Cycling Tip Thursday Next to cycling shorts, clipless pedals and a helmet, I think cycling gloves are the next most valuable piece of cycling equipment you can purchase…but not for the reasons many folks are thinking. Too many cyclists these days, at the insistence of glove manufactures, who created the product at the insistence of novice cyclists, think the gloves should be there as a cushion for the hands leaning on the bars for so long. However, if your hands get so sore from riding that you need gelled gloves to ease the pain, your core isn’t strong enough to hold you up for the ride, and you are putting too much weight on your hands to hold yourself up and you need to work on that. Originally gloves were designed to first and foremost provide a means of keeping your hands from slipping during sweaty rides. Secondly they were developed to protect the palm of the hand if/when you crashed on the asphalt; the glove would keep the road from ripping off the skin (same reason why real cyclists shave their legs). Also, these last two are very important; ever notice that all gloves have a soft cotton spot on them? Know what that’s for? Yup, it is there for wiping your nose. Even if you have perfected the art of bilateral snot-rocketing you still need that cotton area to wipe the ending with. Last but not least, if your ride without gloves, you just look uncool on a bike; not even novice looking. You look like you don’t belong on it. They are indeed these days a fashion statement. How many of you looked for gloves that either matched the colors on your bike, or you found the loudest and most hideous looking pair you could to make a bold fashion statement. What you shouldn’t get them for is to ease palm pain. If you do, get on the floor now and start some core workouts. Your cycling will improve immensely if you do. Coach Rick
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 03:28:54 +0000
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