Right hand going numb when riding…..

[Pat "5mph"]

@sevenfourate I get numbness of the hands too: I actually know why, it's because when I'm tired I sort of slump on the bike lol instead of supporting me with my core.
Straightening up makes the pain go, or shaking the wrist.
Another reason is that my trigger gear lever is slightly too far away on one of my bikes.
If I keep my hand in position to change gear for a while instead of keeping it on the bar, I'll get a numb hand.
Straight bars with ergo grips.
We are all different, I could not grip my bars the way @All uphill does, I would get sore wrists.

 

[sevenfourate]

Are you sure that cycling is the cause ? I say this because as you say it is across all bikes. Is there something else you are doing that uses the right hand more ? A couple of weeks ago I had an email from my osteopath saying that they had seen an increase of people contacting them with stiff arms and shoulders / necks etc. The cause.......carrying watering cans since the hosepipe ban ! I did`nt think anything of it until the beginning of the week when I too had aches across the shoulder(right) and neck, it makes looking over my right shoulder difficult on the bike. When I stood at the tap holding the can as it filled I could feel the pain build. The osteopath was right.
Anyway, back to you. I`d look at other possibilities as well as the bike. If you can rule that out, then back to the drawing board !

That’s given me something to chew on !

There’s no doubt cycling makes it worse; or kicks it off. If Cycling is the instigator or the root cause - I can’t tell you 100%.

But I never suffered from it pre-cycling. And as far as I can remember: nothing but cycling instigates it.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

That’s given me something to chew on !

There’s no doubt cycling makes it worse; or kicks it off. If Cycling is the instigator or the root cause - I can’t tell you 100%.

But I never suffered from it pre-cycling. And as far as I can remember: nothing but cycling instigates it.

Fair do`s. Perhaps you need a dropped bar bike ? Do you have an indoor trainer ? I know it`s not the right time of year perhaps with the weather being so good but it may be worth trying different options. Just a thought.

 

[Webbo2]

That’s given me something to chew on !

There’s no doubt cycling makes it worse; or kicks it off. If Cycling is the instigator or the root cause - I can’t tell you 100%.

But I never suffered from it pre-cycling. And as far as I can remember: nothing but cycling instigates it.

Even with the best bike fit going its not going to change that your upper body is in fairly fixed position for several hours if your doing long rides. It’s probably not an issue if you are in your twenties but not many of us are on here.🤣🤣🤣🤣😳

 

[sevenfourate]

Even with the best bike fit going its not going to change that your upper body is in fairly fixed position for several hours if your doing long rides. It’s probably not an issue if you are in your twenties but not many of us are on here.🤣🤣🤣🤣😳

Yes ! My Office Manageress is an avid runner. And is also in the 55-60 age category. We had the discussion this afternoon - ref the fact that bad technique , poor posture, over exertion, lack of recovery, not cooling down after, poor nutrition etc etc didn’t matter once upon a time.

Now it effects the activity your doing. And the next 10 (Or more) if you’re not careful……

 

[sevenfourate]

Fair do`s. Perhaps you need a dropped bar bike ? Do you have an indoor trainer ? I know it`s not the right time of year perhaps with the weather being so good but it may be worth trying different options. Just a thought.

Putting some time into getting comfortable on; and then using my “All-Road” drop-bar road / gravel bike (Outdoors 😁) was and now most definitely is the current ‘mini project’…….

 

[Shearwater Missile]

Putting some time into getting comfortable on; and then using my “All-Road” drop-bar road / gravel bike (Outdoors 😁) was and now most definitely is the current ‘mini project’…….

It took me forever getting the bike fit right, well, a few years. Sometimes one has to go against logic. For years I thought I was too stretched out so bought a shorter stem for two of my bikes. Of course then I started to get neck and shoulder pain. In fact I was better with the longer stems (100mm). Recently I replaced the stem on my newest bike (2 years old) from 100mm to 110mm as I had the 110mm from my Vitus which was the stock stem. One thing I will mention is that after fitting that 110mm stem I did have a bit of wrist ache but only on that bike. What that was, was the angle of the drops, too horizontal. Once I changed the angle, all good. When you have the right set up you know. Age does play a part of course and as I get closer to 70 I know that I am not as flexible as I was at 60. Good luck.

 

[gofusion]

……..across all my bikes. Pretty much.

And happens after an hour (?) or more riding generally. Not always - infact I’ve been through a few months recently of it being really good [Barely any numbness]. But I suffered toward the end of the Dunwich Dynamo; doing nearly 7 hours in the saddle and 112 miles - and it’s not been 100% since. And certainly more pronounced / coming on sooner than normal.

I know I’m far from alone in this - as I often follow cyclists ‘shaking out’ their hands when riding. But seeing as I suffer from it on numerous bikes / postures, positioning and weight distribution I figure other factors are at least: contributing.

Thickness of grips / tape ?
Gloves worn ?
Roads ridden ?
Tyre pressure ? * I think lower PSI helps.

Anything else that others have nailed down and proven to be contributing factors ?

It's been said before on this thread, but the angle of your wrist is almost certainly contributing to your right hand going numb!
Best approach is to keep the angle of you wrist as flat as possible - the pistol grip I think has been mentioned already, is a good guide. The transition from bar to hoods needs to be as flat as possible as this will avoid any awkward wrist angle!
That's why flat bars seem to work well, but you don't have as many hand position options as you do with drops. Different hand positions can help to alleviate wrist pain.

This has worked for me!

 

[sevenfourate]

After having time to think - a couple of things I am currently doing are a fair way from the norm.

1. Even for my weight - the tyre pressure i run is high. Likely very high.

I may have subscribed to the larger volume theory. I actively ignored the accompanying lower pressure remit 🤣 Yesterday was day 1 of much more recommended (Silca webpage interactive guide) PSI. That meant letting over 25psi out…..😜 🙄

2. Bar width I run on both my Hybrids is wide. Like nearly modern MTB wide (An actual 720mm)……whereas my shoulders are more like 450mm outside to outside. And I’m at MTB width in the saddle, road riding - not standing up on the pedals whilst trying for maximum leverage when negotiating obstacles.

As an easy start point I’ve bought these clamp on Inner handles. This means I can spent a few weeks (?) riding at a more normal width - albeit a different hand position - for me personally. With virtually no effort or cost. And nothing will have to be returned back to normal - IF these change nothing……

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Lots of helpful suggestions already. Numbness from a bikefit perspective is often excessive reach or handlebar width. If it is a physiological issue it is usually nerve related.
I have an old shoulder injury and permanent nerve damage (only very minor) which results in occasional numbness in my right hand. As the nerves travel all the way from shoulder to toe I can also experience it in my foot and ankle! The compensation on my left side as a result also means I wear through hood covers and bar tape on the left side quite frequently!

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

After having time to think - a couple of things I am currently doing are a fair way from the norm.

1. Even for my weight - the tyre pressure i run is high. Likely very high.

I may have subscribed to the larger volume theory. I actively ignored the accompanying lower pressure remit 🤣 Yesterday was day 1 of much more recommended (Silca webpage interactive guide) PSI. That meant letting over 25psi out…..😜 🙄

On bikes you have been regularly using recently, what size/model tyres have you been running with what tubes/tubeless on what sort of internal rim width at what pressures? 25PSI is a huge drop!

I think the bike you regularly post ride reports on is a Carrera Subway but unsure of model, I often see bike tweaking posts for BMXs but no idea how often you ride them and just recently I saw your post about your Bergamont gravel bike (that seems to have 50mm clearance without guards) which you've struggled with and want to get some shiny carbon wheels for.

 

[Punkawallah]

As an easy start point I’ve bought these clamp on Inner handles. This means I can spent a few weeks (?) riding at a more normal width - albeit a different hand position - for me personally. With virtually no effort or cost. And nothing will have to be returned back to normal - IF these change nothing……

View attachment 818366

If you see a rabbit down that hole, check it hasn’t got a watch ;-)

 

[sevenfourate]

If you see a rabbit down that hole, check it hasn’t got a watch ;-)

You’ve lost me Sir.

Are you suggesting I’m chasing the impossible ?

 

[Punkawallah]

You’ve lost me Sir.

Are you suggesting I’m chasing the impossible ?

No. Just warning you that the rabbit hole might be deep and filled with Mad Hatters, Precocious Girls and Psychotic Queens :-)

 

[sevenfourate]

No. Just warning you that the rabbit hole might be deep and filled with Mad Hatters, Precocious Girls and Psychotic Queens :-)

What choice do i have. I THINK I’ve made a small dent in it already (**See my ride today topic: and my ride of this evening).