New Bike and Wrists

[Aquila]

After riding fairly regularly for a couple years on an old ten speed (that the bike shop had raised the handlebars on with a stem thingy), I got a new bike this year. It's a Trek, WSD Pilot, and seemed right when I did test rides (and I rode a lot of bikes on test rides), but on longer rides (25 miles) my wrists get really sore.

I took it into the bike shop and they put a different piece on between the handlebar and the stem, with a higher angle, raising the handlebar. But a short ride (15 miles) put my hands to sleep, which scares me (because of the nerve issue).

I've been working on my core strength, but I'm middle-aged, and nothing's going to change much.

I'd really appreciate some suggestions. I ride in the drops because that's most comfortable in all other ways. I'm wondering if getting a stem thing to raise it even higher would help?

Thanks in advance! I've been reading for a while, and you folks have taught me more than I can say.

[rij73]

Couple of ideas:

Make sure your wrists aren't at a funny angle. They should be in a neutral position (the way they look with your hands hanging at your sides) for the majority of the time. Paying attention to that will let you know if you need to change your position or your stem.

Also, even though we all have a position we find most comfortable, it's important to change hand position for a little while every few minutes. Our hands and arms aren't meant to hold one position for hours.

Finally, don't grip the handlebars too tight. You don't need to exert any pressure to keep control of the bike. You should keep a light touch on it!

[SouthernBelle]

Um, middle-aged?? What does that have to do with it?

As to the problem, if I ride with my elbows locked and my weight on my hands I will have hand or wrist problems. This is easy to do toward the end of a long or hard ride. Concentrate on keeping a little bend in the elbows and keeping your upper body weight off of the bars.

HTH,

[northstar]

As to the problem, if I ride with my elbows locked and my weight on my hands I will have hand or wrist problems. This is easy to do toward the end of a long or hard ride. Concentrate on keeping a little bend in the elbows and keeping your upper body weight off of the bars.

HTH,

Hi there!

If I feel soreness in my wrists, I usually realize that I've locked out my elbows and I'm really leaning on them. I'm trying to make sure I've softened my elbows, and that helps a lot. (Also feels better on the bumps!) Just a good habit that doesn't require any mechanical adjustment!

[Kathi]

I heard Connie Carpenter Phinney speak about a month ago. She said to think of your abs as part of your back. Now when my shoulders get stiff or I feel some irritation from my saddle I tighten my abs slightly. By doing this it improves my posture on my bike, relieves any tightness I may have on my handlebars and takes the pressure off my saddle.

I didn't realize how much weight I was putting on my handlebars until I started tightening my abs and paying attention to my body.

But, Connie says, your bike must fit properly for this to work.

[Eden]

Do you wear gloves? I find I need to make sure the velcro on the wrists of mine is always done up quite loose/open otherwise I start getting tingly fingers.

[Thorn]

I second the checking your wrist angle. I had new handlebars installed this year (narrower bars to match my shoulders). After I got the bike back, I was having problems with the wrists and numbness in the hands. When they put the new bars on, they attached the brakes at such an angle that my wrists dipped down. I tried it, but after about 7 miles, my wrists and hands starting having problems.

I tried just flattening out the bars. That helped, but the hoods were still too angled for me. So I had the shop move the brakes. Now, when I look at my hands when I grip the handlebar my wrists are straight. No more pain.

Give it a look. When you're riding your bike, do you have an odd angle to your wrists? If so, have them change it so you don't.

[singletrackmind]

Also check your seat position. If it's pointed downwards towards the front too much it could cause you to lean into your handlebars, thus sore wrists.

[GLC1968]

Also check your seat position. If it's pointed downwards towards the front too much it could cause you to lean into your handlebars, thus sore wrists.

I was going to suggest that you check this as well. I was having some 'girly-bits' soreness, so I slightly tipped my seat foward (very, very slight) and all of a sudden, my hands were going numb. Putting my seat back eliminated the hand trouble immediately.

[Zen]

I've been working on my core strength, but I'm middle-aged, and nothing's going to change much.

Throw that way of thinking out with the garbage. I don't know your age but it doesn't matter because you can still build muscle strength regardless of age.

[li10up]

I too think it's a wrist angle thing. When I first got my new bike my wrists would really hurt. I had them rotate the bar (hoods) away from me and when riding on the hoods no more pain.