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So cycling gloves? I don't see how this can change my experience of riding bicycles.

Someone please explain what benefits I get from them. Maybe I would buy some if the benefits are good enough.

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  • 9
    Saves loosing the the skin off your hands in an accident. – mattnz Aug 29 '17 at 21:17
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    they can also provide a bit of vibration dampening... I absolutely hate them and have had about 20 stitches combined from three different crashes over a 25 year period.... so yes the primary reason is to protect the hands. But at less than a stitch a year I will continue to go gloveless. – dafew Aug 29 '17 at 21:31
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    I use them as a durable alternative to sunscreen. – Kevin Aug 29 '17 at 22:02
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    In summer prevents sweaty hands from slipping from handlebars, in winter keeps them warm. If you're riding trails gloves can protect your hands from scratching by trees or something like this – k102 Aug 30 '17 at 7:09
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    Possible duplicate of What's the purpose of cycling gloves? – David Richerby Sep 25 '18 at 12:26
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All sorts of reasons:

  • Less damage to your hands when you fall off.
  • Vibration dampening.
  • Somewhere to wipe snot/sweat.

In practice, I use them when I am touring (long distances in the saddle - so reason 2 above), and when I am mountain-cycling competitively (reasons 1 and 3), but don't wear them when I am on my daily commute.

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    Better grip on the bars in inclement or sweaty conditions is another reason I see cited a lot. E.g. heavy rain, or just a hot day where your palms get sweaty. Less likely to lose grip on the bars. – SSilk Aug 30 '17 at 0:49
  • @SSilk that depends on your grips and gloves. One pair on one of my bikes doesn't grip well compared to wet hands. But every other combination I have is good – Chris H Aug 30 '17 at 5:58
  • I have sweaty palms and find that I lose grip without gloves. But it depends on your palms and the types of gloves you wear. I prefer real leather. – RoboKaren Aug 30 '17 at 7:04
  • Gloves also relieve a bit of pressure placed on the palms of your hands. – Daniel Shillcock Aug 30 '17 at 10:16
  • My last pair of gloves sacrificed themselves during a commute, when a stroller mom entered the path in front of me and I didn't get stopped before hitting the curb at the side. Low speed but still ripped the leather palm of the glove in half. – kdgregory Aug 30 '17 at 12:01
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Additional points to Penguino's answer

  • Warmth - Even on a summer's day some light gloves help keep your fingers limber. Its scary to reach for the brakes on a downhill and find your fingers aren't reacting very fast. I have long arms, so my shirt sleeves never reach the gloves, so I wear some wrist wraps to seal the gap too.

  • Visibility - when you're signalling with your arms, it can be hard for drivers to see you. Gloves often have reflectorised strips to help show where you are indicating at night. More so if you're wearing a black top.

  • Grip as per comments. Some glove and bartape combinations work really well, some don't.

  • Sun protection - I'm a pasty computer geek, I burn on cloudy days. Gloves help protect my skin from solar damage.

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  • Although you end up with ridiculous tan lines if you spend a lot of time cycling in the sun :-) – Will Vousden Aug 30 '17 at 10:17
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    @WillVousden not if you use sun sleeves (thin material arm warmers). With long finger gloves you have total protection for hands and arms which tend to get hit the hardest. – Rider_X Aug 30 '17 at 16:21
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    @Will - Where we live, solar UV levels are off the chart in summer - ridiculous tan lines are normal for of all us pasty computer geeks..... – mattnz Aug 30 '17 at 20:21
  • The mid-thigh line is the worst of all - especially when it gets warm enough to go swimming... – Penguino Aug 30 '17 at 20:54
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Gloves are pretty handy. First of all, they offer better grip with the handlebar, without causing skin loosening or similar symptoms. Secondly, they help avoid scratches and injuries in case of fall or passing through trails with thick bushes (mtb). They are also a good piece of fabric to absorb sweat and clean your googles. Last, but not least, they might be great when theres cold/wind/rain.

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