Bad wrist- gel under bar tape? gloves?

[mayanorange]

Hi guys,

I was curious if anyone else out there has wrist issues and what gear they used to help alleviate some pain. I twisted the ligament in the lateral side (outside for those non-anatomists) of my left wrist during an argument with a large power drill (long story short, I lost). I used to have bar ends on my mtn bike because it's more comfy when my thumb is a bit higher- hands like this: / \ I have drops on the new bike (Jamis Ventura Sport Mens 25.4 handlebar) and mostly ride in the hoods, but occasionally will ride in the tops but right now they feel too skinny to get lefty comfy on. I was looking at the fizik, serfas, or specialized bar gels- anyone used these? Are they better than double wrapping? Should I double wrap over them? Someday I might replace the bars with OS ones, but for now need to limit my mods to save some cash.

Also, I tend to hate gloves because of my eczema on my fingers, but then get all sweaty and slip around, which aggravates lefty. I've tried on a bunch at the stores, but a lot also seem to have specifically padded bumps which 9 out of 10 times hit in a spot that lefty doesn't like.

Other than going back in time and having the sense to let go of the drill, suggestions are welcome.

Gwenn

[mudmucker]

I use specialized bar phat, then the gel tape, and gel gloves. I love bar phat and will never go without. It mostly dampens road vibration because of bad pavement, and cushions pressure points on the hands. This doesn't really help with wrist pain for me, although probably indirectly it might as there is less jarring. Obviously also, a strong core helps maintain "proper" distribution of weight and helps keep pressure off the hands.

I also align my handle bars and/or brake shifters (usually tilted/moved down a bit) to ensure that my forearm to wrist to hand remain in the straightest line possible when I ride in the hoods. Try to align so that your wrists aren't cocked up and that may help.

[Chicken Little]

Ha! A power drill- mine was with a paint sprayer/compressor. I am very mindful of keeping my wrists as straight as possible on the hoods and in the drops. Occasionally I ice it after a long ride if it is really bothering me, and do do some very mild anti-carpel tunnel exercises. Since it is only my right hand, I just kinda live with it as best I can. No manner of bike adjustments really ever make it go away. I would say that it is slightly better after 6 months of regular riding than when I started out. Other muscles must be compensating.

[mayanorange]

Yeah, I mostly have to deal with it, but if the bar phat will help with vibrations, that should help a lot- especially when zooming down hills at breakneck speeds. I inevitably don't give enough play to my positioning and get whacked really hard with the bars going over a few of the bumps. Very angry lefty! :mad:

I've also been trying to concentrate on getting the flabby tummy to engage :D which seems to help the hands and some saddle issues, tho then the concentration goes out the window because 'already at 30miles Hubby' is either 1/2 mi ahead coasting or coasting right up my tush as I pedal my brains out. Somewhat defeating.

[aicabsolut]

I use the thin Bar Phat gel pads with S-wrap tape usually, though now I have soft Fizik tape, because it was all I could get in white after I shredded my last roll of S-wrap. I don't have gel gloves, just foamy padded ones. Works great. The Fizik wrap is kind of thin. I've had friends double wrap regular tape for thickness, but depending on the tape, it may not be very cushy. Fizik also makes a gel pad wrap set similar to Specialized too.

[Aggie_Ama]

I used gel bar tape wrapped double, nice and squishy. I just switched to double wrapped cork tape but the shop left a layer of gel tape under it. The only issue I find is sometimes too much squish is just too much. I like it wrapped thick on near the hoods and on the top, thin in the drops.

[pll]

I use another Specialized product, "Super Phat Bar" tape: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=25684
Makes the handlebar really "cushy".

I had issues with numbness in my hand, and this type of tape we one among several changes I made to my bike (handlebar change, vibration dampers, less than maximum tire pressure on the front tire)

I have wondered about some of the ergonomic handlebars I have seen (all very expensive -- carbon -- and not available in 38cm), such as this one: http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/ITMLFTQA
They have a wider flat surface on the tops. I wonder if that would be more comfortable.

[Cataboo]

I've been trying to deal with wrist pain myself. I haven't gotten rid of it, but I've made it more manageable. Ibuprofen is my best friend.

Some things I've done:
- I tend to ride on the hoods, not the drops, because it's less weight on the wrists.
- I keep the wrists in as neutral of a position as I can.
- I put in a higher angle stem so that I'm more upright.
- I keep my weight off my wrists as much as possible, if I see bumpy road coming up, I'll mostly just let go of the handlebars, keeping my hands ready just in case I need to brake.
- I've got fi'zik gel on one bike & planet bike gel pads on another bike. Cushy tape from planet bike (amazon sells the planet bike stuff, I'm sure it's heavy, but it's cush)
- I have a set of aerobars mounted on the bike, I switch to the aerobars whenever there's a good straight section of road for it to get the weight off my wrists.
- I have a pair of pearl izumi gel gloves and basically the padding in the gloves made my wrist pain worse, so I ripped the padding out.
- I keep my elbows slightly bent, because it absorbs impacts.

I'm debating getting the ergo grips, because I've heard those help a lot.

What else? Having carbon seat stays and a carbon front work seems to make a world of difference. I'm looking into getting a carbon handlebar and a titanium stem - I've been told the combination should dampen any vibrations that get to the handlebar.


Anyways, I hope something in there helps.

[NbyNW]

I think my wrist pain comes from using a non-ergo mouse at work. so it's probably a very different origin of strain from what you're experiencing.

I think it's not so much a padding issue for me as a compression/vibration issue. So the most effective thing for me has been a cold pack, when the wrist is really flaring up.

I've tinkered with the angle of the bullhorn handlebars on my commuter, which also seems to help keep the wrist in a neutral position. Don't know if the same would apply to the style of handlebars you are using.

[TxDoc]

I used to have bar ends on my mtn bike because it's more comfy when my thumb is a bit higher- hands like this: / \ I have drops on the new bike (Jamis Ventura Sport Mens 25.4 handlebar) and mostly ride in the hoods, but occasionally will ride in the tops but right now they feel too skinny to get lefty comfy on. I was looking at the fizik, serfas, or specialized bar gels- anyone used these? Are they better than double wrapping? Should I double wrap over them? Someday I might replace the bars with OS ones, but for now need to limit my mods to save some cash.


Well, I would still suggest to change the bars and get something with flat comfortable tops. If you think about it, gel tape would not really solve the problem, and between gel tape and inserts you may as well pitch in a $50, especially if you double wrap.
Of course a new handlebar would cost more, but unless you really want brand names you can find cheaper bars that are still excellent products. Token is one example, they make excellent carbon bars and stems - at less than half the price of ITM, FSA, and Deda...
As per double-wrapping, I'm usually quite against that - when people start adding gel and double wraps my first thought is that their bike does not have handlebars that fit properly. And really, if you change to a carbon bar that will dampen most of the road vibrations, and that would help your wrist too...