weakness in my hand after long rides

Hi all -
I'm new to riding this year, and have been training for my first century - coming up this Saturday! I'm feeling pretty good about the century ... I've been learning a lot reading the forums - thanks to all you who are so good about answering questions!

So, last Saturday, after a 60 mile ride, my right hand was feeling funny. Specifically my pinky & the finger next to it just felt kind of weak ... not numb, exactly, or even tingly, but just strange. I had trouble turning on a water faucet and turning my key all the way in my front door - it's like the fingers were obeying what my mind was telling them to do, but they didn't have all the strength that they're supposed to. Anyway, they were fine after a couple of hours and some stretching.

But then, I experience the same thing DURING the ride this past Saturday, which scared me a bit. Now, it was rainy & cold (55?), so my hands were kind of stiff, so that could have contributed. But I had trouble downshifting with my right hand a couple times, because my fingers didn't seem to have enough strength to push the lever ... each time I was eventually able to shift, but it took a couple tries.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has experienced something like this before. My elbow feels kind of stiff after those long rides too, but not real painful or anything like that. I'm trying all the carpal tunnel stretches I know :)

I'm wearing gloves when I'm riding, and most of the time, keeping my hands on the hoods. I know I should concentrate on changing hand position more, but does anyone have any other advice??

I think it's quite normal. I suppose you'll either get used to it, or it will happen more rarely when you get used to cycling..

It does happen to a lot of riders, maybe most at one time or another, but I wouldn't call it "normal." Nerve damage has a tendency to become cumulative, because it heals so slowly. So you don't want to let it progress to the point where you're having trouble off the bike, or where you can't ride comfortably or safely.

Fit-wise, if you haven't already had your bike fit to you, that might be in order. A change in position of your handlebars or saddle, or a different stem, saddle or handlebars, could take some of the weight off your hands. When you say your elbow felt stiff, are your elbows locked when you ride? Try to keep them slightly bent. That will take the stress off your elbow joints and let your muscles absorb a lot of the vibration. Your physical program should include core strengthening as well as neck and shoulder stretches. You might also try different gloves and/or bar tape.

Enjoy your first century ride!

Before you start feeling anything, move your hands around. get in the habit of doing that all the way through the ride. The more weight your hands are supporting, the more discomfort you're going to feel. Your hands and wrists were not made to support your body.
move around the handlebar. ride with one hand, doing stretches with the other. This seems to be a permanent bicycle riding problem. Some people get aerobars. and there could be a fit problem exacerbating it. get fitted professionally?

I had that when I first got to 100K+. I was so weak on my left hand I couldn't shift anymore. This would go away slowly over a day or so. I wouldn't call it "nerve damage" yet.

You are very likely being too stretched out on your bike, because it may be overlong. This puts too much weight on your hands.
Have it adjusted, perhaps using a higher angled stem if you can.

I had bad hand pain until I
1. realized my saddle was too far forward and
2. got a stem with a steeper angle
Now no more pain.

So, I second the idea of getting a fitting, though I analyzed my issues and corrected them myself.

Google "Cyclist's Palsy", there's a ton of info out there.
Here's one to start with, it looks pretty good: http://highperformancesports.blogspo...-palsy-or.html

I had gel put under my bar tape which helped with hand discomfort.

+1 what Knott said. This sounds like ulnar nerve compression. You need to move around on the bars as mentioned, get your bike fit... also mentioned and get some gloves with good padding over the heel of the hand on the pinky side.

The bike fit is probably the thing that will make the most difference. You need to be in a place where you can sit on your bike and "piano key" the handle bars. The most common correction for too much weight on the hands is bringing the seat up a little and sometimes back a little. But it is really best to have someone take a look at you and figure it out because it could be a host of things.

Be careful that you don't pull the wrists of your gloves too tight too -it doesn't even have to feel particularly tight to cut off your circulation. I have to keep the velcro totally open on some of my gloves to be sure that I don't make my fingers fall asleep.