Numbness in my right hand

[Catrin]

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

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

[channlluv]

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

[chryss]

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

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

[jordanjustgo]

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

CONGRATS! on your 25miles 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

[jordanjustgo]

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

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

[KatzPajamas]

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...
http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/co...Code-8602.html

[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.

[jordanjustgo]

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.

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

[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...)

[FlyingScot]

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...)

+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

[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!

[KatzPajamas]

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!

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...