Sore Wrists

[Mista Preston]

Since I have upped my cycling my wrists are getting sore post ride. I have also developed an ache in my finger as well. Seems to be more so on my commuter than on my weekend bike. Is this just a set up issue or is it worth getting it checked out?

Thoughts?

Ta
Mr P

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Check your set up first, handlebars too low or saddle pointed down can put too much weight on the wrists and cause problems, check your stem length as well.

 

[screenman]

Picture would be nice. What sort of bars? if drops do you ride on the hoods?

 

[black'n'yellow]

what bike?? what set-up?? which finger??

check your stem length as well.

check it for what??

 

[Deleted member 1258]

what bike?? what set-up?? which finger??



check it for what??

Check its the correct length.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Check its the correct length.

how would he know if it's the 'correct' length..??

 

[Deleted member 1258]

how would he know if it's the 'correct' length..??

If the rest of the bike is set up correctly he would feel comfortable on the bike, he wouldn't feel stretched or cramped. Personally I check the stem length by putting the back of my elbow on the nose of the saddle and with straight fingers see where my longest finger is in relation to the handlebars, if I'm just touching the back of the bars or I'm less than an inch behind from the bars the stems right, if I'm more than an inch behind the bars the stem is too long, if my fingers are in front of the bars the stem is too short, works for me and has done for many years.

 

[lulubel]

It does sound like a setup issue if you're getting it on one bike but not the other.

How is your riding position on the 2 bikes different?

 

[Flying Dodo]

I have also developed an ache in my finger as well. Seems to be more so on my commuter than on my weekend bike.

Are you using one finger too much, to make gestures to your fellow commuters??

 

[Mista Preston]

Are you using one finger too much, to make gestures to your fellow commuters??

ha ha

I ride a road bike for both my commuter and non. I ride on the hoods and not on drops. Its a Giant SCR 2, my other bike is a Spesh Roubaix.

They are both the same size and actually not to far off in geometry. I think the stem is the same length also on both. The set up on the commuter is actually to have an additional spacer to raise the bars so it theory its a little less aggressive than the weekend bike. My saddle on the commuter if anything is a little lower.

I have a two day ride this weekend on my Spesh so I am going to see if it plays up. If it doesn't then I think I can say its the set up on the Giant, if it does then I need to rethink........

 

[BSRU]

If the rest of the bike is set up correctly he would feel comfortable on the bike, he wouldn't feel stretched or cramped. Personally I check the stem length by putting the back of my elbow on the nose of the saddle and with straight fingers see where my longest finger is in relation to the handlebars, if I'm just touching the back of the bars or I'm less than an inch behind from the bars the stems right, if I'm more than an inch behind the bars the stem is too long, if my fingers are in front of the bars the stem is too short, works for me and has done for many years.

Probably not the cause in this case but the bars can make a difference also.
My road bike is set up perfectly, recently I started commuting on a Ridgeback Panorama set up using the road bike as reference, front of the saddle to the bars are the same.
But the problem being the hoods are about 4 cms further away due to the fact the Ridgeback does not use compact drops, hence my feeling of over reaching when on the hoods and aching wrists by the end of the week.
Luckily I have managed to find a compact handlebar for the Ridgeback that does not require changing the stem.

 

[Mista Preston]

been thinking. I use a rucksack on my commute with a laptop etc. I guess that would add pressure

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Probably not the cause in this case but the bars can make a difference also.
My road bike is set up perfectly, recently I started commuting on a Ridgeback Panorama set up using the road bike as reference, front of the saddle to the bars are the same.
But the problem being the hoods are about 4 cms further away due to the fact the Ridgeback does not use compact drops, hence my feeling of over reaching when on the hoods and aching wrists by the end of the week.
Luckily I have managed to find a compact handlebar for the Ridgeback that does not require changing the stem.

yes probably not the cause with this, but with set up if one setting is out it can throw out other settings and make it more difficult to get it right, bike set up seems to be more a black art than a science. The position of the brakes on the bars and whether the the bars are tilted or not is worth looking at, its possible to get the wrists at an unnatural angle and that can cause problems.

 

[LarryDuff]

put some tubey grip round youe wrists