Since returning to the road I have also encountered the return of a moderate degree of hand numbness. 15'ish years ago when I was riding I had the same issue and it basically just went away over time. I seem to be repeating that process.

I went out for a 2 hour 15 minute ride today with a markedly reduced amount of hand numbness (but not zero). What was interesting is that for the first time I did not wear cycling gloves. I'm familiar with changes in cycling gloves affecting the hand numbness issue. But I've never heard of a pair of gloves making it worse (vs. wearing nothing). Anyone else encountered that?

Thanks.

dave

I guess cycling gloves can cut off circulation and exacerbate hand tingling and numbness. I have always had some bother with it on long bike and motorcycle rides. I found an on bike stretch that helps to relieve it. Kind of hard to describe but take one hand at a time and bend the wrist and place the base of your thumb into your solar plexus. It's like a monk's prayer (and it may even be called that). Hold it for 15-20 seconds in front of you then do the reverse behind your back for another 15-20 seconds, but flip your wrist first. Repeat with your other hand. Your fingers should be point upwards in both positions.

I recently wore out a pair of Pearl Izumi's from this year. They have that set of little chunks of padding in the "correct" places. I dug out a still new pair of gloves that had a very thin padding all over the typical areas. Hand tingling went way down. I think the chunks were just turning into pressure points instead of bridging the nerves.

That said, I've always had problems with hand numbness and I really had an epiphany this year when I studied the anatomy and understood where the nerves go. Now, I no longer pressure those areas - I changed how I hold the bars, and I have very little numbness at all.

This is a good link that helps a ton. I'm willing to say that it was the single best post I've read on BF.

This whole thread is useful too.

What it really comes down to is to put pressure on your hands where you were intended to pressure them. It's basically the heel of the hand (where you feel the pressure when you do pushups) and the "karate chop" side of your hand. Don't let the hoods pressure the crook between your thumb and index finger. Do that, and unless you have issues with tingly hands when doing pushups, you should be pretty much numbness free.

J.

Too much padding causes my hands to go numb as well. You also need to remember to move your hands around, and don't forget to work on your core strength so that you aren't 100% relying on your hands and wrists to support your upper body on the bike.

Yes, it has happened to me with a pair of particularly small, tight gloves ... and also if I have the wrist band closed too tightly. Most of the time, I don't close my wrist bands at all or if I do, they are very loose.

Are you experiencing marked weakness or clumsiness in your ring and pinky fingers?

Some glove brands are particularly undersized. I have medium hands but take an XL in some brands, especially those that still shrink with washing. I had thought that was a thing of the real-leather era and was behind us now, but not so much. Anyway, size your gloves more generously and see if it helps.

In my case I notice it most on the middle finger (much more on the right vs. left hand). This would correspond with the median nerve and suggest that pressure should be taken away from the central area of the butt of the hand. I notice it because it sometimes makes downshifting the RD award with my Ergo (Campy) shifters.

dave

I used to just cut those tabs off. But my new gloves are not made the same way. I can only cut one tab off and would be left with scratchy velcro.

I've been riding with the wrist bands loose or open for the last 2 weeks and have seen a big difference. Minimum numbness or not at all during my rides now.