Comfort on the bars: grips and gloves

Your hands touch the bike more than anywhere else. This guide covers glove choices and grip fitting.

Glove finger styles

• Road gloves are often fingerless, covering the palm up to the first knuckles, which helps prevent overheating in warm weather.
• Full fingered versions suit cold weather.
• Mountain bike gloves are almost always full fingered for protection from trail debris.

Padding

• Road gloves typically have palm padding that absorbs vibration from a rigid front fork.
• Mountain bike gloves often skip palm padding because front suspension reduces trail chatter.

Fit and materials

• The cuff should be snug around the wrist but loose enough to stay comfortable.
• Mesh and polyester breathe well for hot rides.
• Leather and polyurethane add durability in high wear areas such as the palms.

Grips: slip on or lock on

Grips attach in one of two ways.

• Slip on grips stretch over the bar with a friction fit.
• Lock on grips use a locking collar and stay secure until they are completely worn out.
• Grips wear out over time and should be replaced.
• Treat bar end plugs as a safety item and press them in firmly.