Don’t be fooled into thinking that cycle gloves are just about keeping your hands warm in the colder months. In fact, they are all weather accessories, and their importance for the cycling experience is many layered. Anyone who rides mountain bikes needs to be aware of the importance of gloves.
Firstly, they do keep your hands warm. Insulation is very important, especially around your hands which have to stay agile. When a cyclist rides in the cold weather, wind or rain they can be very vulnerable to the cold, and gloves can be an important protective measure against this.
In fact, gloves can protect you from all sorts of things. Over long distances, the problem of blistering is a real one, and gloves can protect against this. By choosing padded gloves, then you will be protected further, from problems like palsy.
Many of the best gloves have rubber grips, for instance neoprene grips. This can increase performance, especially in adverse weather conditions. If you race competitively, then the kind of competitive advantage of quality cycle gloves can make a real difference.
Above all, gloves give a safety advantage. Most of what cyclists wear is designed to protect vulnerable body parts in case of a fall, and the hands are no exception. Many people injure their extremities when they come off their bike, and so gloves can provide an important extra-layer of safety.