gloves, then pull your polypros over them as the sun sinks and your hands get cold.
Pearl Izumi and other companies make the kind of long-finger gloves I’m talking about. Mine have rubber dots on the fingers and palm for a good grip on the handlebar. They have enough stretch to fit over short-finger gloves without difficulty. And many of today’s gloves also have “touchscreen-friendly” fingertips so you can use your smartphone while wearing them.
You can find these and similar lightweight gloves in bike shops, sporting goods stores and online. Another benefit of wearing regular cycling gloves underneath is that these long-finger gloves usually lack padding.
I do something similar in that I wear my fingerless gloves over a pair of running gloves. That way my hands stay relatively comfortable and pretty toasty. The downside is that there is an additional step or two in taking off both gloves and then putting on the fingerless only.
Glove liners on thebottom, fingerless gloves over them. Glove liners weigh almost nothing so when put in back pocket, there’s practically no extra weight.
I skip the gloves and wear Thinsulate mittens. Easy to wear glove liners when its cold enough. Very easy to adjust to conditions and easy to store on bike.
Yep a pair of smart wool long finger gloves under finger-less have been doing for years good down to about 40* for me.
Just what is so hard about carrying a second pair of gloves? Seems way easier to me than the other proposed solutions.
To each his or her own. Either way you’re swapping out
Giro makes some knit merino wool gloves that I can wear into the low 40s. Fit over regular fingerless cycling gloves with no problem. The Giro’s are touchscreen enabled, and have grippers in the palm and fingers.
Glove liners!!! You can get different weights for different temps. And thin wool liners can be worn under long fingered gloves too.
Altura makes pretty decent gloves, not for extreme cold temps, but good enough on a cold day. Pretty sure I’ve picked ’em up from the local sports store Grit but can’t really remember, it’s been a few years now. Overall, solid 8/10, can recommend!
Thin glove liners under cycling gloves.
Good ones are very durable. Cheap ones are not durable at all.
Light nylon overmitts on top if it’s really cold so fingers don’t chill before cycling-generated body heat warms up/keeps fingers warm fingers full time.
I’ve been using running gloves under fingerless cycling gloves for decades. And most now come with touchpad tips so you can use your phone without taking them off.