Hand Numbness

[Krank]

I get hand numbness over a 100km ride.

THoughts and tips how to eliminate this numbness?

Krank

[jonbays]

Try good gloves, bar tape, seat height to handlebar height adjustment to change your position, perhaps core strength exercise to help you bring other muscles groups in to play to support your position.

[Krank]

thanks.

[TDC]

Too much weight on your hands. Also try moving the saddle rearwards by 2 - 3 mm to change the balance point relative to the BB, This will take some weight off the hands.

[twizzle]

I get hand numbness over a 100km ride.

THoughts and tips how to eliminate this numbness?

Krank

Depends on what is going numb and the circumstances. Ulnar nerve compression can occur at the hand or the elbow... or if it's affecting your thumb as well it could be the radial or median nerve being compressed in the wrist.

Does it only occur on rough roads? What kind of padding do you have in the gloves/bars? Road bike or hybrid, and do you carry a bit of excess weight up top? Have you had a proper bike fit?

[Krank]

H twizzle,

I wear specialized gel gloves with good protection of the ulnar area of the palm.

I ride on the Kakadu hwy heading towards Darwin from Jabiru. Road is not the smoothest I must say.

I had a bike fit 2 years ago - perhaps i need another one.

excess weight a little.

Krank

[birdbrain]

Get it occasionally and I just take my hand off the bars and flex my fingers for 10 seconds and that takes care of it. Usually my left hand for some reason.

[jamesn184]

I usually get the numbness in my right hand... it has since improved somewhat with a good pair of gloves and gel bar tape

[twizzle]

H twizzle,

I wear specialized gel gloves with good protection of the ulnar area of the palm.

I ride on the Kakadu hwy heading towards Darwin from Jabiru. Road is not the smoothest I must say.

I had a bike fit 2 years ago - perhaps i need another one.

excess weight a little.

Krank

Hmmm... I'm loathe to suggest moving the saddle if you have had a fit. If it's only on rough roads I'd try gel under the bar tape first and possibly different gloves. After that, I'd raise the bars plus a slightly shorter stem to rotate the weight back without changing the hip/crank relationship too much - maybe flip the stem if it's a road bike?. Another bike fit is only likely to help if your weight has changed or it wasn't a good fit to start with.


Sent from my iThingy...

[toolonglegs]

If you are just riding solo maybe put a smaller set of aero extenders on ( with elbow pads ) ... you will go faster and take all the pressure off your hands for long periods.

I also get numb hands ( sometimes it isn't from the weather ) ... my bike fit is perfect, my core strength is pretty damn good, I just like riding for long periods in the drops... sometimes you just have to put up with it a little bit. But if you start feeling it in the hands when off the bike as well you need to start worrying.

[Krank]

Thanks boys.

I''try some of these ideas for tomorrow's ride...

Krank

[Ken Ho]

Vibration from the chip-seal does it too. I get numb hands quickly, as I have had vibration induced median nerve from riding Ducati's with no tingle knobs on the bars. On a 916, I get numbness in a matter of minutes. On smooth roads on my Bianchi, I might go for hours and not get numb, or numb up quickly on rougher roads. Gel gloves help a bit, but not much.

[NhiTrac]

My numbness only ever occurs in my right hand after about an hour. Dropping my arm by my side helps a lot and it almost feels like blood is rushing back in

Recently got a pair of Specialized BG Gel gloves and its helped a lot...

[Krank]

I also use Specialized BG Gel gloves. Good when new. I ahve had them for 2 years now. SHoudl I replace them?


Krank

[JessicaAlba]

Try monitoring your riding position, ie. not leaning one way or the other.

I get a numb right hand also (see thread in Health section). I became convinced that it was connected to numbness in my right foot, so have been making a real effort to adjust my position and keep my shoulders set (although relaxed) and my body central. I figured the foot numbness was due to that foot rolling outward on the powerstroke, so in conjunction with sitting upright, I've been making sure my right knee is kept tucked inward, keeping the right foot in place.

Since adopting these strategies, numbness in both hand and foot have reduced markedly. Still getting slight tingles, but I reckon with practice and perfection, I should continue to see improvement.

[elStado]

Try good gloves, bar tape, seat height to handlebar height adjustment to change your position, perhaps core strength exercise to help you bring other muscles groups in to play to support your position.

Perfect response. Core strength and good posture is the key aspect.

Padded gloves and thicket bar tape will minimize pressure, but it's even better to keep the weight off your hands to begin with.

[Krank]

Thanks boys.

Just got back after my morning 100km ride.

I changed a few things - raised seat height a little and moved it back a little.

Numbness still present but was reduced, however I now experience neck pain that did not occur before...


Krank

[TDC]

try to only make one change at a time.

[Nobody]

I changed a few things - raised seat height a little and moved it back a little.

Numbness still present but was reduced, however I now experience neck pain that did not occur before...

Both those changes will make you bend forward more. Maybe raise the stem height to match the saddle height change.

[warthog1]

. On a 916, .

I'm jealous, even though the financial reality of family life means those days are gone for me. Still the best looking M/cycle ever made IMO

[Ken Ho]

. On a 916, .

I'm jealous, even though the financial reality of family life means those days are gone for me. Still the best looking M/cycle ever made IMO

If it makes you feel better, I sold it some years ago. Now I have to put up with a Hypermotard Evo SP. I still get numb hands quickly on a roadie though, especially on coarse chip-seal roads. No such problems on the Retard. In fact, I think I might go for a spin right now.