Cycling gloves provide good control – even in summer!

 

Bicycle gloves in summer? Initially sounds pretty nonsensical. Here you will learn why you should wear gloves on the bike even in summer and how to find the right ones. 

The absolutely most important reason for wearing summer gloves right away: We wish it on no one... but if a fall occurs, (even in summer!) bicycle gloves are worth their weight in gold! 

If you fall off the bike, you instinctively break the fall with your hands. A good pair of summer gloves protects your hands from abrasions.

Has that already convinced you? Wonderful! But there are more arguments. So on to Reason number 2:

Bike gloves help you complete your bike training safely, because ideally they ensure that a fall doesn't happen in the first place. They prevent your wet hands from slipping off the handlebars.

Safety is good, but the comfort is also important! And here bike gloves are crucial! They are padded and prevent calluses, blisters, or tension. 

Who needs gloves on the bike in summer?

Anyone who rides their bike for a longer time in summer rides better with gloves. Two groups of people benefit particularly, even on shorter rides.

1. Mountain bikers are particularly prone to falls, gloves are simply part of the protective equipment.
2. Many cyclists who already struggle with problems such as numb or tingling hands, aching wrists, shoulders, or neck, or conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, can also benefit from bicycle gloves in summer to alleviate their symptoms .

 

Here is the quick decision aid:

There are different models, if you don't want to read on, you can quickly decide here what you need: 

• Gloves with long fingers or short gloves?
• Summer gloves without padding, with gel padding, or with foam padding?
• Do you need an absorbent surface or an area that cleans glasses?
• Do you need touchscreen-compatible gloves? If so, which finger?
• What glove size do you need? The size chart is further down.

Bicycle gloves (here for women) make your bike summer safer. Image © Roeckl

 

And now in detail: Why are bicycle gloves important in summer?

In winter, fingers on the bicycle handlebars get cold particularly quickly, so it's really not a question – gloves are a must! But even on warm summer days, there are good reasons for it:

• Sweaty hands are the enemy of controlled steering movements – light cycling gloves improve grip significantly and ensure that the grips sit firmly in your hand. This is where it becomes safety-relevant – a well-controlled path can prevent accidents!
• A little summer rain in between is not so bad during sweat-inducing cycling – however, the wetness makes your grips slippery! Cycling gloves also improve grip on the handlebars here.
• When your hands are sweaty, you have to grip harder. Over time, this causes your arms to tire more quickly. Cycling gloves also provide you with more riding comfort in the summer and deliver relaxed biking fun.
• Even though good bicycle grips and handlebar tape are supposed to prevent this, the sweat film can cause painful calluses and blisters on your hands. With good cycling gloves, you can ride carefree through the summer. 
• Last but not least, your hands on the handlebars are exposed to the sun all the time, so there is an acute risk of sunburn! Sunscreen would be helpful, but in times of intensive hand washing with lots of soap, the cream is washed away in no time. Light cycling gloves for the summer cover the sensitive skin on the back of the hand and protect it from nasty UV radiation.

These features make cycling gloves particularly practical in summer

While the palm of a cycling glove must be primarily abrasion-resistant , the top should be particularly elastic , which used to result in the exciting combo of leather + spandex. 

The summer cycling glove is abrasion-resistant and elastic

Today, a variety of synthetic materials are usually used, which adapt the properties of cycling gloves to summer and heat, leather is becoming increasingly rare. Incidentally, the gloves are also vegan. Gloves for mountain bikers are also made from a very tear-resistant material. Many manufacturers today rely on recycled materials when selecting synthetic fibers, as this greatly improves the sustainability of cycling gloves. The outer fabric is generally breathable and elastic, allowing the hand to move well. Inside, a layer that absorbs sweat ensures a pleasantly dry climate.

As little glove as necessary – for summer, cycling gloves are made of as little breathable material as possible. Image © 100%.

Long live the silicone!

To improve grip on the handlebars, many cycling gloves have silicone elements glued on the inside. Additionally, there are such  silicone pads  on the fingers that operate the brake, so you have perfect contact here and don't slip. These adhesive spots are especially helpful during summer rain. In some models, the entire palm is made from a fabric with good grip, and additional pads are omitted. If dust and lint reduce the adhesive strength, you can simply wipe or rinse the siliconized areas.

Short cycling gloves with silicone coating for perfect grip. Image © Endura.

If you know you'll be out in the rain, you should look for special gloves that offer particularly good grip when wet. You can recognize them by labels like  All-Weather-Grip or Allweather-Grip.

Wipe & Go – Cycling Gloves for Clear Vision 

• An absorbent terry cloth surface: In winter, a runny nose bothers you, in summer, a sweaty forehead annoys you. Here, an insert made of a fabric that can absorb moisture well provides relief. You can wipe away sweat before it runs into your eyes and blinds you. 
• A piece of “chamois leather”: Whether mountain bike, road bike, or trekking bike, even those who sit on the bike in summer need a clear view! Therefore, some cycling gloves have a microfiber insert that cleans your lens. You can quickly and easily  wipe your sunglasses or goggles, making a glasses-cleaning stop unnecessary.

The thumb of this summer cycling glove is made of terry cloth; it wipes forehead, nose, or glasses. Image © Roeckl.

Other Features

• Touchscreen compatible: In long-finger cycling gloves today, one or more fingers are usually equipped with a surface that can operate a touchscreen. This coating is typically incorporated into both the left and right glove, so left-handers and right-handers don't need to look for special models. However, it is available on the thumb  or the index finger! A touchscreen-compatible glove is particularly important if you want to operate a  bike computer  or the  on-board computer of your e-bike  via touchscreen while wearing long cycling gloves!
• Reflective elements:  If you plan particularly long tours that extend into the evening, your cycling gloves should have reflective surfaces. This way, your hand signals won't be overlooked when turning. 
• Knuckle protection: For downhill or enduro (and other) mountain bikers, there are gloves with knuckle protection. Neoprene pads or plastic elements turn your summer gloves into real protectors.

Also mandatory in summer: Mountain bike gloves with knuckle protection: Image © Fox Racing.

 

Soft or direct – the padding influences the steering feel

In principle, summer cycling gloves are actually only there to fix a soft layer inside the palm. 

There are also cycling gloves with and without padding for the summer, as some bikers prefer a direct riding feel, while others like to ride with a bit more padding. What you prefer is best found out in a practical test. 

The fact is: Soft pads distribute pressure and reduce friction, so you don't get calluses or blisters. Padding also dampens vibrations and shocks, relieving hands and arms. You can find the soft pads not only in the palm area but also at the thumb bend, where you can treat yourself to a cushion that prevents blisters.

 

You can find these pads in summer cycling gloves

Foam pads: Stable EVA foam can minimize impacts and better distribute pressure over the entire inner surface of the cycling glove. This relieves particularly stressed areas of the hand. The downside: The foam loses elasticity over time, becoming simply "flat." Then new gloves are due. But don't worry, "good" cycling gloves last a long time, often even several summers. 

Gel pads: Gel pads are soft and offer particularly good shock absorption. They adapt flexibly to your hand and the shape of the grips, distributing pressure evenly over the palm. Since the material is not compressed, the problem of decreasing elasticity is eliminated here. Gel pads have another decisive advantage over foam pads: The gel does not absorb moisture, while foam pads can trap rain or sweat, causing them to dry more slowly. 

When choosing padding, you should also think about your grips, as there are softly padded bicycle grips. Soft grips plus soft gloves are sometimes too much of a good thing, and the hands lose grip. Your hands should not "swim" on too much padding.

 

It is rather rare, but with some summer gloves you can even see the gel pad. Image © Roeckl.

 

When are long-finger cycling gloves better in summer?

It initially seems logical to opt for short-finger cycling gloves in summer. However, this is not always the best choice. 

• On the MTB long-finger gloves are highly recommended as they protect the entire hand from branches and in case of falls. 
• On cooler days or early in the morning, at high speeds (downhill or on the e-bike), the wind should not be underestimated! Here, long cycling gloves made of thin fabric can prevent cold fingers. 
• If you are out in the rain, long-finger cycling gloves are also the better choice in summer, you should ensure that the fabric is breathable and still waterproof . 
• Waterproof, long gloves are also suitable for the transitional period until you need to switch to warm cycling winter gloves .
• For gravel tours, road bike training, or trekking bikers, short gloves are usually sufficient in summer.

The right size for cycling gloves

The right fit is important for the gloves to sit optimally. Cycling gloves should fit snugly. If they are too loose, your hand will slip around inside and you will no longer have secure control of the handlebars. The necessary comfort is provided by the material that stretches in all directions. Simply measure your hand to find the right glove size. 

How to measure glove size:

Use a measuring tape to measure the circumference of your hand at the widest point. The widest point for many people is just below the fingers, at the level of the knuckles. Note, the thumb is not measured! Do not pull the measuring tape too tight, it should lie loosely around the hand.

Sizes of cycling gloves for women

Hand circumference	Glove size	US size
15cm	4	XXS
16cm	5	XS
17cm	6	S
18cm	6.5	M
19cm	7	M
20.5cm	7.5	L
22cm	8	L
23cm	8.5	XL
24cm	9	XL

Sizes of cycling gloves for men

Hand circumference	Glove size	US size
18cm	6.5	XS
19cm	7	S
20.5cm	7.5	S
22cm	8	M
23cm	8.5	M
24cm	9	L
26cm	9.5	XL
27cm	10.5	XL
29cm	11	XXL

 

And some tips on glove sizes for women and men:

1. The sizes of gloves are not standardized, so there may be slight variations depending on the manufacturer. 
2. Usually, cycling gloves for women are slightly narrower than those for men.
3. Of course, there are also women with rather large, broad hands and men with very narrow hands. There are also suitable gloves for them, which may have been tailored for the opposite gender. 
4. Many summer cycling gloves are unisex models. Since the material is elastic, they fit many hands.
5. Especially manufacturers from the USA often divide their cycling gloves into sizes like S, M, L, XL, and XXL . If you want more precise information here, you sometimes find a table directly with the corresponding article that compares the sizes with centimeter specifications. If not, visiting the manufacturer's homepage often helps.

Do the new gloves fit?

No matter if you ordered your new summer cycling gloves online or bought them in a store, they must fit. 

• Put on the gloves, they should not press or cut in, even if you make a fist or try gripping the handlebar. 
• There should be no wrinkles in the palm. Wrinkles would increase friction and promote blisters.
• Too loose they should not be either, your hands should not "swim," because then you would have to counteract with hand strength to have a good grip. 
• If you lay your hand flat on the table and slightly pull your fingers upwards, small wrinkles may form at the knuckles, but the elastic material usually prevents this as well.

By the way, just like your feet, your hands can retain water. You should choose cycling gloves that still fit even if the fingers are a bit thicker!

How to wash your summer cycling gloves

The palms sweat quickly, so cycling gloves often end up in the wash, especially in summer. Like most other functional clothing items, you can usually wash cycling gloves in the washing machine at low temperatures. However, you should definitely follow the manufacturer's instructions ! Especially if leather is processed, your gloves may need special treatment. Like all small items, they are best washed in a laundry bag  well taken care of. Let them dry flat after washing.

Washing the gloves while on the go in summer can, however, become problematic.

Too much moisture can increase friction in the glove and thus lead to blisters and calluses!

If you know that your hands sweat a lot, you should pack a spare pair of cycling gloves!

Into the washing machine! (But please wash cycling gloves only according to the instructions.)

To prevent the gloves from "smelling", they should be aired or washed as soon as possible after training. If they do develop a unpleasant odor after a while, it can help to freeze them for 24 hours.

Have a good ride with the right cycling gloves!

So, grab a tape measure and determine the right size for a pair of cycling gloves for the summer or – if you ride a mountain bike – a pair of good MTB protective gloves. This way, you'll have a firm grip on your handlebars, and we wish you lots of fun on your summer biking adventures!