Mountain Biking - grips. hands keep going numb.

hello,
I have stock Gt mountain bike grips and they seem pretty nice. I wear Fox full hand gloves and after about 30 minutes, my hands go numb. I shake it off and I get the blood back but is there a better pair of grips that help this?

Smaller diameter, firmer rubber for grips. grips of soft compound will require more clenching.
I use ODI Ruffians.
Also you might slide the seat back on the rails a few mm, and or tilt the saddle nose up.

huh?

i had this problem too when i first started riding! i thought i was out of shape.

Currently i have my stock grips on my Giant and i am need in for some new ones, they will probably last till the end of this year, but after that, they'll be in the bin. I am looking at these Oury Grips, they seem to be a good, soft long lasting grip.

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/1241/d190ourat89ke.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Currently i have my stock grips on my Giant and i am need in for some new ones, they will probably last till the end of this year, but after that, they'll be in the bin. I am looking at these Oury Grips, they seem to be a good, soft long lasting grip.

http://img310.imageshack.us/img310/1241/d190ourat89ke.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I use this grip with my grip shift and I like it!!

I would first look for a better bike fit, instead of looking for new grips. It could be because of your saddle position, or handlebar position, or both. Most bike shops will help you to adjust them.

Not to piss on everyone's parade, but chances are since you are new to mtn biking it's probably just "USER ERROR". Most likely you've got the "DEATH GRIP" on your bars.

Little tip. Rest your pointer and middle finger on the brake lever at all times. When you're riding a smooth part of the trail, don't wrap your thumb around the bar. Rest it on top.

You're getting what the MXers call forearm pump. For them it's due to twisting the throttle and trying to control a couple hundred lb bike. For you, it's inexperience! (I'm guessing)

This is why I run bar ends. The extra hand position(s) are very helpful in keeping the hands awake.

Well, I also can't climb without them, but that's a different story. :)

Not to piss on everyone's parade, but chances are since you are new to mtn biking it's probably just "USER ERROR". Most likely you've got the "DEATH GRIP" on your bars.

Little tip. Rest your pointer and middle finger on the brake lever at all times. When you're riding a smooth part of the trail, don't wrap your thumb around the bar. Rest it on top.

You're getting what the MXers call forearm pump. For them it's due to twisting the throttle and trying to control a couple hundred lb bike. For you, it's inexperience! (I'm guessing)

Ditto.

I used to get the same problem when riding, but found a pair of specialized gloves that have a gel pad on the outer wrist area. There is a nerve in that part of the hand called the Ulnar nerve. Since switching to the gloves I have no problems, except when going down long steep hills giving the handle bars the death grip while using the brakes. The gloves cost $30 and have helped me. Don't know if this is your problem, but it was mine.

This is why I run bar ends. The extra hand position(s) are very helpful in keeping the hands awake.


+1

Thanks guys.

I will try getting a readjustment. My bike has changed a bit with a new seat. I have bar ends there great for hill climbing. I use them and love em. I could very well be giving the bars a death grip. I learn more and more each time I go riding. I have now 200 miles of trail and road experience. I plan on another 2 to 4 hundred before summer is over.
Thanks again.

if you go with grips though, I vote the oury's. I have the lock-ons and love them.

Sorry to bring-up a month-old thread... I'm not riding an MTB but on my folding bike I have been having serious numb-hands. I've been tweaking my position with little success.

I think part of my problem is adapting to a flatbar bike (haven't had one in 6-7 years). The left hand seems to have a adapted better than the right. I think after 1000km it would be better by now if it could be. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the right hand has a thinner grip for the Gripshift on that side? (only one -- see sig for pics)

So my question, as a flatbar born-again no0b (I used to have a MTB long before Gripshifts were big), how do I go about purchasing grips for bars with a Gripshifter on only one side? TIA.

Edit: I forgot to add that I have the snazzy Cane Creek bar ends, if that makes a difference. They're standard equipment on the bike, believe it or not.

you can buy any grip and just cut them off, but if you need to replace to grip on the gripshift it may not be possible.

I used to get the same problem when riding, but found a pair of specialized gloves that have a gel pad on the outer wrist area. There is a nerve in that part of the hand called the Ulnar nerve. Since switching to the gloves I have no problems, except when going down long steep hills giving the handle bars the death grip while using the brakes. The gloves cost $30 and have helped me. Don't know if this is your problem, but it was mine.

Me too ...

When a pair failed me I went to Specialized and it was much improved. But I wanted better. So I went and bought some cushy gloves with gel all through the palms. And I found that made the issue worse.

I use the Specialized gloves almost exclusively now. The extra padding just made the issue worse. And extra thick cushy grips also made the problem worse.

So I guess the moral here is "less is more".

get rapid fires not gripsh@t and loosen the deathgrip

I too had arem pump, but it was cause I was chokin my handle bars....loosen up, I use those oury's I have them on every bike I own.

you can buy any grip and just cut them off, but if you need to replace to grip on the gripshift it may not be possible.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about, matching the thickness of the Gripshifter.

The other thing I forgot to mention, which I think is part of my problem, is that my gloves with "Pittards leather" palms stick to my current grips! This is a new and unpleasant feeling, coming from the joys of Cinelli cork wrap. Would a different style of glove help?

Regarding gel gloves... I used to like them until I started longer rides with them, which would show their problems, but that was before the fancy ones with gel only in strategic places. I got a nice pair (with gel to the sides of the ulnar nerve) made by Scott for the wife to use with her hybrid and she's been quite happy with them (including on a 55 miler we did last weekend). I'm thinking maybe I should get a pair.

get rapid fires not gripsh@t and loosen the deathgrip

I too had arem pump, but it was cause I was chokin my handle bars....loosen up, I use those oury's I have them on every bike I own.

Changing my shifters is not an option. I have the SRAM DualDrive or whatever they call it on my folder. It's a great system, but clearly changing grips is an issue.

Changing my shifters is not an option. I have the SRAM DualDrive or whatever they call it on my folder. It's a great system, but clearly changing grips is an issue.
Who loves ya baby?
Click my http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/5651/kojak4hn.jpg bald head (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=129&subcategory=1174&brand=&sku=14745&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)
The crazy thing is look at what else I found: http://tinyurl.com/d2x65
I'd snag a couple just to have backups at that price.

Who loves ya baby?
Click my http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/5651/kojak4hn.jpg bald head (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=129&subcategory=1174&brand=&sku=14745&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)
The crazy thing is look at what else I found: http://tinyurl.com/d2x65
I'd snag a couple just to have backups at that price.

Holy cow! Raiyn, that's like the deal of the century. Gives me an upgrade path to 9-speed too. :D I wonder if those grip are any better than the ones I have.

hello,
I have stock Gt mountain bike grips and they seem pretty nice. I wear Fox full hand gloves and after about 30 minutes, my hands go numb. I shake it off and I get the blood back but is there a better pair of grips that help this?

I have the same problem, as do a lot of other folks.

There are two ways to attack the problem: better grips and gloves, and better ways to hold the bike. Others have mentioned not putting a death grip on the bars. Another thing that helps is to constantly change hand positions; but, you'll need a set of bar ends for that. I try to change positions at least every 10 minutes or so, whether it feels like I need to or not.

Note that no one piece of equipment (glove or grips) helped a whole lot. I found the most helpful thing was to merely change hand positions, for which you'll need a set of bar ends. Doing that together with having good gloves and good grips adds up to a huge increase in the time I can spend on the bike before numbness becomes bothersome.

Here's what I'm using; they helped - but your mileage may vary, of course.

http://www.serfas.com/grips_plus/SGRX.html
http://www.serfas.com/gloves/SRXGB.html

I also use either

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Bar_End/product_78374.shtml
or
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Bar_End/product_79585.shtml

As an aside, I use the following mirror with the "regular" bar ends

http://www.mirrycle.com/mountainmirrycle.htm

which doesn't work with the more ergonomic Cane Creek ends since it plugs into the end of the bar. Oh well... you can't have your cake and eat it too.

I just picked-up a pair of Specialized "Comp" gloves with the fancy pad placement. I got them at the Piermont bike shop on my way back from a ~55 miler and rode with them home (maybe 15 miles?). This was on my road bike, on which I don't have serious numbness problems, but I got a pretty good idea that I think I'm going to like them on the folder (which has the flatbar and thus numbness problems).

Not to piss on everyone's parade, but chances are since you are new to mtn biking it's probably just "USER ERROR". Most likely you've got the "DEATH GRIP" on your bars.

Little tip. Rest your pointer and middle finger on the brake lever at all times. When you're riding a smooth part of the trail, don't wrap your thumb around the bar. Rest it on top.

You're getting what the MXers call forearm pump. For them it's due to twisting the throttle and trying to control a couple hundred lb bike. For you, it's inexperience! (I'm guessing)

Ditto. Very common problem :)

I've got some cool grips, they have gel inside them and when your hands get the slightest bit numb just squeeze them a bit and it circulates the blood again.

Holy cow! Raiyn, that's like the deal of the century. Gives me an upgrade path to 9-speed too. :D I wonder if those grip are any better than the ones I have.
It's a curse. :D

As far as bar ends go, I would love to put a set on my bike. I used to have them back in the day and loved the versatility. That being said, I have seen things here ripping people who put bar ends on riser bars. What is the reason for this? Is it just stupid-looking or is there a legit reason? Just curious, still a newbie for the most part.

As far as bar ends go, I would love to put a set on my bike. I used to have them back in the day and loved the versatility. That being said, I have seen things here ripping people who put bar ends on riser bars. What is the reason for this? Is it just stupid-looking or is there a legit reason? Just curious, still a newbie for the most part.

They look stupid
Riser bars (especially carbon) aren't designed to mount bar ends or deal with the stresses they impart on the bar
The sweep on riser bars (which is greater than that of flat bars)generally causes the bar ends to be misaligned

Little tip. Rest your pointer and middle finger on the brake lever at all times. When you're riding a smooth part of the trail, don't wrap your thumb around the bar. Rest it on top.


EXCELLENT tip brother, I tried this one yesterday and found most places ,even rooty singletrack this worked good . I put my thumbs around the bars only when downhilling or super twisty corners( though I did crash more often like this). another option for my hands to get rest!!! as far as barends ....well to each their own. I have ergo grips on low riser bars. I need to take another pic of the bike since fixing the front brake cable that used to be tooooo long to give the newbies an idea of what it looks like. Mael, wheres the rest of your signature pic?