How to Pick the Right Cycling Gloves for Your Ride
Our Coach’s Corner series is your chance to have your biggest cycling questions answered — right from longtime cycling coach Darryl MacKenzie. In these short Q&As, Coach Darryl speaks from his 35+ years of cycling and coaching experience to help you become a stronger, smarter cyclist.
Sore-Handed Cyclist:
Coach, I’ve tried the best cycling gloves I can find, but my hands still hurt when I ride. How do I pick the right pair?
Coach Darryl:
Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of cyclists puzzled by sore hands despite investing in top-quality gloves. The truth is, gloves aren’t one-size-fits-all — they have to match the way your hands meet your handlebars.
Gloves are essential gear for every cyclist. They’re not just about comfort, either. They protect your hands. In a crash, your hands instinctively go out first. That sudden impact can peel the skin right off your palms. It’s a painful injury that takes weeks to heal and hurts with nearly every movement. Gloves are your first defense against that outcome.
But gloves do even more. On hot days, they absorb sweat running down your arms so your grip stays secure. And with the right padding, they help prevent the sore or numb hands that many cyclists experience.
The catch? Not all gloves are made the same — and that’s intentional. Different handlebars require padding in different places.
For mountain bike handlebars: You’ll need padding across the base of all four fingers, since the bar runs horizontally across your hand.
For road bike handlebars: The bar cuts diagonally across the palm, from between the thumb and index finger down to the base of the hand on the opposite side. Padding here makes road gloves more effective for long rides.
The best way to find your fit
Don’t just buy gloves off the shelf. Bring your bike to the store when you shop, and straddle the bike with one leg on either side. Position your bike next to the display, try different pairs on each hand, and grip your bars in your usual riding position. Which glove feels best? That’s the one you should pick.
Cyclists who take the time to match their gloves to their handlebars — and to their hands — enjoy fewer aches, better control, and much more comfort on the bike.
Related: Once you have the right gloves, you’ll want to make sure they last. Learn how to keep your cycling gloves from tearing.
Image by Jonathan Cooper on Pexels
