I’ve heard conflicting views, some say they cost you time and others say they save you time?
Any factual data or opinions?
If aero gloves save time which have tested best?
I doubt they cost time. Just make sure they are made so they are pull-on and have no straps or anything on the top or bottom like a regular glove. Usually when gloves test bad, it is because they have a honking big velcro strap on top that catches wind.
Any recommendation of best make/model?
There’s the famous “MIT” quote that wearing gloves is worse than not having an aero front wheel. I find that hard to believe as a universal truth since there are all manner of hand positions, and gloves, I’d think, add very little area and don’t change the shape of your hand much. If your hands are in the DZ overlapped position, I can’t imagine having gloves on those hands is a bigger difference than having an 808 vs. Ksyrium.
But there’s little reason to think that having gloves is more aero, pending some sort Zipp dimpled glove or something that produces a better boundary layer than human skin.
Giro makes an aero pull on glove.
There’s the famous “MIT” quote that wearing gloves is worse than not having an aero front wheel. I find that hard to believe as a universal truth since there are all manner of hand positions, and gloves, I’d think, add very little area and don’t change the shape of your hand much. If your hands are in the DZ overlapped position, I can’t imagine having gloves on those hands is a bigger difference than having an 808 vs. Ksyrium.
But there’s little reason to think that having gloves is more aero, pending some sort Zipp dimpled glove or something that produces a better boundary layer than human skin.
This is just my opinion, and I don’t have any real data other than anecdotal evidence from other, more accomplished, time trialists:
The problem with TT gloves is that the hand is a very hard object to fit fabric to in a wrinkle-free way. I have the Castelli aero gloves and the Giro LZR (?) gloves, and both have significant wrinkles between the index finger and the thumb. Also, almost any TT glove is made of a porous fabric, which is likely interrupting the flow over your hands. This is the same reason why only the Pearl Izumi shoe covers actually reduce drag; they don’t allow air to pass through the fabric.
There’s the famous “MIT” quote that wearing gloves is worse than not having an aero front wheel. I find that hard to believe as a universal truth since there are all manner of hand positions, and gloves, I’d think, add very little area and don’t change the shape of your hand much. If your hands are in the DZ overlapped position, I can’t imagine having gloves on those hands is a bigger difference than having an 808 vs. Ksyrium.
But there’s little reason to think that having gloves is more aero, pending some sort Zipp dimpled glove or something that produces a better boundary layer than human skin.
This is just my opinion, and I don’t have any real data other than anecdotal evidence from other, more accomplished, time trialists:
The problem with TT gloves is that the hand is a very hard object to fit fabric to in a wrinkle-free way. I have the Castelli aero gloves and the Giro LZR (?) gloves, and both have significant wrinkles between the index finger and the thumb. Also, almost any TT glove is made of a porous fabric, which is likely interrupting the flow over your hands. This is the same reason why only the Pearl Izumi shoe covers actually reduce drag; they don’t allow air to pass through the fabric.
Thanks pretty much what I thought, I have the same view on shoe covers air passes through.
I think the MIT interview pre-dates the “aero” gloves. I think that interview was in the September '06 issue.
I’m using Pearl Izumi’s aero gloves. I use them because my hands perspire profusely. Enough so that without gloves, they become very slippery and I worry about losing my grip should I hit a hole or even a small rock. On my hands, the glove show no wrinkles.
hth
I can’t wait until I get fast enough to start worrying about this kind of minutia.
I think the MIT interview pre-dates the “aero” gloves. I think that interview was in the September '06 issue.
I’m using Pearl Izumi’s aero gloves. I use them because my hands perspire profusely. Enough so that without gloves, they become very slippery and I worry about losing my grip should I hit a hole or even a small rock. On my hands, the glove show no wrinkles.
hth
I am considering making this change (adding the aero gloves because I am losing grip on the bull horns when I am sweaty and moving down hill and braking), it scared the crap out of me, so now I am trying to some tennis racket grips on the bull horns, instead of my current hockey tape, and considering some aero gloves. Have you found that they increase your grip significantly?
I see Martin and Froome wearing them at TDF, so I can’t imagine there is a huge penalty that they are choosing to take just so that they can show there sponsors glove in a 30 k TT?
Even when you do there will still be people that ride past you like you’re on a beach cruiser. Don’t ask how I know.
Do I get extra points for a backdoor brag/self loathing combo?