Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Redlight on 12 May, 2009, 03:40:26 pm
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I'd be interested in any specific product recommendations from other riders as to the best mitts for long distance riding. I've been using Specialised mitts with gel pads but I still find that after 7 or 8 hours riding my hands start to get numb in places. >:(
I've driven myself crazy tweaking the riding position - every other aspect of the bike is perfect - so I'm now looking for a padded solution! With 400 and 600s looming, I'm not too worried (within reason) about how much I have to spend to crack this problem.
Thanks
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You may be interested to learn that the Specialized BG gel mitts have been quite radically redesigned, splitting the pad under the heel so it fits round a bar better without bunching. In addition, the gel pad is not as thick as before.
I'm not sure about it, cause I need lots of padding, but it may be what you're looking for.
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Mike Dyson ( now https://www.inmotionproducts.com/ ) does some Ozzo brand "washable gel mitts" which have a good layer of padding
They are um about 12.50 which is a good price for a quality product. Excellent pad, last a good long time.
Cheap mitts are often available from Tchibo/Aldi/Lidl. I had a pair from Tchibo which had good padding but they fell to bits after a couple of months. Cheap though.
I had a pair of specialized gel mitts, which cost me 25 quid(!) the padding was excellent but the build quality was rubbish, again they fell to bits after a few months. I hope the recent design changes have not removed too much pad.
Another expensive option were the Assos mitts. I don't remember which model, I got them from Ribble Cycles. They had some advantages. They were extremely comfortable. Their wicking performance was astonishing. But they fell down in an important way. The pad was thin and seemed unlikely to absorb any road shock whatsoever. If they had a good pad I would prefer these, regardless of the price
On the topic of numb hands in general, I find getting bike fit right is more important than mitts. So that could be a lot more expensive than you had in mind :)
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On the topic of numb hands in general, I find getting bike fit right is more important than mitts. So that could be a lot more expensive than you had in mind :)
Indeed. Try raising your handlebars. Otherwise, I'd recommend Specialized gloves. ::-)
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Maybe also an extra layer of bar tape on the tops would help? Cheaper than new mitts. :thumbsup:
There are some brands of tape on the market that claim extra shock absorbing properties, eg Marsas, Bar Phat, but I've never tried them so I don't know if they're any good.
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specialized gloves are comfy but stink after about six months (for me, anyway - you might sweat less :))
I just got some pearl izumi gloves with a very open weave fabric round the gel pads. They look nice, but I havent worn them for more than an hour yet.
thanks for the tip about reduced Assos gloves Andy, I feel deeply in love with their winter ones (with the lobster claw overglove) this year.
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Padding in gloves helps but ultimately riders should learn to get weight off their hands periodically as nerve damage can occur however good the glove.
Hands sweat like feet and gloves will stink if not washed. Your shoes would be horrible if worn for six months without socks, wouldn't they?
My partner opened a pack of rather nice-looking gloves this week. (They'd been in reserve in a drawer for a few months.) The stitching round the thumb was so tight that he was in discomfort after a few miles :( :(. David does not have enormous thumbs.
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specialized gloves are comfy but stink after about six months
Mine stink after a few hours riding even if I have just washed them - far worse than any other gloves I've had, for some reason. On the other hand it only takes a few minutes to wash them and they dry quickly.
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Hands sweat like feet and gloves will stink if not washed. Your shoes would be horrible if worn for six months without socks, wouldn't they?
me? I wash them every time I wear them. Specialized gloves just stink after about 20 minutes of wearing them, as Mr Pluck Sir says. My nike gloves dont, but they're not as comfy.
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Rogue mittens should be spit roasted - by all accounts they taste abit like partridge (sorry Alan).
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Endura are pretty good; lots of gel panels all around the place for various positions on the bars
and they come in yellow