Well Tristan I just used my socks the last time, you won't feel much with shoes on. The Speed7 pedals are fairly stiff, especially the brake, he put a spring kit in them to bring the stiffness of the brake up and changed the calibration on them so it's closer to how a real pedal would work.
IE the first 1/4 throw is easy where the brake pressure doesn't change much, then you hit pressure and the brakes really start changing a lot with very little pedal movement. But because there is rubber insert riding inside the spring it takes considerable force to work that last bit of brake. It's not the same as having a piezoelectric sensor, or a hydraulic brake setup but it works. It still uses a change in the axis to do brake force, but the sensitivity is offset so the something like the last 1/4 throw is 3/4 of the brake force.
Whimp! I thought you worked in an auto shop, albeit a fancy one =) You don't need gloves =) The wheels are worn and sloppy, you may want gloves though to keep the rubber from going on yours hands. My hands got gritty after racing.