Cycling UK Forum

Have a trapped nerve in the hand causing numbness and loss of strength. This has occurred since buying a new bike so it could be a change of riding position.

Any advice? (My GP said I should ask around the cycling fraternity)

I do wear gel mitts and have one of those hard saddles.

if you periodacaly hold the handle bars from underneath (uncomfortable at first
until u get used to it)this may help.its a gud practice any way especialy when touring.

The hard saddle won't cause numb hands!
It is the gel mitts cutting off the blood supply at the wrists. They are probably too small.

You don't say if you are on drop or flat bars. My similar problem with drops was largely solved my raising the top of the bars a fraction and increasing the angle to the road a similarly tiny amount. I predominantly ride on the hoods, taking to the tops and underhand when the symptoms first appear, usually after 50+ miles. By keeping changing my hand position the problem is reduced to less than an irritation, although I wouldn't want to try brain surgery for twenty minutes after I get of the bike by which time I have regained full feeling. I think the idea is to try and reduce the weight going onto your hand and take more on your backside. This can also be done by moving the saddle forward, fitting a stumpneck to bring the bars back, or combinations of these alterations.

ronyrash: Interesting technique, I'll give it a go.

gar: The saddle is a Rido, so it'll give a slightly different riding position as I'm sitting on my coccyx rather than the soft tissue. I must admit the gloves are slightly tight as I have large hands.

Jim: Unfortunately having bought a made-to-measure it's a little on the small side with everything at maximum adjustment. Still it's bigger than my old bike so I should be putting less weight on my hands. I do ride more on the hoods with this one though and am still not used to the drops. I think I'm currently on the minimum seat height before I start damaging my knees, but I'll have a play with all the settings.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Do a search for "handlebar palsy" and you will be directed to www.sportsinjurybulletin.com which will give you information on this condition.

A bit like repetitive strain injury perhaps. RSI.

About the cocxyx. Isn't it best to sit on it until the muscles hold you off it naturally? They soon do!
The muscles just there work over time to keep you off it!

That has nothing to do with numb hands though

I have a similar problem in as much as holding my handlebars brings on my golfers elbow, in both elbows, I wouldn't mind but I don't like golf, never played it. I just keep changing position on my bars and grin a bear it. I've changed the bars on my ATB to drops too. When I stop cycling it takes a couple of seconds before I can bend my arms without pain but I'm not going to let a little pain stop me cycling.

I had a similar type of problem that didn't originate from cycling but was aggravated by it.

I bought the specialized bar phat gel pads and tape and simply put them on top of the existing tape and it's fantastically comfortable and forgiving. I now don't need to wear mitts at all! It looks slightly weird 'cos the bars are so thick but I'm not bothered since it works so brilliantly well.

I also bought the specialized mitts with the large pad that cushions the ulnar nerve which is generally the cause of the symptoms you've described. I find them better on flat barred bikes than drops and suspect that this is what they were designed for but they do help a bit even on drop bars.

i reckon this is a really common problem at some time for most cyclists. apart from all the foregoing treatments and adjustments, i suggest you move your hands around the positions on your bars very frequently. changing position helps me. also take your hand off every so often and bend your elbow while opening and closing your hand as if getting ready for a blood test! i am sure that rather than it being a repetitive strain problem, it is a static limb under stress problem and movement is the key

The worst I have experienced this condition was with SJS thorn half rise "Comfort bars" on a 350 km long weekend camping tour. It only affected the left hand and a residual numbness remained for several weeks. I have inboard mounted bar ends and frequently changed hand positions. I have since refitted a longer, lower angle stem and more absorbant grips.

l bought these ergonomic handlebar grips called 'Ergon MP1' and they seem quite satisfactory. l still need gel mitts but the design of the grips seem to reduce pressure on the nerves, time will tell. They retail at £20.

this sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. this is caused by entrapment of the median nerve which runs across the wrist in a tunnel shared with all the tendons to hte fingers. the treatment is to wear padded gloves and have padding on your bars. if it persists you made need an injection or if bad enough an operation.

nobby by following links for "handlebar palsy" I found the correct name to be Guyons Canal Syndrome which involves a crushing of the Ulnar nerve.

Think I need to lose weight...

Ulnar nerve glove advice by Scott and Tim's advice on adjusting your position regularly is gonna help loads. When I started cycling I found I was holding the bar far too tight. You really dont need to grip the bar unless you are scared. Try the advice of Eddy Mercxx - ride like you're playing a piano and relax some...