COLD FINGER TIPS

DISCO2009

Hi all

The only part of my body I cannot keep warm on winter rides are the very tips of my fingers. Does anyone else have this problem? Even with a Sugoi glove liner inside Gore Mistrals inside heavy duty Specialised winter gloves my fingers are soon cold. As far as I know my circulation is fine and I don't have Raynauds or anything like that. Does anyone cycle with heated gloves? Is there a pragmatic solution?

Thanks

Tim

Cafewanda

When you find out, let me know as I have the same problem (but I do have Reynaud's, apparently). Seriously thinking about heated gloves.

Currently trying a variety of combinations and fretting about the colder weather in January/February. My commute is only 30/35 mins too

Radioactiveman

Had this problem with a pair of gloves that where tight on the fingertips compressing the insulation.

Changed gloves and problem went away

biondino

Are the gloves too tight?

The best solution if not is to make sure your hands are warm before you put them in the gloves. Run them under hot water for a minute maybe?

gavbarron

Heat your gloves up too, but not red hot as some gloves waterproofing can be affected by this. If it's only for a short commute then you might be ok.
I've suffered the same problem for years and long rides are hell somedays.
I've been recommended some 'lobster' gloves > http://mountainbike.about.com/od/accessoriesessentials/fr/Pearl_Izumi_Lobster_Gloves.htm
I've not tried them yet but it looks promising

pshore

Try an extra layer on your body. It might not be the right answer but its worth a go.


If you are not restricting blood flow as suggested above and you are already wearing warmish gloves you might not be quite warm enough at your core.

It is quite easy to ride with one too few layers on your body because you don't feel that cold. The body's normal reaction to cold is to move more blood to your core to protect that area with fingers, toes and nose, ears etc suffering.

More layers means you get warm or even hot and the body can then send blood to the extremities. It is a balancing act and you need to experiment to find the right clothing.

Cafewanda

biondino wrote:

Are the gloves too tight?

The best solution if not is to make sure your hands are warm before you put them in the gloves. Run them under hot water for a minute maybe?

Made a calendar note (with alarm) to try this in the morning

@pshore, the problem with having a warm core before I set off is that I have to remove layers on route. I sweat big time otherwise. This morning I had buff under the helmet, yellow Altura jacket with pit zips open, l/s base layer and two pairs of gloves, and ditto for the socks. Still had to lower the zip at the front of the jacket. Fortunately I can hang my clothing in the office to dry as remains damp if stored in locker. 35 minute journey.

Warm core sends blood to the extremities? Not in my case. I produce enough water for a shower whilst my fingers cry. I remember one morning ride last winter when I had to warm my fingers under my armpits before I could use them. That tingling feel was not a good thing

will3

Try cycling harder. I find this a problem, but only for the first 5 miles or so. Once the blood gets flowing its fine.

Apart from when it's cold and wet, like last night where my hands were completely numb.

Paul E

I used to suffer from that on winter mtb rides, I found that if I kept my head warm it seemed to help a lot, okay I don't have any hair left on top but still it helped a lot wearing a skull cap. Also make sure your wrists are well covered as the blood flowing there is very near the surface and any heat it's carrying will disapear very quickly if left uncovered.

pshore

Cafewanda wrote:

biondino wrote:

Warm core sends blood to the extremities? Not in my case. I produce enough water for a shower whilst my fingers cry. I remember one morning ride last winter when I had to warm my fingers under my armpits before I could use them. That tingling feel was not a good thing

Sounds similar to when I used to do kite-buggying in winter. Gripping handles tightly whilst flying was enough to stem the blood flow a bit. As soon as I stopped the blood would very quickly come back and in that tingly/painful way you describe.

Perhaps the problem is the way you are leaning on your hands is causing less blood to flow through them. Can you adjust height ? Use drops/tops/bar-ends ? Do your current gloves have padding ?

shouldbeinbed

Yeah last winter was agonising some mornings feeling like my fingers were burning and splitting as they warmed up. I finally went for ski gloves and a microfleece pair inside which did the trick at -10 and less. From my 1st aid course today: the trick to avoid the cracking tingling pain apres ride is to warm up very slowly and gently. The capillaries constrict with the cold as the blood stays in the core and the pain comes if they warm too fast and blood at pressure is forced into still constricted capillaries prizing them apart unexpectedly

rolf_f

Same problem here. A bit rough on Monday as I had a flat - despite it being a slow enough puncture that I could reach a petrol station before it was fully flat and therefore change the innertube in shelter, the handling of the wet metal of the wheel reduced my finger temperature and of course, all the gloves did was stop them getting much worse - which wasn't enough! I was using Aldi gloves with some silk liner gloves. I suspect I might have to try mittens come January.

rolf_f

shouldbeinbed wrote:

From my 1st aid course today: the trick to avoid the cracking tingling pain apres ride is to warm up very slowly and gently.

I'd need to change the topography of West Yorkshire to do that

brucebanner

I just got the Gore Countdown. The parts of my body that get colder than the rest are the feet and hand. I'll post how warm they keep my hands.

danlikesbikes

Could be a change of gloves are in order? Plus if your out first thing make sure you are hydrated.

Personally I run hot all year round in the coldest of winter weather, but toes and fingers were never able to keep warm. I changed to a descent pair of winter socks and overshoe's or over socks & for the fingers some sealskin gloves and haven't had any problems since.

Though a couple of guys I ride with recommend some silk glove liners bought from an outdoor shop.

bobbygloss

The trick for me is to keep wriggling my fingers if they start feeling cold. Alternating clenching and releasing the bars really works well.

For winter climbing, the philosophy is "move them or lose them" and it applies to cycling too.
Might not be possible on technical trails but I find it works for commuting.

simon_e

Bobbygloss wrote:

The trick for me is to keep wriggling my fingers if they start feeling cold. Alternating clenching and releasing the bars really works well.

I wriggle my fingers (and toes) before the cold really gets in, and as long as it's safe to do it I make a fist and rest my hands on the grips, so hiding my fingertips from the wind for a while.

Gloves on the radiator beforehand too, and on really cold days a spot of jogging on the spot before leaving the house, just to get the blood moving.

DISCO2009

THANKS Guys for all of your replies and suggestions. I am tempted by the lobster claw also but might go all the way and opt for some heated ski gloves. Anybody use these?

Cafewanda

"pshore wrote:

Perhaps the problem is the way you are leaning on your hands is causing less blood to flow through them. Can you adjust height ? Use drops/tops/bar-ends ? Do your current gloves have padding ?

I'm remembering to wiggle my fingers a bit as I have a moustache bar and not all my gloves have padding. Dug out my ski gloves and they worked but will probably buy thermal and/or windproof liners as I can use them for running also.

Cafewanda

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Though a couple of guys I ride with recommend some silk glove liners bought from an outdoor shop.

Ineffective below 10 degrees for my fingers.

shouldbeinbed

Rolf F wrote:

shouldbeinbed wrote:

From my 1st aid course today: the trick to avoid the cracking tingling pain apres ride is to warm up very slowly and gently.

I'd need to change the topography of West Yorkshire to do that

well if you will live on the wrong side of the Pennines