Thanks Surlygirl,

I have the Bar Phat tape -- I put that on at the end of last summer, at the same time the stem was changed for a shorter and higher reach and it has made a difference. I have gone from tingling, "screaming" hands for a couple of days after a century, to sore hands for a day. I will ask at my LBS about the Specialized handlebar and maybe the "super bar phat" tape if I swap the handlebar.