Road bike cycling gloves for winter
Which cycling gloves are suitable for road rides in winter?
For road rides in winter, lined full-finger gloves with a windproof membrane are suitable. Despite the insulation, they retain enough finger sensitivity for precise braking and shifting on the usually small road bike levers – unlike thickly padded ski gloves, which would be too stiff for this fine motor control.
Extended cuffs at the wrist stop cold draughts from getting under the jacket sleeve, while non-slip applications on the inside of the fingers give a secure grip on the handlebar even in wet winter conditions.
On fast descents, the extra headwind also makes your hands cool down much faster than when riding steadily on the flat, which should be taken into account when choosing glove thickness.
As cold, stiff fingers can slow your reaction time at the brake lever in an emergency, the balance between warmth and finger sensitivity should never tip too far towards pure insulation in winter conditions.
Tip: For long winter rides, carry a second pair of gloves in your jersey pocket in case the first pair gets damp.
