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Home > Cycling Gloves Information >
 As a regular mountain bike rider, gel padded cycle gloves are an essential piece of kit for me. There are many different brands on the market made from different textiles. 'Amara' is a durable synthetic textile often used in the outer palms of cycling gloves. Open cell foam padding is also used as the padding material in the outer palm. Effective padding here is crucial to prevent possible nerve damage in the cyclist's hands. A decent thickness of gel padding is found to be more effective as a shock absorber in the outer palm. Open cell foam padding should also be placed in the inner palm underneath the inner lining. A cotton inner lining is necessary to allow ventilation and prevent excess sweat build up.
A natural leather palm is probably preferrable to synthetic Amara materila as the outer palm material. Although this does not have the machine-washable properties of amarra. Goat skin leather is a cheap commodity in many countries and makes an ideal palm material for cycling gloves, due to its soft, pliable nature. Active Gel Cycling Gloves have a palm made of soft goat skin leather. The inner lining of the palm is a made of smooth cotton material. The padding consists of 3 gel inserts which acts a shock absorber on the palm of the gloves.
The backing material is made of stretchable, so called 'Fourway Material' . A stretchable, lightweight material is necessary as the backing material and 'Fourway' or Lycra is often used. The back of the thumb is made of a double layer of cotton towelling, an absorbent material, unlike the 'Fourway' used in the backing. This enables the towel-clad thumb to be used to wipe away sweat or nasal secretions.
Cycling and the risk of nerve damage
During a long bike ride, the localised force exerted in one area of the palms by the pressure of the handlebars can affect the median nerve, which passes along the palm of the hand. Prolonged pressure on the median nerve may cause symptoms of a burning sensation in the hands and numbness in the fingers. Palm protection is an important factor in choosing bike gloves. "Active Gel" gloves have 3 gel inserts designed to absorb the forces directed towards the palms of the hands. Total thickness of 5 mm of padding is achieved with a 3 layer construction. On the inside is soft cotton material, with exterior palm of pliable goat skin leather. Sandwiched in between is the gel padded layer. Gel padded gloves are equally useful for wheelchair or crutch users. Using gloves helps prevent friction damage to the skin as well as long term median nerve damage. Likewise use of gel padded gloves is recommended for weightlifting , rowing and other gym activities where there is prolonged pressure on the palms.
Choosing the fit.
Loose fitting gloves are preferrable to tight fitting ones. Over tight gloves may compromise finger circulation and cause discomfort. Hands may swell slightly during cycling and gloves should allow free range of movement of your thumb. An adjustable velcro strap allows a comfortable fit to be achieved.The backing of each glove is made of a lightweight and flexible 'Fourway' material, as this prevent excess hand sweating and allows free movement. In addition, "Active Gel" gloves feature Terry Cloth backing on the thumbs, to use in wiping sweat off your face. Because of the somewhat delicate nature of the materials, when taking off your gloves, care should be taken. It is important not to simply tear them off, pulling them inside out, as this may damage the stitching. Instead, pull them off from the fingers, this way preventing any tears to the stitching.
National Cycling Network
Sustrans is a charity that promotes cycling and has developed the National Cycling Network using Government Grants and Lottery funding. Established over the last 10 years , the National Cycling Network now passes within 1 mile of half of the population, using pedestrian routes, disused railways, minor roads, canal towpaths and traffic calmed routes in towns and cities. More information can be found online in WIKIPEDIA including all completed regional sections of the network.
The Government Cycle to Work Scheme Introduced in 1999 as part of the Government Green Transport Plan, this scheme allows basic rate taxpayers to receive a 40 % reduction in the cost of buying a bicycle. A 50 % saving is available to higher rate taxpayers. The employer is allowed to provide employees with a bicycle to cycle to work as a tax free benefit. And this can also be used for leisure cycling, provided it is used to cycle to work from time to time. Tax benefits apply to the cost of the bicycle and cycling equipment. The scheme is operated through service providers and involves the employer purchasing bicycle and equipment from the provider. Employers are entitled to reclaim VAT from the purchase. The employee then leases the equipment for a year, paying this from pre-tax income. At the end of the year this can bought by the employee at a cost of 2.5 % of the original cost.
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