trying to figure this out but for whatever reason my LEFT hand has pain and eventually goes numb, try all the hand positions, light touch on the bars, take it off and flex it every once in a while and it still happens...my right hand is 100% fine.

so I know everyone will probably say "make sure the hoods are even"

what exactly is the proper way to do this?

what else can I do?

Chad

Are you taking any "statin" drugs?

My hoods are uneven because that's how my hands are comfortable.

My left is a little lower than my right otherwise I get shoulder and hand pain.

Go by what feels right, not by what people say it's supposed to be.

I get this too, but maybe not as much as you. I think that it might be partly because I use my right hand more, getting water, GU, changing gears. This moving it around keeps it from going numb. My left hand mostly just sits there and bears the weight.

yeah I agree 100% but I was thinking that I just had the left one a tad lower...I'll bump it up a smidge and see how it feels.

to the guy who said about using the right hand more, I agree, and you make a valid point, maybe i'll start reaching for the bottle with my left hand

wanderer what are "statin" drugs?

Chad

Consciously drop your left shoulder when you ride ... there's a chance you're unconsciously shrugging it as you ride.

Apparently I do that with my left shoulder ... probably something to do with the fact that I tore the rotator cuff in 2001, and separated it badly enough that it constantly dislocates in 2007. However, if I make an effort to drop that shoulder when I ride, I get less neck pain, and less arm pain.

I'd rather just move my shifter to compensate...

Also, as you ride, every so often sit up straight, and put your left arm behind your back in an "L" shape so that the part of your arm from your elbow to your hand basically rests along your waist in the back. You might slowly tip your head from side to side too, and make sure to drop your shoulder as you do this.

Doing that takes away the numbness in your hands, and also gives your body a bit of a stretch. It even feels good if you're just sitting at the computer for any length of time too.

Neck muscles. Need to stretch pre-ride.

The problem is that when I shrug my shoulder as I ride, my neck muscles tighten up and hurt, and my back muscles tighten up and start to cramp, and my left hip starts bothering me, and my whole left arm falls asleep. I'd rather not encourage myself to shrug. I'd rather consciously drop that shoulder and stretch out those muscles before I cramp into a painful ball of my former self.

not questioning you at all but wouldn't my neck hurt? or like Machka start cramping up? my arm feels 100% fine it just feels like I almost have to reach to far with the left hand...I'm going to try raising the shifter, I'll report back tom with how it goes.

Chad

Not necessarily. From talking with a chiropractor years ago (2 bad crashes and c-2 subluxation), his explanation for the majority upper extremity numbness/pain was uneven development of the neck muscles pulling the cervical spine out of alignment. Or, uneven suppleness of neck muscles. Discomfort can be in shoulder, elbow, entire forearm, or any combination of hand and finger, usually 4th and 5th fingers.

Pain in the neck, however, is not always present.

Hope that helps.

BTW. When I stretch, I usually don't get pain or numbness in my hands. When I don't stretch, I usually do get pain/numbness.

Edit: Oops. Subluxation is the wrong term. The vertabra was rotating out of alignment.

one of your arms is longer than the other.

had this issue lately along with hot spots on the ride side of the saddle only....turns out my pelvis is out of alignment from the crash last year and the subsequent hip injuries i've been getting through.

I have the exact same issue with my left hand. Any links/suggestions on how to stretch the neck muscles.

little update on the hand issue..seems it is all gone! I raised the left brifte slightly, and a 45mi ride today ZERO numbness/pain in the left hand, 95% of the riding was done on the hoods everything felt great...just need some new bibs and a new saddle and I'll be set...

Chad