HRP

Hey folks.

I just threw an RB-021 on my bike and after riding around for a couple hours did some damage to my ulnar nerve or something - getting tingling and numbness in my pinkies and ring fingers and along that side of my forearm. It's gotten better since it first started, but I'm still recovering...

Anyways... The whole nerve thing started around the time when I went from drops to bullhorns, so I'm assuming that's the problem. I'm guessing the added stretch was making me put too much weight and stress on my arms and with all the bumps in the road, etc., it messed up my elbow.

So it seems a shorter stem would help alleviate the problem. The question is, how much shorter should I go? I'd rather not go into a bike shop and have them fit me for whatever it is they'd like to charge, and was wondering if any of you had a round-a-bout way of figuring this out?

Riding on a 110mm stem now.

Thanks!

HRP

illdthedj

what is the stem angle you have now and is it up or down?

velo orange makes nice and affordable stems....perhaps an 80mm...

lz4005

One thing you can do is compare where your hands fall on the new bars to where they were on the old bars. If your hands are 20mm farther forward, get a 20mm shorter stem.

I had the same kind of nerve irritation problem a few years ago. Paying attention to having good bar wrap, gloves and changing your hand position from time to time (in addition to good fit) helps prevent it from recurring.

illdthedj

wearing padded gloves could help as well if you dont already

HRP

I have a 3T Mutant on there now, so it's at a very slight rise, probably 7 or 8 degrees. I had a 110 stem on before with the drops that was at 0, perfectly parallel with the top tube.

Thanks for the recommendation, I was thinking 70 or 80 would do just fine. I hope

Leukybear 

Elbow pads

Try your LBS; they always have used & new take off stems for cheap; I recently scored a 50mm 15 rise salsa stem for $7 last sunday

HRP

Yeah, unfortunately I had just put them on and went 'naked' - no bar wrap, no gloves - and I was riding full out on the horns most of the time 'cause I wanted to see what it was like to really haul ass up and down hills. My hands are way further ahead now due to the bullhorns, so I think I'm going to go with a 70 or 80. I'm really hoping the frame isn't too big for me to ride with bullhorns because I quite like riding with them...

hairnet

you shouldnt need padded gloves

keep your elbows bent, if you aren't already

veganwar

I assume that you have the aluminum RB-021 bars not the steel bars right? you were riding aluminum bars with no tape, grips, or gloves so that could be part of your discomfort. my syntace strattos were okay with cheap bar tape, awful with no tape or grips (I had just put the bars back on a bike and had to run out), but great with soma track grips up by the stem. Waiting for some fizik tape.

xB_Nutt

I had the same problem going from drops to RB-021s. I switched from a 90mm to a 70mm and it seems fine now. Haven't done any extended rides with the new stem, but you will definitely benefit from a shorter stem. How much is up to you. I'd measure your reach when it had drop bars and go from there.

HRP

So I just did some measurements and from where I like to stay on the bullhorns is about 4-5cm longer than where I like to stay in the drops.

The drops are also about 2cm lower than where I grab on the bullhorns.

So I'd say a 3-4cm shorter stem would work just fine?

Looks like 70 is the answer. Thanks for the help, y'all.