Road Cycling - Cramping Hands?

I just purchased my first road bike and when I have my hands on the brake hoods for more than a few minutes, the muscles in my palms start to cramp up. Is this normal? I should note that this bike fits me like a glove, and I believe I have my hands in the correct position, with the fleshy part between my index finger and thumb resting on the hoods.

I am completely new to road cycling though I have been riding a mountain bike for a number of years. Any info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks -

Jason

I recently made the same transition and found that the hoods aren't really intended for regular riding (at least, that's my understanding/experience). They're more for attacking on hills and sprints. I spend 80% of my time on the tops, 18% in the drops and 2% on the hoods. Though the hoods don't get much use, they're GREAT when i DO decide to stand-up! Far better than mtb bar ends...

PS Don't put your hands on top of the hoods if you're riding in the saddle. My palms rest on the sides and just my thumb hooks over...

hmm, i think people spend more time on the hoods than that. i guess that could be the subject of a somewhat dull poll. :) i spend a fair amount of time on the hoods, because that's convenient for braking and shifting. the key is to keep moving around. hands are gonna get numb if you keep them in the same place all the time. hoods, tops, drops, far ends of the drops...i even (if it's safe) will hold the bar top with just my fingertips for awhile, so to give my hand muscles a break.

miljam, make sure you get some cycling gloves. your post doesn't mention them. this will take some of the pressure off your hands, although it won't eliminate it.

make sure that the tilt is correct on your saddle if you are leaning too far ahead you have the weight on your hands.. this happened to me. I tilted my saddle back just a bit and bingo problem went away. Of course I am always changing postions too.

see ya

chaz

I spend 90% of my time on the hoods. Watch the pros sometime. When they're not hammering along, you'll mostly see them on the hoods.

Try to support yourself with your back and stomache more. Dont let all your weight rest on your hands. The seat position will help, but so will strengthening your back and abs.

Originally posted by Laggard
I spend 90% of my time on the hoods. Watch the pros sometime. When they're not hammering along, you'll mostly see them on the hoods.
We're not pros.

Originally posted by shokhead
We're not pros.

:D :D thats what my wife keeps telling me hah:rolleyes:

:thumbup::D

I'm no pro either and never had a problem with the hoods.

I know you can do it. :)

I spend most of my time (80% or more) either on the hoods or on the part leading up to the hoods. My bar (Easton EC-90) has a rather straight transition from the tops to the hoods (unlike a lot more curvier ergo bars) and that portion feels a lot like grabbing barends (a feeling I'm very accustomed to having come from XC mountain biking). I chose that bar for the very reason that it has that shape and profile. I spend about 10% of my time on the tops and the rest I spend in the drops or on the very end after the drops. I have however been slowly spending more and and more time in the drops.

Put'em where they feel good and move them around.

I'm newer at this (less than 3 months) and I spend 80% of my time with my hands on the hoods. At first, it was because I was scared to let go & wanted to be near the gears & brakes. :D I had an extra set of brake levers put on the tops, so I'd feel more comfortable moving around. I still feel shakey when I ride with my hands on the tops -- I feel like I start wobbling. LOL Anyway, I usually end up moving from the hoods to the curve that leads from that part to the tops. I started practicing riding the tops more last ride because my neck was getting stiff. I'm such a chicken. Maybe in a year, I'll be riding with my hands on top of my head. :p

Just keep riding and pretty soon you will be giving advice to a new rider.I'm sorta new at it.I start out on top while i warm up and move to the hoods and in the drops if i get a good head wind.

went out tonight for a ride and experimented with hand position. I found that initially I was putting my hands completely on the hood...moving my hands around seems to help. Sorry for the newbie reaction, but was riding home into a good headwind and went for the drops....now that rips....

i am almost all the time on the hoods.. I am on the tops when i'm warming up and/or cooling down.

I am seldome in the drops.. Although there are times I sprint just for the fun of it..

miljam -- are you wearing gloves? If they're too tight, I'm sure that could cause cramping & numbness.

hibiscus09 - I'm wearing gloves and never had a problem with them on my mountain bike. After a few more rides I think I'll have it ironed out. I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem. Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

I'll be doing a 40 mile round trip commute to work in a couple of weeks and this bike is really going to make the trip easier than it has been in the past.

cholesterol med will do it to.

WOW! Looks like I need to spend more time on the hoods! There's always something! :P :)

I've been taught to keep my forearms on the bar immediately behind the hoods and keep my hands on top of the hoods (not on the hoods themselves) as if you were holding a gun, but relaxed. This is supposed to distribute your body weight 40/60 front/back and allows a less stressful ride on those long hauls. By not putting any force on your knuckles, it saves you the numb feeling.

Move those hands around, of course! :)