All you need is glove
Don’t let frigid digits stop you riding this winter
Plenty of things can cut a winter ride short – black ice, punctures, collisions with reindeer – but frozen hands are by far the most common. Extremities tend to be the first body parts to feel the cold, which is why it’s so important to keep them well insulated from the outset.
Hardy cyclists of decades gone by would shield their hands from the elements with simple woollen gloves. Look at photos of Fausto Coppi from the mid-1900s and you’ll see him sporting knitted mittens during his winter training rides. Warm? Yes. But the slightest bit of rain or road spray would inevitably render them sodden and useless.
Thankfully purpose-built winter gloves have come on leaps and bounds since then. Brands today are using innovative design elements and technical materials to refine cold-weather handwear. And while much of what makes the perfect glove is subjective, there are a few things that apply across the board.
‘Broadly speaking, a good winter cycling glove should keep your hands comfortable however far you ride, whatever the conditions, and regardless of what terrain you ride on,’ says Kristian Krøyer, founder and chief product officer at Gripgrab. ‘It should do all this without restricting your hand’s function and flexibility.’ That last part is key. Shifting and braking need to be smooth and comfortable, but not at the expense of warmth. This leaves engineers with the troublesome task of balancing insulation and range of motion.
‘Think rain, wind, warmth and dexterity as a starting point,’ says Jurgen Erd, product leader at Gore Wear. ‘You want a glove that keeps your hands warm, blocks the wind and keeps your hands dry. However, it’s also vital that a glove allows you to have a good connection with your handlebars and levers, plus you need the ability to work your phone or computer easily.’
One way brands have been able to develop their winter gloves to meet these requirements is by repurposing technology from elsewhere. Take neoprene gloves, for example. In wet weather, instead of sealing rain out, they act in much the same way as a wetsuit, trapping a thin layer of water against the skin and using body heat to warm it up.
As the creator of Gore-tex, it is unsurprising that Gore’s approach to developing its range
of gloves is built upon fabric innovation and experimentation with materials.
‘When a new Gore fabric technology is developed we explore its potential uses in a wide range of apparel,’ says Erd. ‘The latest Gore-tex, Gore-tex Infinium and Windstopper technologies used in our jackets, trousers, overshoes and helmet covers will also be checked to see if they can be integrated into glove development.’
Hot prospects
Not all novel technologies from other sports have enjoyed mainstream success in cycling. Sealskinz is one of the only brands currently offering a battery-powered, heated cycling glove. But it’s a technology yet to be adopted by the rest of the industry.
‘Heating is something we’ve seen a lot in skiing gloves, but it hasn’t gained the same traction within cycling,’ says Krøyer. ‘This could be because the current technology is not geared up to withstand the impact of repeated washing – something that’s standard for cycling gloves.’
Bar mitts are another interesting alternative to traditional cycling gloves. They attach to the handlebars, covering the hoods and brake levers and wrapping around the drops. Admittedly, they look a bit weird on a road bike but they add an extra layer of protection, which has made them a popular choice with riders who suffer from poor circulation to the fingers, such as with Raynaud’s Syndrome.
So, what can we expect in the future for winter gloves? Advanced tech aside, Gripgrab’s Krøyer hopes to see a focus on longevity and product lifespan.
‘Going forward we can probably expect some sort of electric heating technology that can better regulate the temperature. Hopefully some gloves – and products in general – will be much more durable than they are today too. That way we won’t need to consume as much.’
Richard Mardle of Castelli distributor Saddleback thinks future advancements are more likely to take a different form.
‘Two factors influence what we’ll see in the future: fabric developments and electronic integration. These two elements will shape how we build protection but I don’t feel we will move away from the traditional look and shape of cycling gloves any time soon.’
‘It’s vital that a glove allows you to have a good connection with your handlebars and levers, plus you need the ability to work your phone or computer easily’