Training & Nutrition - Numb ring and pinkie fingers?

Hello everyone, I just came back from my longest ride yet - 130 miles over the last two days from DC to Baltimore. I'm a newbie rider (only had a bike for about... 3 months at this point), so this has been a pretty big achievement for me. However, I've noticed that my pinkie and ring fingers on both hands are pretty numb since I got off the bike yesterday. I have had this problem before on longer rides - only in my right hand, and it went away just a few hours afterwards. It's been an entire day, and it's still very numb, almost no improvement. Did I screw up a nerve in my hand or something? Is there anything I can do to speed the recovery? Also, what's the best way to avoid this problem altogether in the future?

Search this site & google around for info on the Ulnar Nerve. What you are experiencing is common and temporary. I had the problem touring on a mountain bike w/flat bars, and don't have problems on road bars. CHanging your hand position a lot can help. Also experiment with more and less tape & different types of padded gloves.

Don't panic, it does go away. Mine was quite bad, and last for about 3 weeks after I stopped touring, but recovered completely.

You probably have your hands rotated with the palms facing each other too much. Try riding with the heel of your palm laying a little flatter on the bars.

Ahhh, thank you guys for the response. I kinda figured that I was holding the bar wrong anyways. I'm amazed it took 3 weeks to heal though, I hope it doesn't last that long for me! As a piano player, it would suck to lose feeling in my fingers for so long...

I should probably also look into getting a road bike, like I always said... Oh well, off to velocipede for me!