My trekking bars saved my tour! When we first took off for a year-long tour with our kids I had standard mountain bike bars. Within a month my hands were hurting so badly I could barely function. I was so determined to keep going, so just bit the bullet and did it, but it was to the point where I was in excruciating pain each time I had to shift (grip shift that twisted). I couldn't pack my bike as my hands hurt too badly. I had a hard time writing. As soon as I got off my bike, I cupped my hands in front of me to protect them to make sure my kids didn't bang into the them.

After two months we knew I couldn't do it any longer. We swapped out my entire handlebar system for the trekking bars to give me more options and put basic thumb shifters on that I could shove with the palm of my hand rather than having to actually use my thumb. It took another month or so for my hands to heal, but they did. I still have problems, but nothing terribly bad any more.

I can't imagine using anything other than the trekking bars now.