Sore thumb - handlebar advice
chocolateboy
Posts: 47
Any advice on handlebars to help avoid getting a sore thumb?!
Both my bikes have standard drop handlebars - positions unchanged for 2-3 years. A couple of months ago I managed to hurt the lower knuckle joint on my right thumb. Not quite sure how this happened but possibly doint lots of braking on th hoods while riding downhill on a 70+ mile ride in Surrey.
The bike I use most frequently is my fixed - which I use for commuting. I'm fiding it impossible to ride regularly as the act of braking (on th hoods or drops) is just inflaming the joint - and there's only so much braking with the legs you can do in central London traffic before you die!
I've taken my old straight-bared Spesh Rockhopper back off the wife temporarily for commuting duties but even so my thumb was throbbing when I got home last night.
Does anyone else have this problem? I'm considering change the drops on the fixed for something that allows me to brake without stressing the joint - eg H-shaped, straight or even stoker bars.
Both my bikes have standard drop handlebars - positions unchanged for 2-3 years. A couple of months ago I managed to hurt the lower knuckle joint on my right thumb. Not quite sure how this happened but possibly doint lots of braking on th hoods while riding downhill on a 70+ mile ride in Surrey.
The bike I use most frequently is my fixed - which I use for commuting. I'm fiding it impossible to ride regularly as the act of braking (on th hoods or drops) is just inflaming the joint - and there's only so much braking with the legs you can do in central London traffic before you die!
I've taken my old straight-bared Spesh Rockhopper back off the wife temporarily for commuting duties but even so my thumb was throbbing when I got home last night.
Does anyone else have this problem? I'm considering change the drops on the fixed for something that allows me to brake without stressing the joint - eg H-shaped, straight or even stoker bars.
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Comments
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I don't think I use my thumbs when braking on the hoods. Must check tonight.
Can you swap brake cables over so you don't have to use your right hand so much?
I gave up goalkeeping in 5-a-side because I'd dislocated digits too many times and they were taking longer and longer to recover.
You may need to strap it up for a week or two. If that doesn't help, see your GP. It may be something amusing like gout.0 -
CB.....
I have Shimano STIs where the cable for the gear derailleurs come out the side of the shifters . On long rides my tumbs occasioanly get painfull similar to your description .
I just move my thumbs from gong round the bar on the drops ie thumbs on the inside of the bar and all other fingers on the outside to a position where my thumbs hook over the top of gear cable or my thunkbs rest on the tops of the STI if that makes sence . Doesnt affect the braking or gear shifting .
Okay this is not helpfull if you ride Campy or SRAM or the new Shimano groupsets .0
