Phenomenally comfortable, whether you’re on the hoods or drops, thanks to their cuffless design and plush foam padding, the Clima Unique Summer Gloves provide all-day support and stellar temperature management.
The Dottore Clima’s innovative Graphene fabric blend delivers class-leading heat conductivity, which, in combination with a laser-perforated palm, takes thermo-regulation to a whole new level.
Following on from the release of Q36.5's revolutionary seamless, 3D UNIQUE Bib Shorts and Unique Shoes, Q36.5 released their UNIQUE Summer cycling glove that is constructed in a similar fashion to the flagship bibs. The latest adddition to the Unique range, takes the mitts to the next level with the addition of a graphene blend fabric and a focus on climbing and hotter conditions.
Mitts are divisive. Most people will be firmly in one camp when it comes to the humble glove, either swearing by them or absolutely hating them. I for one am not a huge fan - not because I don't see the point (who doesn't want nice comfortable hands on the bars with the added bonus of retaining palm flesh if the worst happens and you eat the road?) but rather because I have only found 3 pairs tolerable in a cycling career spanning almost as many decades. For me, I can't abide the fabric cutting in to my fingers, or "gel pads" that claim to relieve pressure on the palm (thereby reducing numbness) but that invariably make the problem worse. Distraction is a rhythm killer and if you have no rhythm, you'll not perform your best - or enjoy your riding half as much.
They are divisive for good reason. COMFORT IS KING. There are 3 areas on the bike that you simply shouldn't hesitate to invest good money on - Contact points: Saddle / Shorts; Shoes / Pedals and Handlebars.
Long rides in particular highlight the shortcomings you may have in these areas (though, 5 hours in, you're going to feel something!) and anything you can do to mitigate pain, numbness and irritation will enhance your ride. I have spent years (literally) hunting down and dialling in saddle and shoes - constantly tweaking with the inevitable ebb and flow of my morphology (ahem, weight) - and I'm good on those fronts. BUT, despite my postional tweakery, I still occasionally suffer with my hands on longer rides and it is something that I rarely attempt to assuage because of my general lack of love for the glove - or rather - 20 odd years of not bothering as the experiences I've had, suggest that I'll likely be wasting my time.
That is about to change - I'm about to nail the trifecta - courtesy (once again) of Luigi and his innovative Italian crew.
The Q36.5 Dottore Clima glove is the latest version of the company's 3-dimensional glove featuring a seamless construction and elasticated palm - the first of its kind in the history of the sport. The most critical element of any glove is the palm. It is the foil between the rest of your body (arms, shoulders, neck, back and beyond) and the often abusive road. Developed by Elastic Interface, the palm of the q36.5 Dottore Clima Glove follows a body-mapping process to define a structure that respects the anatomy of the hand and that improves blood flow. The Grip fabric ensures that you have a firm hold on the bar with minimum invasive inserts that can deform your relationship with the bar and exacerbate problems. The insert that is present is a lightweight, perforated foam that facilitates shock absorption while promoting blood flow and avoiding the tingling of pins-and-needles (Cyclist's Palsy) suffered by so many.
The Upper - crucial to keeping your hands from overheating and swelling on hot days - is manufactured from a perforated, knitted fabric for optimal ventilation and - true to the company's ethos - thermoregulation. Indeed, the structure of the weave and thread is specifically designed to actively move moisture away from the hand through a mechanical push-pull effect, perfectly cooling them. The addition of Graphene in this Clima model augments the conductivity for even better temperature management, making them ideal for climbers and those riding in hot environs.
Ultimately, hand comfort - just like that of arse and feet - is critical if you are to both enjoy your riding and perform at your best. The Dottore Clima gloves from Q36.5 deliver it in spades. The seamless, 3D construction removes any potential for irritation through scratchy or invasive seams, giving an enveloping fit that augments your relationship with the bar rather than - as many, many lesser mitts do - getting in the way of it. Ultimately you want to feel the bar and the feedback from the road without suffering its relentless quest to sap your power through your hands!
As usual, Q36.5's investment in a proper understanding of the interplay of (hu)man, machine and apparel; yields a well considered product, built in Italy with the finest materials and that delivers real benefits to the user. Sure, it's more expensive than others but I can, hand on heart, tell you that big name brands (BIG names) generally have problems with gloves and other brands I have known have upwards of a 40% failure rate on their far-eastern/ eastern-bloc manufactured products (and that's not just the £30 offerings). In the decade I have been selling Q36.5, I have had one pair of mitts returned. That confidence in a brand is heartening when you are investing in your comfort.
The Dottore Clima are a pro-fit. That is, they don't have any cumbersome wrist-invading velcro straps to get in the way and rather are a pull-on half finger glove that sits short on the wrist with ergonomic shaping to give you coverage and protection only where you need it. Reflective inserts on the outside of the mitts aid signaling in low light while remaining out of the way the rest of the time.
So whether you’re working hard on the climbs or descending from the summit, you’ll stay dry, balanced and in better control, no matter how hard you push.