Finger numb while riding
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vanjames posted 1 year ago.
It sounds like too much weight resting on your hand, you could be compressing a nerve. Do you have pain in all hand positions?
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deedlit posted 1 year ago.
I've been using the top section of my drop bars (not sure how to call it...the horns?), not actually going on the dropped position. Resting my hands on top of my bars (resting on the palms and inside of hands rather than between my thumb and index) seems better, but certainly not practical. As for aero, as I said, I'm not daring just yet!
I thought that if there would be too much pressure, I would feel it in both hands. Am I wrong?
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Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/
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Riverbrady posted 1 year ago.
not necessarilly...all fingers are not built identically. The same nerve in the other hand may be situated differently just enough to not be pinched.
I'd try slightly different hand grips on the bar first to see if you get the numbness again. Also, loosen up your grip, as you're likely gripping the bars too hard due to the apprehension of riding a new bike, riding clipless pedals, etc. A loose grip around your bars will give you better control over the bike while lessening any road bumps/shocks you feel through your hands/arms.
"Care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."
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deedlit posted 1 year ago.
Riverbrady, you are right, I'm surely gripping too hard! I find it hard to relax for now...I guess with time it should get better.
As for trying different hand grips I'm not sure how to tackle this one, as the numbness happened very quickly and doesn't go away even if I change position...I'll have to experiment a bit I suppose, but I also don't want to damage any nerve. I can still feel the numbness right now, and I'm wondering how long it's going to last.
I also think my seat is pointing a bit too much downwards, that might not help. It's very comfortable that way, but again, it's all about balance, right?
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Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/
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JamieM posted 1 year ago.
Tap your fingers on your bars every few minutes, that will make you relax your grip. At least for a moment. And maybe try riding for a short time without gloves. Could be too much padding or something with the fit that is causing the numbness.
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vanjames posted 1 year ago.
If your seat is pointing downward you are surely resting too much weight forward, try leveling your seat (maybe 2 degrees downward, and slide it slightly forward on the rails). If you are not experiencing any pain underneath you don't really need to point the nose down.
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Riverbrady posted 1 year ago.
If your seat is pointing too far down, it's throwing the majority of your weight onto your arms//wrists/fingers.
How far down is it pointing from vertical (say if you measured from the horizontal across the middle of the top of the seat and the horizontal across the middle of the top of the nose)?
"Care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."
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deedlit posted 1 year ago.
I don't know how far down it is pointing (would have to go and take the measurements) but I figure, with all you guys said so far, that it's too far down.
I have a really good core, but with the seat like it is right now, I'm not sure I would be able to ride with just a couple of fingers on my handlebars. I read that you're supposed to be able to, is it right?
If yes, than I guess my seat angle is the main problem.
So the first thing I would do is adjust that.
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
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Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/
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silentnox posted 1 year ago.
My fingers tend to go numb when I shrug my shoulders back and bring my shoulder blades together (probably pinching a nerve). Which seems to happen when my back is sore from riding down in the saddle. Just one more thing to keep in mind.
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
That's interesting silentnox... I never thought about that part. I know that when I ride a bike and it is set up a bit too upright for where I'm comfortable I tend to bring my shoulder blades together as part of my body trying to get any lower at all.
Perhaps Deedlit a bike fit would be a huge help! Even if you have had one before, changing the saddle can change where you sit on the saddle and thus the rest of your fit.
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deedlit posted 1 year ago.
Kyillee, I agree, I'm going to need adjustments, as the saddle is certainly not positioned the same way the other one was.
Thanks again!
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Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/
I've had my bike for over 6 months now, but I haven't ridden it much outside yet. There was winter, and I did a lot of indoor training, but come spring, I took my mtb out for rides instead of my tri bike, the main reason is that my seat was very uncomfortable. So now I got a new saddle (Fizik) which I love very much, and there's no more reason not to go out with that bike.
I guess I'm a chicken :o , I just started using the clipless pedals and that was very scary for me at first. It took me a lot of kicks in the butt to get out there with my tri bike. I love biking, but I'm far from being comfortable, compared to my mtb.
In fact, today was my second time only. Clipless was fine, didn't have a problem and I can really appreciate how useful they are. Of course I'm not very confident, and I suppose it's going to take a while. But the main problem is that after only a couple of minutes, my right index finger became numb, especially the tip, and it made me even less confident about controlling my bike. I suppose aero position would be more comfortable, but don't get me started on this one, I'm far from that point right now! :p So after a 25 minutes ride only, I came back home. My finger is still a bit numb now, and I'm wondering what might cause that. If it was my bike fit (and I got a bike fit at my LBS), than I suppose I would have felt something in both hands if my weight was too much forward...I also wear biking gloves with a very good padding.
Any idea what could cause that, or what could improve my situation?
Thanks!
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Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/