Question: Now that it’s colder 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.
Coach Fred Matheny 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.
Coach Fred Matheny is an RBR co-founder who has four decades of road cycling and coaching experience. He has written 14 eBooks and eArticles on cycling training, available in RBR’s eBookstore at Coach Fred Matheny, including the classic Complete Book of Road Bike Training, which includes 4 eBooks comprising 250 pages of timeless, detailed advice and training plans. The Complete Book is one of the many perks of an RBR Premium Membership. Click to read Fred’s full bio.