Mountain Biking - Cure for numb hands on long rides, anybody??

I often get numb hands riding. Any suggestions other than holding the bars lightly.

I had a pair of Raptor MTB gloves and lost them moving. In the new city I live in, all the bike stores have wimpy gloves and I can't find those heavy duty cut-at-the-fingers padded gloves. Can anyone suggest where I can email/mail order these?

X

Mine are bad too, that is until I bought some bar ends. They still get a little numb, but not as much. I also have some gloves that are cut off at the mid finger. They again help, but didn't do the job completely. I constantly change my hand positions on the bar ends and wear gloves. You should try http://www.tricosports.com/gloves.html
Trico are the GEL people. They have some really good gel shorts and seats. ;)

I find that most grips are too skinny for my liking and cause me to grip the bars too heavily. I now use grips made by Oury, they are nice and fat and rather soft. I'd say look for some grips similiar to these and definitely get yourself some new gloves.

Specialized makes these gloves - I think they are part of their Body Geometry series that has this little bump in the lower left portion of the palm (can you picture it?). They say that is supposed to relieve the pressure so your hands don't get numb. I don't have that problem but I do have those gloves and they rock!

Good luck!

I also use OURY grips which are a little bit thicker than normal. Also, I believe that a good pair of gloves will help the situation and try not to have a death grip on the handlebar.

Try switching hand positions during your ride. One trick I use when I have a long climb is to put my thumb over the handlebar as opposed to wrapping it around it. The keeps me from doing the death grip plus it helps me relax my shoulders.

"You are pinching the nerves that run across the palm of your hand. If your handlebars are turned upwards, rotate them down so the grips are level or even slightly down. This tweak should take the pressure off your nevers. Wear good gloves too. Specialized makes 16 different Body geometry gloves with special padding designed to protect those nerves."

No I'm not that smart, thats a direct copy out of Mountain Bike Action, the one thats to be displayed until Oct4. If it works, thanks them, cus im only the middle man ;)