Question: I suffer from numb hands. I’ve tried gel gloves and had my riding position checked, but there’s been no improvement. I think it’s from the way I hold my hands on the bar — usually grasping the brake hoods. Any suggestions? — Hank P.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Keeping hands in one position for long periods is a sure recipe for tingly fingers. So, my first suggestion is to change your grip frequently. Hold onto the brake hoods, then move back to the bends (as described below), then onto the tops as if you were climbing, and finally down to the drops. Then repeat the sequence.
Also, use chances to move your hands in response to the terrain and other conditions. If the road is flat and straight, develop the habit of changing your grip every minute or two.
Here’s a hand position advocated by seven-time Tour de France rider Ron Kiefel, who now operates Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Denver.
Ron likes to lay his hands on the curve of the handlebar behind the brake hoods. The base of each index finger is near the hood but not quite touching. His thumb goes inside the bar and rests near the base of the brake hood. His index and middle fingers wrap around thebar under the brake hoods. His ring and little fingers wrap around the bar behind the brake hoods.
Got that? This position puts the underside of all knuckles in contact with the handlebar. The idea is to have weight borne by the bony part of the palm. The wrist should be in a straight “handshake” position. Using this grip, most of the nerve compression that causes numb hands will be alleviated. Try it to see if it helps you.
Your seat may need to be adjusted as to keep you from pushing on your hands to hold your position. Also raising the handle bars helps. Good luck and keep riding.
I can’t seem to visualize Rob Kiefel’s hand position. Could you please post a picture?
Thanks
Tim
Agree! For the visual learners, a picture would be great.
Agree! For the visual learners, a picture would be great.
Try moving your seat back. It will position your weight back toward the bike and off your hands. (See Peterwhitecycles.com for his article on bike fitting.)
Agree need a picture
Raise your stem and have a professional fit where you can keep going back trying trying different things until you get relief. However a great trick to offer quick relief that works for me is to put my hand and arm behind my back and stretch. Works like a charm. Get the blood flow going fast in your arm.
Double tape the handlebars.. Move the seat forward. The more uprights torso, the more weight is borne by your seat and less by your hands. Yes, move your hands around. In Road bikes i like to ad aero bars to place weight on my forearms and off my hands altogether.
Stretching my shoulders and neck seems to work the best for me.. I suffered with numb hands for years until I stretched.
Get a professional bike fit as i did and all my pains went away. Do iit trust me you will ride better and for longer periods
Double level wrapping solves a lot..in est in gel gloves too…
As a MS150 ride marshall I often come across riders shaking their hands to restore circulation. I give them two tips.
First is to avoid a right angle bend in the wrist. Keep a straight line along the back of your hands up to the outside of the elbow. This opens up the blood flow adjacent to the carpal tendons.
Second is to shift your bottom on the seat.Lots of blood vessels pass through the center of the pelvis and this frees up more blood flow.
I moved to a carbon Ultegra flatbar bike. I have ergo-grip bar extensions and elongated (to rear) bar grips which give a broader area to rest the palms on, which interacts with the aft portion of bar extension. No one’s mention changing the stem; shorter with bring you more upright, and the stem angle can come up from flat to 60 deg. My road bike gives me numb hands over 35km travel. I can ride comfortably 100km on the flatbar. I’m 68y.
I also have Baramind shock absorbing handlebars on 3 bikes. First installed 8’2015. French Baramind handlebars flex in a downward direction only, meaning you have some front end comfort over small potholes (cobblestones) and the like but without the weight of a front suspension fork. Cost about $AU135 (incl post). .