Pins and Needles in hand while riding .

[FirstV8]

I experience pins a needles in my left hand after about 15 to 20 km . I never had this before ( 20 years ago ) but i have had a Carpal Tunnel op on both wrists .  I dont wear gloves while training ( forgetful ) but do when i go riding with mates and i still get the feeling . Could the op have any affect on it or is it it just that i am putting a lot of weight on my wrist ?  

[2bliss]

Invest in a professional bike setup. Good grips also help. Personally, I like ESI Chunky silicone grips but that is a matter of preference I guess. Don't hold on too tightly or put too much weight on your hands.

[Butterbean]

Check saddle angle very carefully, and add some core work at home so you're not putting too much weight on hands. I find gloves make my hands worse but wear them for falls, not comfort.

[Chingy182]

http://www.bicycling.com/training/injury-prevention/keep-your-hands-pain-free-your-ride

[Tristand]

Do regular core workouts.

A stronger core will reduce the force that you are placing on the bars through your hands.

[MintSauce]

Where EXACTLY are the pins and needles?

 

If it is in the lower half of your hand (pinky finger & ring finger) it supposedly relates to the route of the nerves in your elbow and the possibility they might be pinched. Learnt this after having this issue a few years ago. In my case it was caused by sleeping with my arms folded under the pillow my entire life. Changed sleeping habits and it has been mostly resolved. There can however be other causes.

 

Just putting it out there.

[Trackie]

As mentioned above, check the angle of your saddle - it should be level ( make sure the bike is on a level surface before you do this). If the saddle is tilted forward you place increased pressure on your hands, this could be your problem. If it persists send me a PM, I do Ergofit setups and am based in Edenvale.

[Simon Kolin]

Can we assume that you have made no adjustments to your bike setup since the operation, or is there something else we're not aware of? e.g. new handlebar or grips/tape.

 

If your setup has not changed, how long was your training layoff after the operation? Did you take a few weeks off the bike or was it quite a quick return?

[Brakepad]

if you post a pic of yourself on the bike (sideview) i am pretty sure you get good advice 

[FirstV8]

As mentioned above, check the angle of your saddle - it should be level ( make sure the bike is on a level surface before you do this). If the saddle is tilted forward you place increased pressure on your hands, this could be your problem. If it persists send me a PM, I do Ergofit setups and am based in Edenvale.

 Thanks for all the possible reasons i might be experiencing this . I have done all the preliminary checks , saddle , leg height , handle bar grips , do some gym on my Trojan and other gloves ( thicker padding ) . Im am going to increase the handle height slightly and gauge it from there . The sensation is mainly in my thumb and next two fingers ( makes gearshifts  difficult ) . Are you at a  bike shop or private . 

[Robbie Stewart]

I get my thumb and forefingers go numb every now and then, usually after a long ride followed by some singletrack heading downhill. I have realized it may be because of holding on too tight due to fatigue setting in. I now do regular spin-sessions at gym, and this has mostly resolved the issue. My left pinkie and ring fingers have pins and needles every now and then due to a fall which caused a mini-fracture in my elbow, which was not severe enough to warrant surgery. For at least the first year my hand would go numb at work as well. This too passed.

[Fruity]

Could be that your bike is incorrectly set up, or it could be your grips, or it could be both. I had that problem a few years ago and discovered it was my grips, so I changed to a pair of Ergon grips and never had that problem again.

[Trackie]

Thanks for all the possible reasons i might be experiencing this . I have done all the preliminary checks , saddle , leg height , handle bar grips , do some gym on my Trojan and other gloves ( thicker padding ) . Im am going to increase the handle height slightly and gauge it from there . The sensation is mainly in my thumb and next two fingers ( makes gearshifts  difficult ) . Are you at a  bike shop or private .

 

Hi, I operate independently as a licensed ErgoFiT technician, but my fitment studio is situated in Ridgeway Cycles in Greenstone.

[Blackheart]

I have suffered with this in the past too.

Tried all the corrective hardware.....For me it was mostly down to wrist angle.

The Ergon and Specialised grips align your forearms, wrists and hands in a more correct fashion.

Contrary to popular misconception, the little wings (que Jimi) are not for resting on.

However.. They generally increase surface contact area and that was an issue for me. 

I took some time out to train my wrist alignment, without having to use grips which did it for me.

I think it's a very personal thing, but for me:

Wrist angle without the crutch of a shaped grip.

Weight distribution between all contact points - feet, arse, hands.

Core strength.

Hip angle and rotation.

Gloves with no padding whatsoever.

 

Hope this helps.

[FirstV8]

I have got so much intel here to digest that im sure will eventually solve the problem . I raised handle stem by 5 mm before i went out this afternoon and i never got the sensation of it even starting to feel like P&N . Im documenting all the changes i make so if one works and the other doesn't i can revert back to original . I am also now doing " wrist  curls " in the mornings when i gym . I also will make up 30 cm round bar with a one meter rope and a 5 kg weight attached to do a roll up exercise as well.

[FirstV8]

I have moved my brakes , gear change and shock adjuster 20mm further in on the handle bars away from the edge of the grip . I found that i was riding with thumbs on top  of the grips and bars as there was not enough space for them to fit underneath . With my last two rides i did not experience pins and needles . I hope its the answer .