Sore Thumb

I have a question which I hope someone can help me with or just lead me in the right direction. I have a new mountain bike (Cannondale f400) and it has thumb shifters as opposed to my old old Mongoose with its grip shifters. I have been riding the bike a couple of weeks now and as a consequence of the shifters, my thumb is swollen and causing me quite a bit of pain. I did take a couple of days off to see if that would help- then I rode 8 miles yesterday which left me with a thumb that does not want to bend without painfulness. Ouch.

Suggestions?

As an aside, I have been reading this forum and have found it quite helpful! Thanks in advance. :)

Is it both thumbs? Or just one? Do you have a reverser rise or standard rear derailleur?

On your left thumb (front derailleur), pressing with your thumb moves you to a bigger ring (harder to pedal), and is under cable tension (the thumb lever is hard to push).

On your right thumb (rear derailleur) with a standard rise derailleur, pressing with your thumb moves you to a bigger cog on the cassette (easier to pedal), and is NOT under cable tension (the thumb lever is easy to push).

On your right thumb (rear derailleur) with a reverse rise derailleur, prssing with your thumb moves you to a smaller cog on the cassette (harder to pedal), and is under cable tension (thumb lever is hard to push).

I had problems with my left thumb (front derailleur). My hand are small, and I didn't have the leverage to push the lever to get to the biggest chain ring. I tried many things, but I just ended up changing to a grip shift for my front. It works fine.

The other choice would be the shifter levers that control both the shifting and brakes. To shift these, you just use your index and middle fingers. No thumb required.

I have thumb - or rapid-fire shifters - on 2 of my bikes and I had to move the shifters. I had problems with my thumbs too and I realized it was coz I was pushing very hard and way out to shift, I was actualy pivoting my hand on the grips to shift. I just moved the shifters in closer to my hand and pivoted them so they sit a little higher. Now my thumbs don't have to reach so far to shift and that has resolved my problem.

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Originally Posted by Adventure Girl

Is it both thumbs? Or just one? Do you have a reverser rise or standard rear derailleur?

On your left thumb (front derailleur), pressing with your thumb moves you to a bigger ring (harder to pedal), and is under cable tension (the thumb lever is hard to push).

On your right thumb (rear derailleur) with a standard rise derailleur, pressing with your thumb moves you to a bigger cog on the cassette (easier to pedal), and is NOT under cable tension (the thumb lever is easy to push).

On your right thumb (rear derailleur) with a reverse rise derailleur, prssing with your thumb moves you to a smaller cog on the cassette (harder to pedal), and is under cable tension (thumb lever is hard to push).

I had problems with my left thumb (front derailleur). My hand are small, and I didn't have the leverage to push the lever to get to the biggest chain ring. I tried many things, but I just ended up changing to a grip shift for my front. It works fine.

The other choice would be the shifter levers that control both the shifting and brakes. To shift these, you just use your index and middle fingers. No thumb required.

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I must say I am pretty ignorant when it comes to bike parts. Computers I know... bikes not so much.

First let me just say it is only my right thumb and that it seems to be because I use my right thumb the most in shifting.

How do I tell if it is a reverser rise, or standard rear derailer?

This is what I do know, on the the left side I have two levers moving them moves it from 1 to 3. The right one also has two levers and goes from 1 to 9. Total of 27 speeds.

And what are shifter levers? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

I have thumb - or rapid-fire shifters - on 2 of my bikes and I had to move the shifters. I had problems with my thumbs too and I realized it was coz I was pushing very hard and way out to shift, I was actualy pivoting my hand on the grips to shift. I just moved the shifters in closer to my hand and pivoted them so they sit a little higher. Now my thumbs don't have to reach so far to shift and that has resolved my problem.

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This is certianly something I will look into as I do move my hand down in order to have my thumb reach the levers. In the short term I may have to remember to adjust how I reach the lever, perhaps that will ease the pain. Thanks!

interesting, I have been having pain in my right thumb, it seems to be in the joint area, I have a road bike, I use my thumb to shift the gears but I think it may be more about braking not shifting, I mainly use my back brake to slow and both to stop, seems holding that back brake is the culprit, I just don't know what to do to "fix" the problem :(

I am trying to remember to use the front brake more, I just don't want to end up with both thumbs sore.

The pain I am experiencing is also right in the joint area. The cause of the pain does seem to be related to overuse of that thumb. Hopefully this will clear up for the both of us. And I agree you definitely do not want pain in both your thumbs, one is plenty!

Ice helps when it really hurts and rest :rolleyes:

I will have to try the ice remedy. Wonder if I can find a way to wrap ice around my thumb while riding.... :D

let me know if you do :D I hold a cold bottle of water or use my bag of frozen peas.