Originally Posted by
deepakvrao
I was not referring to increasing reach, I was saying that 'if' the saddle is too far forwards, your butt will not take enough of the weight and could lead to hand numbness.
I'd have thought the opposite. If you exaggerate and say the bars were right next to your crotch, your butt would support virtually all your body weight, with no weight required to be taken on the bars, via the arms. Conversely, the further you are away from the bars the more upper body weight has to be supported by the arms - otherwise you'd fall forward.
Anyway, try gloves OP... at least they'll cushion your hands if you slip back into gripping too hard.