I'd start with bike fit as you may be putting too much pressure on your hands and then look to other solutions such as different grip options, better fork set up and different hydration pack options.
Eddie O
Eddie O
I can't feel my fingers. . .
For those of you that ride mile after mile, in my long endurance rides I have a problem where I start losing feeling in my pinky and ring fingers. Normally I lose feeling for a couple days.
Any remedies? Better hand position? Different grips? I use Bontrager lock ons and I need some new ones any recomendations?
Any remedies? Better hand position? Different grips? I use Bontrager lock ons and I need some new ones any recomendations?
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Thanks for the reply Eddie. Luckily I have had a professional fit on my endurance bike this spring when I was having knee troubles. I think I will try new grips since I need them anyway and go from there.Eddie O said:I'd start with bike fit as you may be putting too much pressure on your hands and then look to other solutions such as different grip options, better fork set up and different hydration pack options.
Eddie O
Try some foam one from Kona, Ritchey, Titec or the like. They are easier to maintain than bar tape and give the cushion you may be after. Lock-ons tend to be very hard, which give great grip/traction, but little comfort.
Eddie O
Eddie O
I really like my Oury Lock-on's for hand comfort. I also just started using the Cane Creek ergo bar ends and am going to try them at the ORAMM. It's a very comfortable alternate position and although they snagged a few times on Squirrel, it wasn't bad.
That all said, I've never had a problem with hand pain or tingling- lucky, I guess.
Mike
That all said, I've never had a problem with hand pain or tingling- lucky, I guess.
Mike
quitcher*****in'
I live for numb useless fingers. A ride isn't a ride until I lose the ability to grasp the steering wheel on the way home.
Ritchey WCS foamies are thicker than the Titecs. I had the same issue with lock-ons. I ride with my hands way out on the bar, and the metal collarssss hurtssss me handsssss precioussss.
I put mine on with 3M 77 spray adhesive and they don't come off until you want them to. I have damaged a few of them in accidents, but they're so cheap, who cares?
I live for numb useless fingers. A ride isn't a ride until I lose the ability to grasp the steering wheel on the way home.
Ritchey WCS foamies are thicker than the Titecs. I had the same issue with lock-ons. I ride with my hands way out on the bar, and the metal collarssss hurtssss me handsssss precioussss.
I put mine on with 3M 77 spray adhesive and they don't come off until you want them to. I have damaged a few of them in accidents, but they're so cheap, who cares?
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It sounds like you are compressing a nerve. New grips and gloves may help. Developing the habit of changing your hand position often to vary the pressure points on your palms might be the trick that works for you. Bar ends add a couple of different hand positions so are great for that.
Now if anybody has a trick to stop my toes going to sleep in a 24 I'm all ears. It took my left big toe about a month to wake up after 24-hrs in the Old Pueblo.
Now if anybody has a trick to stop my toes going to sleep in a 24 I'm all ears. It took my left big toe about a month to wake up after 24-hrs in the Old Pueblo.
I agree with what has been said here.
Numbness usually mean you are putting pressure on a nerve. just because you had a professioinal bike fit does not mean that there is no room for adjustment. Bike fit is a process many minute adjustments. A pro fit is a great starting point, but you still need to take the lee-way and adjust for comfort.
I think replacing the grips is a great idea, but I would try lifting your bars a spacer or two first. If you mask the problem with cushy new grips, it will undoubtly come back during a long long race. Solve the problem first, don't band-aid it. I would experiment bar/ stem combos until you find one that works. Do you run flat bars or risers. Personally I find the hand postition of a riser with some backsweep the most comfortable. maybe a litlle shorter/longer stem will shift your weight away from the nerve. I also really like the bar end idea. Having more options for hand position will benifit you greatly me thinks.
Hopeit all works out for you.
BTW don't be afraid to call whoever did your fit, and tell them about the prob. They understand that bike fitting is a process and should be happy to help you with a little fine tuning.
Numbness usually mean you are putting pressure on a nerve. just because you had a professioinal bike fit does not mean that there is no room for adjustment. Bike fit is a process many minute adjustments. A pro fit is a great starting point, but you still need to take the lee-way and adjust for comfort.
I think replacing the grips is a great idea, but I would try lifting your bars a spacer or two first. If you mask the problem with cushy new grips, it will undoubtly come back during a long long race. Solve the problem first, don't band-aid it. I would experiment bar/ stem combos until you find one that works. Do you run flat bars or risers. Personally I find the hand postition of a riser with some backsweep the most comfortable. maybe a litlle shorter/longer stem will shift your weight away from the nerve. I also really like the bar end idea. Having more options for hand position will benifit you greatly me thinks.
Hopeit all works out for you.
BTW don't be afraid to call whoever did your fit, and tell them about the prob. They understand that bike fitting is a process and should be happy to help you with a little fine tuning.
Uhhh... sleep from about 3pm on Saturday till about 8am on Sunday. Your feet will feel fine.LyndaW said:Now if anybody has a trick to stop my toes going to sleep in a 24 I'm all ears. .
Have you checked to make sure your cleat screws aren't too long for the shoe you're using? Happened to me once, and I ended up with nerve damage.
Quit giving him advice and tell him it's time to "cowboy up".
Hope you're ready to wrestle
.Linda
Have you ever tried Orthodics in your shoes?? The nerves that run your toes run under the arches of your feet. If you are compressing one the most likely place is directly under the arch of your foot.
I use a storebought orthodoic called superfeet I think in my running shoes. Helps alot with numbness in my toes while running cause they support my arches much better.
My next suggestion is try to see if any bike companies make a womens specific shoe. Women generally have shorter but wider feet then men, and most companies simply use a smaller version of a male shoe for females. There are only a couple running shoe manufactures that make a women specific rand,sole,mid sole etc. Making a good womes shoe is not just a matter of putting pretty colors on prexisting design which has been the approach of many. There are some anatomical differences to account for. Sorry I don't know if any bike companies are making a actual womens shoe. Maybe the Womens forum could tell you. After 24 hours something is almost bound to hurt.
Have you ever tried Orthodics in your shoes?? The nerves that run your toes run under the arches of your feet. If you are compressing one the most likely place is directly under the arch of your foot.
I use a storebought orthodoic called superfeet I think in my running shoes. Helps alot with numbness in my toes while running cause they support my arches much better.
My next suggestion is try to see if any bike companies make a womens specific shoe. Women generally have shorter but wider feet then men, and most companies simply use a smaller version of a male shoe for females. There are only a couple running shoe manufactures that make a women specific rand,sole,mid sole etc. Making a good womes shoe is not just a matter of putting pretty colors on prexisting design which has been the approach of many. There are some anatomical differences to account for. Sorry I don't know if any bike companies are making a actual womens shoe. Maybe the Womens forum could tell you. After 24 hours something is almost bound to hurt.
ergon grips with barends have helped me big time. After 24 hours of Moab I had numbness in pinky and ring finger for a month. I have doen several events now with the ergon grips and had no numbness!!!!!
Here is a review:
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Grip/product_125006.shtml
Here is a review:
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Grip/product_125006.shtml
Look at your brake lever position/reach. Are you using the other two fingers to brake?extrmtao said:For those of you that ride mile after mile, in my long endurance rides I have a problem where I start losing feeling in my pinky and ring fingers. Normally I lose feeling for a couple days.
Any remedies? Better hand position? Different grips? I use Bontrager lock ons and I need some new ones any recomendations?
P.S. Professionals are different, they get paid for advice.
Proper cleat placement may help. Sounds like you may be putting excessive pressure or reducing circulation to the toes with an ill placed cleat. Optimal cleat placement should work in conjunction with your sesamoid joint in the foot.LyndaW said:Now if anybody has a trick to stop my toes going to sleep in a 24 I'm all ears. It took my left big toe about a month to wake up after 24-hrs in the Old Pueblo.
I highly recomment a Wobble-Naught bike fit.
Eddie O
I can always count on TD
TD, I guess I could have my nerves surgically removed from my hands if I wanted to man up. Then I could be like Chevy in "Spies like us." Doctor, Doctor, Doctor
LindaW, thanks for the advice and Tell TD you will wrestle him . . .but only if he is sober.
Most of the advice makes sense to me. Well as much as anything can make sense to me. I definitely find myself grabbing the grips way out on the ends. . . I guess that's what happens when you hold on for your life. I will give these comments some thought and try it out. Maybe I will still be able hold onto my beer at the end of the ORAMM. :thumbsup:teamdicky said:quitcher*****in'
I live for numb useless fingers. A ride isn't a ride until I lose the ability to grasp the steering wheel on the way home.
Ritchey WCS foamies are thicker than the Titecs. I had the same issue with lock-ons. I ride with my hands way out on the bar, and the metal collarssss hurtssss me handsssss precioussss.
I put mine on with 3M 77 spray adhesive and they don't come off until you want them to. I have damaged a few of them in accidents, but they're so cheap, who cares?
TD, I guess I could have my nerves surgically removed from my hands if I wanted to man up. Then I could be like Chevy in "Spies like us." Doctor, Doctor, Doctor
LindaW, thanks for the advice and Tell TD you will wrestle him . . .but only if he is sober.
If you still rode a 29er you wouldn't be having this trouble....
Also, fwiw I'm in the bar end camp. I move my hands around all the time and it makes a world of difference. If I start to find my hands going numb even then, I get new gloves and that always seems to solve the problem.
Also, fwiw I'm in the bar end camp. I move my hands around all the time and it makes a world of difference. If I start to find my hands going numb even then, I get new gloves and that always seems to solve the problem.
you beat me to it.. I have never tried those but I have heard great things about them..blargo said:ergon grips with barends have helped me big time. After 24 hours of Moab I had numbness in pinky and ring finger for a month. I have doen several events now with the ergon grips and had no numbness!!!!!
Here is a review:
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Grip/product_125006.shtml
here is the cheapest I have seen them for. $21.97
http://www.beyondbikes.com/BB/ItemDesc.asp?Link=Froogle&IC=QHT1702
they are a little expensive but worth it is they can stop your fingers from going numb.
I tried the ergons....it took about twice as long on them to feel similar nerve pain....until then though...i couldn't descend....
i wear size XXXL Fox gloves....and found the shape of the ergons such that a firm grip on the bars wasn't possible on the descents....
I'm in love with Cane Creeks......mated to squishy Ourie's....or the yeti grip-shift lockons.....
i wear size XXXL Fox gloves....and found the shape of the ergons such that a firm grip on the bars wasn't possible on the descents....
I'm in love with Cane Creeks......mated to squishy Ourie's....or the yeti grip-shift lockons.....
a few ideas
Ahhh, slow day at work, so this is my 3rd post for the day.
I had same problem during 12 hour solo race and alos solicited help from this forum. In a nutshell, here are some thoughts/suggestions.
(1) It is definitely a compression ulnar nerve injury (runs along the outside part of the hand) that cause those symptoms. I was surprised that is happens so commonly based on the replies. It is usually reversible, but in general, this (like other injuries) often tend to recurr.
(2) Changing hand positions frequently
(3) More upright riding position via higher rise stem/handlebars or both
(4) More padded gloves. The Specialized BG got several recommendations
(5) The Ergon grips also got several mentions
(6) Alternative-shaped handlebars such as the Jones or Mary bars (several threads on these on these forums).
Have not yet done another long solo race, but definitely planning these modifications for next time. Hope this helps.
Ahhh, slow day at work, so this is my 3rd post for the day.
I had same problem during 12 hour solo race and alos solicited help from this forum. In a nutshell, here are some thoughts/suggestions.
(1) It is definitely a compression ulnar nerve injury (runs along the outside part of the hand) that cause those symptoms. I was surprised that is happens so commonly based on the replies. It is usually reversible, but in general, this (like other injuries) often tend to recurr.
(2) Changing hand positions frequently
(3) More upright riding position via higher rise stem/handlebars or both
(4) More padded gloves. The Specialized BG got several recommendations
(5) The Ergon grips also got several mentions
(6) Alternative-shaped handlebars such as the Jones or Mary bars (several threads on these on these forums).
Have not yet done another long solo race, but definitely planning these modifications for next time. Hope this helps.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
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