Help me, hand numbing problem.
 

Hi all,

I am fairly new to the road but I think i'm addicted already. :) And also, this is a great sight I'm glad I stumbled across it!!!

But sadly I am having a problem that I can't seem to solve, my left hand goes numb about an hour into every ride. It is very annoying and the longer I ride the worse it gets. What can I try to fix this! The bike is set up properly as far as I can tell. I searched here and found a wealth of info on bike fitment and I have tried everything I can think of to fix this problem, seat is level and in a nuetral position, bars and seat are straight, seat height is good, frame size seems perfect... everything I can think of checks out and still only my left hand goes numb on every ride. I have had no related problems or injuries in any other sport.

Sorry for the long post but I can't figure anything else to try, please help!!!

when urr in the drops in an aerodynamic position is urr elbow at 90 degrees or just about. if not.. that may be why.. u may need a shorter or longer stem. ive been told that when urr arms are 90 degrees in that position then the bike will fit for any position

Numb hands are not unusual when riding. I usually have some numbness after 30 minutes. Shift your grip around periodically and occassionally take your numb hand off the bar and shake it for a few seconds and the numbness should disapate.

I have the same problem, but right hand. A few things seem to work wonders: 1) I bought the thickest padded gloves I could find (of course, they cost about double thinner ones) 2) Then when I ride I shift several times drops, hoods, up, down and 3) I remove my right hand if I have to stop for a light or traffic, or when I take a drink from the H2O...

I understand the addiction...had my road bike 9 days, have over 100 miles...LOVE IT... (my hand problem occurs MTB as well as road...)

Good luck...:(

Wow, thanks for the quick responses.

Sounds like there are a couple of things I will try. First I will start wearing some gloves, I hate wearing them but I do have some from mtn biking.
Secondly, I checked and maybe I could try a slightly shorter stem. Plus that gives me a good excuse to go shopping at the LBS.

Be careful 2Wheels, you'll get addicted to this forum almost as quickly as to that road bike...I know I have... :beer:

i agree with you legalice.. very addictive.. you can talk to ppl about bikes all u want and not get yelled at for being annoying.. well its hard to be yelled at.. and i to also love an excuse to go bike shopping.. im buying pedals, handlebars, and stem soon.

I've had my Roadbike just over a month and at the start I had the same problem with my hands- it must be because of the extra pressure appiled to them from the forward riding position- I did whats others advised and just kept moving my hands around the bars and the problem wll go away.

If your new to roadbiking how are your shoulders? another hotspot for discomfort on a roadbike.

There is a nerve that runs through the hand on the inside of the thumb ( I forgot the name). If you are putting preasure on it for a while it will cause your hand to go numb. Also the vibration that is transfered through the bars can cause your hands to go numb. Try a good pair of gel gloves and move your hands around while riding.
Slainte:beer:

I have the same problem there are two things to do if bike fit is right. First ride with a good glove with good padding in the palm. Second move your hands around the bar frequently. You don't have to move them much just enough to put presure in a slightly different area of the hand. I like the Pearl Izumi White Line and Gel gloves as recommended by my doctor when I mentioned it to him (he rides too).

I one position that relieves some stress pretty quickly is when riding the tops move the hands back toward you a little so the forward part of your palm, right behind the fingers, is resting on the bar. This seems to provide relief in just a few seconds.

Just on a chance, take another look at your saddle. Some saddles have a little kick up at the rear. You can lay a level on the saddle to get it level over all, but the part where you actually sit may be leaning you forward. I find this with my Brooks Team Professional. I have to tilt the nose up slightly to avoid feeling like I am being thrown forward.

Also look at your grips/bar tape. The numbness is probably caused by pinched nerves, vibrations, or just squeezing too tightly. The thicker your grip/tape the better it will absorb vibrations and the larger surface area will spread these vibrations out more.

How tightly do you grip on the bars? Think of it as resting your hands, not holding on. White knuckles are an indication that it's time to ease up. :)

I see that everything I was going to mention has been said. I thought I had a chance to add the bar tape idea but someone beat me to it.

It is also true that members of this forum will indeed contribute to your addiction. Normally, but not always, they will cause you to contribute frequently and substantially to the bottom line of your LBS.

Every LBS should hang a banner which says:

BEFORE YOU BUY PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT BIKEFORUMS.NET:p

You listen to us bike forum people even for a little while and you'll walk into your LBS so prepared, they may ask for your credit card AND your job application at the same time!

Carl

i HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS IT IS PART OF RIDING. MY NUMBNESS STARTED WHEN I GOT A ROAD BIKE, TREK 2200 AFTER RIDING MY JAMUS HYBRID FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF. I ADDED MORE TAPE TO HANDLEBAR, GOT NEW GLOVES AND TRIED MOVING HAND MANY DIFFERENT POSITIONS. NUMBNESS CONTINUES AFTER RIDING. MY CONCLUSION IS I AM LEANING FORWARD TOO HARD ON HANDLEBAR SINCE THAT POSITION IS DIFFERENT FROM MY RIDING TECHNIQUE ON A HYBRID.

SORRY I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY FIX UP ADVICE BUT I HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY

TED:) :)

Hi

Hand problems are caused by too much weight on the hands. I found 2 items which help in addition to those mentioned:
s
1. Get the handle bars level with the seat. This may require a stem with a long quill length.

2. Every 5 minutes, I take 1 hand off the bars, extend it forward and rotate it around the shoulder like a propeller. I repeat it going in the opposite direction.
Then, I extend it outward to the side and and bend at the elbow a few times.
Repeat for the other hand.
The propeller movement can be felt all the ways done your back.

This I found effective.

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

Have the SAME problem - new bike, so the tape is fine, new gloves, although I'm not sure if I like the fit. Might try another pair. My problem is, most X-Large gloves are on the small side.

Like everyone else, I try to keep moving the hands ... but I usually have residual numbness in my left thumb even a day after riding ... think I will ask the expert at my LBS next time also ...

Same problem here (old age may have something to do with my problem) however, make sure your gloves are not strapped on too tight - found that to be a problem. Also, once the numbness starts pump your arm - it will speed up the blood flow to your hand. Usually 4 or 5 pumps, while flexing your fingers, should get rid of the numbness.

Hi,
try a shorter steeper stem. You can put the original stem back on when you get used to riding on the road. I haven't got it yet, but I have some hope the VDT Tape will help. I ordered some VDT elastomer bar tape from gripstore.com.
Actually, I ordered 2 rolls. Lastly, you can put larger tires on, take a look at the Rivendell Roly Poly

Interestingly, I am comfortable in the hoods. It's when I am moving off of the tops that I feel a twinge in the palm of my left hand.

I had this same problem and fixed it with a shorter, steeper stem and PI Gel Lite gloves that have about 1/4" thick gel padding. I also conciously change my grip, shake them out really well when I get a break, and use my abs to keep me from putting so much weight on the bars. Oh, and don't death grip the bars either. :-)

Dropping the hand for several seconds helps a lot if it gets numb. The other suggestions I've read here should help keep it from getting numb. But if not drop it and let blood flow into it.

Joe

I've been back riding after a20 year "break" ... Been going at it since mid April. Early on I was getting numb in my right hand 5-7 miles into a ride. As time went on the hand got used to what I was asking of it. I did cheet up the bars a bit, but I'm moving them back down little by little. I was out for about 80 minutes today and got in 26 miles. The hand didn't bother me at all.
I know I won't be that fortunate on longer rides, but I really think the more you ride the better off this kind of thing becomes.

Problem solved!

I rode last night (in this 90 degree sweltering NE heat) and made a very concious effort not to grab the top bar tightly on the tough climbs. I was almost unconciously gripping hard in that situation. Anyhow, "made" myself stop doing that, and hands felt MUCH better after my ride was over.

Rookie mistake I suppose!