Pins and needles in hand

[Nomadski]

Did my first 35 mile ride last week, felt great except about 25 miles in I started getting pins and needles in the tips of my thumb and fingers in my left hand.

Wondered if this happens to anyone - am thinking the angle of my hoods (which I spend 99% of the time on) are maybe the wrong angle?

 

[berty bassett]

not quite set up right somewhere along the line - either seat , handlebars or stem i am guessing but if its only a bit did you change position often as that would help - well done anyway as its bleak out there at the minute aint it

 

[Mile195]

Quite possible. A colleague of mine rides a mountain bike. She had all sorts of pain in her shoulders and wrists (not just when she was riding her bike) and her doctor couldn't get to the bottom of it. After a number of months, she stuck some new bar ends on. All her problems cleared up almost instantly.

My point is that experimenting with different positions might be a good start - get a feel for where the main pressure points on your hands are and see if you can adjust your setup (or maybe riding style) to spread it a bit more. Maybe you're stretching to reach the bars too much. That would put alot more of your weight on your wrists which can affect the feeling in your fingers if you're in that position for a long time. Could you benefit from a shorter stem perhaps?

 

[Brommyboy]

Definitely sounds like too much weight on your hands - try bars up/saddle closer, also padded gloves. Also change hand position while cycling. Drops allow four different positions: fingers forward over straight part, fingers outward on bends, hands on hoods and hands on drops.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I really suffer with this too, I think its the unusually long stem that my bike came with but at the moment I can't afford to buy another stem to try it with.

My hands start to go number after about ten miles.

 

[Kies]

when safe to do so .... put one hand behind your back and open/close palm. repeat for 20 seconds and return hand to bars. repeat as required.

 

[uphillstruggler]

I really suffer with this too, I think its the unusually long stem that my bike came with but at the moment I can't afford to buy another stem to try it with.

My hands start to go number after about ten miles.

hello Andrew, have you thought about trying to swap your stem with another CCer in the classifieds? just a thought and no, i dont have one, sorry

 

[Andrew_Culture]

hello Andrew, have you thought about trying to swap your stem with another CCer in the classifieds? just a thought and no, i dont have one, sorry

You know what, I hadn't! Great idea.

 

[DWiggy]

I get the too, it goes if I really shake out my arm, apparently is a sign of carpal tunnel (RSI) its normally my fingers in-between my little finger and and pointing finger go first, but as the others say could be down to positioning?

 

[uphillstruggler]

You know what, I hadn't! Great idea.

I suppose its whether you can time the swap so you dont lose the use of the bike for a day or two.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I suppose its whether you can time the swap so you dont lose the use of the bike for a day or two.

Tis fine, I ride a battered Single Speed most of the time and only get a chance to use my geared road bike at the weekends.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Tis fine, I ride a battered Single Speed most of the time and only get a chance to use my geared road bike at the weekends.

best of luck then, ive just had a peek and jazloc may have beaten you to one a day or so ago.

 

[Gravity Aided]

You might look at Raynauds phenomenon . Especially if cold weather effects this.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

best of luck then, ive just had a peek and jazloc may have beaten you to one a day or so ago.

Yeah I just spotted that, but his was borked!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

You might look at Raynauds phenomenon . Especially if cold weather effects this.

Nah, it's whatever the weather.