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numb hands

2K views 17 replies 15 participants last post by  TrailBuzzd 
#1 ·
I've tried everything and after about 4 miles riding I get numb hands. I'm talkin' so numb I can' t even feel the handle bars. Yes I've tried various padded gloves, wrist wraps, riser bars,and just laying my hands on the bars, not a death grip. This problem is driving me nuts.:madman: Please if anyone has any advise, I'm open for suggestions.

P.S. I ride a rigid bike and maybe that is the problem???:sad:
 
#2 ·
most likely its the way yur bike is set up. to long/short of stem, riser/no riser in the bars, seatpost height, seat angle, etc... google "mtn bike setup guide" or sumthn. i bet thatll help! good luck! :thumbsup:
 
#4 ·
Thanks guys for your input. Anyone else have any suggestions feel free. My right hand was already operated on successfully for carpel tunnel but thanx for your concern. Your right about my bike set up cause it feels like I have too much pressure on my arms. I have an old GT and the stem on it is fixed( I can't raise or lower it). I'll search the web like you said. Thanks again everyone.
 
#5 ·
Ahh, if you're bike is pretty old and doesn't have one of those threadless stems then you're probably a bit stuck for options.
My guess would have been to try a shorter stem along with a higher rise bar, it brings you into a more upright and less stretched position hopefully meaning less pressure on your hands.

Some time ago I had hand or finger numbness after every ride (even the hour rides), people could only really offer things to try but no body can give you a definitive answer on what will work. Unfortunately it's trial and error till you get it right.

So things to consider -
Is your bike too big for you?
Are you too stretched out?
Is your saddle too low? Or too high? And you can adjust the angle (tilt back a tad), fore and aft adjustment.

Also try some cushy grips like Oury = I use them, they're the fattest & softest I know of (without resorting to those funny looking Esi ones).
 
#6 ·
try some more ergonomic controls like ergon grips and maybe even some on one mary handlebars.

I pretty much had the same problem last summer and its virtually gone this summer. I upgraded to some higher rise bars and cushier grips but I don't know if the upgrades fixed the problem or I just became a smoother and more experianced rider though.
 
#7 ·
I generally get some numbness too, I find if I alter my hand position during my ride (hands on top of bars, bottom, etc). also gloves are a must AND bar extenders are nice for alternative hand placement. also try not putting TOO much pressure on your hands, lightly grip (hold on loosely)
 
#10 ·
nuggets said:
Thanks guys for your input. Anyone else have any suggestions feel free. My right hand was already operated on successfully for carpel tunnel but thanx for your concern. Your right about my bike set up cause it feels like I have too much pressure on my arms. I have an old GT and the stem on it is fixed( I can't raise or lower it). I'll search the web like you said. Thanks again everyone.
I had this same problem for longer than I care to remember. I was tested for nerve conductivity and the whole shooting match. When I was told by the specialist that there was no nerve damage I was shocked. I talked to a good friend of mine at a LBS and he checked over my set up on the bike. I originally though that by stretching out forward in the cockpit, I would be putting more weight over the bars and hence, continue with my pain. To my amazement, the key was to minimize the over lap in the cockpit. In other words, take a look at how much your knees and your elbows overlap when riding. By getting a setback post and swaping my 90mm stem for a 110mm, it made all the difference in the world. The other thing that helped was just staying on the bike. I found that once back and my quads were stronger, the bars were used more for guiding rather than 'holding me up'. Take a look at the centerline of your bike and where your cleats attach to the pedal (if you ride clipless). Make sure your seat is level or just a hair tipped backwards. Try rotating your brake levers up just a little also so you aren't reaching as far forward for them. I tried all the padding, gloves, doctors visits, laying off the blackberry, etc. In the end, changing my bike positioning to reduce knee/elbow overlap was the key. If you type a lot for work, make sure to float over the keys. Wresting wrists on the side of my desk never helped me either. I was in CO for nearly 3 weeks of riding almost every day and at that point I realized how much fitness had to do with it. My hands had never felt better because of my muscular development in the back and quads (I assume anyway). Your frame may be a little too large/small also. Try riding the next size up or down to see if that changes anything. If all else fails, go to a bike shop with a fit system and heed the advice.

I hope this helps.
Andrew.
 
#12 ·
Knee Elbow overlap

neex said:
I had this same problem for longer than I care to remember. I was tested for nerve conductivity and the whole shooting match. When I was told by the specialist that there was no nerve damage I was shocked. I talked to a good friend of mine at a LBS and he checked over my set up on the bike. I originally though that by stretching out forward in the cockpit, I would be putting more weight over the bars and hence, continue with my pain. To my amazement, the key was to minimize the over lap in the cockpit. In other words, take a look at how much your knees and your elbows overlap when riding. By getting a setback post and swaping my 90mm stem for a 110mm, it made all the difference in the world. The other thing that helped was just staying on the bike. I found that once back and my quads were stronger, the bars were used more for guiding rather than 'holding me up'. Take a look at the centerline of your bike and where your cleats attach to the pedal (if you ride clipless). Make sure your seat is level or just a hair tipped backwards. Try rotating your brake levers up just a little also so you aren't reaching as far forward for them. I tried all the padding, gloves, doctors visits, laying off the blackberry, etc. In the end, changing my bike positioning to reduce knee/elbow overlap was the key. If you type a lot for work, make sure to float over the keys. Wresting wrists on the side of my desk never helped me either. I was in CO for nearly 3 weeks of riding almost every day and at that point I realized how much fitness had to do with it. My hands had never felt better because of my muscular development in the back and quads (I assume anyway). Your frame may be a little too large/small also. Try riding the next size up or down to see if that changes anything. If all else fails, go to a bike shop with a fit system and heed the advice.

I hope this helps.
Andrew.
Whoa!! I never heard about the knee overlap issue, but it makes sense as long as you a strong enough back to support the longer reach. Will try this out myself! *Have had the same issue with years of hand pain and I thought the shorter stem would help so I've gone from a 130mm down to an 80 with a riser!

On the seat up or down be careful with any inclination of the saddle (pointing up) as it may increase perenneal (sp) pressure and cause unit numbness and nerve damage.

Will get back with my own findings on the knee elbow.
 
#13 ·
How is your neck?

Numb hands can be a sign of pressure on your spinal cord caused by damaged cartilige in your neck ,,

I do not think that you should be riding through that numbness as numbness is a sign of nerve or spinal cord inflammation ... which is not something that should be aggravated ,, I would look for some neck rehabilitation excercises if you find that your neck is where the problem is.
 
#14 ·
Numb hands is the first sign they are beginning to fall asleep. In other words, your blood circulation is not the best. Take one aspirin before each ride, so your syrup-like blood thins out.....works for me!
 
#15 ·
Most likely Cause: too much pressure on Ulnar nerve.
Solution: reduce pressure
Options: Higher bars/shorter stem (more upright position to reduce weight on hands), more padding between hands and trail (suspension, gloves, grips), more sweep on bars (mary's, Salsa, SQlab).
Or a combination of the above.
Cheers, Steve
 
#17 ·
Of all you guys that have answered my "numb hands" thread ride with a suspension fork and do any of you ride rigid bikes? My right hand and wrist is getting very sore.(a plate in my forearm and a badly broken wrist, all healed) I was told on other threads that the rigid I currently ride is the problem.
 
#18 ·
Try using gloves with much less padding. The hands will find the most comfortable, natural position that way. Also try a shorter stem if possible and relax your upper body by keeping your thumb and fingers on top of the handlebar relaxed palms down for short periods of time. A front shock would probably help depending on where you ride.
 
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