Numb fingers

[Nokomis]

What is your hand position on the handle bars? Do you have any history of wrist or neck issues?

I've struggled with wrist tendonitis for years now, and I can't ride with my hands flat on the top of the bars. (Originally used it as an excuse not to do spinning ~ that didn't last long, and now we're on the road!) I have to ride holding the outside of the bar or in the hoods, so my thumbs are facing up & there is no break in my wrist - just a flat line knuckles to elbow.

Might also have something to do w/ bike fit, reach, etc...

[Sheherazade]

If you are not using gloves, get some! I use Pearl Izumi gel gloves, but in spite of this I've gotten a bit of numbness in my hands the last couple of times out. Each time I experienced it was after being down in the drops for an extended period. When I rode yesterday, I got out of the drops on a couple of downhill jaunts and the numbness went away. I may have to experiment with a different handlebar stem in order to get some of the weight off my hands- not sure about this yet...

wendy

[Geonz]

Numbness is very common. Position (especially being sure to change it) and gloves can both help. I'm grateful I sort of automatically do the right thing, due to those early years learning piano and that typing class ... wrists STRAIGHT, ladies! (Thank you for enduring my attitude, Ms. Zaremba!) Or... explore moustache handlebars... (Rivendell has 'em)

[Trek1500]

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't have any neck or wrist issues but I do spend lots of time with my hands flat on top of the bars. I'll try moving around a bit more tomorrow. I wear the Pearl Izumi gel gloves as well. Interestingly, when I wear a full glove in the winter, the numbness doesn't happen. I can't wear those full gloves in this humidity, though, so I'll experiment with hand positions a bit more and see if that helps.

[Lenusik]

Try some other gloves as well. I wear Adidas gloves and find them more comfortable. Certainly move your hands around a bit as well. Tinglining is similar to cramping. You may need more electrolites especially now, when temperatures are getting higher.

[Eagle-Eye]

Different gloves can make a difference! I was wearing the PI Gel Lite gloves. I found that the padding ran across my hand funny and was squishing a nerve that caused hand numbness. I now use the PI Gel Vent Pro gloves and they have made a huge difference, along with forcing myself to change hand positions often.

[Cecilanne]

Have you ever noticed whether your fingers go numb when you are not riding? Like when you are cold or under stress? I have Raynaud's Phenomenon, which is a condition in which something triggers the blood vessels in the extremities (fingers, toes, hands, feet) to constrict, causing numbness (among other things). Although my RP is a hereditary rheumatic form, RP can also be acquired as a result of trauma and it is common to see in bikers who experience a lot of road vibration. Vibration triggers mine all the time. Good gloves help - I also have the Trek "buzzkill" ends in my handlebars and that seems to help as well. There isn't really a "test" for RP - just symptomology - but you might want to check with your doc if it is becoming a big problem. There are test for the various rheumatic conditions that can cause it. RP isn't necessarily dangerous in and of itself - but the one thing my doctor is adamant about is that I must never ever smoke (not that I would anyway, but apparently that can create havoc with RP because of tobacco's constricting effect)