1. Gloves are warm and cozy fuzzy slippers for your hands.
2. Gloves are useful in Vancouver.
3. Gloves are necessary when rainy, cold, gross winter sets in.
4. Gloves are awesome at keeping your hands from getting that gross crocodile feeling as they dry out and chap and crack.
AND YET I see people running around with no gloves or gloves that don't stand up to the conditions people are riding in.
Gore does a sweet commuter glove called the Countdown.
With soft leather palms, a velcro clasp at the wrist, and Goretex outer, these gloves are bombproof. They can be a bit bulky but for an everyday commuter or for a rider who's tried everything and still gets cold hands out on a training ride.If you're looking for a lighter glove and aren't really worried about insulation, the Mistral is perfect for you. Though it's not a waterproof glove, I don't think you'd want one anyway since you heat up while riding and would probably sweat too much. The windstopper is a nice touch though since it keeps the glove pretty water resistant to a certain degree but also keeps out that pesky wind.
If you do get cold hands, a glove liner is like adding an extra blanket onto your bed on a cold winter night. Even if you don't think you get that cold, a pair of liners are essential in the "just in case" department. They're light and stuffable into any bag/pocket and very good at adding that extra bit of warmth when you need it. The thing about winter is that even covering up skin from the elements is going to warm you up considerably.
Icebreaker makes great liners. They have a 260 weight and a 200 weight to keep any chills away.
Sugoi also has a great line of gloves - the Firewall series. They're water and wind resistant and run the same range as Gore - from training to commuting. The commuter is a sweet lobster glove that is completely waterproof.
So, without sounding like an infomercial, treat yourself this winter... grab a sweet pair of waterproof gloves and get out into the wet. Grab some windproofing and sail along those bike lanes. Cuz it's going to last for another couple months and your hands might as well be cozy.
