I've just started riding again recently, and I'm finding some significant discomfort in my hands (mainly the fleshy bit at the base of the thumb, and the thumb itself). This occurs after even just five or six miles of riding.

I had flat bars (well, they had a very slight angle back to them) with bar ends, but changed them to trekking bars just like this guy has. I think, despite the lovely extra positions available, it's made things worse, because still almost all my riding is done where I can reach the brakes (i.e. the nearest bit to me - the tops if you will), and there is no angle to these at all.

I want to get some Ergon grips, because all accounts seem to suggest that they are great for the sort of discomfort I am getting.

I can return the trekking bars for a refund and simply use the 'flat' bar with the new grips, but I won't be able to fit the grips on the trekking bar (I measured it and there's not enough room with brakes and shifters on there to fit the grips in before the bend).

Here's my dilemma: I have a bike fit in a couple of days, and it would seem like a waste if I went through that before I was certain of the bars/grips I want.

So should I ditch the trekking bars and go back to flats with Ergon grips, or try to go through the fit with the trekking bars and then see if it makes the discomfort go away? Either way, if it doesn't work out I'll pretty much have to go through the fitting again. What do people think is the best way?

Also, if I get the Ergon grips, should I get the ones with bar ends on them (I can only get these through the mail, as no LBS has them near me, and only the ones with the little bar ends - the bottom ones in the link above) or use my old bar ends?

I really just want to be comfortable for my commute (full commute is >20 miles each way but I'm working up to that slowly) and some overnight trips. But I don't want to be a total wind magnet either though.

Am I hard to please or what??!!

Your old bar ends will rotate separately from the grips, which gives you more flexibility with positioning, so I would stick with them and get the Ergon grips without the ends.

Do you make a fist around the bars when you ride? Try resting your palms on the bars lightly, with your thumbs over the tops of the bars. It is what I do most of the time, and it is much more comfortable.

With the trekking bars, it is worth using the other hand positions, you will develop the confidence to keep your hands away from the brakes.

Thanks relyt. I suspect you are right; I just don't want to have to redo the bike fit (read: buy a new stem) if I find that whatever I do is not suitable.

Another thought occurred to me, and that is that I could possibly cut a bit off the small (non-clamping) ends of the Ergon grips so that they would fit on the trekking bars. I'm just not sure if there would still be enough left for me to benifit from the grip though. From the clamp on the shifter to the bend in the trekking bars I have no more than 112mm (4 3/8").

Oh, and the bar ends on the Ergon grips can rotate independently of the grip, so I don't think that's a problem, I just wonder if that little bar end is really enough to grip on to. That and there is no way that the bar end model will fit on the trekking bars.

my partner had a lot of difficulty getting the fit just right on her bike.
she ended up with on one mary handle bars and the regular ergon grip
and grip shifters. the curved part of the grip points upward slightly, almost pointing toward
her shoulders- this put her wrists in a comfortable position for her and now she
can ride comfortably for hours.

The Ergon grips with the barends are a nice touch, I have been running them on my MTB and one comutter for almost a year now, they really make a difference. I even put a set on my wifes bake and she claims it relieves the pressure she has from carple tunnel......

I like the look of the on one mary bars too. It looks like the swept back nature would help with hand comfort.

I'll probably get the grips without the ends and try them on the trekking bars, even though I'll need to trim them a little. I think it will still have a similar effect. At least I'm hoping so. If that doesn't work then I'll form a plan b, but I think I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

ergon grips, a 0 degree flat ar and drop bar bar ends maybe? Would seem to be the most comfortable or some of the trekking bars that split in the middle to allow for gripshifts or ergon grips.

There are couple of models of the drop bar extensions mentioned - sorry can't find them now but everything from simple drop to bar-end-with-drop.

https://images.google.com/images?svnu...=trekking+bars

The Ergon grips with the built in barends are comfy, but the rarends are so small as to be nearly useless. I run the Ergon grips with separate barends, the sirt that curve inwards and allow for yet another hand position, similar to these:



If you do go this route, I'd suggest you take the time to do the little fiddly adjustments with both the Ergons and barends; the tiniest change in angle can make a huge difference.

Aha. My current bar ends look just like those, or they would if you were to chop about two thirds of the last straight bit on the ends. I hope that makes sense.

So I guess if they don't work with the trekking bars then I can happily use them on the straight bar with my existing bar ends. I like the idea of drop bar ends but I can't find any available anywhere.

I'm just reluctant to do the bike fit (which I suspect will involve buying a new stem) and then have to do it all again (with possibly another stem) a bit later if it doesn't work out.

Perhaps I just need to man up and deal with it. I do appreciate the input though.

Nobody asked the most important question----how much weight is bindibadgi putting on his hands? No amount of bar swapping and grip trickery will fix hand discomfort that's caused by bars which are too low. I had terrible numbness until I drank the Rivendell Kool-Aid and switched to a wide Nitto Noodle bar and got my bars up to saddle height.

Bindi---if you're having a bike fit, definitely mention your discomfort issues to the fitter. They will likely recommend you get the bars up.

Good point on the bar height Schwinnrider.

I had a lot of hand numbness until I put the Ergon grips on my flat bars. I bought the ones with the built in bar ends and then found that I seldom use 'em- but they do look cool. Building up your core muscles will also help you to not put so much weight on your hands. Pilates anyone?