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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

2369.0. "Numb Hand Relief ?" by RUNWAY::KING () Fri Jul 31 1992 16:36

    I can't beleave that this has not been talked about before, but
    I can't find it in here anywhere. If anyone knows of this topic
    elsewhere, please point me in that direction.
    
    Anyway;
    
    I have reciently switched from a road bike (which I have riden for
    years) to a Hybred, with big tires, lots of gears, and straight
    bars. I ride a lot of dirt roads and trails as well as hard surface,
    and find that the Hybred handles these extreemly well. However,
    hand comfort is another thing.
    
    I know that on rides of several hours on the old bike I would
    experiense some hand discomfort, but was able to quickle get rid
    of it by switching possitions more often.
    
    On the Hybred I begin getting the numb hands in about thirty minutes,
    and once it begins find it almost impossible to relieve.
    
    I have tried several adjustments of the bars, added 'L' shaped bar
    ends, padded grips, and new gloves (the old ones were shot anyway),
    all to no avail.
    
    Before I start switching stems, bars, or other more expensive stuff,
    does anyone have any ideas.
    
    
    Rick
    
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2369.1maybe...DNEAST::FIKE_MIKEFri Jul 31 1992 16:438
    
    
    	Maybe your seat is too high or slanted forward, or your bars are
    too low...any one of which will make you put too much weight on your
    wrists.  Or you may be riding with your elbows locked- should be flexed
    a bit. Or your controls are too "vertical" making you bend your hands
    up instead of being straighter (imagine a straightline from your
    forearm down to your knuckles).
2369.2OXNARD::KLEEKen LeeFri Jul 31 1992 16:586
    I agree with .-1 about locking your elbows.  These seems to be a common
    problem with beginning mountain bike riders.  If you bend your elbows
    and bend your waist more, you'll be alot more comfortable and powerful.
    
    Ken
    
2369.3Maybe too exotic(?)ODIXIE::RRODRIGUEZWhere's that Tour d' France thang?Fri Jul 31 1992 17:4115
2369.4same problemYNGSTR::BROWNFri Jul 31 1992 21:138
    re .0  I had the same problem when I got my mtn bike... the regular
    bike gloves that worked fine on a road bike caused numb hands on the
    mtn bike after an hour or so.  The solution I found that worked:
    Vetta mtn gel grips with (sheepish blush...) plain old cotton garden
    gloves.  The gel grips can often be found for less than $10, and the
    gloves will set you back 69 cents at Spags.  I hacked down the gel
    grips to accomodate bar end horns for climbing (almost essential with
    a shock), which offer some more positions for the hands.  .02 kb
2369.5I'm backRUNWAY::KINGTue Aug 04 1992 16:4917
    My seat is level, and the hight set by the 'heal on the pedal, leg
    straight' method. Is that to high for a Cross bike?
    
    One of the first adjustments I made was to move the bars up level
    with the seat. Should they be higher?
    
    I don't understand the "controls are too 'vertical'". What dose
    "vertical' mean.
    
    As for riding with the elbows locked, you were correct, I was.
    However, bending them more, and straghtening my wrists has not helped.
    
    But I did discover something interesting on this mornings ride.
    If I move my hands all the way in against the stem (even more than
    if I were riding the tops of drop bars) the numbness gradually goes away.

    Does this tell anyone anything? It baffles me.
2369.6keep trying...TOOPHE::FIKEWed Aug 05 1992 14:1426
>    One of the first adjustments I made was to move the bars up level
>    with the seat. Should they be higher?
 
	Probably not- especially due to the fact that you said that when
	you changed your hand position, the numbness went away.
   
>    I don't understand the "controls are too 'vertical'". What dose
>    "vertical' mean.
    
	What I meant was that if your levers are straight down or even 
	straight out, it MAY force your hand into an "unnatural" position
	which would put pressure on nerves or blood flow thereby causing
	the numbness. 

	You're on the right track by moving your hands to the inside and
	finding relief. Now what you have to do is figure out how you can
	duplicate that hand position in other more convenient places on the
	bars. Maybe by gripping close to the stem, you're actually loosening
	your grip? That could help (especially if you unconciously use a
	"death grip"- really tight grip- on the bars.)

	If all else fails and you're getting to the point of replacing parts,
	you may want to check out either the Profile or Scott AT4 bars,
	both or which have many positions available all over the bars. Both
	around $50 (I think).
2369.7Still trying to get comfortable in aero modeTLE::OUELLETTESpeaking French, painting dotsWed Aug 05 1992 18:3314
I'll vouch for the scott bars.  I got the AT4Pro kind.
I had numbness from thumbs up the inside of my arms to my shoulders.
Part of it was that my sort of straight original bar was too long.
Part of it was that it was too straight.

With the Scott bars, you'll need to modify your grips (cut the ends
off) or get grips with out ends, and get some padded bar tape.
A big screw driver helps to open up the break/shifter and stem
parts that hold the bar.  Also getting the inside of the grips
wet (and the bar too) helps to slide on the grips if they're
sticky rubber.  (Soap helps too much & the grips never get tight
to the bar...).

R.
2369.8I've had the same problem for a year!NAPIER::BARRETTSponsor me for PAN MASS Ride. DTN 297-9232Wed Aug 05 1992 18:398
Hi ,  My hands have been numb for a year now (when riding)  This summer I got the 
Scott AT4 bar and a good set of gloves.  This has not completely solved the 
problem, But, it has improved my ability to change my hand position thus allowing
me to change the location of the hand bar contact as well as allowing for 
different wrist forearm combinations.  I can now go about 30 miles ( if I remember
to change ) with out much pain.  

				Kevin