The Best Road Bikes to Come in 2015
Victoria Pendleton drew my attention to the importance of cycling gloves. She told me that she counts them as one of her most important pieces of safety kit, because if you injure your hands in a fall then chances are you’ll be unable to brake, change gear or hold the handlebars properly – and so training is suspended until you’re healed.
Glove technology also allows you to ride in more comfort – which means you can ride for longer. These Liv Passion gloves are lightweight so that you can ‘feel’ the bike, but are packed with features to help make your ride a breeze. Gel-filled pads cushion the heel of your hand (too much pressure here can be a source of finger numbness) while the high-wear areas of the palm are reinforced with anti-slip protective panels. A ‘cloth friendly’ (doesn’t snag every garment it comes into contact with!) micro-Velcro and plastic combo at the wrist fastens the glove snugly and there is extra protection at the thumb/handlebar interface for increased comfort and grip.
The combination of lightweight fabric with a full finger design makes these perfect for those autumn days when a full winter glove would be too much, but bare fingers would struggle to stay warm. As always, knowing which pair to choose on the day comes down to experience!
I found these gloves were a snug fit – I’d have preferred them to be about 1cm longer to avoid ‘wrist gap’ (I have quite long hands though!). The sweat-wipe terry towelling on the front of the thumb wasn’t quite absorbent enough either – I’m not the only one who uses this part of the glove to wipe their nose, right?
Finally, I continue to be underwhelmed by those little fingertip pads that purport to allow you to use a smart phone: I’ve usually yanked off my gloves in frustration before I’ve finished tapping-in the screen lock code. However, if they work for you, then you’ll be delighted to know that the Liv Passion gloves feature them.
No matter how much you pay for gloves, you can more or less guarantee that you will, at some point, lose one of them. For that reason I tend to prefer to buy gloves that don’t break the bank. At £19.99 I think this pair is great value for money (and a great stocking filler for Christmas!).
For: Lots of features to aid comfort and grip, understated design, value for money.
Against: They’re quite short, not quite enough towelling for a runny nose.
Price: £19.99, available from Liv.
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