I have a pair of ancient Specialized Radiants that I rarely get to wear because they're too warm - even today's very chilly ride out into East Lothian was borderline. They served me perfectly when I was in Siberia in January 2008, where temperatures regularly got down to -20°C (-40° on one day).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Gloves
(46 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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I think that all these "too warm" statements help to prove one of the things I've often said to new cyclists...
"If your hands get cold get better gloves"
I've found that so many people assume that cold hands are inevitable on a bike that this seemingly simplistic / obvious statement is actually worth repeating.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Some advice from the Reynaud's Association http://www.raynauds.org/2014/12/27/best-glove-for-raynauds-sufferers/
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yesterday I wore a thin silky inner pair (cheapo decathalon's probably womans as i nicked them off my wife) and a cheapo Lidl winter cycling glove.
OT but a pair on 3.99 On One thiky merino socks and a pair of cheapo Lidl thermal overshoes
kept hands and feet very warm on a 25 mile ride down to North Berwick yesterday.
First real ride in over two months so it was slow and laboured. Credit for keeping warm goes to the clothing, not my effort!
Posted 8 years ago # -
My fingers have been cold in every conceivable pair of gloves so far this winter, even though I've not cycled more than a mile and a half. Yesterday had mittens on while playing in the snow for hours. Hands hot and sweaty, even when snow got in the mittens.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I got a pair of fleece gloves for a couple of quid at Semichem years ago and they are remarkably effective.
If it's very cold I use ski mitts and replaced the 1969 pair of Lillywhites quilted ones a couple of years ago with a pair from Lidl/Aldi which are "thick" enough to insulate well but flexible enough not to unduly affect operation of the controls.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I got a pair of Sealskinz' Extra Cold cycling gloves for Christmas. They were on sale at £20 (rrp £50).
Only been out on the bike once since I got them, when I rode out to Aberlady and back from Leith on New Year's Day. Air temp was 2C, and with the wind-chill it was MUCH nippier - but my hands were toasty warm all the way there and back (which is more than can be said for my feet, which I lost all sensation in & had trouble feeling whether I was clipped in fully again after stopping at lights).
The only snags I found were:
- The inner lining tends to come out with your hands when you take them off, so it's best to do so slowly whilst gripping the fingertips with the other hand.
- They were FREEZING inside when putting them back on again after having them lying on a bench beside me for 20 minutes as I enjoyed a flask of hot tea. Next time I'll pop them inside my jacket to keep them warm if the inners have got clammy from my sweaty hands
- I wasn't able to use the touch-screen on my new Garmin Edge whilst wearing them
Good gloves though - looking forward to testing their waterproof qualities when the ice risk has passed!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hello again,
If anyone's curious, I went out this weekend and got some Montane Extreme Mitts. Has been a bit warmer last couple of days, so haven't fully tested them, but even in this mornings relatively temperate weather my hands would still normally be completely frozen/numb on arrival at work. Today they may have actually been almost too warm. Not a sentence I ever believed I would type! So definitely worth making the adjustment over to mitts for me. Made sure my hands were extra warm before putting them on too, which definitely helped.
Thanks again for all the advise folks, it's really very much appreciated :)
R
Posted 8 years ago # -
Seems an appropriate time to resurrect this thread after this mornings commute! Friend of mine swears by window cleaner gloves called Glacier, made from neoprene. Wondered if anyone had any experienced of them? I need to replace my old Enduras so looking for options.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I've worn Dachstein mitts for mountaineering over fingerless gloves in very cold weather. My hands stayed warm but I find mitts a bit fumbly.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I have a pair of the neoprene glacier gloves. Very very warm. They were invaluable in the hard winters of 2009 and 2010. Haven't worn them since as we haven't had Proper Cold since.
Otherwise (for me at least) a pair of fleece walking gloves which can be slipped on over track mitts suffices for Normal Cold.
Posted 8 years ago # -
After yesterday's freeze thaw agonies I will dig out the old lobster-claw gloves. They can't be any more useless than the Madisons I bought last winter.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I've grown sick of buying 'Expensive Waterproof' gloves which are not waterproof for more than 6 months general use. Instead I have gone for the same approach as my clothing. I wear multiple pairs and carry spares incase I'm out on a very ling ride.
In summer, on an Audax I can live with 1 or 2 pairs which I may swap over if my hands get cold. When it is wet I wear the 'scrificial pair'. then when it is not raining, if my hands get cold I put on the dry pair. If it rains, I swap back to the wet pair. I have good circulation so warm blood keeps my hands warm.
In winter I generally only commute in the rain and don't ride an audax in the rain, if I can help it. If I do I have a pair of wet gloves and dry gloves, like summer.
If its very cold, I'll use a waterproof liner like a pair of Extremities tuff bags, or my Dachsteins. These are a pair of heavy preshrunk wool mitt, which do not have much dexterity but offer a warm ride in Snow and Ice.
In July I attempted a 1200 round Scotland on an Audax. It was very wet and very cold for the majority of the time. I forgot my gloves and suffered as a result. After 50 hours, my hands were in bits. My waterproof wrist zip was cutting into my hand and my palms were raw. I blagged a pair of lumberjack sheepshin gloves which were very warm (too warm) and not waterproof (leather outer) but a great improvment over no gloves.
As a former recreational diver I have a few pairs of neoprene gloves but when I tried a thin (2-3mm) pair a few years ago they were not warm. I have some three finger mitts but have not tried them.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Does anyone use 'pogies'?
I have a several pairs for kayaking/canoeing which are nothing more sophisticated than lose fitting nylon shells with a reflective silver lining, yet keep my hands warm on near freezing days with frequent dooking in icy river water.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm told that latex type gloves under the outers work well, especially in the wet.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I'm told that latex type gloves under the outers work well, especially in the wet.
Never thought of wearing these outside, but I don't think I'll try any time soon - they're sweat traps.
Posted 8 years ago #
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