Handlebar Thickness

[MCAP]

Hello ladies,

I ride a 2010 Fuji Finest 1.0. I love this bike! I've been tweaking the fit bit by bit and I think I just about have it right. I bought her on July 4th and started riding, so I'm still pretty darn new to cycling.

My hands fall asleep on longer rides. I went on a couple of longer rides (for me) this weekend as well as a trail ride on my horses so my bits were a bit tired and smushed from the extra saddle time. Last night I did 14 miles of speed intervals and my hands were really falling asleep. I know I was putting more pressure on them to relieve my seat...

But, my husband rode my bike down the road the other day just to feel it out. He said his hands fell asleep almost immediately and he thinks it has something to do with the diameter of my handlebars. They are way thinner than his handlebars and our hands are nearly the same size. His are much more squishy and have a nicer bigger surface to grab onto.

I haven't ridden his bike (way too big for me) but I like the way his handlebars feel. How can I get that feeling on my bike? Can I put another layer of handlebar tape on them to make them thicker? or, do I just need to buy new handlebars all together?

[TrekTheKaty]

Interesting. I never considered the thickness of my handlebars. You could try retaping them with thicker tape.

I swear by good gloves. These are much improvement over the Pearl Izumi's I used to wear:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodGI_WGLVSTRA.html

[OakLeaf]

hmmmm... there are oversized clamps and bars with non-round tops, but I'm not sure if there's oversized tubing in the "business end" of the bars? :confused:

There used to be that really thick foam stuff you could put on your bars. I don't even remember what it was called or whether it might still be available. I have used two layers of cork in the past. What type of tape are you using now?

Are you sure it's the diameter of his bars that you like, or could it be the shape (bend, width, reach, drop)? You could find out if his handlebars are made in a size to fit you.

[indysteel]

It could be just a difference in the type of bar tape used and how they were wrapped. Fuji appears to use cork tape, which in my experience wraps fairly tightly. Gel tape will often seem more "poofy." But, I'm with Oakleaf. There may be other differences that are to blame for your numbness. Beyond the bars themselves, the way a bar is tilted may to blame. Mine have to be just so or my hands go numb.

[OakLeaf]

Grab-Ons (http://www.grabongrips.com/).

I never liked it, personally, I thought it diminished my feeling of control over the bars, but it's an option anyway.

[pll]

One option I have seen (but not used) are Kore handlebar grips (http://www.kore-usa.com/products/palmpilot.html) (one review here (http://www.cxmagazine.com/new-product-spotlight-kore-palmster-road-handlebar-grips)):

http://cxmagazine.com/wp-content/gallery/kore-palmster-road-bar-grip-cyclocross/thumbs/thumbs_kore-palmster-cxm-img_9343.jpg

You mention that you are putting more pressure on your hands to relieve issues with you sit. Is the bike fit OK? If the fit is adequate, core muscles might be an issue, too.

Anyway, I do have issues with my hands as well and I am currently looking for a new bike. Among the bikes I tried, one had a very nice, comfortable, handlebar (but expensive!), a 3T Ergonova, where the top of the bar is thicker for better palm support. I understand you can find several carbon handlebars with that feature, but they are expensive.

The option I currently use is Specialized bar phat (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=41968&menuItemId=9331&eid=5097). It helps but it is not a miracle 'cure'.

[Kiwi Stoker]

On the tandem I *have* to have a thin cowhorn to fit the adjustable stoker stem. Yes a thin bar is a problem- it presses on one thin part of your hand instead of "spreading" the load.

Currently I have the Kores plus old fashioned foam grips. The Kores are great at spreading the pressure out but however they require a very thin bar- even the tandem bar is too wide and the screws holding them togther are far apart.

Yes, fat handlebar tape is a cheap option but the best is to invest in a flattened top handlebar in the long run.

[Cataboo]

The squishy you can change using bar gel or different handlebar gel.

I have handlebars that have more of a flat wing shape on either size of the stem - I love them for my hands because I had lots of issues not making my hands go numb. Google fsa wing handlebars and you'll pop up a few options - aluminum or carbon.

Putting more pressure on your hands will of course cause them to go numb - make sure your wrist position is neutral when on the handlebars (you can move where the shifters are on the handlebar to ensure that). If I have any gel or padding in my gloves, my hands are more likely to go numb. move your hands around a lot while you ride.