Padded Bar Tape and Gloves

Headhuunter

So, I've mentioned before here that I've been getting pins and needles in my hands. Originally thought this was something to do with degenerated discs in my back, however physio thinks it may also have something to do with the fact that I do so much cycling that the nerves that run through the palms of my hand are being compressed. He suggested that I try to use the top of the bars rather than the hoods and drops and see if it improves. he also suggested that I get more padded gloves and padded bar tape....

So does anyone have any recommendations on the padded equipment front?

Aidy

Try the Specialized BG range of gloves?

They're padded to protect your ulnar nerve.

whyamihere

Padded bar tape's horrible stuff. Feels far too big under the hands, and ruins the transition onto the hoods. If I was going to do anything on the bars, I'd double wrap the drops and tops, leaving the area around the hoods single wrapped.

itsbruce

Aidy wrote:

Try the Specialized BG range of gloves?

They're padded to protect your ulnar nerve.

I can second that recommendation. Been using Specialized gloves for years.

Clever Pun

whyamihere wrote:

Padded bar tape's horrible stuff. Feels far too big under the hands, and ruins the transition onto the hoods. If I was going to do anything on the bars, I'd double wrap the drops and tops, leaving the area around the hoods single wrapped.

you can get a gel layer I think goes beneath the bar tape HH I suspect that will do you good

biondino

You could adjust the sideways positioning of the hoods. I had annoying palm pain in my right hand, and then after a small prang in which I bent the right-side hood inwards (pushed it outwards again, but not all the way) I found the new shape/position gave me much less discomfort!

Radioactiveman

Bar gel made by fizik. Used by pros as well as double wrapping bars sometimes

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Sear ... 2AodiSoqHw

jejv

biondino wrote:

You could adjust the sideways positioning of the hoods. I had annoying palm pain in my right hand, and then after a small prang in which I bent the right-side hood inwards (pushed it outwards again, but not all the way) I found the new shape/position gave me much less discomfort!

Does anyone who has experimented actually prefer parallel hoods ?

Angle of hoods to horizontal is anoither variable that might help even out the pressure - could move hoods a few mm on the bars, and or rotate the whole bar a few degrees.

Gussio

+1 for the Spesh BG gloves. I use the pro mitts and am on my 4th pair in about 10 years.

Think that double-taping the bars is common practice for things like Paris-Roubaix, so probably a good idea. Certainly can't do any harm to try.

Headhuunter

Thanks for all the advice. I'll certainly get a pair of those gloves and perhaps some gel stuff to put under the bar tape...

FeynmanC

Thanks for the recommendations above for the specialized BG gloves. I just got some mitts and they are the badgers nadgers!