Mitts for Audax rides

[Greenbank]

Marsas padding and whatever mitts you like the look of.

+1

I have less trouble (but not no trouble) with my hands (similar problems of just hard/dead feeling in the 'heel') after putting Marsas on my bars (and still using Spesh BG Gel Mitts).

I went for the Audax model (they do 3 models; Standard, Audax, Ultimate). Despatched very quickly, quick enough that he couldn't have made sure that my cheque wouldn't bounce.

Marsas - handlebar shiock absorbings systems, bike handlebar, brake level, rigid frame, pain free handlebars is the latest URL

Note that I've got bullhorns and tri-bars and not drops. Not sure exactly what I'm going to do for PBP2011 as tri-bars aren't allowed. I'm debating whether to go back to drops or just stick with bullhorns and just ditch the tri-bars for PBP.

(Anyway, not trying to sidetrack this into a discussion of handlebar setups for PBP.)

[red marley]

Thanks both - I'll try with some Marsas

[border-rider]

Marsas padding and whatever mitts you like the look of.

+1

-1, bigtime

Try Specialised Bar Phat instead; I tried Marsas and it was way too ridged for me.  It got very uncomfortable on long rides.

[mr endon]

No ridges on mine.

[jogler]

+1 for Specialised Bar Phat. I did an E2E using it & had no hand-ache issues over 3 weeks.

[mattc]

I've got some Specialised mitts, labelled "BG" and "Gel", from a bargain bin in CHelmsford , reduced from £30? to a tenner.

They did fine on LEL '09, _probably_ less numbness than on PBP, despite my using 2 sets of new gloves on the latter. (I'm still happy to ride with the very cheap Altura Progels, which feel just as nice on rides of, say, 600km!).

I mention them because they have jumbo over-the-top thick padding, which may make all the difference for you. (And the gel shows no sign of breaking down, after at least 1000miles).

[alexb]

I bought some end of line Lewis Kit leather ones which are basically rebadged Gore http://www.cycling-review.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Gore-Bike-Wear-Retro-Tech-Leather-Gloves.png
These are the perfect balance of lightweight padding and flexibility. The fact that they look really classy is just a bonus really.

I also paid £7 for them, wish I'd bought two pairs.

I also bought a pair of Craft cycling gloves from Always Riding. They were £13.

These are now my 2nd favourite gloves and possibly the perfect track mitt. They have no velcro, always a bugbear of mine since I've ruined countless bits of lycra by catching it with velcro tape on gloves, instead a V of elastic allows you to pull them on. To remove them you have a tape loop on the back of the glove. I just turn them inside out, they come off easily and fit really well.

There are reflective logos on the inside of the glove and reflective dots ont he back of the glove. The usual nosewipe thumb and decent heavyweight lycra on the back.
The palm is some sort of fake leather with a very thin layer of padding on the heel of the palm and ulnar region. finally a glove that doesn't appear to be on steroids! The newer generation of highly padded gloves plays hell with me. I get sore patches from wrinkling padding and the padding makes my hands roll into uncomfortable positions. These gloves just allow me to grip the bars (tested on drop bars) naturally and I have great "feel" on the bars, none of that sensation of being disconnected from the bike by too much padding.

These are great gloves and the price is spot on.

The Gore/LewisKit ones are more stylish, but there's nothing in it for comfort.

[vorsprung]

+1 for Specialised Bar Phat. I did an E2E using it & had no hand-ache issues over 3 weeks.

the bar phat is good

I have the fizik gel pads on the best bike and they are thinner but also good

The padding on the Mike Dyson washable gel mitts mentioned upthread is also very thick
I have had the "bruising" in the heel of the hands a few times but not with these gloves.

The other thing you might like to consider for future reference is that I usually get this kind of problem when riding on rough roads and with narrow tyres.  Increasing tyre size to 28mm makes a big difference to comfort but a small difference to speed.

I don't remember what sort of tyres you use presently but conti 4 seasons are a "narrow" 28mm and I would guess would fit bikes with closer clearances

[mrcharly-YHT]

I don't remember what sort of tyres you use presently but conti 4 seasons are a "narrow" 28mm and I would guess would fit bikes with closer clearances

I'm not sure they are now.
I measured mine (with decent vernier caliper) and they were 27mm.
Krylion Carbons on the same rim were 25.4mm.

[mattc]

I've got some Specialised mitts, labelled "BG" and "Gel", from a bargain bin in CHelmsford , reduced from £30? to a tenner.

They did fine on LEL '09, _probably_ less numbness than on PBP, despite my using 2 sets of new gloves on the latter. (I'm still happy to ride with the very cheap Altura Progels, which feel just as nice on rides of, say, 600km!).

I mention them because they have jumbo over-the-top thick padding, which may make all the difference for you. (And the gel shows no sign of breaking down, after at least 1000miles).

I've just worn these very same gloves on the HCH 1200km. No discomfort at all, despite beaucoup de pavé (and cobbles), and truly woeful/worn-out bar-tape.

I've had hand numbness/buzz on quite a few rides earlier in the year using mitts with less padding. Looks like Specialized have revamped this range, so I shall keep these back for  'proper' long rides until the design comes back into fashion.

It's apparent that the stitching is well past its best, but the substantial padding still has lots of life.