The best cycling gloves are those that feel like you're wearing nothing and at the end of the ride leave your hands looking as they were when you started, save for the sexy tan lines. This is what Castelli set out to do, and it's what they achieved with the S. Rossa Corsa Women's Gloves. You'll barely notice the padding, and it isn't so thick that you'll struggle to get your hands wrapped properly around the bar.

The palm is made of Pittards leather. Look around; you've seen this before and for good reason. Pittards is a soft, durable, and 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 of road shock, and the perforations are for better sweat evaporation. The thumb is made of micro-fiber for wiping sensitive areas. The Velcro that secures the gloves around your wrists is new Magic Velcro, which means the hooks grab the requisite loops, but won't catch and mangle the soft Lycra backing on your gloves (or the rest of your kit when they're in the wash).