Wow. pretty broad range of opinions. I do have the ergonomic grips on already (like ergon but without barends) and I do wear gloves, though I am wearing my lighter gloves since it is hot and humid right now. I can't imagine moving the seat back, in all honesty, because I think I am already sitting farther forward on it than I should be (I'm not sitting centered on it.) I think my seat may not be level also (pondering yesterday's ride) so I may fiddle with leveling it and see if that helps, then adjusting it fore and aft. I don't have hand's of steel or anything, but I do spend a good part of my day wrestling with livestock and performing procedures that require strong fingers and grippng power, so I don't see myself really strengthening my hands anymore (and students in medicine are discouraged from highly repeptitive activities like single motion grip trainers....no reason to promote the inevitable repetitive hand injuries that eventually come with the job.) I'm going to also keep an eye on my position and make sure I'm not somehow dropping my wrists, which would put pressure on several nerves. If that doens't help, I'll look at finding some alternative grips. I do appreciate everyone's thoughts. I might see if I can turn anything up in the sports physiology literature if I get time.