Bike Fit Question

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Came back from a 123k cycle today (with the super speedy Dermot Illogical. I spent most of the day dying not to let on how knackered I was :eek:), and my right arm is still numb and weak after it, I got home at 4. Now I have no bar tape at the moment, (working on that, suggestions for bar tape that is less than €15 welcome!) and I tend to spend most of my cycle in the drops. Would the lack of bar tape and position cause it? I had gel gloves on, I thought they would have been enough? Usually after a 60k plus cycle my little fingers would be numb, but I assumed this was due to my position?

So after all that, do my bars need to come up or down to prevent numb/weak arm?

Raam

Most of your spin in the drops? That's a bit odd, for me anyway. I'd rarely be in them on a casual spin.

G1032

Cinelli gel cork bar tape

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ie/en/cinelli-gel-cork-bar-tape/rp-prod25854

Raam

Defo need bar tape, although I have none on the tops.

eeeee

Raam wrote: »

Most of your spin in the drops? That's a bit odd, for me anyway. I'd rarely be in them on a casual spin.

Yes about 90% of my cycling is in the drops. I find it the comfiest place to be. My hoods aren't massively comfy, and I feel very upright and a little less secure up on them.

eeeee

Raam wrote: »

Defo need bar tape, although I have none on the tops.

Tops are tapeless too!

Lusk_Doyle

Raam wrote: »

Defo need bar tape, although I have none on the tops.

You have the wide flat bar though, don't you?

Raam

Try dropping your bars a bit. Get Dermot Illogical to critique your position since he cycles with you.

Tops of mine are wide and flat, hence I don't bother taping them.

eeeee

Bar tape ordered and bars dropped a bit. Arm still weak/numb though. Lazy fúcker!

smacl

gadetra wrote: »

Yes about 90% of my cycling is in the drops. I find it the comfiest place to be. My hoods aren't massively comfy, and I feel very upright and a little less secure up on them.

I also tend to cycle a lot in the drops for the same reasons, though move about much more than I used to. For me keeping the elbows at least a bit bent at all times helps, as does keeping the grip on the bars quite loose. That said, I've also taped my bars to include a bit extra padding in my most used positions.

Descending on really crappy surfaces, I tend to lift my ass out of the saddle slightly and move it right back, so the legs are acting as dampers but the weight is still to the back of the bike. This kills a large amount of road buzz at the expense of being slightly more tiring.

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smacl wrote: »

I also tend to cycle a lot in the drops for the same reasons, though move about much more than I used to. For me keeping the elbows at least a bit bent at all times helps, as does keeping the grip on the bars quite loose. That said, I've also taped my bars to include a bit extra padding in my most used positions.

Descending on really crappy surfaces, I tend to lift my ass out of the saddle slightly and move it right back, so the legs are acting as dampers but the weight is still to the back of the bike. This kills a large amount of road buzz at the expense of being slightly more tiring.

Yeah I keep the hands loose alright. I might get some gel/foamy stuff and see if i can wrap the bar tape over it. The bar specific stuff is way too pricey, I might gunther up something!
I also do the same on descents. (although mainly because feels a tiny bit like cantering or galloping a horse. I hurdle speed bumps too )

rollingscone

gadetra wrote: »

Yeah I keep the hands loose alright. I might get some gel/foamy stuff and see if i can wrap the bar tape over it. The bar specific stuff is way too pricey, I might gunther up something!
I also do the same on descents. (although mainly because feels a tiny bit like cantering or galloping a horse. I hurdle speed bumps too )

I only ever got as far as trotting on a horse...:/


Did the cold running water help at all with arm numbness?

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rollingscone wrote: »

I only ever got as far as trotting on a horse...:/


Did the cold running water help at all with arm numbness?

Not really, I reckon it helped more with the numb little fingers, but they went quick enough, and were back to normal this morning. Tried it on the arm but to no avail. Also cold showers are not enjoyable!

rollingscone

gadetra wrote: »

Not really, I reckon it helped more with the numb little fingers, but they went quick enough, and were back to normal this morning. Tried it on the arm but to no avail. Also cold showers are not enjoyable!

Somewhere Germany, there's a highly specialised underground club full of people that disagree heartily with you...probably.

smacl

gadetra wrote: »

Yeah I keep the hands loose alright. I might get some gel/foamy stuff and see if i can wrap the bar tape over it. The bar specific stuff is way too pricey, I might gunther up something!

The Easton tape I use gives a few extra bits for this purpose. If you're in any way a messy type like myself, black is a good colour, and screw on caps are also well worth the few extra bob.