Gibs

The longer I ride the more Im realizing that the numbness in my hands isn't something I can train through. I thought it might go away the more I trained but not so. My hands go completely numb with a regular frequency during my rides. any tips? drives me nuts trying to ride one handed while i shake the feeling back in my hands.

RaleighSport

squishy grips use them like an excercise ball?

Gibs

i dont understand what you mean?

RaleighSport

I imagine there's gel grips, I was just thinking you could possibly kneed those like a therapy ball, possibly get flow back?

Northwestrider

Raise your handle bars a bit, thereby lessening the weight on your hands ( adding weight on you saddle however). More comfortable grips, gloves. Of course moving your hand position often will help as well.

BlazingPedals

I was never able to get rid of hand problems, regardless of different bars, padding, gloves, exercises, or adjustments. Finally went 'bent. Problem solved.

Retro Grouch 

What kind of bike?

I've had that at various times in my career. My hands have become so numb that I couldn't feel the brake levers or shifters. I can't say how I got rid of it other than the constant messing I do with my position on the bike. Raising the bars and/or adjusting them closer to you so that you put less pressure on your wrists might help. If you ride a flat bar bike adding bar ends that allow you to rotate your wrists 90 degrees might help.

dolanp

This generally comes from putting consistent pressure on the palm of your hand and compressing and vibrating the ulnar nerve. Anything you can do to alleviate the amount of downward pressure you are putting by your hands onto the stem will help with this. You can get more ergonomic grips or gloves to help with the vibration and spreading out the pressure more across your hand. Or you can also adjust the stem upward or the seat slightly backward to put more of your weight on the saddle and less on the handlebars.

As you found, this is not something that goes away or you get used to. Repeated injury to the nerve will only make the numbness last longer in fact, and it can be permanent if you do it too much. Look up Cyclist's Palsy for more info.

Gibs

i never use gloves and never even thought about it to be honest. its a specialized hardrock mountain bike that im riding purely road. Gets so bad that after a few miles i cant shift and have to slap them on my thighs to get the feeling back. Ill try raising the handle bars. i bet that will work for me. dolanp man now you have me nervous about damage. maybe ill try gloves today if i go. Ill try raising the bars first cause i have a feeling that will make a huge difference.

Nightshade

When hands go numb it means that you are putting to much of your weight on your ulnar nerve in your wrist.

The only workable solution is TO SIT MORE UPRIGHT TO GET YOUR WEIGHT OFF YOUR WRIST AND HANDS!!

https://highperformancesports.blogspo...-palsy-or.html

https://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_3_2.htm

https://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/...-injuries.html

Gibs

raised my bars up an inch. unfortunately its still 100 degrees so no bike ride today. sucky. maybe it will cool off enough to try it out.

glowrocks

In my experience, a couple of things were going on.

First, I found that I was using a "death grip" on my handlebars, for no good reason. I had to consciously relax my grip.

That helped some. Another thing I noticed was that if I was particularly tired, I tended to rest more of my weight on my hands. I had to make an effort to just sit up a bit straighter, and not lean down so hard.

Of course, there's the changing your hand position solution, except with straight handlebars, there aren't many choices! :-)

I'm also a big believer in gloves, especially padded ones. I did a test ride just last night w/out the gloves, and really noticed a difference.

One caveat regarding gloves: make sure they fit! I first had a pair that was too small, and if anything, they contributed to the numbing!

Good luck!

Gibs

Im just worried about my hands sweating bad in gloves. I am one of those people that cannot wear gloves for anything. As a result its going to be difficult for me to get used to them. so do people that ride have pale hands and tan arms? Curious cause i tan very easily. not that im vain but i dont wanna look like there is something wrong with me lol

glowrocks

The only thing I can say to that is that cycling gloves are very lightweight, breathe, and in my experience are nothing like other gloves, such as those I use in the winter, or those I use when working in the yard.

My advice? They're fairly cheap, give them a try.

Gibs

Maybe ill pick up a pair today at my LBS when i bring my bike in for its new shoes and get the cable slack adjusted on my derailleurs

BlazingPedals

Yeah, if you've got a flat style bar, your #1 big problem is lack of hand positions. Gloves may help too, but get some bar ends and change positions once in a while. On the recumbents, I don't *need* gloves, except to help me grab my GripShifts in hot weather or in case I go down. But for those reasons, I almost always wear them. For me, weight lifters' gloves with minimal padding work fine.

AlmostGreenGuy

Numb hands? Just take the pressure off of your hands. Your body rests on the saddle and handlebars, with a pivot at the pedals. Numb hands means that either you're pivoting too far forward, or you're death gripping the handlebars. If it's a pivot issue, move the seat back until you pivot further rearward. Once you've achieved a more neutral pivot position, adjust the handlebars to meet with your hands.

Here's a cool step-by-step fit guide:
https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb...ke-like-a-pro/

Doug5150

A few suggestions with what you've got, ranked from easiest/cheapest:
1) padded gloves
2) add bar ends and use them to vary your hand position
3) Ergon-brand grips https://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gp1
4) trekking bars https://www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html

Then there is the deep end,,,, that will usually fix seat pain, hand numbness and neck pain, all at once,,,, -if you dare,,,,

5) recumbent bikes (many different brands, several different types, all fairly expensive but the riding is wonderfully pain-free)
6) RANS crank-forward bikes (still look fairly normal, but much much much improved riding comfort) https://www.ransbikes.com/Fusion-N.htm (one model, but they also offer frame kits)

Yes recumbents are expensive--but a bike that hurts so much to ride that you won't use it is no bargain.

Gibs

just got some gloves today so ill give that a try tomorrow and see what happens. Pretty sure its just too much pressure on my hands. Thanks everyone. Ill keep yall posted on if this solves it or not.

ahsposo 

The lack of varied hand positions on flat bars bothers me too. As BP notes here gloves actually help hold on in hot conditions and many have terry cloth backs for wiping sweat out of yer eyes. If you ever have a spill you'll regret the lack of gloves if you instinctively plant a palm on the asphalt to save yer head.

Suggestions 1 to 4 are appropriate for Gibs. From previous threads it's my understanding that a change of equipment at this time isn't in the playbook.

How them wheels holding up?

Gibs

After todays 24 mile ride the gloves made an enormous improvement. Hands went numb 2 times really bad and the rest was very maintainable. Id like to raise my bars another inch or so but i need to get a new riser first.
Ahsposo
I have my wheels on order i actually have 2 sets coming into the LBS to try. first is the Bourough and the second is the nimbus by specialized. Both are armadillo. Gonna pick one of the two when they come in. The rep is supposed to be there too to weigh in on his assessment of my needs. Will keep everyone posted on the tires for sure. I was bummed they weren't in stock he has armadillo bouroughs but they were too big for my rims.

triggerracing

Gibs, do you have an update, I have a Specialized Hardrock also and have the same issue.

CSG

I solved that issue with Ergon GP-1 grips on my flat bars. Gel gloves help even more but I really wear them more for protection if I take a spill. Any of these ergo grips (I think the Specialized versions are even better than Ergon's) will make an ENORMOUS difference on flat bar bikes. Also, like a golf club, steering wheel, or airplane yoke, keep a lighter grip. Makes a big difference. And even on flat bars you can come up with a few positions, especially if you use bar ends.

If I ever feel uncomfortable, I stop for a bit and dismount. I don't race, compete, or have any need to press on; I ride for fun. That's something too many current cyclists seem to have forgotten about IMO.

GaryPitts

Anyone try these https://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=193? They look like they might do well with the bulge in the middle. I'm still trying everything to get rid of left hand numbness. Lower the seat, tilt seat slightly backwards, move seat forward, change handlebars, higher stem, several different kinds of grips, padded gloves, rotate brake and shifters down. So far nothing has helped, but then again I don't know how long it might take for a positive change to have an effect. I do know that if I don't ride at all for 3 days I still have the numbness

Retro Grouch 

I have an answer but you probably don't want to hear it. It's the "R" word.