Pins and needles in the morning

[MossCommuter]

Not sure it's fitness but it might be health but anyway, it's not commuting and it is bike related so no good for Cafe but anyway; sorry if my post is misplaced...

...I commute 30 mins each way. In the morning, on the way to work, I get pins and needles and numbness in my fingers and hands at around the halfway point (15mins). I never get them on the way home in the evening.

Why only on the morning ride?

 

[Blue]

The symptoms would usually suggest a circulation problem. At a guess, the cooler temperature, both in you and the environment, in the morning may be a factor.

 

[Blue]

Oh, I should have said that you should change your grip as often as possible to help with the circulation.

 

[MossCommuter]

thanks

I can't see it being cold weather being the issue because it's the same all year round.

 

[Manonabike]

I can imagine that if you were to do some stretches before you set off in the morning the problem might go away.

So, dedicate 5 minutes to do stretches as if you were going for a run.

 

[Red Light]

Sounds like you are getting what is know as handlebar palsy caused by the ulnar nerve being compressed. You need to take care of it before it causes long term damage. Padded gloves, padded bars and changing hand positions regularly can help prevent it. Have a read of this and this for more information.

 

[MossCommuter]

interesting pieces, thanks. They speak off specific numbness to areas of the hands (I get it all over, all fingers). I am able to "shake it out".

I have flat bars with Ergon grips so loads of hand positions and I do change often having said that though, the pins & needles come on after just a few minutes (and only in the morning).

theorising that maybe it's a circulation thing and related to being not so warmed up first thing in the morning I'll try 5 mins of warm up.

 

[cyberknight]

Are you over gripping the bars or placing to much weight on your hands in the morning due to tiredness/not being fully awake?.Are the road surfaces different ?

I "suffer " the exact same problem to a lesser degree and i have always put it down to a combination of the above as like you i am fine on the way home.

 

[MossCommuter]

I take the same route both ways but thinking on... It is more usual to be into the wind on the way out as well as being generally uphill (and so vice versa)

 

[fossyant]

Get some bar ends as well - gives you more hand positions

 

[MossCommuter]

I have Ergon GC3's

 

[Manonabike]

I take the same route both ways but thinking on... It is more usual to be into the wind on the way out as well as being generally uphill (and so vice versa)

Aaahhhh, I think I know exactly what you are talking about.

Not sure why this happens but my guess is that is something to do with lack of fitness. I think riding uphill / into the wind for sometime the legs tend to get very tired and the body weight distribution shifts.... more on the backside and hands and much less on the pedals. (normally at this point I feel like a sack of potatoes riding a bike ) and the pain and needles start to disturb my riding. I suspect that better core muscle strength would also help to avoid the pain and needles. The one thing that helps me is to increase cadence from the start..... I find that my legs can ride for longer and at the same time maintain the correct weight distribution. However, when the headwind is too strong or the hill too long then preventing the legs getting too tired is unavoidable.

 

[fossyant]

Moss.. how are the bar ends angled - they should be about 10-20% off horizontal - i.e. nearly flat to to road.

This is why road bars are the best bars to use - folk think they are too racy - it's not that, they do the job. I had more trouble riding the MTB to work with bar ends than I do the road bike. The road bike position on the hoods is more natural for the hand/wrist.

 

[MossCommuter]

Aaahhhh, I think I know exactly what you are talking about.

Not sure why this happens but my guess is that is something to do with lack of fitness. I think riding uphill / into the wind for sometime the legs tend to get very tired and the body weight distribution shifts.... more on the backside and hands and much less on the pedals. (normally at this point I feel like a sack of potatoes riding a bike ) and the pain and needles start to disturb my riding. I suspect that better core muscle strength would also help to avoid the pain and needles. The one thing that helps me is to increase cadence from the start..... I find that my legs can ride for longer and at the same time maintain the correct weight distribution. However, when the headwind is too strong or the hill too long then preventing the legs getting too tired is unavoidable.

I don't recall meeting but I think we must have because you clearly know me; I am not fit, I do resemble a sack of spuds and my cadence is low

Hang on - are you my doctor?

To be serious though, it is a very gentle incline

 

[MossCommuter]

Moss.. how are the bar ends angled - they should be about 10-20% off horizontal - i.e. nearly flat to to road..

Probably closer to 40 degrees than 20 degrees. Maybe I'll flatten them a bit