General Cycling Discussion - Hands getting numb.

Hands getting numb after about a 10 mile ride. I have the Ergon GP1 Large size grip http://www.rei.com/product/722554/ergon-gp1-grips-large and Profile Boxer Bar Ends http://www.rei.com/product/837361/profile-boxer-bar-ends-black and it doesn't seem to be helping. I also have an adjustable stem that is raise all the way up. Anyone know of any great handle bar grips etc that will help and recommend? Maybe going cheap wasn't the best way to go. :D

You are probably putting too much weight on your arms and hands. Riddle me this...do you have to shift your weight to raise one or both hands from the bars, or can you just lift them and wave without the rest of you budging at all? If the former, you need to make adjustments to your fit, which is the root cause, before spending your money on more stuff to treat the symptoms.

You are probably putting too much weight on your arms and hands. Riddle me this...do you have to shift your weight to raise one or both hands from the bars, or can you just lift them and wave without the rest of you budging at all? If the former, you need to make adjustments to your fit, which is the root cause, before spending your money on more stuff to treat the symptoms.

Maybe just a bit. The adjustment stem is also raise all the way up. The handle bar is about a inch at the most higher than the seat.

Make sure your saddle is even or slightly raised at the nose. If the saddle is tilted forward, your body will tilt forward as well putting pressure on your hands.

Make sure your saddle is even or slightly raised at the nose. If the saddle is tilted forward, your body will tilt forward as well putting pressure on your hands.

Maybe I could try that also. I have the saddle pretty even flat.

The GP1s and a handlebar that is at least as high as your seat should do the trick. Realize that even after getting those changes made it could take a couple of months before you realize an improvement. I fought that battle all last year (my first back in the saddle) and the Ergons and raised bars fixed it for me, but I didn't realize it until winter where I was only riding 150'ish miles a month instead of 500+. This year I have no problem with it. Something else I got in the habit of doing is raising my palms off the grips when going over bumps to eliminate the jolt to the palm area. You want the bulk of the pressure to be on the outside pad of your palm and not the inside or middle.

I got a different drop handlebar and it has helped alot with the numbness issue. I guess the different ergonimics helps.
I don't know if that would apply to you since you have a straight bar with bar ends.
I have heard that if your seat is higher than your bars, you will get numbness just because that means too much weight will be on your hands.

Fit issue, perhaps.. bars too low or too far away. tried padded gloves?

maybe if you go to the LBS where they can see your fit on the bike,

Will help .. since this cannot be done with words.

my bike , used most often, has Trekking bars, they are actually a bit
higher than the saddle ..

Maybe I should try adjusting the saddle to see if it helps. Maybe move it a bit closer etc.

Moved the seat forward about 1/2 inch. Tilt the saddle nose just one notch slightly up and moved the shifters about 3/4 of an inch-a inch towards the center of the handle bar. I got Shimano SL-R440/SL-R441 Flat bar road shifters and they took about 25% of the handlebar's room. See if that will help.

Generally speaking, you should not be adjusting the saddle in response to hand problems. Get the saddle in the right place for your legs, then adjust the handlebars.

If you're wearing padded gloves, try going without for a bit. I have a theory that when you get less feedback from your hands, you'll move them around less, and that leads to numbness.

I had those grips on my city bike and my hands went numb (I also had an adjustable stem at the highest position and was using padded gloves).

Bought trekking bars => problem solved.

Generally speaking, you should not be adjusting the saddle in response to hand problems. Get the saddle in the right place for your legs, then adjust the handlebars.

If you're wearing padded gloves, try going without for a bit. I have a theory that when you get less feedback from your hands, you'll move them around less, and that leads to numbness.

I will try that also. Going without padded gloves.

I had those grips on my city bike and my hands went numb (I also had an adjustable stem at the highest position and was using padded gloves).

Bought trekking bars => problem solved.

Will take a look at that.

http://physiobench.com/articles/25/Cyclists-Hand:-Handlebar-palsy

http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_3_2.htm

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Uncomfortably_Numb_-_Tips_for_Healthy_Hands.htm

BOTTOM LINE HERE.......GET YOUR WEIGHT OFF YOUR ARMS AND WRIST MOVING IT TO YOUR BUTT WITH A MORE UPRIGHT RIDING POSTURE.

Which parts of the hands are going numb?


Going without padded gloves.

Do you mean that you don't have padded gloves now, or that you'll try to ride without padded gloves?

Good news. Went on a 20 miles bike ride today and no numbness in the hands. I think moving the seat closer (1 1/2 inch) is what helped. Felt less pressure and weight on the hands. Can't wait to go on a 30-40 mile ride. :)

http://physiobench.com/articles/25/Cyclists-Hand:-Handlebar-palsy

http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_3_2.htm

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Uncomfortably_Numb_-_Tips_for_Healthy_Hands.htm

BOTTOM LINE HERE.......GET YOUR WEIGHT OFF YOUR ARMS AND WRIST MOVING IT TO YOUR BUTT WITH A MORE UPRIGHT RIDING POSTURE.

Thanks, but it was already done. ;)

Which parts of the hands are going numb?



Do you mean that you don't have padded gloves now, or that you'll try to ride without padded gloves?

No I do have and use padded gloves. I used it today and it was fine. Just needed to move the seat closer to the handlebar.

Start to feel a tingle take the hand off the bars and let the circulation return.