Originally Posted by
Yo Spiff
I solved the numbness problem by putting drop bars on my MTB and postioning the levers for comfort riding on the hoods. Not a solution that suits everyone, but I prefer it like this.
I ride an early-'80's Fuji road bike. IIRC, I've read that the top tubes on modern bikes are longer than on the older road bikes. I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but I seem to recall reading that it is. (shrug).
Anyway, before I bought the Fuji, I was riding a Trek hybrid/comfort bike. It had mountain bike style handlebars on it. I was always dealing w/ numbness - especially in my left hand.
Since I started riding the Fuji it hasn't been a problem. I believe that's simply because of the number of hand positions I have available to me. However, when I'm on the tops I'm a bit more cramped than I care to be. The Fuji is the first bike I've owned where I can ride with my hands on the hoods. Prior to the Fuji the last time I rode a road bike was when I was a teenager tooling around on a cheap 1970's Schwinn (equipped w/ suicide levers).
I can't believe how comfortable it is to ride w/ my hands on the hoods. I feel much more stretched out, even though we're only talking about a few centimeters difference in where my hands are place. Another surprise was how lightly my hands are actually resting on the hoods. I just assumed that they'd be supporting much more of my weight (not an insubstantial amount of weight) then they actually are.
(not trying to hijack).
Originally Posted by
ckaspar
Well grips actually. I started tweaking on my saddle position and bar position and now my butt feels a little better but my hands are killing me, because of the weight shift from less on my butt to more on my hands.
I am considering Ergon GP3s.
Link here.
Thoughts?
I've had the same problem on my hybrid (
Trek 7100). It became really annoying and for a few reasons aside from the numbness issue I wound up buying a used vintage road bike for my commute. I couldn't see putting too much into the Trek as I wasn't planning on keeping it around much longer.
However......
Now that I have the Fuji (
'81 S12-S Ltd.) for my commute, I'm toying w/ mounting a
really nice saddle and
another set of handlebars to get a much more upright riding position on the Trek and using it as an around town bike. My wife rides a
Schwinn Cream, and the Trek would work nicely as a townie.
The only thing that'll keep me from doing that is the donated Peugeot frame that's headed my way today. If it's the right size I'll likely turn that into a townie and sell the Trek.