Review: Pedal Mafia Short Finger Glove
If there is one thing on a bike that does not stand a chance against me, it’s bar tape. I sweat a lot, and the bar tape is a laughable barrier between me and a corroding aluminum handlebar. Over the past few years I’ve embraced short finger gloves to slow the corrosive effects of perspiration. With higher summer miles and hotter summer rides, a pair of Pedal Mafia Short Finger gloves were reviewed from comfort to size to washability. Notably the Pedal Mafia Short Finger gloves were put to the test during the Tour of the Catskills, where rocket descents and devilish climbs required extra attention to grip.
As most road riders prefer, I like a glove that has a simple design while sporting a small amount of padding in the palm. There is no need for velcro here. Short finger gloves should not bunch up in odd places or create friction between the fingers. With these parameters in mind, we took notes on several rides using the Pedal Mafia Short Finger glove.
We were off to a good start with the gloves. With dry hands the Short Finger gloves slipped on easily and came off as expected. Pedal Mafia does feature finger tabs for easier removal. The gloves’ weight (or lack thereof) was apparent due to the use of Lycra on the back of the glove for stretchiness. On each thumb is a small nose-saver patch for giving the nose a quick dab, though the patch is quite small.
Along our shorte routes, the gloves performed beautifully. They maintained grip even after being drenched in sweat. They also provided a small amount of protection from the sun. They also reduced further road vibration. On a longer ride the gloves reduced the recurrence of numbness, delaying onset with the padded palms. The gloves have been washed numerous times, and while the nose-saver has become less soft, the gloves have held up quite well.
The size chart included on the packaging, but can also be found here.
Speaking of the longer ride, the Pedal Mafia Short Finger gloves were tested throughout the Tour of the Catskills, a 74-mile course that features miles-long descents as well as shoulder-wrenching miles-long climbs. The gloves fight comfortably into the hooks of the handlebars during technical descents, allowing the rider to focus on bike control instead of hand placement. It was the miles-long climb at the end where the most comfort came in. The Tour of the Catskills ends with a demonic climb that demolishes rider form. The handlebars are ripped upward at times to stay atop the bike while other times the tops of the bars were used. The gloves provided extra cushion and grip as well as a soft barrier to alleviate or prolong exhaustion. I can’t say the gloves solely got me to the top of the climb, but I can say they helped the success.
While the gloves continue to be heavily used, two areas of concern emerged: sizing and stitching. I was shocked to learn I fit into the large glove size. While it mostly works, I would possibly consider a medium next time for tightness, especially since Pedal Mafia states the gloves will stretch for the perfect fit over time. The second concern was of a stitch that went up the palm from the wrist. Several times I checked to see if a plastic thatch had been left behind but to no avail. Quite simply, the stitch for one of the pads in the palm rubs in a way that could be distracting.
Overall the Pedal Mafia Short Finger Glove has filled in the gap in our cycling kit admirably. There was always a secret desire that Pedal Mafia would release an all-white version, but eventually we went with the black gloves with white branding. With the extreme lightness, ventilation, and comfort, these gloves will continue to reduce vibration as well as prolong our bar tape - and handlebar’s - life. If we can credit the gloves for helping us summit one of the most notorious climbs in the area, well then that fact alone makes the purchase worth it.
