First metric

[jusdooit]

I did it...I did it. I rode in a local charity event yesterday planning to do 50 miles. Got talking to a couple of other ladies with same plan, but thinking about doing the metric. They were just ahead of me at the turn for the 50, but kept going. I thought, if they can do it so can I. It's good thing I didn't realize I'd have a pretty good headwind on the trek back or I wouldn't have done it. But I did............and I can still walk today. LOL.
This brings me to a little problem I've started having. I am getting numbness in the tip of my left middle finger when I ride further than about 20 miles. I change hand positions frequently, but I am obviously still compressing a nerve. It usually goes away after a few hours, but I am still feeling the effects from yesterday this morning. Any ideas?

[Mr. Bloom]

Congrats on the Metric. I think it's great how you decided to jusdooit!

I have never issues in my hand as well. I'm satisfied with heavily padded Pearl Izumi Gel Vent gloves. The padding is very thick which seems to help me.

You may also visit a chiropractor to see if there's a misalignment in your hand pinching the nerve. The hand is very complex...

[SouthernBelle]

I have no advice on the hand problem, but Yay for the metric!!

[RoadRaven]

Congrats, congrats, congrats JDI!!!

Such an awesome feeling to complete a milestone like that and complete it well. The most I have done is a metric century and I felt pretty chuffed with that :D

As to the numbness - there is a bit of discussion here on palsy of the hand, and numbness in general. Here are two of the threads below...

I get numbness ocassionally - usually in the outside of my right hand, and I tend to "blame" not moving much - in a race situation I can tend to grip the bars in one way and not move or barely move for 35-60 minutes... My advice is to keep making sure you shift position occasionally so the weight is changed or removed from hand/s every now and then. That seems to work for me. Good luck :)

Teaking my bike/hand numbness
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=1561

Pins and Needles??
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=16792

[Fredwina]

next thing you know, you'll be doing one a week....:p Not that there's anything wrong with that

[Starfish]

congrats!! Yay!!

About the hands, don't know if this helps at all or not, but when I first started riding, on a mountain bike on paved trails, I would get pain in my elbows and numb hands within about 15 miles.

As soon as I got my road bike, all hand and arm problems disappeared overnight. I'll never know exactly what the issue was, but almost certainly due to fit, too wide bars, and angle of hand grips, for me.

Just wanted to say that sometimes these things can simply disappear with the right change of equipment, fit, etc.

[short cut sally]

WOOO HOOOO on your metric. Way to go..
Can't offer advise on your finger though..just wanted to congradulate you...

[Flybye]

Yeah for you! What a great accomplishment - hugs and pride!!!

Numbness - someone on TE had a finger problem and realized that they were cinching their gloves up too tight. Easy fix. Kind of like realizing that the TV doesn't work when the problem is that it isn't plugged in!

Again, yeah for you!!!

[Hub]

Congrats chick,

I missed this when you first posted, but yeah, you!!:)
Looking forward to seeing you in the Tour da Delta next month!

Pat

[bmccasland]

Yaaaah on the metric. Woooo Whoooo :D :D
Now I hope I can make mine on sunday - coming off a cold.

Hands - considering I rode a season with a wrist brace after pinching the ulnar nerve in mine, I hope yours doesn't get worse. I lost hand function for a week... but it came back. My doc (who's a cyclist / bike commuter) had me have my LBS cork my handlebars, get another fitting, this time focusing on hand position. Changing hand position while riding and shaking out your hands helps too. Try to keep your hands light on the bars, no death grips. I've managed to learn my lesson, and haven't repeated the experience. :cool: Funny thing, there was no pain involved, it just didn't work when I finished a ride. At least when it "woke up" there were no pins & needles (that's what I was REALLY afraid of).