I've just started back with my cycling habit after a several-year layoff and all the new aches and pains have gone away except for one -- my hands really bother me on long rides. Most of my riding so far has been on paved multi-use paths and public streets, so it's not that my hands and arms are taking a pounding from rough trails. The problem is that after an hour or so my hands get really numb, and when they're not numb they ache. I feel it most in the base of the palms, and my wrists will ache as well.

I have a Trek 4300 (18") and the bars and saddle are level with each other and the bike fits me very well (I'm 5'10" w/ a 32" inseam) and feels quite comfortable. I've gotten some gloves with good padding (P/I White Line II) and they seem to help some, but the discomfort is still there. I'm thinking about getting some bar ends so that I can at least shift my hands around to a new position when they start to complain.

Do I have a problem or will this get better over time?