Gloves / numb hands question

[jordon198]

Been riding a few weeks now, and just started having a numb right hand, the pinky finger most pronounced. I've read where you need to change postions as you ride, and thought that I was.

I bought a pair of the cheapest gloves they had, is that the problem, or is it more likely that I just am not changing postions enough?

I've started going for longer times, about 2.5 hours, not a long time compared to most of you, but I'm working at it. My goal is to do a Century next spring.

Thanks

Steve
Augusta, Georgia

[shaneo]

Originally posted by jordon198
Been riding a few weeks now, and just started having a numb right hand, the pinky finger most pronounced. I've read where you need to change postions as you ride, and thought that I was.

I bought a pair of the cheapest gloves they had, is that the problem, or is it more likely that I just am not changing postions enough?

I've started going for longer times, about 2.5 hours, not a long time compared to most of you, but I'm working at it. My goal is to do a Century next spring.

Thanks

Steve
Augusta, Georgia


Nothing unusual....we all suffer from it at first.....make sure you always wear gloves.....good pairs have like a gel padding around the bottom of the palm area....I believe it is the pressure on this area that causes the numbness...(other people may be able to elaborate) also make sure you haven't got your gloves done up to tight....this can cause numbness as well....by rights you should be able to hold the same position for a long time without going numb.....also check to see if you are gripping the bars to tight...you may need to ease up on the pressure slightly....

[Feanor]

Originally posted by jordon198
Been riding a few weeks now, and just started having a numb right hand, the pinky finger most pronounced. I've read where you need to change postions as you ride, and thought that I was.

I bought a pair of the cheapest gloves they had, is that the problem, or is it more likely that I just am not changing postions enough?

I've started going for longer times, about 2.5 hours, not a long time compared to most of you, but I'm working at it. My goal is to do a Century next spring.

Thanks

Steve
Augusta, Georgia

Agree with Shaneo above... Also try a bit of experimentation with your riding position if the numbness is severe and changing hand positions doesn't help...

Don;t make radical changes though, start slow and with things like seat height or fore and aft position.

I had a real problem with numbness in the hands as well, and a friend told me to try moving the seat back a 1/4" at a time if I could do so and still be in a reasonable position.

At first I questioned him heavily about this, thinking that moving the seat "back" would put more pressure on my hands, but such is not the case I learned... When you bend over to pick something up, your butt naturally moves back so that you maintain balance, if it didn't you'd fall forward...

By moving the seat back a little, you'll discover if you had to much weight fore when you needed some aft to balance your weight more effectively over the crank.

Also note that if you hammer, your hands and arms will bear less weight, and if you tool along, your hands will go numb more quickly, so if you feel the numbness coming on, drop the hammer! LoL! :) numbness may just be your trainings best friend :)

Feanor

[gubaguba]

Remember to bend your elbows. Most people lock out there arm. Use your arms like shock absorbers flexing. Give up on the death grip and relax. Take your hands off the bar and shake them out occassionally.

[RalleighOke]

Another thing that can also contribute to this is when your gloves are too small.

[BugMan]

The cheap gloves may also contribute - although their problem is usually poor fit that results in rubbing/chafing in certain spots rather than causing numbness. Good gloves are not that expensive, though - it may make a difference.

[Babbar]

Another problem new riders sometimes experience is the "death grip" or "white knuckle" syndrome. That is, gripping the bars so tight you leave fingerprints in the metal.

Wear good gloves, I like the Trek Moby Gels, change hand positions slightly every 15 minutes or so for about 5 minutes, relax your elbows and shoulders.

I have been riding for a while, wear Moby Gels, remind myself of all the things to do and not to do, and I still sometimes get numbness in my the left side of my left hand.

I should follow my own advice more closely!
:D

[jordon198]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll quit being so cheap, get some good gloves, relax a little, and remember to change postions. Thanks for helping out a novice.

After reading some of the other threads here I'm just glad it is my hand thats numb, and not any part of my reproductive zone.

[tbick]

This should bring some interesting responses. I discussed this issue years ago with a sports doctor who worked with the olympic team...and his opinion is this has nothing to do with your gloves and that position is not that big of a factor. It is a factor of physical conditioning and that as a normal course of function, your body is sending blood flow to your legs instead of your arms and hands. A similar sensation will occur with runners who are in the early stages of development. Run hard and the arms and hands will tingle and have that numb sensation.

[Feanor]

Originally posted by tbick
This should bring some interesting responses. I discussed this issue years ago with a sports doctor who worked with the olympic team...and his opinion is this has nothing to do with your gloves and that position is not that big of a factor. It is a factor of physical conditioning and that as a normal course of function, your body is sending blood flow to your legs instead of your arms and hands. A similar sensation will occur with runners who are in the early stages of development. Run hard and the arms and hands will tingle and have that numb sensation.

This seems like a very logical conclusion, but I have to add that padding and shifting positions must also be of benefit since I have vivid recollections of bombing down gravel mountain roads on the MTB and even though I was not pedalling at all (just trying to maintain control) my arms and hands went deathly numb from the shocks and vibration of the descent... Going to a more compliant front shock and better gel gloves almost eliminated the trouble, but never completely.

But having the body divert resources to the working parts makes perfect sense as well... Perhaps its a combination of the two...

Feanor