jes I’m a lover not a hater but I think it just depends on your local conditions: living near Hindhead / Devils Punchbowl / Blackdown there’s a lot of gorse & brambles so i also wear full or 3/4 length jersey’s year-round.
I’ve had gorse needles get right in there between finger bones & it was painful for a few weeks afterwards: some work their way out in time but others stick around – I still have some from last year & probably some are from further back. I broke skin to get some of them out.
Personally i couldn’t give a sh*t if people take the p**s – I’d rather look a numpty in anyone’s eyes (as i fly past them) than have to pussyfoot around avoiding gorse. Avoid trails because of them? Nah, get on with it & get stuck in.
sofaboy73 & chakaping – would you seriously want to wear Madison military grade gloves on a blazing summer’s day? I’d rather stick with some light & airy TLD gloves http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/troy-lee-designs-xc-gloves-2017/rp-prod110692 & put handguards on.
I bought some breezeblockers like towzer’s photo from Dennis Winter ( http://www.denniswinter.com/cycling-c3/parts-c67/handlebars-stems-headsets-grips-c169/breezeblockers-d-fendr-mountain-bike-weather-protection-handguards-p30369
other types available http://www.denniswinter.com/search/hand-guards tho they might be a bit big if for MX use) as they’re attached at both ends so better than bar-end mounted ones re bar-grabbing but noticed i use the bar ends a fair bit on climbs so I’m going to try the AVS ones https://www.avs-racing.com/index.php/en/ – the brackets are only 10mm wide – & see how it goes 😉
