Numbness in my right hand

Hola ladies...
I apologize in advance b/c i know there are already several older posts about this and I've read thru them all... but I'm still struggling to find the right answer for me...

Yesterday, i went on my longest ride, 25 miles... got a little bit of numbness in my left hand during the ride, but it went away afterward. However, a little after my ride, I got the tingling sensation in my right hand, only in the pinky and ring finger. Did my research, found out about ulnar nerve entrapment... blah blah blah. Started to go away, but I got it back again today on a shorter ride.

Anyway, when I first got my bike (GT ZuM), I thought the reach was a bit far, so a friend recommended moving the saddle forward, which I did... however, now I find myself constantly pushing back on the saddle. Should I push it back to where it was? Raise the seat? He said the stem was short on the bike so raising the bars isn't a likely choice unless i switch it out (???)... any help would be fabulous! Thank you!!

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Originally Posted by jordanjustgo

Hola ladies...
I apologize in advance b/c i know there are already several older posts about this and I've read thru them all... but I'm still struggling to find the right answer for me...

Yesterday, i went on my longest ride, 25 miles... got a little bit of numbness in my left hand during the ride, but it went away afterward. However, a little after my ride, I got the tingling sensation in my right hand, only in the pinky and ring finger. Did my research, found out about ulnar nerve entrapment... blah blah blah. Started to go away, but I got it back again today on a shorter ride.

Anyway, when I first got my bike (GT ZuM), I thought the reach was a bit far, so a friend recommended moving the saddle forward, which I did... however, now I find myself constantly pushing back on the saddle. Should I push it back to where it was? Raise the seat? He said the stem was short on the bike so raising the bars isn't a likely choice unless i switch it out (???)... any help would be fabulous! Thank you!!

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You shouldn't move a saddle to alter your reach. Saddle position is, instead, is a function of placing your knees in the correct position vis-a-vis your pedals. Moving your seat forward also has the affect of moving your weight forward on your bike, and can cause upper body problems. Saddle height, also, is about getting your knees and hamstrings happy.

To shorten your reach, change your stem length and rise, raise your handlebars if you cab, and/or change your handlebars to one with a shorter reach. If all of those things are maxed out, then your bike might simply be too big. You can work on your flexibility to try to make it work better for you.

Whatver you do, do not keep riding your bike as it's currently set up--unless you want permanent damage to your unlnar nerve. Have you had a professional bike fitting?

I see the GT ZuM has a flat bar. I second the suggestion to get a fitting session, and explore swapping the grips with ergonomic ones. In addition to changing the stem, your bars might be shortened so that the match the width of your shoulders better. Ergon makes very nice ergonomic grips (in two sizes, for small and large hands) -- the bar ends give you more hand positions while you ride. Search for them in Amazon.

The bike was fitted, and everything else about the fit, I love... The reach just feels a tiny bit stretched. I feel I have a tendency to lean forward and ride "low" to the bars naturally (though this could just be bad posture also and adding stress to my wrists), so I think switching out the flat bar is a possibility...

I just want to be able to ride farther distances in the future without screwing up the nerves in my hand.

Also, you could ask about "riser bars" -- for example, Easton has one that rises 4cm (1.6"), but in Amazon there are some with a 5" rise...

OK...very simple here, but Freedomrider had similar problems when he started out. He got a better pair of gloves with better cushion and rarely has problems since.

I have the same issue with some gloves but not others. I made the mistake of ignoring it and spent two years with numbness before my fingers recovered!

alas, i do not wear gloves while i ride :\ i was waiting until i did longer, more intensive rides before buying a pair...

In that case, get some gloves! 25 miles is plenty far enough for nerves to get aggravated. (I can't ride gloveless more than five miles without getting that tingling/numbness.) A good pair of gloves will probably make a big difference. You could try a glove with a split along the palm where the ulnar nerve runs. They don't necessarily need a lot of padding, just enough on either side so that pressure on the nerve is reduced. Or the split may not be important in your case (my best gloves are simply lightly padded all across).

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Originally Posted by jordanjustgo

alas, i do not wear gloves while i ride :\ i was waiting until i did longer, more intensive rides before buying a pair...

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Gloves, gloves, gloves, get gloves :D They are also important in heloing to protect the skin on your hands from getting torn up should you have a spill.

I ride 2-inch riser bars on both of my road bikes, and also use Ergon Grips (these rock). You may not need 2-inch risers, but they are more comfortable than true flat bars. The Ergon grips are an inexpensive way to make your hands more comfortable - but you do still need gloves :D I have the Ergon GS3 on my mountain bike (they were for another bike but don't work with my grip shifters). The bar ends are adjustable, soft, and gives more hand positions. Here is a version without the bar end.

They make a real difference.

The bar ends are nice, I must say. When I had a mountain bike, I put some Ergon grips with the bar ends and was skeptical. They are very comfortable, it gives a nice alternative to grab the handlebar.

Gloves help, but so does having a strong core, so you are not putting the weight on your arms. Have the bike shop check the width of your bars. They tend to be too wide for many women (relative to your shoulders) and that causes aches and pains.

Thanks for starting this thread jordanjustgo. I too did 25miles yesterday (wooohoooo for us!! :D) and as well as a numb bum ended up a sore right hand and arm. I did try and focus on 'form' and keeping my arms relaxed and slightly bent but still the soreness happened, maybe it's a 'noob' thang. I have straight riser bars and ergonomic grips but will look into bar ends and new gloves.

Frankly I wasn't sure the bad ends would work for my mountain bike. I have found on my (so far) one trail ride that the size and curve of these particular grips with integrated bar ends took away much of my fear when I got close to trees as I went around roots. I really wish they would work with my x0 grips on my Gunnar though. The bar ends are helpful, especially if you have any had problems. Core strength is good as well, but with arthritis they are heaven-sent.

@Catrin: Ergon makes grips for "twist shifter". Models are GC2 and GR2.

Have you thought about changing your handlebars to a swept back more ergonomic bar, perhaps a albatross - the nitto or the soma oxford, would not require changing your shifters or brakes.

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Originally Posted by pll

@Catrin: Ergon makes grips for "twist shifter". Models are GC2 and GR2.

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Yes they do, but the bar ends are MUCH too short for my taste and I've small hands! So I have their regular grips with Titec L-bend bar ends and bar tape on my Gunnar and LHT. I would prefer their GC3, but that's life. I did think about cutting off part of the GC3 grips to make them work with my grip shifters, but I've been told there is no way to avoid them looking bad. I don't want to ruin Plum Blossom's svelte looks with ugly grips :(

I often get numb hands just a few miles into a ride, too. It gets so bad that it's hard to work my brakes, nevermind shifting. I try shifting my position frequently, steering with one hand while the other rests for a bit. Twenty miles in I can hardly feel either one. It was the same on my mtb's straight bars, although the extensions helped a bit. I think my problem is my form and not having a strong core.

I wonder if those albatross-style handlebars might be a better choice for me. I've often wished for chopper handlebars - no weight on the hands that way.

Roxy

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Originally Posted by jordanjustgo

alas, i do not wear gloves while i ride :\ i was waiting until i did longer, more intensive rides before buying a pair...

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I'd rather ride without a helmet than without gloves.

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Originally Posted by Dr.Doo

Thanks for starting this thread jordanjustgo. I too did 25miles yesterday (wooohoooo for us!! :D)

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CONGRATS! on your 25miles :D very exciting indeed... I'm still recovering from mine haha. only managed a 5.5mile yesterday and a 14mile today... getting thereee.

Thank you for all the advice. i will certainly go in search of a pair of gloves for future rides... and i do want to switch out my bars. I'm just trying to pace myself with bike purchases. I want to switch out my platform pedals to clipless... and i really cant afford to do pedals, shoes, bars, shifters etc etc... all at once. I'm still just a poor working girl and all :P

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Originally Posted by chryss

I'd rather ride without a helmet than without gloves.

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Ha, I took a spill 2 weeks ago thanks to a truck unwilling to share the road... believe me, with my road rash and such... I'm happy with the helmet. I'll still invest in gloves... but I wouldn't give up my helmet for nothin' :P

I have this pair of Pearl Izumi gloves that I bought shortly after I began riding. I wasn't even going to buy gloves as I have never been a glove person. But I stumbled upon a review of them that stated that the reviewer had fallen off her bike with these on. The gloves were almost totally undamaged as were her hands! After dealing with scabs on my knees for several weeks, I thought that gloves to prevent ripped up hands was a wise choice. I had been having sore hands after a long ride too. First ride that I wore these, I didn't even notice that they were on, they are not too hot, my hands had weren't sore afterward either.

Tried unsuccessfully to post a picture of them so here is a link...:cool:
http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/co...Code-8602.html

Try stretching your arms and chest before and after you ride as well. Stand in a doorway with your hands up above your head on the door frame and lean forward a bit. I think being hunched forward on a bike, at a computer, or anything can cause some impingement in the shoulder area as well.

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Originally Posted by marjoriealice

Try stretching your arms and chest before and after you ride as well. Stand in a doorway with your hands up above your head on the door frame and lean forward a bit. I think being hunched forward on a bike, at a computer, or anything can cause some impingement in the shoulder area as well.

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i will definitely do this before my next ride! thank you!!

A couple of things -

Numb hands can mean that you're leaning on them too much. Improve your core strength so that you abdominals & back can help hold you in position. Planks are good for this.

Impingement in your neck can cause numbness in your hands. You mentioned that you ride low & forward. Try straightening up a little. Straining your neck backwards might be aggravating the nerves that are in your hands. It's all connected.

Finally, don't hunch your shoulders towards your ears. When you're riding, try to pull your elbows together. Your shoulders will go down. This was a tip from my physical therapist AFTER I had a cervical fusion because I didn't follow the aforementioned advice ( but I didn't know...)

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

A couple of things -

Numb hands can mean that you're leaning on them too much. Improve your core strength so that you abdominals & back can help hold you in position. Planks are good for this.

Impingement in your neck can cause numbness in your hands. You mentioned that you ride low & forward. Try straightening up a little. Straining your neck backwards might be aggravating the nerves that are in your hands. It's all connected.

Finally, don't hunch your shoulders towards your ears. When you're riding, try to pull your elbows together. Your shoulders will go down. This was a tip from my physical therapist AFTER I had a cervical fusion because I didn't follow the aforementioned advice ( but I didn't know...)

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+1 on this advice. I'm a big huncher even though I have a strong core. My trainer is always hollering at me to "put them in the pocket" when I'm lifting. What she means is to pull my shoulder blades together and down. I have been concentrating on this for weeks (my mantra while I'm riding is "in the pocket, in the pocket") and I must say my form is better and although I still get a little numbness at the end of a long ride it is almost 100% better. I also discovered that if I undo the velcro on the wristband of my gloves it makes a big difference. No more flipper hands

Be proud, my loves... I went out and finally got gloves. Used them tonight on my 14 mile route (which is becoming too easy, yay!).... originally, my hands were getting even more tingly than normal... but I loosened the velcro, similar to FlyingScot, and it helped significantly.

Definitely know that my weak core is part of the problem, because my neck and back are always the things that hurt, never my legs.... need to bust out the core workouts. Thanks again for all the great words of wisdom!

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Originally Posted by jordanjustgo

Be proud, my loves... I went out and finally got gloves. Used them tonight on my 14 mile route (which is becoming too easy, yay!).... originally, my hands were getting even more tingly than normal... but I loosened the velcro, similar to FlyingScot, and it helped significantly.

Definitely know that my weak core is part of the problem, because my neck and back are always the things that hurt, never my legs.... need to bust out the core workouts. Thanks again for all the great words of wisdom!

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Great to here the gloves were significantly helpful. As for your core, strengthening it will also make a huge difference. Might want to have sizing recheck to be sure you aren't reaching too far also...:cool: