This has been happening off and on. Last Sat, I went for a 30 miler with a 2 mile climb at 10-14% grade**. Lots of push/pulling. About half way through, my right hand goes partially numb. Pinky and ring finger, and half of the palm. I am (of course) standing, so most of the weight is on my feet. I've had numb hands before, but it's usually when riding seated for a long period of time.

My handlebars are bullhorn style that gives me a good grip for steep climbs. I guess I am a little confused why my hands are going numb when climbing. Any insight would be appreciated.

** EDIT: Here is the climb. Parts are 10-14%, not the entire thing. https://app.strava.com/segments/629980

Eat more bananas?

White knuckle gripping?

Probably having a heart attack.

10-14%?! For 2 miles? ****.

Where did you find a 34/32T fixed gear set-up?

Are you wearing gloves? Do they have padding?

There are many nerve endings in the hand and it's very common for them to go numb depending on how and where you're gripping the bars. If you get gloves with even a small amount of padding, it can help greatly.

Try shifting your grip around, sometimes the slightest correction will do the trick. Even when standing, you shouldn't be gripping the bars so hard that you can't wiggle your fingers.

If we are talking about the same thing "bullhorn" bars were (poorly) designed for time trial applications decades ago, not mountain ascents where they would be sub-optimal at best or just downright silly.

Climbing extremely steep grades on proper road pattern bars for a couple of miles at a time usually involves shifting position from the tops to the brake levers as necessary. You do have at least 1 functional brake lever I assume as getting back down that 10-14% grade on a fixed gear w/o a massive crash would be beyond Hercules's quads. Change bars & at least add a 'dummy' 2nd brake lever and move around during your massive mountain attack.

This is your second post in this sub-forum, it is as condescending and void of useful information as your first. It doesn't appear you ride a fixed gear nor do you have any relevant knowledge to share. Why are you here?

OP, you are probably gripping the bars too hard. I have the same issues during the early winter when climbing with gloves. The extra material causes a slight disconnect and makes me grip the bars way too hard. Maybe try to consciously relax your grip every now and again during the climb?

You could also trying running thicker tape/grips along with gloves so you have more padding when death gripping it.

14%f or two miles is brutals.

Spoonrobot,

And I should explain myself to You? Not likely, get a grip lad.

Just to clarify for others:

It is indeed my 2nd post "here" and neither are condescending nor void of useful information, but 1st things 1st.

My 1st Fixed Gear bike ride was on a wood rimmed track bike that was raced by a friend's father pre-WWII. It was in the 1960's, I liked it a lot and have kept it up since.

I competed on the Velodrome in the '70's (those were Fixed Gear Track Bikes BTW) and have ridden Fixed on the road for decades, in fact just last week.

Road racing, cyclocross, mountain bike racing, commuting and touring don't exactly compare but I'm well rounded and know grade % very well from many perspectives.

That said, the OP's assentation of % grade and distance climbed is faintly absurd and rings my BS meter.
Perhaps he/she is a potential National Team candidate? If so good for he/she and my advise on positioning will make those massive mountain assaults much more comfortable, glad to help.

Why indeed am I here?
Why are any of you? Deep thoughts? Not really.

And what is your cycling Vita Spoonrobot ?
No, save it I'm really not interested in the least.

I would however like to know what gear ratio is used on Fixed 10-14% > 2 mile climbs w/ the Pros using 39/28-30 on similar in this year's Giro.

-Bandera

I'm more comfortable with gloves that have no padding or no gloves at all, depends on the person in the end.

Same thing happens to me on regular 30 mile rides

If your hands are going numb on flatish rides, you have an ill fitting bike.

Not necessarily. My hands are really sensitive to changes. Certain bar tapes make my pinkies go numb. Certain gloves, certain bars, etc.
Doesn't mean the bike doesn't fit, but also doesn't mean that its probably the case.

At least you can fix an improper fit. Wussy hands are forever.

Thanks for all of the advise. I'm had on Spec. BG gloves that had pretty good padding. Maybe I'll try minimal padded gloves next time. Also will try a lighter grip on the bars (which are double wrapped).

Also, sorry for the deceiving post. What I meant was a 2-mile stretch with 10-14% grade mixed in. Here is the Strava (not me, but just wanted to show the route). The 2-mile portion starts right before the big sweeping curve half way through. It's a big bowl and always intimidating to look up at from the bottom. Also, I'm at 70 gear inches, although at few points, 34/32 would feel much better.

https://app.strava.com/segments/629980

This one's a good climb as well. Especially considering you're near 10,000 ft, and also the preceding 12-mile climb.

https://app.strava.com/segments/1473693

Could be the high volume blood being redirected from your hands and arms in order to supply oxygen to your quads on a climb like that!

Not likely. Money's on the double wrapped handlebar and the thick pads on the BG gloves.

+1
My hands go numb with any kind of padding.

There's also a pressure point in the heel of your hand that if depressed will make your two small fingers and palm of the hand go numb. Certain spots on my bullhorns hit that pressure point perfectly.

And, I also find bullhorns work well for climbing.