bike4fun12

so, I've been riding for a while now and my left hand index finger goes numb and tingles after the ride for a little before going away. a little meaning an hour or so after the ride. now, I have looked online for days now and have read about 100 different articles/threads about hand numbness. I am still a little frazzled on what to do.

stem length, stem angle, hood position, ext. my seat position is where I like it and it isn't causing me any discomfort at all. what I think it comes down to is the stem length/angle and hood position. will a longer stem help take pressure off my hands and put more weight to the seat? when I ride, I can see the hub of the front wheel. I know that means my stem is probably to short, right?

any suggestions?

mprelaw

Just one finger out of 10? I don't know for sure, but I would think that a fit issue would affect more than one finger. Sounds more like a nerve compression issue. My fit is fine, but sometimes when I'm fighting a tough headwind, or tackling a series of hills, I find that I tend to tighten up on the bike, and start to feel it in my lower back and shoulder--especially the left shoulder. That's more of a "fitness" issue for me than a fit issue.

bike4fun12

yeah, it really is the one finger that gives me trouble. I feel like I am putting to much weight on the handle bars when I ride. I know my core is what is supposed to hold my body up and not my hands, but, what else will help get weight off my hands? longer stem? stem angled up?

mprelaw

There's a whole range of things that could be working against you there, from seat height/position, to reach. Best thing you can do is take it to a good fitter. But I would think that if it was a hand pressure situation, you'd feel it in your thumb and index finger, and in your shoulder, too. You usually put excessive pressure on the meaty part of your palm under the thumb, which leads to numbness there. Try switching your hands to the tops instead of the hoods for a few miles when you're riding. Sometimes switching hand position solves it. Might be just the way your ring finger holds the left hood. It's just a little strange that it happens in just one finger. A bad fit usually bites you in more than one place.

bike4fun12

yeah, it is a bit weird. but I really only get numb in the index and a tiny bit in the thumb, not much in the thumb to even give it much thought. it's funny how it is only on the left side too. the right is just fine.

I'm going into my lbs today to see what I can do to help. I believe it is something to do with the stem length or handle bar width maybe to short.

HokuLoa

Typically this is an issue of median nerve compression (basically carpal tunnel syndrome). Common for peeps who ride the tops or flat bars a lot. Especially for those who are too forward weighted and/or cock their wrists a lot and pinch the nerve.

bike4fun12

This is what I feel is my problem. the medium nerve being compressed and my wrist is not in a neutral position. I also have to much weight forward. in order to reduce the weight, will having a longer stem help out? I know I have to work on my core strength, and I am. but, I have read that having a longer stem helps keep weight more on the saddle. the saddle position is where I want it. so the only thing is the stem.

HokuLoa

Too little info BUT generally speaking no. Think about it...

If you extend the stem length your arms/upper body must stretch out more which distributes more weight away from the saddle and onto the front end. The exception to this is a big upward angle on the stem. Then conceivably a length increase might also put you bars higher and place more weight on the seat. Rarely the case. More likely; to unweight the front end one can use a shorter stem or a greater upward angle on the stem. Both give a more upright fit and place more weight on the saddle.

bikerjp

I have a similar issue lately but it's the pinky on my left hand. Gets a bit numb on the ride and stays that way after for a bit. Never had the issue before. Curious to see if you find a solution. Too much weight on the hands would seem to be a culprit or positioning. The comment above about too much time on the tops is worth considering. I tend to get lazy and ride the tops when I start to tire so that might be part of it.

HokuLoa

pinky and index finger numbness are almost always two different nerve compression issues (ulnar versus median nerve). Solutions/causes are generally different for both so look to ulnar nerve solutions first (particularly wrist angulation with weight pressure).

Timothy

Are you married? I blame my ring finger numbness on my wedding band compressing into my finger for hours on end.
Maybe it's something else though?

bike4fun12

I never thought of that....divorce the mrs. and I will be able to ride numb free. haha.

anywho, I went to my lbs and talked with the fit guy for a while. very helpful and stuck with me with different tweaks here and there. I ended with a flipped stem so that the angle is up now and I dropped the handle bar angle back to parallel to the ground and so far absolutely no numbness (knock on wood). It put more weight on the saddle thus not as much weight on the bars/hoods. and the drops feel so much better. it was as simple as that. thanks, peeps for the help.