Originally Posted by veggiemafia

My thing is that I can't wear gloves that are too padded because it makes parts of my hands go numb, so my faves are these super ultra cheap leather-palm gloves I got at this small town bike shop where my girlfriend's family lives. Tan leather palm, white crochet back, all pimp.

Crochet back also helps alleviate glove tan, although you still get it across the strap and all, so it just looks weird.

Originally Posted by sch

Hand numbness is usually related to direct pressure on the base of the palm where the median (central palm) and ulnar (small finger side) come in to supply both motor and sensory function. If the numbness is more toward the index middle then median n. compression is the problem. If the small/ring fingers are involved then it is ulnar neuropathy, less common than median. Typical road bars or drop bars give you a lot of options for hand positioning to relieve this, on top of the bar inside of the brakes, on the brake hoods and on the drops. By rotating your position you can reduce the problem. A flat handlebar, like ATB or comfort bikes does not give you many options. Barends might help. I assume you are wearing cycling gloves and have the bar wrapped? There are thicker foam bar tapes which can spreadout the pressure. The bar can be raised so it is at least as high as the seat or higher to reduce hand pressure. Numbness up the arms suggests a nerve compression up higher, usually in the neck or within the first 8 inches of travel of the nerve away from the neck. That would require MD involvement to evaluate.

Steve