Numb hands
07-12-16 | 03:38 PM
#27
just another gosling
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,544
Likes: 2,659
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
I did set up a bike fit. I checked with Boulder Center For Sports Medicine. They have since been bought out by the University of Colorado. I don't know if Andy Pruitt is still with them but I seriously doubt that he would be doing my fit. Likely one of his apprentices. They now charge $300 for a fit plus doctor charges if I want a "medical fit". I guess that the doc charges will be submitted to my insurance but I don't know how beneficial this will be. I decided to go with a fitter at a Golden, Co. bike shop who was recommended by several people.
With regard to gloves: I only recently tried wearing gloves. I tried some Specialized "Grail" gloves. They have padding in the middle of the palm with the idea that the load can be distributed better. The gloves don't seem to help. Just now when I was riding I note that I spend most of my time with my thumbs & forefingers wrapped around the brake levers and most of the load on the "heel" of my palm - between the pads for my thumb & pinky. In an area with very little meat. I now think that if gloves would do any good, I would need to find some with padding in the center of the heel.
With regard to gloves: I only recently tried wearing gloves. I tried some Specialized "Grail" gloves. They have padding in the middle of the palm with the idea that the load can be distributed better. The gloves don't seem to help. Just now when I was riding I note that I spend most of my time with my thumbs & forefingers wrapped around the brake levers and most of the load on the "heel" of my palm - between the pads for my thumb & pinky. In an area with very little meat. I now think that if gloves would do any good, I would need to find some with padding in the center of the heel.
BTW, that's the reason that decent cycling gloves don't have padding there. The padding would press on the ulnar nerve. Rather they are padded to prevent pressure in that area.
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07-12-16 | 03:47 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 19
From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: Road, mountain and track bikes and tandems.
I have not seen any comment on seat tilt. If your seat is tilted down, your weight will bear down on your hands. (ouch) Not usually a problem with 2,3 or 4mm but 5 and definitely 6mm will start to significantly increase pressure on your hands. Just use a small torpedo level and a few allen keys to make the determination.
07-13-16 | 11:53 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Bikes: Burley Duet
I have not seen any comment on seat tilt. If your seat is tilted down, your weight will bear down on your hands. (ouch) Not usually a problem with 2,3 or 4mm but 5 and definitely 6mm will start to significantly increase pressure on your hands. Just use a small torpedo level and a few allen keys to make the determination.
08-03-16 | 07:43 AM
#30
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 10
From: Lafayette, Colorado
Bikes: 1998 Co-Motion Co-Pilot, 2015 Calfee Tetra
So I had a bike fit (on my single bike). My intent was to try to migrate the saddle position & bar position to our tandem.
The fitter changed my single pretty radically. Cleats on shoes moved from far forward to far back. Saddle moved down & back. Bars moved up & back.
I've ridden the single on several short rides. It seems to be more comfortable initially but I find that the new position takes weight off my shoulders/arms/hands and transfers the strain to my lower back. My "core" has always been weak and this new position makes that more obvious. At the end of a short ride, my hands are no longer numb but my lower back is really sore. Aside from doing exercises to strengthen my lower back & abs, I'm just trading one complaint for another.
The fitter changed my single pretty radically. Cleats on shoes moved from far forward to far back. Saddle moved down & back. Bars moved up & back.
I've ridden the single on several short rides. It seems to be more comfortable initially but I find that the new position takes weight off my shoulders/arms/hands and transfers the strain to my lower back. My "core" has always been weak and this new position makes that more obvious. At the end of a short ride, my hands are no longer numb but my lower back is really sore. Aside from doing exercises to strengthen my lower back & abs, I'm just trading one complaint for another.
08-03-16 | 09:52 AM
#31
just another gosling
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,544
Likes: 2,659
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
So I had a bike fit (on my single bike). My intent was to try to migrate the saddle position & bar position to our tandem.
The fitter changed my single pretty radically. Cleats on shoes moved from far forward to far back. Saddle moved down & back. Bars moved up & back.
I've ridden the single on several short rides. It seems to be more comfortable initially but I find that the new position takes weight off my shoulders/arms/hands and transfers the strain to my lower back. My "core" has always been weak and this new position makes that more obvious. At the end of a short ride, my hands are no longer numb but my lower back is really sore. Aside from doing exercises to strengthen my lower back & abs, I'm just trading one complaint for another.
The fitter changed my single pretty radically. Cleats on shoes moved from far forward to far back. Saddle moved down & back. Bars moved up & back.
I've ridden the single on several short rides. It seems to be more comfortable initially but I find that the new position takes weight off my shoulders/arms/hands and transfers the strain to my lower back. My "core" has always been weak and this new position makes that more obvious. At the end of a short ride, my hands are no longer numb but my lower back is really sore. Aside from doing exercises to strengthen my lower back & abs, I'm just trading one complaint for another.
Unlike numb hands, back pain is fixable. Numb hands never goes away, they only get worse until they're non-functional.
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08-12-16 | 08:16 PM
#32
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 260
Likes: 7
From: Aveiro, Portugal
Bikes: Folder, e-bike, road bike, tandem
I get hand numbness issues. Over the years I have discovered that I have wimpy trapezius muscles, and that it's important to have the right width of handlebars. Handlebars should roughly be the same width as your shoulder blades.
When I remember to do the trapezius exercises, I have zero numbness. I also find that doing abdominal exercises gives me better endurance on bike.
When I remember to do the trapezius exercises, I have zero numbness. I also find that doing abdominal exercises gives me better endurance on bike.
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