pinky and ring fingers are numb?!

[singletrackmind]

What Audio-A said!

Could gloves contribute to or alleviate some numbness? Just wondering. For me altering my saddle angle up a tiny bit helped take pressure off my wrists and hands.

[Surlygirl]

I have the same problem. I also put phat bar tape on my bars which made a big difference. There is also Aztec Vibewrap that can be cut so you can customize it a little better to fit your bars and suggested by my LBS. I also put in line brakes on the top of my bars in addition to my STI levers and switch hand positions constantly as well as wear padded gloves. I still need to shake my hands out every so often too.

[SadieKate]

I have ulnar compression problems also. The stronger my back and abdomen, the fewer problems.

[KSH]

I too have had that same problem... it happened when I rode 45 miles... at 10 MPH. LONG RIDE!

My hands would tingle and go numb!

I suspect that getting areo bars would help... because I could then change positions and eliviate the pressure off my hands.

But... yea... I don't have any solutions... just thought I would let you know... you are not alone!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I think that SadieKate really has the answer that should help - and that is to use your back and ab muscles to hold your upper body in position. That allows you to get a good deal of the pressure and weight off of your hands.

You might also want to check out the Bicyling and Pain page on Sheldon Brown's web site.

--- Denise

[KkAllez]

What helped for me, and I've mentioned it on another post about elbow pain, was going to a wider bar. My bars were too narrow. Also, the thick gel tape helps. Check your hand position when you are on the top area of the bar where you can brake or change gears (I know there must be some techinical term for that part of the bar but it eludes me). If your hands angle outward at the wrists, even slightly, that may mean your bars are too narrow. You cannot imagine the pain I was in, then to have it fixed by simply chaning bars was nothing short of a miracle for me. I thought I was going to have to give up cycling. Oh, I think we also tweaked the angle of the bars, too.

Don't give up, just keep tweaking! I think it must be a dark secret that the key to cycling to tweaking. At first it will seem that you are always tweaking something. It will all come together eventually...then you'll want a new bike, and get to start all over again!

Kik