Needles and Pins

[Barabus]

Hello there,
I've been cycling now on a regular basis since the beginning of this year. Started this year weighing in at 16st 3lb and am now a much thinner 14st ! Not all down to just cycling, I might add, but also gave up the cider on school nights !
I try to get out on the bike at every opportunity, and the farthest I've travelled is 33 miles.
My problem is that when I get around the 20 mile mark, my fingers and thumbs start getting numb, tingling like pins and needles. I believe its caused by vibration from the road surface to the handlebars. Would proper cycling gloves or thicker tape on the bars be of any help ?
I've signed up for the London to Brighton run in June and a solution before then would be great . . . HELP !
Please don't advise me to ride "no handed" ! Being a 56 year old, I'm not very good at it !

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Try the gloves, try gel inserts.

But maybe you just have too much weight on the bars - is your saddle in the right position? Too far forward and you could be putting too much weight on your hands.

 

[Iain M Norman]

Not a Doctor, but it sounds like pressure on the ulna nerve. Sometimes finding the perfect glove for you will help. As will taking some weight off your hands, raising your bars for example.

Other options are gel pads under some thicker tape.

An often overlooked solution is to improve your core body strength. Any exercises that work on core strength will do, and as your core supports you on the bike you may find that takes some weight of your hands.

 

[Ern1e]

I was bought a pair of Bell Shasta cycling gloves for crimbo,these have gel inserts in the most needed places they do me fine,and just to add to Iain's comment above it could be carpel tunnel syndrome (or is this the ulna nerve ? if so I stand corrected)

 

[kedab]

get your saddle position sorted - it'll take time to find the right place but you shouldn't have all your weight on your arms/hands - your core needs to take some of that load too - just take some time to experiment - small adjustments are best. search the forum for some more advice too - i know i suffered from this very issue when i first got my hybrid and posted about it here 2 years ago

 

[Easytigers]

Agree with the above but also still have to remind myself to relax and change hand position...easing the shoulders and taking some weight off my hands! Hope you get it sorted!

 

[kedab]

Agree with the above but also still have to remind myself to relax and change hand position...easing the shoulders and taking some weight off my hands! Hope you get it sorted!

very true - remember to relax! don't keep the bars in a death grip and change your hand position regularly...not like you're throwing some shapes at a rave but definitely move them

 

[Spinney]

Have you got straight bars or drops?
If drops, change your hand position regularly (middle, hoods, drops).
If straight bars, consider getting some bar ends so you have a couple of different positions for your hands.

(Plus the gloves, etc!)

 

[SWSteve]

This was the case for me, but after using Lidl's cheap gloves I have found a difference. I also try to move from hoods/drops from time to time

 

[The Over 40 Cyclist]

Keep moving your hands around regularly. I have the same problem and that works for me, worked this morning!

I think it's the ulnar nerve, so it's a matter of finding spots where your hand position doesn't push on it. And from time to time I just take one hand off and give that hand (the one that gets more problems) a rest.

 

[taximan]

Butterfly bars worked for me on my touring bike.

 

[MaxInc]

An often overlooked solution is to improve your core body strength. Any exercises that work on core strength will do, and as your core supports you on the bike you may find that takes some weight of your hands.

This. I would try to avoid locking the elbows. This will reduce the pressure on the hands (and affected nerve) and transferring it to the core which is a lot stronger. It will also make the ride more comfortable since your arms will act as dampers and absorb a lot of the road vibrations.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

My right hand was really hurting last night biking home, first time in a while I hadn't used gloves, wore some thin gloves today and it was much better. I'm going to invest in some fingerless gel gloves at the weekend.

 

[Davidc]

Bar ends and move your hands around while riding. Or drops, or butterfly bars.

Don't lean hard on the wrists and get your riding position right.

I think that's all I've done or tried successfully, though after using a borrowed bike with butterfly bars I decided they weren't for me.

 

[Barabus]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I'll get me some decent gloves and keep moving around the bars.
If that don't help I'll tinker with the saddle position. Again, thank you, I'll keep you posted.