Loss of circulation.

Triban Man

I get terrible loss of circulation in my hands and feet when I am cycling. Have tried loosening the straps on my cycling shoes and it makes some difference to my feet. Any other suggestions?

team47b

How old are you?

Do your fingers turn blue or white?

Do you only get it when cycling?

Do you only get this in the winter?

Triban Man

I am 40.

Not sure if my hands turn blue/white. Don't think so. Will check next time I am out.

Only really get it when cycling.

Sometimes lose a little circulation in other situations, while sitting awkwardly etc.

But nowhere near as bad.

Get it in all seasons, not just winter.

thefd

Some people do just seem to suffer with bad circulation. Do they get really cold or just go numb? You could try windproof socks, or even heated socks. Never tried them myself so not sure what they are like.

dowtcha

My feet also suffered from numbness when I started cycling four months ago. A combination of thermal socks and making sure my feet are flat when pedaling seems to off fixed it, I tend to point my toes down. Maybe double up on socks and glove liners. Use overshoes also, my feet use get numb but they never were really cold.

team47b

Poor blood circulation or nerve damage cause numbness. Over stretching can pinch nerves to the hands, but as it's your hands and feet probably not bike fit.

My best guess (bound to be wrong now that I said that) is you don't move around much when on the bike, try gripping the bars less, relax shoulders, swing arms occasionally, move your feet around in the float of your cleats, you may need to relax more.

Or, as you live in the UK you are probably just bl00dy cold, blood vessels contract in the cold (and importantly during exercise) so nerves tingle.

I have nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) in my hands, knees and feet which causes numbness but is better when I am warm, due to better circulation of blood to the small veins feeding the nerve ends.

jane90

I know someone who suffers from Reynaud's phenomenom, which is a condition where blood supply to the hands and feet are restricted by spasms of the blood vessels, usually triggered by cold or stress. Symptoms include extreme numbness, discolouration of the fingers and toes and also formation of ridges on the fingernails. Latest studies have shown, I kid you not, that Viagra is an effective treatment for the condition.

chrisaonabike

Triban Man wrote:

I get terrible loss of circulation in my hands and feet when I am cycling. Have tried loosening the straps on my cycling shoes and it makes some difference to my feet. Any other suggestions?

My feet were turning into lumps of ice too, until I wore thinner socks. With more room in the shoes, my feet still get cold eventually, but it takes a lot longer.

Next winter I think I'll buy shoes (and overshoes) a size up so that I can have more insulation, and more room.

My hands get cold too, but the harder I work, the more they warm up, so I suspect it's just cold, not lack of circulation.