Help! Hand pain following hybrid to road bike upgrade

[lulubel]

This thread is really old I know but I too am having exactly the same problem with the pain in my hands on transition from Hybrid to Road Bike. What made it better in the end? Thanks

The original poster hasn't been here since the day after her first post, nearly 4 years ago, so I doubt you'll get an answer from her. If she did solve the problem, I suspect it was by learning to ride in the more stretched out position that's natural on a road bike, rather than trying to force her body upright by pushing herself up and back with her hands.

The change from hybrid to road bike is quite a dramatic one, and many of us here (including me) have done it. It takes quite some time before you start to enjoy being "lower". I found riding on the drops as much as I could helped. It made riding on the brake hoods feel upright by comparison, and forced me to use my core muscles rather than my hands to support my upper body.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Lulubel is quite right to mention core muscles and their role in cycling comfort. Cycling involves a lot more than just using your legs. My forearms for example have a lot more definition since I started clocking up the miles.
There are so many possible adjustments on a bicycle that getting the "sweet spot" may be a process of trial or error, or paying for a bike fit (and these can be quite expensive!) - but just by following simple bike fitting advice you can resolve many of the problems.....
So even if it is your arms that hurt, start with the saddle. Is it the right height? Once height is adjusted check whether it is nose level, nose up or down. The nose should be level or minimally nose up. If it is nose down put it level as nose down will push you forwards forcing you to take more weight on your arms. If it is level, it may be worth nudging the nose up a degree or two to help push you back. Next check whether the saddle is too far back......

Once you have the saddle sorted you can look at your handlebars.... are they too low? If so you may be able to raise them slightly by turning the riser round or just by pivoting the handlebars upwards slightly.
Is the stem too long so that you have to reach forward too far? A shorter stem with an angled riser may help........

Worth looking at all of the above as well as giving it a little time to get used to using different support muscles, and then if still required a bike fit may be worth while.