Numbness in left hand

[Fifelad]

No smutty comments please still getting symptoms hours after a 50 miler today, change position the bars a lot not done that distance regularly put it down to just strain anyone else had similar symptoms ?

 

[vernon]

You haven't mentioned whether or not you have flat bars or dropped bars.

I found that using Specialized bar phat tape to add gell padding or using old innertubes as tape underlay on drop bars alleviated the problem.

On flat bars I now use anatomical grips.

 

[GetAGrip]

Yep, and the problem for me always stems back to my neck. After the quarterly check at the osteopath, a couple of click clicks and all is well for a while. Also, Saddle position seems spot on for me, but it may be help if I could only raise the handlebars just a little.

 

[cyberknight]

You haven't mentioned whether or not you have flat bars or dropped bars.

+1
on drops the reach ,width of bars and angle of the brake hoods are all contributory factors.

I used to suffer with numb hands untill i got my set up right , turned out for me at least i had the hood angle to extreme and it was compressing the nerve.Do you change position of your hands regularly ? this can help to relieve symptoms.
check this out as a starting point, i find the hand angle applies to both drop bars and flat bars using bar ends.
http://bikedynamics.co.uk/guidelines.htm

 

[Keith Oates]

I had a problem with the muscle on my left hand, between the thumb and fore finger, losing feeling and actually reducing in size. I went to a doctor and he advised to stop cycling and keep pressure off that part of the hand. The stop cycling was not an option I could follow but I made a concerted effort to change my riding position for the hands and have less weight on them during the rides. This resulted in the muscle growing back again, over a period of about 6 months and has since been OK. The comments above about the bar tape etc. are all good but also try to find a position where the weight on your hands is reduced when riding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[byegad]

Should have taken a recumbent!

 

[Fifelad]

Drop Bars and change position throughout the cycle right hand is ok