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If you are looking for cycling gear, you have certainly wondered which cycling clothes to choose according to the seasons. Indeed, you don't dress the same way in summer as in winter for road cycling. In this article, we will discover why it is necessary to continue wearing gloves in summer.
Why should you wear gloves while cycling?
Cycling gloves are not just for keeping your hands warm in winter when it's cold. It is necessary to wear them all year round to protect your hands. Indeed, in the event of a fall, the cyclist's hands are often the first exposed, and to protect them, what better than to wear a pair of gloves adapted to the season (summer, winter, spring, autumn), the weather (cold, heat, rain, etc.), and your cycling practice (road cycling, MTB, gravel, e-bike, commuting, etc.).
Besides protecting you in the event of a fall, gloves also serve to make your ride as comfortable as possible regarding the contact between your hands and the handlebars of your bike or your MTB. Thus, they will notably help absorb vibrations due to the roughness of the terrain, shocks, etc., but also limit friction between your hands and the handlebars, which can sometimes lead to blisters, not very pleasant for holding the bars over the miles.
Moreover, when it rains or your hands are sweaty, wearing cycling gloves prevents your hands from slipping on the handlebars of your bike.
To sum up, wearing a pair of gloves ensures not only the protection of your hands from various injuries in the event of a fall but also from many other discomforts due to prolonged cycling.
How to choose your gloves for summer cycling?
For all the reasons mentioned above, it is necessary to continue wearing gloves in summer, even when it's very hot. Indeed, taking off your gloves will not make you less hot. Especially since there are many models of gloves specifically dedicated to summer cycling in high temperatures.
Firstly, to choose your cycling gloves well – and this applies to all seasons and all disciplines – you need to buy a pair of gloves of the right size, so they are perfectly fitted and do not cause friction. For this, feel free to refer to the size guide chart.
Ladies, do not hesitate to opt for a pair of women's gloves. Indeed, even if the differences are less marked than on bib shorts, for example, choosing a women's model will allow you to get gloves perfectly adjusted to your hands.
Next, for summer, to practice road cycling, you can opt for short gloves, also called mitts. There are more or less ventilated models to adapt to all temperatures. If you live in the south or are used to riding in high heat, prioritize gloves made of mesh or micro-perforated fabric that will be much more breathable: thus, they will allow for better ventilation and improved sweat wicking.
If you practice MTB, especially in the case of enduro, we highly recommend opting for long gloves, even in summer, to get maximum protection in case of a fall where injuries can be more serious. This will also protect you from branches, stone splashes, etc. Don't worry, there are specific MTB gloves for the summer season so you won't feel like you're riding with mittens in scorching heat. These models are, like road cycling gloves, lighter and more ventilated, especially on the back of the hand, to allow air circulation but also to wick away sweat. If you use a GPS with a touchscreen or your smartphone during your ride, consider opting for a pair of gloves that allow you to operate them without having to remove them each time.
Now that you know it's important to use cycling gloves in summer, how about discovering the different types of fabric for cycling jerseys? Do you know how to choose your cycling bib shorts? Do you know which fabric to choose in summer for cycling? In your opinion, is the cycling cap indispensable for summer? Do you also know which type of fabric to wear to protect yourself in winter? In your opinion, are tights the only suitable attire for winter cycling? Do you know that the thermal jacket is an ally against the cold? In your opinion, is the under-helmet cap indispensable for facing the cold?
