Specialized's Ridge gloves fall into one of our favourite categories - lightweight full-finger gloves. Once upon a time we all rode around in track mitts. Then full-finger gloves came along, but they were all designed with DH in mind and a bit clumpy for all-round use. These days, though, there are plenty of minimalist full-finger gloves about - you don't get a silly tan line, you get better grip on your brake levers but you don't get hot or feel like you're riding in a pair of gauntlets.
The Ridge has a mesh back, interrupted only by the towelling thumb and a Specialized logo on the index finger. The palm is thin synthetic leather, perforated for cooling and with tacky rubbery bits across the base of the fingers and on the thumb and first two fingertips to aid with control traction. The USP, though, is the Body Geometry pad. This is designed to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve on the outside of the palm, apparently a common source of wrist pain and hand numbness. The BG pad has been around for a while, but the 2005 incarnation is split into four strips, so it moulds around the grip better and doesn't tend to get squeezed out in non-useful directions.
We like thin gloves, and the BG pad seems to work - we've been getting in the miles on rigid bikes and haven't had any hand issues. It can feel a little odd at first, but you get used to it. The Ridges have been through the wash innumerable times and haven't fallen to bits - our only niggle is that the hook-and-loop fastener on the back of the wrist sometimes drifts apart.
 Comfy, airy, durable, fair price
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 Wrist closure not 100% reliable
Verdict
We like gloves like this, and the Specialized offering is pretty damn good. They're still in one piece, they're comfy, they're cool and they're affordable. Lovely.
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