Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Help needed with hand position

Hi guys, a little intro first. I'm pretty new to riding, got my first bike in years a couple months ago. I've been commuting 20 miles each way 4 days a week for 3 months. I completed my first century last weekend and like many others now have the bug.

But I've just suffered a small setback. I went to the doctor about a nagging numbness (6 weeks worth) of my right index finger. It was diagnosed as a compressed nerve and the Doc prescribed some anti-inflamatories, some steroids, and 2 weeks off the bike. That's not the end of the world, I figure I'll pick up a trainer in the next day or two so I can stay active until the 2 weeks are up.

While I think I found and corrected the fit issue that caused the problem in the first place, I'm looking for some extra hand position help. I currently try to ride 4 hand positions: tops, hoods, drops, and corners (behind the hoods). I've been looking at an aero bar clip-on, but am not sure what I might be getting myself into. I searched and couldn't find specific answers to this question, so here goes:

Does the mounting of aerobar clip-ons usually take up enough space on the bars that the tops become unuseable as a hand position? I don't think that would be a good trade if that was the case. I've seen the ones that claim the pads rotate up and out of the way, maybe that's the ticket? I'm not terribly concerned with the speed aspect of it, just getting an extra hand position in the bargain.

Thanks for reading,
Steve

Does the mounting of aerobar clip-ons usually take up enough space on the bars that the tops become unuseable as a hand position?
Thanks for reading,
Steve

Unless you ride with your hands at the center of the bars, it shouldn't be a problem. Give it a shot.

Unless you ride with your hands at the center of the bars, it shouldn't be a problem. Give it a shot.


Totally random sidenote. I often ride with my hands at the center of the bars when I'm not in packs or traffic. I think I find it comfortable as it helps me keep weight off my hands.

Thanks guys, I think I'll give 'er a go.

Steve

Hi Steve,
I also clipped on aeros to get some hand relief. But now that I've put in a summer's worth of miles and am much more comfortable in the drops, I'm thinking of taking them off as I rarely use them now. They do take a hand position away as well as give you a new one.

Does the mounting of aerobar clip-ons usually take up enough space on the bars that the tops become unuseable as a hand position? I don't think that would be a good trade if that was the case. I've seen the ones that claim the pads rotate up and out of the way, maybe that's the ticket? I'm not terribly concerned with the speed aspect of it, just getting an extra hand position in the bargain.

With most aerobars, the arm-rests will take up the space on the 'tops' where you might rest your hands usually. You can get aerobars with flip-up armrests - Profile Airstrykes are the ones to look for. Riding on aerobars, if properly positioned, with definitely take the pressure off your hands.

FWIW, have you tried getting your handle bars up higher? i.e. flipping the stem upwards (if you haven't already done so) or going for a steeper stem? I think if your handlebars are higher (level with your saddle or a bit below), you will have less pressure on your hands. Check your saddle is level, and not tilted too far forward, as that will cause you to slide forward - more pressure on the hands again.

BTW, a 40 miles round-trip commute is pretty impressive!

I swapped out the stem a while back for one that brought the bars up and back just a tad, and it really made a world of difference with my original problem of hand numbness. I think I was overreaching before. Now I've really got what I consider to be a good fit, and am just looking for another hand position to be able to switch things up even more.

I probably could have left out the bit about the compressed nerve. From what I can tell, that problem occured before correcting my fit issue, and I just never have given it time to heal.

Oh, and my saddle was tilted down just a tad before as well. That was another of the things I fixed at the time the stem was swapped out. Bike fitting may not be fun, but it sure is rewarding huh?

Thanks again guys,
Steve

Well, that was a long 2 weeks. I'm finally back on the bike again, and tried the aerobars. They'll take some getting used to, but I think I'll like them. For some reason, I find them more comfy than being in the drops. Of course I'm a bit wobbly, but I'm sure that will sort itself out with experience. I got the Profile Aerolite bars, and found that they feel pretty good angled up just a tad (maybe 15 to 20 degrees). I did give up a hand position with them, well, sort of. I find that I can actually put my hands right on top of the pads when climbing, and it feels pretty good.

I made a couple of small fit changes at the same time, since I had so much tinker time on my hands. I found my seat to be a bit low, and raised it about 5mm. I was getting a little knee pain in the front of the joint and it felt like I wasn't fully extending. It sure seems like I found a ton of extra power by doing that, but it could just be fresh legs. The trainer just ain't the same as riding outdoors!! I also moved my cleats back a tad to try to get rid of a hot foot issue. Too early to tell if that solved it until I can get a longer ride in.

It's just good to be on the bike again. I hope you all can get some miles in today too.

Of course I'm a bit wobbly, but I'm sure that will sort itself out with experience.

Mostly, but not completely. Racing organizations ban aerobars for mass start racing, as do the organizers of the Paris-Brest-Paris brevet, because you just aren't as stable in the aerobars as on the regular bars. So have fun, but other riders will likely appreciate it if you stay off the aerobars while riding close to them. :)