I've been commuting to school or work for about 25 years, and I've reached a point with numbness in my hands where it's really uncomfortable and I'm biking less with my kids than I'd like to.

Any kind of pressure on the heel of my hand (over the nerve) makes my hands go numb in about five minutes. I have to constantly shift positions on the handlebars while I'm riding. I ride a road bike in a fairly upright position to lessen the pressure on my hands.

Does anyone make bike gloves with some kind of hard shell over the part of the palm where the nerve is? I've tried just about every kind of padding, both gell and regular, and it's just not working for me.

Have you tried using motorcycle gloves or something along those lines? I think those gloves tend to be a bit more rugged and may be what you're looking for.

If that doesn't seem to help you significantly, I'd head on out and see your doctor asap- it could be carpel tunnel syndrome from 25 years of overuse (ok, it's not overuse to us, but it's repetitive use, so same-same), and maybe they can recommend a treatment that can help you out.

Koffee

if you only noticed this recently and didn't have this problem in the past, i think you should see your doctor.

i don't remember where i got this from, but there's an easy test you can do to see if you might have carpel tunnel.

put your hands out in front of you, palms up. then flex your fingers all the way at the middle joint. if you can do this without any pain or tightness in your forearms, you should be ok. however, if there's any pain or tightness, then go check it out with a doctor to make sure.

Watch your wrist orientation carefully. Dorsiflexing the hands while typing or cycling is an open invitation to carpal tunnel syndrome.