Gloves seemed like such a cool accessory at one time. As the miles have ticked by, our hands have hardened and our desire to feel the road has increased. We like the individual sensations of smooth asphalt, rough tar-and-chip, dirt, everything… through our hands. It feels more organic and our steering feels more precise. So we like riding bare-handed, though there are occasions where we want a little crash protection for our hands. Castellimakes their S. Rosso Corsa Gloves for people who want just enough padding to take the sting out of the worst potholes in a package that feels natural and can be worn for long miles every day.

The palm is made of Pittards leather. Look around; you've seen this before and for good reason. Pittards is a soft, durable, washable leather that resists shrinking, drying and cracking like most other leathers. It feels great against the skin, and it sticks to handlebar tape even when wet. When it gets yucky, you can hand or machine wash without an issue (no dryers, please).

The palm has thin, strategically-placed, perforated gel inserts. The gel is for damping, the perforations for better sweat evaporation. The thumb is made of micro-fiber for wiping sensitive areas. The Velcro that secures the glove around your wrist is new Magic Velcro. This means the hooks grab the requisite loops, and are designed not to catch the diamond micromesh stretch backing (or the rest of the soft lycra in your kit when they're in the wash). To make tugging these mitts on and off easier, there's a pull tab at the bottom of the wrist.