Road Cycling - Have I lost my nerve

Okay, here's the deal.

This is my first year on a road bike. My bike has STI shifters/brake levers. I’ve been riding this bike for the past couple of months with no problems. Today, on a 3-hour ride, my left hand seemingly lost the ability to shift. My mind was telling my hand to shift the lever, but my hand wasn't listening. It was so bad that for the last 30 minutes of the ride, I had to shift the front derailleur with my right hand.

Even now, my left hand doesn't seem to have much gripping power, but it has improved. It's almost as if I pinched a nerve in my wrist/hand, and the nerves in my hand aren't firing as well now.

Has this happened to anyone else? ThanX!

Mine has never been quite that bad, but my hands get numb every time I ride if I forget to change my hand position often. Mine is worse on my mountian bike than my road bike though. Another thing that helps is to make sure that you grip with your entire hand instead of just leaning on your palms. Sounds backwards but it takes the pressure off your nerves this way. Not a death grip, but a firm grip. Try it next time.

You should look into this. If you hands have lost gripping power even when off the bike, you might have damage to the nerves anywhere along the arm (elbow), and even in the spine.

I have half-way chronic problem with my hand, in which I get a numb feeling in the pinky and ring finger. It is due to pressure at the elbow and the spine (which comes primarily from poor ergonomics while typing). My problem is called Cupidal Tunnel Syndrome--try a Google search.

In the literature I read, it said that loss of strength is to be taken seriously, since it could be a sign of nerve problems that can become permanent. I have not had any problems with loss of strength. But, if that were to happen to me, I'd be on my way to the neurologist tout de suite.

Best,
Jamie

I have had the exact same thing happen on a couple of occassions. I have avoided any re-occurence by (1) being more dliigent about varying hand positions on the bike and (2) using an aerobar to give the hands a complete rest from time to time when on longer rides.

Bac,

There is a nerve in your hand that runs between your thumb and index finger that has probably been pinched during the ride. Don't worry, the feeling will probably come back. It's caused by (as you're already read above) not changing your hand position often enough and cutting off the blood flow to that part of your hand.

The loss of hand strength could signal carpal tunnel syndrome but the onset wouldn't be quite so sudden.

(Note:I'm not in the medical field, I've just had plenty of problems with my hands...) ;)

Originally posted by bac
Okay, here's the deal.

This is my first year on a road bike. My bike has STI shifters/brake levers. I’ve been riding this bike for the past couple of months with no problems. Today, on a 3-hour ride, my left hand seemingly lost the ability to shift. My mind was telling my hand to shift the lever, but my hand wasn't listening. It was so bad that for the last 30 minutes of the ride, I had to shift the front derailleur with my right hand.

Even now, my left hand doesn't seem to have much gripping power, but it has improved. It's almost as if I pinched a nerve in my wrist/hand, and the nerves in my hand aren't firing as well now.

Has this happened to anyone else? ThanX!

Nerves should come back. You probably put weight on the wrong spot and pinch the nerve some. Get padded gloves, padded handlebar tape and vary your hand positions.

I had a crash in January and broke my ulna in 2 places right in the elbow joint. Well the ulnar nerve is what controls the fingers. As I regained motion in the elbow, my little finger and outside of my hand went numb. I could still use them, just could not feel much of anything. The feeling has been coming back slowly. Still a little numb but I expect that to go away completely.

So just avoid reaggravating your nerve and you will probably be OK.

Assuming you are using proper equipment and riding methods, I think you should see a doctor as soon as you can.

I would be devastating to me to lose the ability to ride because I shrugged off a symptom or avoided spending half the price of a tire in an insurance copay to make certain nothing serious was wrong.

Carl

I have had the same problems to a lesser extent. It sounds like a "fit" problem with either the seat, stem, bars or frame.

I found that by titling my seat slightly backwards from the horizontal (1cm) it made my weight move further toward the back of the bike and took a lot of weight off my hands. Considering this is your first road bike, I would guess that you need to fine tune a few things to get the right fit. I hope this helps.

CHEERS.

Mark

Sounds like discipline problems to me.

A few good whacks with the good hand while keeping stern eye contact done immediately after each episode should do the trick.

You own the hand, the hand does not own you.

PS, if it gets angry, stay away from knives.

Hope this helps. :)



Get thick padded gloves and move the hands around a lot, on and off the bars.

Have the bike fitted properly at a reputable shop.

ThanX for the great replies! :) I was hoping that I was, as least, not the only one having this type of problem. I already wear padded gloves, so I'm going to try a few of the other remedies (varying hand position, saddle/bar adjustments, etc), and see what happens.

If all else fails, I guess I'll go through the red-tape filled, PCP nightmare that is insurance reimbursed healthcare!

ThanX again guys! :D

Go get a pair of Specialized Body Geometry Mitts.

P.






http://www.thepaulius.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7

Originally posted by Dutchy
I have had the same problems to a lesser extent. It sounds like a "fit" problem with either the seat, stem, bars or frame.

I found that by titling my seat slightly backwards from the horizontal (1cm) it made my weight move further toward the back of the bike and took a lot of weight off my hands. Considering this is your first road bike, I would guess that you need to fine tune a few things to get the right fit. I hope this helps.

CHEERS.

Mark


Ditto to Dutchy's answer. I had a similar once and found out that I had a maladjusted seat, that caused me to lean onto my arms and hands too much. I'd fine tune my set-up until I got a balance between the seat and the bars.

Changing hand positions a lot will help these kinds of problems.

I heard extra sex helps hands feel much better.