Problems with hands

vistafinder

Right so I have been cycling for nearly seven years and I at last got a proper bike fit done which was about 2 months ago now. I was haveing trouble with my neck. I was never able to spend time on the hoods on any of the bikes I had since I started cycling and since the bike fit I can reach the hoods no problem but now I am haveing trouble with that nerve in my hands dont know what its called. The thing is it never bothered me before. The guy that done the fit said if I had any trouble to go back to him but he is over 30 mls away from me so before I go back is there anything else worth trying to sort it out? I have double taped the bars but it seems to be under the rubber of the hoods thats uneven. Anyone? Hopeing to get lots of mls in over the holidays.
Thanks

Spokes of Glory

I think you're referring to "handlebar palsy", which is an umbrella term for a number of possible issues, usually some compression of the ulnar nerve in the case of cyclists. A proper bike fit normally helps, but you mention you've had problems with your neck which could be related, so a good physio/physical therapist should be able to assess that.

As always, any severe pain and/or weakness should prompt you to visit the GP

Spokes

crosswords

As above, proper bike fit is advised.

Saddle may be too far forward, causing too much weight on your hands.

Maybe put it back a bit and see if the symptoms resolve?

bcmf

I used to suffer from it and changed my bars from the nomal round bars to the ones with the flat tops. Find them very comfy and no probs with the hands

LastGasp

bcmf wrote: »

I used to suffer from it and changed my bars from the nomal round bars to the ones with the flat tops. Find them very comfy and no probs with the hands

Flat "Wing shape" bars, combined with tape with seperate Gel pads underneath sorted this out for me too, for long-distance Audax events. Specialized do a tape with gel called Bar Phat, but can be hard to get here as online shops won't ship to Ireland. Fizik also do one, but I thought not quite as good.
I still found my hands getting sore on the hoods after long rides recently, and found cutting a small rectangle of neoprene out of an old pair of wetsuit socks, and tucking it under the rubber hoods was a big help.

JMcL

I've a tendency to suffer from this as well. I did a bike fit a few months ago, which has improved things a lot, so I'd make the effort to go back to the lad that did the fit for you for another look.

I find I need to pay attention to my choice of gloves as well. I bought a pair of gloves during the summer (pre fit mind you) and despite looking well padded, my hands have been numb after short spins of 30km or so. Personally I've always found Specialized gloves suit me well in terms of padding.