Dead hands

[Antoni]

After riding about 50km on my mountain bike my hands start to go numb, to the extent that gripping, changing gears and pulling the brakes become quite difficult. 

Is this due to the bike not being properly set up, the grips not having sufficient padding or just me? 

 

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Antonie

[G00SE]

Could be a combo of all three.

 

Adjusting the angle of your handle bars can help put your hands in a more natural position which can make a difference.

 

Grips (Like ESI chunkies) and gel gloves can also help.

 

But time on the bike will definitely improve your hand strength, and toughness, its similar to how your butt hurts like hell when you first start riding, but then it seems to toughen up with time on the saddle

[Guest DieBees]

It could be a few things.

set up

Gloves too tight

gripping too tight

[forkie]

I have had this with every bicycle and motorbike I have ever ridden. Nothing I can do to get rid of it

[scubes]

Hey, I had this in 2013 when I started MTBing. I remedied this and now can ride a 40km ride without numb hands. What I did is:

 

1. Bought a new MTB. The new air shock is great and the old shock I did not realise then how bad it was for my body's anatomy. 2. I put on ergo grips. 3. I bought decently padded gloves. 4. Technique- I used to grip hard a lot and now 'feather' grip when I can and hard grip only when necessary. 5. I put on bar ends which allow for a change in hand position. 

 

No more numb hands. 

[KarlvN]

And here I thought it was just me... I suspect that it is due to the fact that when you do a long monotonous ride on the road, the hand position does not tend to change much, resulting in a kind of pins and needles sensation in the hand. Changing gears or breaking is similar to trying to stand on a leg that is "asleep". Except it is much more challenging while you are moving and need to brake or change gears.

 

I find that when I ride single track and trails, I am constantly moving my hands and arms in reaction to the trail, and thus I do not have this issue. I only get it on my commute to and from the trails when I am pretty much in a static position on the bike apart from pedaling.

 

I have gel gloves, and also fitted silicone grips, but alas, the problem remains. I think it has something to do with extended pressure on the blood vessels in the palm.

 

my 2c worth anyway.

[Broker]

Have exactly the same problem. What helped was the following

 - Too much weight on your hands - move your saddle slightly back and make sure its level or slightly nose up so that you sit in the saddle and don't slide forward

 - Check your saddle height

  - Thicker grips ESI works OK

[openmind]

I have this so bad sometimes I can hardly hold on to the bars. My bike fit is good (25 years of experience and a number of fittings during that time), I use ESI grips which help, gloves help and they don't, loose ones are best. My physio thinks I have nerve pinching in my shoulders that make my hands go numb. I've recently started a shoulder strengthening & stretching program which is definitely helping a lot. Cyclists often have very weak upper bodies and I think I am paying the price of years of neglect of that region. 

 

Try some upper body workouts.

[hayleyearth]

Core muscles

[Guest DieBees]

I have had this with every bicycle and motorbike I have ever ridden. Nothing I can do to get rid of it

You coukd have a condition which is almost like carpul tunnel syndrome. Not sure of spelling.

[Bobbo_SA]

snip

 

5. I put on side grips which allow for a change in hand position and blood flow. 

 

snip

 

Seriously, with 393 posts.....

[LOOK695]

I get pins and needles mostly in my right hand. Frustrating at times. Have ordered some thicker gel padded gloves. Hoping it will help

[Eddy Gordo]

I have the same problem. Gonna give some thicker grips a try cause it mainly starts from my small finger inwards. I am also contemplating some ergo grips

[SteveJhb]

I've only been riding for a few weeks and also get this, but only in my right hand. At times I find myself trying to change down gears with my wrist, as my thumb is useless.

I removed the label/tag from inside my right glove which I thought might be the culprit but it still happens.

 

At the end of the month I'll investigate gel gloves based on some of the posts above.

[scotty]

Could be nerve compression in your arm or neck which will cause numbness and pins and needles feeling in your wrist and fingers. Bike set up and sports physio is where I would start.  

[Dazshell]

Not sure about an MTB but on my road bike, I was advised to tilt my seat back a few degrees and, hey presto, no more numbness or pins and needles.