new here and question

here2help

Hey guys. I recently got a commuter bike (Novara Buzz from REI) because I plan on riding it to/from work when the weather here in Arizona cools off a little more. I'm really out of shape and hope that it will help with that as well.

I went for a ride this weekend and ended up going 16 miles, however after about 4 miles my wrists were getting painful and eventually my hands would get numb. My handle bars are like a mountain bike, straight accros. Would you recommend one of the extra hand holds that attach and angle forward from the bar or should I put a handle bar extender in that will lift the handle bar up a few inches? I think the extender would put my body in a more upright position which would put less weight on my wrists.

Ngalbrai

I too had problems with my wrists (particularly one I broke a couple of years ago) solution for me was combination of using specialized body geometry padded gloves and fitting bar ends that allow several more hand positions, being able to ride with fists vertical is more comfortable and provides natural alignment for the wrist and bones in forearm.

I have actually lowered my bars to get a more streamlined riding position and wrists are fine (back aches now...).

Also worth bearing in mind if you are already getting wrist pain is if you have a computer based office job making sure you are ergonomically sound, chair correct height, wrist rest for mouse and keyboard, maybe look at ergonomic mice like the 3M joystick mouse?

DavidTQ

Bar ends and gel padded gloves will help, thats what I did with my flat bar bike, getting a road bike with drop bars I found to be the cure to the problem, offered far more variety in hand positions and more natural hand positions than the previous flat bar bike.

Mog Uk

Get a set of Ergon grips. I had the same problem until I fitted these:

http://www.bykeline.co.uk/ErgonBarEnds.htm