sore thumbs and wrists

[batsheva]

yes - i started riding 3 weeks ago and have had no pain anywhere except sore thumbs - despite quite long rides for a beginner-- it's how i rest on the hoods, with just my thumbs hooked over them-- even with the shimano short reach brake/shifters and maximum of the little buffers in them, i have to wear gloves to make my hand 'bigger' so i can be on the hoods and still change or brake (this sounds dumb but it works in practice), resulting in only my thumbs effectively being on the hoods-- think i am stuck with this though as the bike shifters are on max looseness, max buffer-plugs and are the small shimanos anyway... unless i change to a kiddie bike!! :-)

if that is my worst problem i ever get on the bike physically, i will be very pleased!!

[RolliePollie]

yes - i started riding 3 weeks ago and have had no pain anywhere except sore thumbs - despite quite long rides for a beginner-- it's how i rest on the hoods, with just my thumbs hooked over them....

Batsheva - I bet as you get more comfortable with your bike and with riding in general, you will find that you can change your hand position more often. I know that helps me when my hands start to hurt. When I first started riding, I always had my hands near the hoods so I could reach the brakes. Now I ride with my hands all over the place on the bars. I've found that I don't use my brakes much unless I'm coming to an intersection or a sharp turn. I'm always alert and ready to move my hands to the brakes with a second's notice, but a lot of the time I've got my hands elsewhere on the bars.

[JanB]

I also have had sore, cracking thumbs that ache but, like everyone says, it does get better with more time on the bike. I also ride a Specialized and one thing that did help me was that my lbs put a $15.00 shim in the brake lever so I wouldn't have to stretch my hand out so far to hit the brakes. The shim shortens the reach, bringing the lever in closer. Hope that makes sense but your lbs should know about these.

[dobedobedo]

It is comforting to know that this is a common problem. One thing I should have mentioned: I just had my bike fitting last week and the bars were dropped down quite a bit. Combined with being new to the open road, and the new position on the bike, and new to shifting, my poor little thumbs are maxed out. I will try to vary my hand position and that will help -- I'm still one of those newbies who is always ready to brake. I did get the little extension thingy put in the brake levers to make them easier to reach, but my hands are super tiny. I guess I'll just have to get used to it by riding, riding, riding.

[batsheva]

yeah - i got the biggest size shims in the short reach brake/shifters already - i just need to toughen up, huh?? :-)

[KnottedYet]

One thing I should have mentioned: I just had my bike fitting last week and the bars were dropped down quite a bit.

Maybe the bars are a bit too low, so you are holding too much body weight on your hands?

My drop bars are even with or slightly higher than my saddles. Everyone has their own magic bar height, so don't be afraid to change the way your shop set you up if it's uncomfortable.

[galaxygirl]

Hey! I'm back to riding after about an 8 year break, and on my old bike, my hands used to bug me all the time. My wrists used to hurt and my thumbs went numb! But I haven't had that problem at all on my new bike. I think there are a couple of reasons. One, when I had the bike fit, I got a new "stem" for the handlebars that put them at a better angle...closer to my body to balance out my weight on the bike. Two, I bought "gel" biking gloves. They are amazingly good to my hands.

I used to have a sore butt too, but the new bike has a great seat.

I love my new bike... Good luck on yours!

[SouthernBelle]

What size bars are you riding? If your bars are too wide this could be the problem.