Help with hand pain

cat_with_no_tail

Ok, I know this has been done a few times before, but having looked through some of the old threads, no-one seems to have quite the same problem.

I've never had a problem with it before, and I've been using my current setup for a few months now with no problem, but on my last couple of rides, I've noticed that on long descents, I'm getting quite bad pain in my hands, it feels almost like it's about to cramp up.

The pain is in both hands, in the fleshy bit of the palm under the thumb and right down the outside of the palm under the little finger.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to make it go away, or at least reduce it. I cant decide if wider or shorter bars would help, or if more or less rise or backsweep is needed :?

Foam grips have also been suggested in other threads too, not sure how well that'd work though.

Any ideas?

Aldo001

I get that occasionally as well.
I thought it might have been that I have been gripping to tightly or my grips were too small.
It just feels like horrific cramp and it goes away if I open and close my hand a few times.
Sorry if you thought this was someone helping when you saw that there was a new post in your thread

El Capitano

Have you tried Ergon grips? I found they helped to reduce pain and fatigue in my hands.

Johnny Napalm

I'm suffering from pain around the left thumb. It feels like a nerve because the it's uncomfotable when I'm braking, when I have my weight on the handlebars, gripping etc. I've changed the brake lever postion, changed gloves, and got foam grips.

M thumb is not as painful as it was, but it's still not right - still getting some pain and also a numbmess/tingling effect. It's eased a little, and there's no doubt the foam grips are more comfortable, but I think that once you injure your hands, it's a censored to get them to heal quickly because of the constant use...especially regular riding.

Try adjusting things, and if you want to try foam grips, get some cheap foam grips from Superstar (£4.99), which will not break the bank.

cat_with_no_tail

Aldo001 yeh, cheers. :roll:

El Capitano Actually, I hadn't. But I am now. Which ones do you have?

bamba

i had similar problems after more than an hour or so on the bike,
these sorted me out, cheaper than ergon too
http://www.ukcyclestore.com/category-44 ... -grip.html

cat_with_no_tail

Cheers, I reckon I'll get a set of foam grips and a set of ergon grips from Superstar, then try them both out and see which feels best.

JamesBrckmn

narrow bars put more weight on the outside of your palm, so wider ones may help. or try foam grips/better gloves

sampras38

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Ok, I know this has been done a few times before, but having looked through some of the old threads, no-one seems to have quite the same problem.

I've never had a problem with it before, and I've been using my current setup for a few months now with no problem, but on my last couple of rides, I've noticed that on long descents, I'm getting quite bad pain in my hands, it feels almost like it's about to cramp up.

The pain is in both hands, in the fleshy bit of the palm under the thumb and right down the outside of the palm under the little finger.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to make it go away, or at least reduce it. I cant decide if wider or shorter bars would help, or if more or less rise or backsweep is needed :?

Foam grips have also been suggested in other threads too, not sure how well that'd work though.

Any ideas?

If you've been using the same bike setup for a while with no previous problems, are you experiencing the pain in all weathers,or just winter perhaps?

It might just be a circulation thing?

cat_with_no_tail

That's what I thought at first, but it happened yesterday too which was probably the warmest day of the year so far.

My bars are 710mm wide. I'd rather not go any wider or I'm going to start hooking trees.

Gloves are No-fear rogue which fit well and are quite well padded.

I definately think that a change in grips is the way forward to start with. Just seen some Ergon ones designed for Enduro riding. I reckon if any work, it'd be them.

blister pus

I wouldn't discount the nitrile foam grips from poshbikes

The Northern Monkey

If its arm/hand pump... one of those powerballs helped me out.

stevet1992

I had that on the descents in wales the first time i went, Fingers locked up and i had to prise them off the bars, Turned out to be something as simple as moving my brake levers in a bit so i wasnt reaching as far to grab them

Jimbob_no5

could be the back sweep on your bars aswell, i have mine pretty low down on the dh bike and it can be painfull at times, also your brake lever angle could be a constituting factor of this, hope this helps