Gloves Or No Gloves For Cyclocross?

[Veloguy 915]

I recently read that your NOT supposed to wear gloves for Cyclocross (unless its cold) because this sport requires good contact between you and the bike that gloves some how limit? I find this to be one of those silly "Etiquettes" that should be laughed at and never followed. Personally always wear gloves when I race to protect my hands from injury (blisters, cuts, falling etc.) and I have never had a problem holding/controling my handlebars and shifters due to gloves. Anyone have an opinion on this topic?

[AngryScientist]

i can see the point for when you're carrying the bike, sometimes you need to apply torsion to the top tube to "twist" the bike out of the way of obstacles that might be tricky with gloves on that would just slip. me, i wear gloves for hand protection, but i could see where not wearing them if it was warm enough might have specific advantages.

[tamjam]

Full-fingered Fox gloves for me all the time, in both the hot & dusty early-season races, and the cold & wet late-season races. Had I not been wearing gloves at my last race a couple weeks ago, I'd have really chewed up my right palm after my wheels slid out from under me on a damp paved turn and I came down directly on my right knee and right hand.

I don't recall the specific type of Fox glove it is, but they have no gel inserts or anything in the palms but do have nice grippy bits added to the first two fingers, so work great for cross.

[Ryun]

I always wear gloves. Typically I use the giro zeros and in the cold weather I use liners in them> no real issues.
Probably another one of those things to make everyone appear as "hard men".

[John M]

Originally Posted by Veloguy 915

I recently read that your NOT supposed to wear gloves for Cyclocross (unless its cold) because this sport requires good contact between you and the bike that gloves some how limit? ....

Where the did you read this? Cold weather, everyone wears gloves. Warm weather, rider preference. If you look at the elite/pro races, on warm days, probably half are wearing gloves, some full fingered. I suck and have a 50-50 chance of falling in any given race, so I wear full fingered gloves for all my races for protection from the ground.

[fourflys]

I wear gloves 100% of the time, even while racing cross... and I most of the people I see racing (including Cat 1) are wearing gloves...

[xjoex]

For some unknown reason it is fashionable in cross right now to not wear gloves.

I always do.

Plus Katie Compton wears em'


-Joe

[that guy]

I ALWAYS use full fingers for 'cross, even when I lived in Florida. Made much more sense if I'm always falling, grabbing the bike or grabbing beer hand-ups.

YMMV

[Bruce K]

Full fingers in cross all the time for me.

MTB summer weight gloves without knuckle guards are flexible, comfortable, and grippy plus the protect well.

BK

[itspeedmoore]

Plus Katie Compton wears em'

Check out the pics of KfC from the last world cup, no gloves. Gloves get in the way of feel for the terrain, at least thats what they say. I often go gloveless as its does seem to give me a better feel for the terrain. I can feel the bike start to slide earlier. Of course, I may just be imagining it....

[xjoex]

Originally Posted by itspeedmoore

...Check out the pics of KfC from the last world cup, no gloves....

I pulled that pic from the same race, but I guess she took the gloves off at the end.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...victory_153932

-Joe

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by itspeedmoore

Plus Katie Compton wears em'

Check out the pics of KfC from the last world cup, no gloves. Gloves get in the way of feel for the terrain, at least thats what they say. I often go gloveless as its does seem to give me a better feel for the terrain. I can feel the bike start to slide earlier. Of course, I may just be imagining it....

hmm, never had that problem with cross or mtn biking...

[Charles M]

Better question is Cyclocross or no cyclocross when it's cold enough to need gloves.

[thwart]

Funny thing is... this very same rider complained after the race that she could barely feel her feet because of the cold...

[scrub]

My gloves were the least of my issues this cross season!